SALT

Snow Treasure, the first book I ever read, was about this kid who had this treasure and rode on his sled to take it somewhere. That’s all I remember. What an odd concept for a book, and yet it was the first one I ever finished. I was known to start books, read some, and set them down. Reading was just not my thing. People take so much time to be creative with books.  There are millions of books out there containing millions of concepts. And some of them have the oddest things in them.

“The worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. Everyone will be salted with fire. “

Guess what book that is from?  Ok, if you weren’t reading my blog and this was in a newspaper, you probably wouldn’t guess the Bible. But, yes, it’s from a place in Mark where Jesus was teaching his disciples how to be disciples. Sometimes when you consider what Jesus did, it seems like a lot of His time was spent teaching these twelve men. But, this instruction was absolutely necessary so they could share His message with the world.

 In the last twenty years, creative people have stormed the Church with their ideas of how to make the Church an awesome place.  We have watched churches create some of the coolest Vacation Bible Schools, youth events, servant events, and trunk or treats.

I once heard a pastor argue against this and say that the Church needs to be boring. He really said that in his sermon. Don’t tell stories, just preach the Word. I don’t know about you, but the Word of God is not boring. A dude with super strength who could kill a lion with his hands, a talking burning bush, the waters of a huge sea parting, a dead man coming back to life, and yeah, for my ladies out there, a man who would work fourteen years just to get a chance to be married to his wife. Those stories aren’t boring, but sometimes the hardest thing is trying to understand who God wants US to be.

It is one thing to think the Church is cool because of its exciting programs. It’s another to realize that God has called YOU to be His disciple in this world.  The problem is we don’t know what disciples look like, because our natural way of being does not even come close.

God refined the “Twelve” and taught them what it meant to truly follow Him and be His disciples. The Church at large is beginning to realize that we have a bunch of people who love Jesus, but are struggling at times to figure out what He wants their lives to look like, and how to be refined by Him.

These odd lines in Mark about the worm and salt appear right after Jesus talked about how He wanted the disciples to be, and what He wanted them to do. He refined them with fire at times. He made sure that they were salted with the right disciplines to be disciples.  He wanted their lives to reflect Him.  He wanted them to help share His Word.  He wanted them to change completely.

Even though Heaven is not here yet, and we are still on earth, He wants us to be involved in teaching about Heaven; in teaching about Jesus.  He wants us to discover the first step in being refined; and in allowing our lives to reflect Him. What does a disciple of Christ look like?  Are you being refined by the fire of God’s Word?

We will be discussing this during the month of October at Mt. Calvary. It is going to be awesome—refining and defining as we start to listen to the true disciple maker, Jesus! 

Don't shoot the messenger!

At first it seems odd to even ask why this saying has been used through the years. Yet, it is totally applicable for our reading this weekend. This guy, Jeremiah, was supposed to go to these people and tell them they were not listening to God. They responded by continuing to behave in the same way that they had been.

They kept on doing what they had been doing, which meant that they kept on  messing up. After Jeremiah continued to pursue them, and God still showed His love by coming back to them, the people got mad because Jeremiah brought the message that warned them to clean up their act or they would be destroyed.

Harsh words right? God continued to call his people to action in many ways, but specifically in the Old Testament it was with a sense of power and urgency.

In a way we often don’t feel the intensity of this message, but we do recognize when something we do is clearly wrong.   Yet we continue to do it over and over again. This usually creates a reaction in the people around us to eventually call us out. It is one of the tough moments we like to forget, but it is absolutely necessary for our spiritual well being. But so often we want to disregard the messenger. We want to attack the person God sent to speak to us about our specific sin.

When I was on vicarage, I organized my first youth mission trip. The plan was to go to Kansas City.  I felt like all the details were in place. But I had no female chaperone, so I called a friend I knew and flew her in to help us out. It seemed like I had worked out all the arrangements, until some of the kids’ moms questioned a few of the details I had set-up. I was so defensive, because my original plan seemed to indicate that it would prove to be a great trip. But the moms were worried, and probably with good reason. And honestly, looking back, I admit that I was not specific enough on the details. But I wanted to defend myself to my supervising pastor, and ultimately I wanted to “shoot the messenger. “

But the moms’ message was correct, and what better way to learn than on an internship rather then on my first job. God trains all of us in different ways, but are we ready to hear His instructions or do we want to “shoot the messenger”?

Thinking in Prayer

From an early age I wanted to be a pastor. At the young age of ten, some of my uncles and my grandpa were encouraging me to consider a pastoral vocation. There were many appealing things about ministry, but also some that were very challenging. I was excited to share the message of Jesus with people, but remembered that prayer was always one of my most challenging things.

I would stand in church and listen to the prayers being rattled off like names in a classroom during attendance. It seemed so challenging to stand there every Sunday and listen to them. Yet, I knew the power of prayer, and how God had created it to be our direct connection to Him.

Finally, as I became a pastor, I felt more comfortable with praying out loud. I observed my growth in this area as I built it into a common “Holy Habit” in my kids’ lives; but I still found times when I forgot to pray before falling asleep. Was I just too exhausted to touch base with Jesus before resting?

I have met some great prayer people in my life. One of them is a great friend of mine. He owns an amazing sandwich shop, and he is absolutely the definition of a prayer warrior. He was the guy who would pray with you for an hour when he came to visit. It was shocking to me when he said that the hardest person to pray with in his life was his wife. I remember thinking, Why is it that a guy who loves prayer has a hard time praying with the love of his life?

This weekend we will talk about prayer. Jesus said to the disciples in Mark 9:29, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”  

If prayer is so powerful it is obvious that the devil would want to prevent us from praying. This weekend we reflect upon the very words of Jesus, but also on the many ways in which we are distracted from reconnecting with Jesus.

As we face so many challenges in life, it is wonderful that we can return to a conversation with our Creator, Rescuer, and Guide in life. This weekend we will spend time talking about the challenges we face in reconnecting, but also about the joy of having an open connection with Jesus.

Will work for a Savior!

One of the most challenging things for a pastor is working with people in social ministry. Most of these people are homeless, and come knocking at your door. My first experiences with this were at my intern congregation. My intern supervisor was known for helping so many in that area that it seemed like we were the preferred center for getting help.

One time a guy came in who claimed he was a fire fighter and asked for One Hundred Dollars. I was a poor intern, but remembered the words of my supervisor, “Who knows--they might really need it.” And so I gave it to him. He promised to come right back. I never saw him again.

Then there was this one time--it was a Friday, and my supervisor was not in on Fridays.  This guy came in who claimed he needed gas money. I told him I didn’t have anything to give him. He jumped up in a rage. He told me that if he killed fifteen people on Main Street it would be my fault. I felt horrible, but didn’t know what to do.

Another time I met this guy who wanted me to take him to the north side of town. I agreed and drove him over there. As we were on our drive he asked for food, so I gave in and pulled into Subway. He said, “Well, I was really hoping for a burger.” Wow, I thought, for real, Dude.

Later I spent time in larger ministries with all kinds of social ministry policies, so I was not involved in it most of the time.

But social ministry is a difficult situation! How are we to know the hearts of these people? Who really has a need and who doesn’t? Now I am often able to evaluate the validity of these requests, but still the question always goes back to what my intern supervisor said, “What if they really need help?”

Yesterday a lady was in the middle of the road and her car was dead. I had just finished soccer practice, and had all three of my kids in the car, with supper resting on the seat. She opened her door to wave me to the next lane. My first thought was, I have so much to deal with right now. But I remembered my friend who almost always stops to help people; he helps me all the time.  So I rolled down the back window and asked her if she had help coming. She quickly responded that Triple A was on the way, but she wasn’t sure why they were not here now. I realized that in the center of West County that might make her think I was going to yell at her for not getting out of the road quickly. Honestly, I was relieved that she had help coming, because the only thing I could do with three kids along was to call someone for her. But it reminded me that we all need help.

Sometimes the thing we want or ask for may not be the thing we really need. I know some of you can’t ever imagine rolling up to a church and asking for money, but there are other things you call on to relieve your world, your pain, and your sin. Unfortunately, it is not always Jesus.

James was the brother of Jesus. I can’t imagine being the brother of Jesus. But it meant that he looked at his older brother and then found out that He was the Savior of the world. That may have been a hard pill to swallow, so when it came time to believe in his brother being a savior he struggled with it. But when he finally did get it, it became something he wanted everyone to know. That is why he wrote such a convicting and challenging book. James believed that when you see Jesus, you want to respond to Him. Whether we know it or not we all need a savior, and when we find our true Savior in Jesus, we can’t help but work for Him. Sure there are tough days, but it is much easier to look at the lady on the side of road and help her. She may need Jesus too, and we just might get the chance to share it with her. James had that passion for the Gospel, and that is why he wrote the book he did. 

In hearing the message of Jesus there are those moments where we stop and say, “Will work for my Savior!” because we need Jesus so badly, and want other people

to know His love. 

Marriage Material

Mindy and I will be married for five years on September 1^st. Every year I like to make a list describing what has happened to us in five years. It would look something like this.

In five years we have been called to five churches between teaching and preaching; we have lived in two apartments and one house in two states; we have lived with our parents three separate times; we have had three cars, and we have three wonderful kids.

The reason I love to do this is because it reminds me of what God has done in our lives in the past five years. There is no way I would have expected to see such a list just five years after we were married. I am asking for Him to slow things down, but beyond all this external stuff is the internal stuff. God has done so much to change Mindy and me from where we started.

During my history of dating, I was addicted to love. I was going to make sure divorce never happened to me. I had fallen hopelessly in love several times--every time believing that particular girl was the one, only to get my heart broken time and time again. I look back to the time when people had to listen to my complaints about being heart broken and hoping for the arrival of the right girl. Regardless, there was something about that feeling that was overwhelming--when you fall in love and just want to be with that person every moment.

To some of you who have celebrated many anniversaries, it may seem like a long time ago--so much stuff happens in life that separates you from the first time you met your spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend.

Mindy and I were set up on a blind date that I really expected to tank.  I even had a back-up plan of eating ice cream with old college friends. That moment God brought the love of my life into my life.

Mindy loves to watch those bride shows on TV. You know--vote on the cooler wedding. Seriously I love the memories of our own wedding, and don’t want to watch a show every weekend with brides critiquing each other while trying to win a honeymoon. But now and then she begs me to watch with her, and sometimes I submit. Oh, the part of marriage we never talk about! Movies and TV illustrate all the great stuff that you will fall in love forever, but they never credit God for His plan of bringing two broken people together and the challenges in that.

Deja vu

Oh, all right, before I headed to my sister’s wedding on July 8^th, I talked about the same text and had something to say about marriage. But I really didn’t get to preach on the hard knocks involved in the submission of love. This week in the church year calendar,  that Ephesians text comes up.  With the majority of people celebrating anniversaries during the summer, it seemed like a good topic before the end of the summer season.

Plus it is not too far off from following Jesus. When we first see Jesus, we become aware of all of His wonderful gifts. We see how He offers forgiveness for the sin that plagues our lives. We see the peace He gives us. We see how He is love.

But then…

We realize what it means to submit to Jesus and follow Him. It means we are often criticized by others when we make mistakes (or what they perceive to be mistakes). We hear the hurtful words of those who don’t share our beliefs. We feel the pressure to follow God’s commandments, and often beat ourselves up when we make mistakes. We look at an imperfect world with all the things we must avoid.  We become aware of all the places where we could share the message of Christ’s deep love for us, His submission to death.  This message creates a desire to follow Him, but sin makes it so hard. God never quits refining us. No one is done.

But it is….

All worth it!! Come hear about it this weekend. We will talk about marriage, but even more, about the deep love of Jesus and how it is something we can never get enough of, and how it compels us to respond and share this wonderful message.

The value of those in school!!

It is school time, and we see back packs on the corners of all the streets. Rock Hill Road was finished just in time for the buses to get through the back roads. It’s the only time of year you can’t find a pen or pencil on the shelves of your favorite store. You have to be careful of all those school zone signs or you might just end up with a ticket. Yes, school is back in session in August. Hard to believe but it is here!

To some parents it is a relief that they no longer have to receive calls at work from their children about how bored they are; or have to figure out what to do today for their daily outing during summer.  I remember as a kid asking, “Mom, do we still go to church in the summer?” Kids are out of rhythm in the summer.

School brings routine and getting back to the rhythm of our lives.  That rhythm is so important and something we love, but sometimes we crave our routines so much that we don’t stop to look at what is happening in the world around us.

I was at opening chapel at Christ Community Lutheran School.  It was like being home in a way. I have always been at churches with large schools, and I remember the opening chapels. They were always so full of energy!  The CCLS experience was rather surreal because in this congregation was a whole group of new parents in a church I attended when I was at the seminary, but yet I have done chapels like this during my whole ministry. I think the school leadership forgot for a second that I had been a youth pastor for five years, until I had the 8^th graders scream that they ruled CCLS.  Don’t worry!  The Executive Director, Mr. Rob Cooksey, called me out, but I don’t embarrass easily. (too many youth messing with me through the years.)  One of my favorite tricks was when I was staying with my in-laws after we moved from California. The Youth Group followed me home one night, and later took pictures of my in-laws’ house. They held onto those pictures until we sang Big House one night and slowly the power point presentation revealed all the pictures from my in-laws’ house, including my car parked outside of it. I laughed as I recognized my in-laws house, right before I gave the message at that youth event. Their creative minds are unique and have been the highlight of my life.  As I was teaching them at CCLS about being one in Jesus, I began to wonder what relationships with youth will develop.

I have encouraged the Church to constantly realize the value of our young people. I want people to see how much they can help the Church right now before they are even considered adults. I have written articles on how we must include them right now, and how we can all benefit from their passion and heart for the Church.

The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod has a very strong desire to help us see that youth and children are the future of the Church. Through infant baptism our children begin their journey as God’s dear children, and members of His family, the Church. This week we will celebrate with long time members as they watch their grand-daughter being baptized. It is an exciting moment for our church community to welcome the newest member of the next generation.

Soon Mt. Calvary’s Center for Early Childhood Education will open its doors, and we will have tons of families with their little guys entering our facility. It is a prime time to talk about God’s very calling to our children. Jesus rebuked the disciples when they did not acknowledge that the little children were worth His time. This week we will focus our attention on this exact point. We are all children of light. God has provided each of us, young and old, with various talents to use in His kingdom.

Teach them how to serve

Jacob, my four year old, will ask for “Bunny”. People who hear him ask for this often look at him like, “What are you saying?”  Then we explain that on the Nesquik container, there is a bunny, and ever since Jacob has been little, he calls it that. “Oh,” they will say. Now Gavin, my soon-to-be two-year-old, has started to call it the same thing.  Funny what our kids perceive, and how these perceptions are imitated by others in the family.

I was fourteen, and it felt like we went down there every Saturday.  We headed to a place we called the mission.  It was on one of the dangerous streets in Kansas City.  Dad would load us up in the red van and we would be on our way to help.  Sometimes it would seem like hours had passed, and we would still be there. Sometimes my dad would lead the service, sometimes he would help stock the shelves; other times he just did any other needed task.  I would meet some of the most unique people.

One of my scariest experiences happened when I was talking to this guy, and he kept asking me to give him a high five.  I was trying to be respectful and just kept doing it.  Finally he said he wanted to show me the streets.  I followed him, and then Booker grabbed me.  Booker was a guy who had been at the mission for a long time.  He knew the streets and had gotten caught up in some crazy stuff.  Booker saved my life.

When I came home from college there was always chocolate milk in the fridge.  Mom knew I loved it.  It was one of the ways she reminded me how much she loved me by buying a gallon for me when I came home.  This was not shocking to me because my mom was always willing to help with Sunday School, VBS, or serving food at church.  I would watch her spend hours in the kitchen for a church event.  There were many nights when I just wanted to go home, but she was finishing up at church.  My mom always had this heart to help people.  Rod, my step dad always says, “It is her goal to feed the world.”

I heard that Booker died.  It made me so sad because I believe that God used him to save my life.  The mission impacted my life; my mom’s heart of service impacted my life.  My parents could have told me a million times to serve other people, but it would not have influenced me as much as their actions.  Without a doubt, my parents set an example that made a lasting impression.  I am the man I am today because of their actions and how they showed me what Christ meant when he said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

We were cleaning up at Mt. Calvary after VBS.  Mindy, my wife, had gone home to put our little ones down for naps, but Jacob, stayed to help afterwards.  I was carrying chairs and thinking about how hot it was.  I may be a pastor, but I am a whiner sometimes.  I hate being hot--ask my wife.  On the outside I was happy, but inside I was feeling the heat, and was thrilled for the relief of entering the building.  Jacob was helping Tracy, our Children’s Ministry Director, inside.  You always wonder how you are doing as a parent.  I pray that I set an example for my kids, and have my days when I feel like I get frustrated too easily.  Jacob said to Tracy, “I want to be a helper like my daddy.” At that moment I knew it was happening-- in spite of all of my weaknesses, he was imitating the example I had hoped to set for him.

You are that example for your kids.  It may have taken my dad fourteen years but he provided an example that impacted my life.  Servant Sunday is all about patiently setting the example for your kids and for the people in our community.  We may do things a little differently this Sunday, but it is for a reason: to impact Brentwood.  God sent us to love Brentwood.  It is Mt. Calvary’s calling to love Brentwood--even if our neighbors are sometimes crabby; even if people think we should take better care of our property; even if people don’t care about any church.  This Sunday we come together to do exactly that.  At 9 am we will have a short service with a different style of music; a time to reflect; and then we will head out to serve and love Brentwood.  We will celebrate as the Body of Christ in Lutheran tradition—with a potluck.  So wear shorts and a T-shirt; bring a side dish and an open mind, and let’s set a lasting impression on our families and Brentwood.