February 1, 2021

February 1, 2021

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. – Philippians 4:8

A positive attitude can go a long way. At least that is what I heard from various coaches and teachers while growing up.  The focus being that if we wanted to succeed in life, we had to keep a positive attitude.  However, keeping such positivity in the darkness of the world can seem, at times an impossible task. 

We are bombarded with news reports, work, life stressors, and various other things that stive to make us feel down about things, to lose that positive attitude.  Some days even the most positive of us struggle to make it through, and we have to remind ourselves that others are watching.  Even when we don’t feel positive about anything, some of us may have learned how to fake it, at least for the benefit of others, but does faking a positive attitude really make a difference?

I think the answer may depend on how we ‘fake’ such positivity. I like any of us can be down at time, lose an optimistic hope, and worry about the days ahead. However, there is something underneath such feelings that I can cling which helps, and that is knowing the God of Scripture, and believing that God is with me, even in such hard times.

The apostle Paul writes to the Philippians a great letter of encouragement, and in the midst of that, he tells them to dwell on or think about the things that are true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, and excellent. When we think about those things, I think we will have an easier time keeping a positive attitude, I know I do.  Dwelling on the things we cannot change, or the things that bring us down have the effect of bringing us down. However, the opposite is also true, and if we heed Paul’s advice to dwell on the excellent things, it lifts us up, and helps to realize life is better than the negatives. 

So, however, you may be feeling today, let’s work on focusing on the things that are worthy of praise, allowing God to lift us up, and helps us keep that positive attitude in all things.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

January 31, 2021

January 31, 2021

To join our online worship service at 9 am or after, please visit: stmarkknox.org/sermons

27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And he got up, left everything, and followed him. – Luke 5:27-28

Of all the calling stories in the Bible, the calling of Levi might be one of my favorite.  It teaches us that change is not easy.  Change requires a lot of effort on our part, it requires a lot of trust on our part, it requires us to do something, or give up something, or a combination of the two.

So Jesus says to Levi, a wealthy tax collector, one who is despised among his own people because, like most tax collectors in that time, a little extra is given to them off the top (or in some cases they took a little off the top) to further their personal wealth. They were seen as crooks of their own people.  It’s why we often, in Scripture, see the phrase: “tax collectors and sinners” because to the Jews, and as called out by the Pharisees, these were one in the same.

Yet, Jesus calls Levi, and Levi immediately leaves his tax table behind, and goes with Jesus. Levi leaves behind the life that he has in luxury, though he is despised by his own people, for the purpose of following Jesus.  In the case of Levi, he has to do the both, the giving up of something old, and the doing of something new.

This tax collector leaves his life as it was, and enters into a new life, now working with Jesus to give hope to the poor, and encouragement to the down-trodden.  Eventually, recording all of these works in a gospel that we know in his geek name, Matthew. 

However, at the time Matthew was called, he still had friends from his old way of life, they like him were sinners.  And as Jesus called Levi from his table, collecting taxed, Levi invited Jesus into his home, he gathered the sinners he know together, to have a feast with Jesus.

Now that there is a sermon in and of itself, of how when we do change, when we do repent, our call is not just to leave behind everything we once knew, and to just forget about the people of our past; but like in the case of Levi, let’s give them the opportunity to hear this reason for a change in our life.  It is the job of the redeemed let people know of our redemptions and let them make a decision for themselves.  Let’s lead them to the fountain of living water that they might drink form the never ending well of the Holy Spirit and find their lives forever changed, because that is what happened to us.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

January 30, 2021

January 30, 2021

Sharing from the congregation – David Petty

I know all the birds of the air, and all that moves in the field is mine. — Psalm 50:11

The seagulls are back.

As I told the children a few years ago, and I’m sure many of you overheard, there is a flock of seagulls that winters on London Lake.  They usually show up around Thanksgiving and stay through early March.  I haven’t been out much this winter, but I did see them over on the lake recently.  I don’t know how long they’ve been coming; I first saw them 22 years ago.  Some years there seem to be more than others, but one occasion when I tried to count them I counted over 50 before they flew away.

The story I have been told about how they got here is that many years ago the flock was blown off course by a storm and ended up in the vicinity of West Town Mall.  Workers at the restaurants began feeding them leftovers.  Apparently the birds appreciated Knoxville hospitality enough that that decided to return every winter.

So much has changed since they started coming.  So much has changed since the last time they came!  I find a lot of consolation in the fact that many of the rhythms of life, great and small, continue despite human problems.  I have learned to appreciate small miracles; a flock of birds may not seem to compare to some miracles, but all are testimonies to the same God.  So let’s show hospitality to them all.  In the midst of our present troubles, praise God!

Gracefully submitted, 
David Petty

January 29, 2021

January 29, 2021

Sharing from the Congregation – David Petty

The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ?  The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?  Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. —1 Corinthians 10:16

Tomato plants need a lot of water, but if you overwater them, especially some varieties, the tomatoes can grow so fast that that they begin to split.  Something like that seems to have happened to the church in Corinth.

Corinth was the Second City of the Greek peninsula, behind only Athens in its intellectual and cultural fame, and probably an even bigger center of trade.  With its booming multicultural population and the relative religious tolerance of the Greeks, it looked like a great place to start a church.  Apparently the church there did well for a while, but by the time of Paul’s first known letter to it (perhaps 5-10 years after the founding) divisions were forming.  We don’t know exactly what the divisions were  about (reading an epistle is like listening to one end of a telephone conversation and trying to figure out the whole conversation) but from the early part of the letter it seems to have had to do with what Paul calls wisdom.

Paul speaks negatively of wisdom; this is odd, because the Bible holds wisdom in high regard.  There are entire chapters in Proverbs devoted to it.  The explanation for Paul’s attitude has to do with his somewhat ironic definition of wisdom.  He is apparently speaking of the “wisdom” of the Greek thinkers — their endless arguments over trivial points and abstract ideas.  In verses 2:6-7 he distinguishes between this and true wisdom, what he calls “God’s wisdom.”

Over the course of the letter, Paul develops several arguments for church unity.  Chapter 10 is a brief foreshadowing of his description, two chapters later, of the first communion.  The passage in Chapter 12 is one of four communion descriptions in the New Testament (the others are in Matthew, Mark, and Luke), and it’s perhaps the best written.  The remarkable thing is that that Paul’s version, quotable as it is, does not seem to be primarily about communion itself.  Instead he seems to be using the communion account as a way emphasizing that we are “one body.”  This is essentially the same point that he makes, more succinctly, back in Chapter 10.

Divisiveness in the church obviously did not end in Corinth; it has continued ever since and is a hot topic in our denomination now.  It’s a complex problem and it is not my place to judge the wisdom of folks who disagree with me. But I agree with the political leaders who say that what unites us is greater than what divides us, and I think that applies even more to the church than to the political world.

Gracefully submitted,
David Petty

January 28, 2021

January 28, 2021

Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.  My Father will honor the one who serves me. – John 12:26

Who do you know to be a true follower of Christ; a true servant to the King?  We would like to think the answer to that question is easy enough to answer in ourselves.  After all, we all have chosen Christ as our Lord and Savior, so we are surely followers of Christ; aren’t we?  This is what we believe, yet when we read what Jesus says to those who say they want to follow him, we see that some are called to leave their family behind (Mk 1:17).  Others are told to not wait till tomorrow (Mt 8:22).  Others still, called to leave their job (Mk 2:14), or sell all they have, give the money to the poor, then follow (Mk 10:21).  And all this is not to mention the most famous: “deny yourself, pick up your cross daily and follow me” (Mk 8:34). 

When we think about each of these acts before following Christ, we find that we are way more comfortable following Christ as longs as it’s on our terms instead of His.  Following Christ on our terms means we can stay where we are, we can choose where our money goes, we can remain with our families, and take care of the day to day practices of our lives.  However, if we are following according to our terms Christ is not first and foremost.  On our terms we are centering everything on the mantra of “what’s best for me and mine.”  Yet, at the same time we might boisterously sing “I surrender all…” 

If we are to read and adhere to the scriptural understanding of following Christ, then why do we only follow when it is convenient?  Being a follower and disciple of Christ goes so much further than “faithfully participating in [the church’s] ministries by your prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness.”  It is understanding that Christ is the head of the church, and we are the body, working together for the purpose of God’s kingdom.  As Christians in today’s society we must stand out against the grain and place God’s kingdom first, at the top, before anything else.  We are the church the body of Christ, and must support one another in the ministries of God’s kingdom.  Think about that which God has done in your life, and ask whether you are truly following with an appropriate response.  Beyond this, find joy in your discipleship and be truly blessed by following God’s presence in your life, for joy follows obedience to God’s promises.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

January 27, 2021

January 27, 2021

O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell, and the place where your glory abides.
 – Psalm 26:8

…Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price…
- 1 Corinthians 6:19

Where do we find God? That question might take us in many directions and much of it depends on how we were formed in our childhood, and our current relationship with God.  Hopefully, we can learn to recognize God in everything as God is the maker of all things, and recreator of hope in us.

The psalmist, we must remember, comes from a different time, a time in which they believed the glory of God dwelled in the temple of God, and even in a special place within the temple where early on the Arc of the Covenant was kept.  In the days from Moses until Solomon the temple of the Lord was a tent that could be moved from place-to-place, the location of the temple didn’t matter as much as that the temple was were one would find the Arc, and therefore the presence of God.  After the temple was built during the time of King Solomon, the Jews refocused their aspects of worship to be in the temple in Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the city promised to their ancestors, and the temple, there, would be the place where God’s presence could be found.

As the generations past, the temples was destroyed, rebuilt, and destroyed again, leaving the sense of identity for many who worshiped God in a state of flux; however, as Christians we also rely on the teachings of Jesus, his apostles, and of course Paul. Paul tells us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. This means the place where the glory dwells is in us, who believe.

So, where can we find God? We find God in ourselves as we offer ourselves to the love and grace God pours out in us. We find God in the eyes of another, knowing that there is no one that God does not choose to love. We find God in the warm conversations we have with loved ones and strangers. We find God as we worship in truth whether in a sanctuary, our home, or our car singing along to the radio. We find God in the place where God’s glory dwells as we seek to abide in his Word and Truth each day of this life on until everlasting life.  Let his glory be found in you today and always.

Grace & Peace,

January 26, 2021

January 26, 2021

I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:5

Since March of 2020, loneliness and isolation has been more the norm for a large number of people. We started with orders to stay at home, then came the recommendation for those at high risk to remain at home. Even the places we often went and trusted for safety and security were no longer available for us. If we continued to participate in a worship service it was online, and as grateful as we are to have the opportunity to be connected in that way, we all can admit it is not the same. While I remain hopeful that we will reopen for in-person worship in the near future, I know several will remain at home, still, as they did during our last reopening.

I say this, not to discount the efforts that have been made to keep our church connected, but to help us understand, together, it is hard to feel connected when physically we are so disconnected. Especially, for many, during these cold winter months, the feelings of isolation can be overwhelming. More than ever this is a time to check on one another, to let them know they are being thought about, prayed for, and that they are loved.

Jesus tells his disciples that they need to remain connected to the vine to bear fruit, but so many feel cut off because their main sources of connection have been stopped.  However, Jesus also tells the disciples that even though he will not always be with them physically, they will know he is there through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus points them (and us) to the God who abides with us, who is there in our times of isolation, who comforts our ever needs. Yet, we are also called to be God’s hands and feet, to remind one another in our own words, or in the words that God gives, that we love them as God loves them. 

Time apart are hard, but God abides with us, and I pray we may abide in him, as we wait and hope to join again in the congregation, together, for worship.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

January 25, 2021

January 25, 2021

Sharing from the congregation – David Petty

And I said to him, “Run, say to that young man: Jerusalem shall be inhabited like villages without walls because of the multitude of people that inhabit it.  For I will be a wall of fire around it, says the Lord, and I will be the glory within it. — Zechariah 2:4-5

For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. — Ephesians 2:14

Among all the headlines about politics, the pandemic, wars or rumors of wars, and celebrity scandals, one subject that keeps bobbing up like a cork is Wall Street.  Wall Street, of course is a term used to symbolize the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, and related institutions in the area around that street, that constitute the financial center of New York City and to some extent of the world.  So I thought it would be interesting to think about the street itself.

Wall Street extends for eight blocks (less than half a mile) across the southern end of Manhattan island.  Some historians believe it was named for the Walloons, an ethnic group from southern Holland that settled in the area.  More likely, however, is that it was named for a wall that was initially constructed along what would become the street’s north side in the 1650’s, in an attempt to keep out hostile Indians as well as pirates and perhaps the British. 

Human-built walls don’t always work.  How well this wall worked is unclear; the marshy terrain of the island at that time would probably have made it easy to gain access to the city by another route.  In any event, the British had already taken over the city before the wall was completed and the street was surveyed.  Within a few decades a securities and exchange business, and unfortunately a slave market, were thriving on the street.

Walls have been built for all sorts of reasons over the centuries— think of the Great Wall of China, the Berlin Wall, and even the wall under construction (as of this writing) along the U. S. border.  Some walls are to keep out the elements (for example, sea walls), some to keep people out (the Great Wall) and some to keep people in (the Berlin Wall.)  So it should not be surprising that the Bible uses the word to express different things.  God is a wall that protects us, but Gods tears down walls as well.

In these times, as in Old Testament times, we often need the reassurance that God protects us, standing as straight and firm as a well-built wall.  Perhaps if our fears center on a pandemic rather than a physical enemy, a wall may not be the symbol that first comes to mind.  If our biggest enemies are our own sins — pride, greed, and so on — perhaps a wall is not the most obvious symbol.  But the point is the same.

Yet there is a time, as Paul reminds us, for breaking down some walls.  For walls can be bad as well as good.  I think another passage in Isaiah, 60:18, resolves the contrast nicely: “Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders, you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.”  It is salvation that protects us from all real harm, and that brings us together with all God’s people.

Gracefully submitted,
David Petty

January 24, 2021

January 24, 2021

To join our online worship service at 9 am or after please visit: stmarkknox.org/sermons

But Jesus said to them, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.” – Luke 4:43

Tucked between Jesus rebuke in his hometown of Nazareth and the calling of the first disciples, we find Jesus is continuing to preach in synagogues, now in Capernaum. In this city in Galilee, Jesus heals many sick and casts out demons. The people view Jesus as their Messiah, and they do not want him to leave.

I know I’ve heard the message many times, and I would venture to guess you have heard something to the effect: accept Jesus as your personal savior.  I understand the intent of such message is that we would accept the grace that God offers through Jesus, follow him, become a disciple, and live a life abundant and blessed because we belong to God.  However, sometimes the way the message is said, it can be interpreted as Jesus being only a personal savior.

I look to this short passage in Luke to remind us that Jesus came to be a savior for all.  His purpose was the proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to many cities, and through his disciples to all the cities that were and ever will be.  The message of salvation is a message of good news for the world, for its people, and the coming kingdom of God is a complete new creation.

I find it hard, sometimes, to boil the message of salvation down to a personal savior. Personable in relationship, yes. Knowing each saved by name, yes. Loving each the same, yes. However, it is we who belong to God through Jesus, not Jesus who belongs to us. The message of ‘personal savior’ gives the notion of possession, and we must not reverse the roles. For the same message of the coming kingdom of God is good news for us, and for all. Therefore, as we grow to see the kingdom of God we must allow the message of salvation to move from us, though it is still with us. We must understand this is a message to be shared with others. Perhaps, as we grow in our understanding, we might also realize that God’s good news is shared by us and through us as we live as disciples of the one who saves us, and all by His amazing grace.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

January 23, 2021

January 23, 2021

Sharing from the congregation – David Petty

Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith... — Hebrews 11:39-12:2

I don’t often read of a group of people being called a cloud.

In fact, except for this familiar verse from Hebrews and various paraphrases, I don’t think I’ve ever read of it.  The witnesses here are Old Testament figures listed previously in Chapter 11 —  Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and many others.  I suppose it might be that these are called a cloud because they are not fully visible and because they are “all around us.”  But there are other possibilities.

Hebrews is so named because it was written to a group of Hebrews, or perhaps because it was written in the style of Hebrew writing of that era. There is a large body of Jewish literature from this period (and others), and it uses some typical literary techniques.  One such technique is a type of allusion that uses a word or short phrase as a sort of “code” or “shorthand” that refers to longer passage (often in scripture).  The closest I can come to a modern illustration would be the term “sour grapes.”  Here the two simple words are intended to evoke Aesop’s complete little narrative of the fox and the grapes.

So possibly the word “cloud” is there to remind us of something in the Hebrew Scriptures.  I know of three main uses of cloud imagery on the Old Testament.  One is the cloud that led the Israelites through the wilderness (during the day) and that enveloped Moses when he spoke with God.  Matthew, Mark, and Luke pick up this image in their descriptions of the transfiguration of Christ.  Another image, in Isaiah 4:13, describes the Messiah as coming on the clouds.  It’s used again in Daniel and several times in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, and Revelation).

But the Bible’s first mention of clouds, and it’s one that especially interests me, is a passage beginning with Genesis 9:13: “I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”  The passage occurs at the end of the story of the great flood,  and the image (presumably a rainbow) represents God’s promises.

Of course I don’t know whether the writer of Hebrews actually intended to imply “promise” in 12:1, but it fits the context.  Although these witnesses did not receive the promise, they were certain of it; and their testimony was in their actions.  They are, to borrow a phrase from earlier in Chapter 11, evidence of things unseen.

That cloud of witnesses has grown a lot since Hebrews was written (we might want to call it a “crowd of witnesses.”)  It includes many New Testament figures not mentioned there, as well as saints of the church and figures like Martin Luther and John Wesley.  We have our own cloud of invisible witnesses from St. Mark; to our sorrow, several folks have left to join them in just the past few months.

But I would like to mention two other clouds.  One is simply ourselves.  In these days of social distancing, even those of us who are quite alive have become almost invisible to each other.  Although we are apart, however, we surround and sustain each other.  Second, I remind you of our pastor and church staff.  We do get to see many of them occasionally, either online or on those occasions when we have been able to have sanctuary services.  But for the most part they are an invisible cloud, supporting and nurturing our community — as they were long before the pandemic hit.  Thank the Lord for all of these.

Gracefully submitted,
David Petty

January 22, 2021

January 22, 2021

See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. – Psalm 139:42

The intent of the heart can be a profound yet difficult reflection. This psalm of David, seeks for the prayer to understand that true intention is known only by the individual and God. God searches deep within, sees our innermost person, and chooses to love and forgive us. 

It’s a wonder that God will choose to love us, knowing the deep darkness that we hold inside at times.  However, as the psalmist says, “even the darkness is not dark to you…” The truth of the psalm is that we are inescapable from God. God is with us, and for us. God chooses us, and wants for us to choose love.

It’s hard to admit that the evil we see in our world, and even in us at times is a choice we have made.  We choose to deny God when we choose to hate another. We choose to abandon God when choose wickedness. We choose God, however, when we repent of wicked ways. We choose God when we seek to be better. We choose God when we chose to love those with whom we disagree. We choose God when we realize there is no place we can hide from God, and relinquish ourselves to his loving arms.

The beauty of grace is that it is always available, always in abundance, and is always lavished on those who choose God.  May we allow God to rout out any wickedness that may be hiding in us, and lead us in the way everlasting in grace, peace, and love. Amen.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

January 21, 2021

January 21, 2021

Sharing from the congregation – David Petty

The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established. — Proverbs 19:21

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord,, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. — Jeremiah 29:11

John was a choir boy with a beautiful voice.  He had dreams of being a famous singer some day.  Then adolescence hit and he found himself unable to sing.  He was devastated — at least as devastated as one can be at that age; kids have a wonderful ability to bounce back.

He moved on, though.  He decided to become a choir director, and he began writing choral music.  Today John Rutter is one of the greatest composers of choral music in the world.  According to him, he still can’t sing.  (He’s exaggerating.  I’ve heard him sing a few lines in a radio interview and he’s not bad.)  Apparently God had other plans for John Rutter.

His story is not entirely unique.  The Austrian composer Franz Joseph Haydn also began as a choir boy who lost his singing voice.  You probably know stories of others, musical or otherwise, famous or otherwise, who encountered devastating circumstances that turned out to be springboards to greater things.  Quite possibly it’s happened to you.

The Bible indicates that God’s plans are not our plans, but it also implies that God’s plans are in our best interests.  Thus it would seem to make sense for us to align our plans with God’s.  But we often don’t.  Why not?   I think there are several reasons.

First, sometimes we simply forget.  In our busy lives it’s seems easy to forget about God for periods of time.  Second, it can be hard to know what God’s plans are (although the Beatitudes and the Golden Rule, for example, can point us in the right direction.)

Third, I’m afraid that sometimes we just don’t believe God will really work things out in our favor.  To be fair, that’s often not due to doubts about God’s power; sometimes it has to do with own sense of worthlessness.  Fourth, we don’t like to wait.  We may realize that God’s plans will eventually take place, but we also know that God’s time is on a different scale from ours.  We’d like our situation to be resolved in the next twenty minutes or so.

So pray for alertness, discernment, faith, and patience.  If you don’t need them yourself, pray for me.  And please treat yourself to some of John Rutter’s music.  There are a number of pieces available online.

Gracefully submitted,
David Petty

January 20, 2021

January 20, 2021

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. - 1 Corinthians 10:13

There is no doubt that temptation is part of life.  It does not matter how strong we are in our faith, how far along we are in our faith journey, or if we have even begun to have faith, we are constantly faced with temptations.  The question is what we do when the next temptation arrives? Or how do we respond to temptation in general?

This may sound absurd, but more often than not, our answer to temptation is to give into it.  I’m not saying that we don’t have the power or even the responsibility to overcome temptation, and it’s often not the morally difficult temptations that we give into to most often (though that is possible).  Most of the temptation we face are the little things that could help strengthen our faith.  We may be tempted to stay up and watch a little more television vs. reading a devotion or Scripture.  We may be tempted to not participate in worship because it has moved online, though I hope in-person opportunities will occur again soon. We might be tempted to be angry because something didn’t happen the way we desired.  We might be tempted to put our own ambitions ahead of what is best of a community. All of these temptations are part of everyday life, and these are the temptations that we are more likely to give in to, than those of gross moral misconduct. 

Those in leadership of others, perhaps, face even greater temptations each and every day, and we pray that they will hold to the truth of God’s guidance as it is written in the psalms: “o send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling” (Psalm 43:3).

Yet, if we do give into temptation what does that mean for our faith?  Paul tells the Corinthians that there is no temptation that can overcome you, and that God always provides a way out.

I believe that as we desire for our faith to grow, our spirits to mature, these little temptations pop up more regularly, because God is claiming more of our lives and we become more in tune with our calling to love one another.  If we constantly decide, with God’s help, to overcome our temptations and be overwhelmed in and by love, than we might start loving others the way God desires, we might start seeing the kingdom of God alive in us, and we might start helping others overcome the power of darkness.

No wonder we face so many temptations, even little one, because if we were to truly overcome darkness, than we might get closer to the glory of God.  The powers of evil do not want to see us come together, working together, overcoming temptation.  Instead, they would tempt us to be divided.  As with every temptation, we do have the power to overcome.  I hope and pray that we would be guided by God’s light and truth, recognize the temptations that seek to separate us from God and from one another, and seek unity, harmony, and love for one another through Christ who overcame all temptation, and is our savior.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

January 19, 2021

January 19, 2021

5 May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6 so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. – Romans 15:5-6

In times where division seems hard to overcome, I look to what is the most uniting thing of all – The saving grace of Jesus Christ.

God sent us Jesus to be our one and only savior, to show us a path towards unity, though we often argue about the uniformity of a kingdom that we cannot fully see.  Unity, however, is understanding that we all have the same goal, we want the same outcome, we want to see glory brought to the name of Jesus.  In the past years we may have seen more disagreements with what that should look like, than agreement, but looking to the words of the apostle Paul, written to a church that seemingly couldn’t agree on anything, he writes: “may the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony…”

It’s an interesting word choice here by the translators: harmony.  To be in harmony is interesting because it does not mean that everyone is the same.  Best understood in music, harmony is what gives us a richness to a piece as the notes, though played or sung at the same time have an effect on one another.  There are times when a those notes comes together and seemly clash against one another, when there is dissonance among the wavelengths of sound. They create a tension, but also cause intrigue. Typically speaking, though, this tension does not last forever, but gives way to the resolve, when the notes align in that perfect harmony that is pleasing to the ears, and elicits peace and comfort to the listener. 

In much the same way, I believe that in the long music of life, we experience those times of dissonance, where we clash with the ideas of another, or can’t seem to find a point of which to agree. However, we must not give up or give in to disunity because of such clash.  The Scriptures remind us over and again that Christ’s love is the perfect bond of unity (Colossians 3:14) and as we seek to bring praise to God through our words and our actions, even among those with whom we disagree we can find harmony as we work together to bring glory to God the Father and our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

January 18, 2021

January 18, 2021

Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.15 Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. – Amos 5:14-15

            If you have time, I would invite you to read the full passage of Amos 5:14-24

“Let Justice roll like a mighty river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” 

These words taken from Amos are more known to us because of their use by civil rights activist and preacher Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  In several of his speeches, including his most famous “I have a Dream” speech.  These words indicate to those who listen that there is justice, and this justice coming, in spite of any difficulties we may face in the present age, because there is a God who believes in justice, equality, and those will bring them with the coming kingdom.

King shares that our God believes in justice. Yet, we should also remember that these words are much older than the civil rights movement of the American 1960’s. The same God whom King proclaims is for justice in our modern times is the same as the one who spoke for justice in the times before Christ through the prophet Amos.

In the days of Amos, the land was dry and parched, and there was need for rain, there was need for justice of those oppressed by a system that did not work, and there was a need for righteousness on the part of Israel because they were not seeking the good that was shown to them by God. They had forgotten to show the loving acts of mercy that was shown to them by the God who saved them out of oppression in Egypt and given them a promised land.

The image used for God’s mercy, righteousness, and justice, is this: 24 But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!

We need to be reminded that the perversion of justice to our own benefit agers God, but as believers we are called to take a serious look at the way we construct our society, and our church.  We are challenged to ask whether “the noise of our songs,” or “our solemn assemblies” are honoring God because of the righteousness they call our lives to, or are they taking place in the glaring absence of the justice of our God for those who are overlooked, excluded, slighted, and violated in our community?  We need remember that our God desires mercy, love, acceptance, because those are what were offered to us, when we were on the outside.  And our response is to offer in the humility of Christ by which we are called.  The words, again, of Martin Luther King Jr, as borrowed by many who came before him; do still apply here, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”

Justice will not fail, though wickedness appears strong, and has on its side the armies and thrones of power, the riches and the glory of the world, and though poor men crouch down in despair. Justice will not fail, nor perish out from the world, nor will what is really wrong and contrary to God’s law of justice continually endure.

God’s words though Amos are a call, that God has the final word, it is not ours. And on the cross as the sixth hour approached, that final word was “it is finished.” Death and destruction, oppression and inequality were over at that point.  For us, as Christians, our call is to remember that the one who saves us, saved the world, and we are the workers called to offer that love, bringing justice and righteousness to all, in the name of Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

January 17, 2021

January 17, 2021

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When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.
– Luke 4:13

Much has been said and written about the temptation of Christ. Still, I find it one of the most intriguing stories to be shared with the context of the gospels.  The temptation Jesus goes though is nestled between his baptism (the pronouncement of who he is in God’s kingdom) and his public ministry (how he shares God’s kingdom with others).

The temptation that Jesus overcomes is an opportunity for us to overcome our own temptations. As we seek to follow Christ in this world, to be his disciples, and work for the kingdom that is already and not yet, we come to find that the temptation story teaches us much about the human condition and its desires.  The temptations of Christ are seen as a

- Temptation for hedonism (the stones to bread) which attacks the heart and its desire for satisfaction.

- Temptation for egoism (jumping from the tower) which attacks our mind making us believe we have might and will have success.

- Temptation for materialism (all the kingdoms of the world) which attacks the soul, believe that we can have all that we wish, that with power and wealth we will have control.

Like Jesus, we face these same temptations for power, satisfaction, and success. We all seek to build our own earthly kingdoms, and in the process we let go of the truth of what Christ did for us – set us free. Our freedom from the powers of this world enable us to focus on mind, soul, and heart as we seek to living into the faith, hope, and love that have been given us through Christ. 

This fundamental teaching of Christ’s overcoming temptation teaches us that we too overcome as we focus on faith, rely on hope, and serve others in love because He first loved us.  I pray we will move forward this week, keeping our focus on the kingdom that is to come and how we can work in that kingdom with faith, hope, and love, the greatest of these being love.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

January 16, 2021

January 16, 2021

 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. – Romans 12:18

In the midst of all that goes on in our lives, at our work places, in our neighborhoods, at school, even within our families, and especially within ourselves; are we at peace with everyone?  Truth is, even if you may be at peace right now all it would take is one wrong action on someone’s part and, BAM, no peace, only turmoil.  Likewise, you could be in turmoil over some major event that has occurred, will occur or is currently happening, but as soon as it’s over, peace can return to you.  Peace is one of those things that we would love to be permanent, or constant in our lives. However, peace seems to only happen in moments, and those moments often seem fleeting.

As Paul, is writing to the Romans about Christian ethics, he speaks to them about love, about the good, about opposing evil, and doing what is right.  He speaks to them about hope, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness.  In the middle of all of this the phrase, “if possible…” shows up. We realize, in this, that peace is not always a choice.  As long as we live in a broken world, full of broken people, there will be broken relationships, and lack of peace therein.  So, what do we do about it?

We try.  We make peace a goal, and we sometime have to start small.  Peace takes much effort on many parties, but it begins with us.  First, find peace in yourself, forgive yourself as Christ has forgiven you, and forget about the pains that keep you from being at peace.  Christ as removed your transgressions as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).  So we must simply, be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10) and that He has taken it all away.  Secondly, make peace with family, I know that sometimes this can be difficult because some hurts run extremely deep, but family is family and they are a gift.  Just as we become part of God’s family, and are accepted in as children, so we should be accepting and loving of the family with which we have been blessed.  Find peace, even when others refuse.  Lastly, find peace with those around you, in your workplace, school, neighborhood, or church community.  We are all part of God’s family, all those who call on the name of the LORD, and you never know who you might be praising beside in heaven.  Make peace now, and peace will lead you onward to the day of Christ. 

Grace & Peace,
Sam

January 15, 2021

January 15, 2021

Sharing from the Congregation – David Petty

Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  — Isaiah 55:1

One of the recurring nightmares of this pandemic has been that we will run out of available ventilators.  This was a particular concern last spring in New York, and has been raised again during the surge of the disease over the past few weeks.  Healthcare workers are agonizing over the possibility that they will have to ration ventilators, deciding to provide them to some patients and denying them to others.

A similar issue is occurring due to the currently limited vaccine supply.  The vaccine is being rationed to certain groups, and there is frustration and apparently even cheating.  According to the internet some individuals are even withholding vaccine from those who are supposed to receive it, so that they can administer it to themselves and their families.

Rationing due to limited resources is not new.  Even churches have to make hard decisions about how to spend their resources, giving up one program to support another.  So it is vital for us to remember that there is something that does not have to be rationed: God’s love.  God’s love is inexhaustible, limitless, unbounded.  To use Old Testament language, it is a well that never runs dry.

There are at least two ways, and more I’m sure, to think about this limitlessness.  One is on a personal level.  No matter how many times we stumble, no matter how much of God’s love that we feel we have used up, there remains plenty, available without price.  (We might limit it ourselves, of course, in the sense that we refuse to accept it.)

Another is on a social level.  We can give love (God’s love flowing through us) to anyone, without any fear that it will run out and there won’t be enough to give to someone else.  No rationing needed, and we might occasionally need to remind ourselves that there should be no price.

Gracefully submitted,
David Petty

January 14, 2021

January 14, 2021

I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world! – John 16:33

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? If we were to look to the scriptures we might pick a verse like Luke 9:23 – “If anyone wants to be my disciples, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Or we might say that being a displace of Jesus is following him.  We might look to the commands like in John 13:34 – “I give you a new command: Love one another; just as I have loved you, you must also love one another.” We might, in this, believe and say that being a disciple means to love others as Jesus first loved us.

However, if there is something I have learned from my hears of striving to be a disciple of Jesus, is that in this endeavor I am a failure. I have failed to be a disciple over and over and over; more than I would care to admit.  I fail to be as accepting, loving, forgiving, peaceful as Christ. I fail to be a disciple. So, does my failure mean I am not faithful? Does it mean I should give up and step away from the pulpit? Some might think so, but in recognizing how I have failed, I also get to see through the darkness of my own making, and see the light of Christ lifting me up, offering forgiveness (again) and showing me a pathway of peace, and allowing the opportunity to share with others on this lifetime journey towards the heavenly kingdom.

Jesus has always called and walked with those who failed. Jesus calls those who realize their failure disciples, because they know they need to follow the One who is the word of peace and love.  And Jesus reminds us that while in this world, there will be suffering, there will be anguish, there will be failure. but be courageous! I have overcome the world. We all have to recognize, that we will not overcome our failure to be an example of Christ, I know I won’t, but every step of the way, I also know there is grace enough for you and for me. I know that through Christ, there is forgiveness, mercy, and love that will help us overcome each failure. I believe that God’s Holy Spirit will teach us, lead us, and one day we will no longer fail, but move on towards perfection, truly learning to love one another as a disciple of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

January 13, 2021

January 13, 2021

By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. – Luke 1:78-79

When it comes to Scripture, the prophetic word and the poetic word seems to go hand-in-hand. Upon hearing what God would do, the priest Zechariah (father of John the Baptist) was stricken mute. However, upon seeing the revelation of his son, the promise God made him, realized, John is filled with the Holy Spirit and begins to speak.

What we read in this prophecy is a picture of what God is doing for his people, but all of it is not about his own son, John.  Zechariah is telling the people that salvation is near, and God is keeping his promises to the people of Israel – their salvation will come with the forgiveness of their sins.

The final lines of this prophetic word are shared above. I interpret these to be telling about a new dawning of light that is meant for the minds of the people who would see the same revelation as Zechariah.  We might think of it the same as what the apostle Paul would later say in his letter to the Romans: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds…(Romans 12:2). Both of these, I believe, are pointing us to see something that may at times be beyond us.  The words of “darkness” and “shadow” tell us that the revelation of things to come may not be seen by those who do not see through this coming light.  There may be those who cannot see the path to peace because such darkness, such shadow has too tight a hold on them.

Given the events of the past week, I think there is a darkness that many of us, as Americans, and as Christians need to overcome.  It is a darkness that seeks to blind us from seeing truth, from seeing peace, and moreover blinds us from seeing one another as those who are loved by God.  We all might have points of disagreement on the many issues that face us in our modern world; however, violence is never the answer to those disagreements. Hate is never a way to help one see truth.  The pathway our feet must walk is one of peace.

I know we all continue to watch as we wait to see what might happen next, but I pray that in our watching we would ask ourselves whether we are watching with the light of Christ showing us the path of peace, or blinded by a darkness or a shadow of death?

My hope is that we would allow Christ to light our way, to show us that peace is where the Spirit of the Lord is, that loving our neighbor (all our neighbors) is still of the utmost importance, and that God is with the brokenhearted. Our hearts are broken right now, and only God’s love could mend us together again.

Grace & Peace,
Sam