Good morning, Loved Ones,
As we draw closer and closer to Holy Week we become ever more aware of the brokenness of our world and our own hearts. We see and hear messages of hatred, war, misunderstandings and greed daily, if we are masochistic enough to watch the news. And yet, if we are honest, we see the same brokenness, the same hatred, misunderstandings and greed in our very own hearts. The folks at Alcoholics Anonymous know that certain things need to be done regularly to get and keep our lives on track. One is to confess to God and one another. David, in Psalm 51, gives us a great example.
Psalm 51:7-15 (The Message)
Soak me in your laundry and I'll come out clean,
scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life.
Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,
set these once-broken bones to dancing.
Don't look too close for blemishes,
give me a clean bill of health.
God, make a fresh start in me,
shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don't throw me out with the trash,
or fail to breathe holiness in me.
Bring me back from gray exile,
put a fresh wind in my sails!
Give me a job teaching rebels your ways
so the lost can find their way home.
Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God,
and I'll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.
Unbutton my lips, dear God;
I'll let loose with your praise.
Part of the confessional principle of AA is to take a fearless personal inventory of our lives. We are to be willing to look at our lives with a critical and honest eye and take note of the ways in which we have wronged others. Then we are to seek reconciliation. It is more than dificult to let loose with God's praise when our lives are crippled with the doubt and confusion of unexamined behaviors and attitudes.
1) I give thanks that today I have heard about God's forgiving love and I am free to start again.
2) I give thanks today that God hasn't thrown me out with the trash and that I am not allowed to throw others out with the trash, however they have offended me.
3) I give thanks that today I have the opportunity to help mend relationships in my life and in others' lives.
4) I give thanks today that the work of reconciliation is an urgent one, one that cannot be put off until tomorrow.
5) I give thanks that, God willing, tomorrow will come with new opportunities to forgive and be forgiven.
It's time to unbutton our lips and let loose.
Gimme cinco.
Pastor Rick
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Total Reliance
Good morning, Loved Ones,
Deep in the heart of the Lenten season we may be inclined to think highly of our fasting, the increased frequency and fervency of our prayers, the piety of our worship and offerings. But Paul, in the passage from Ephesians for this Sunday, reminds us of our dependence, our total reliance on God's grace.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (The Message)
1) Thanks be to God for spring break and time to clean house and toss out the old and useless and make room for the good and the useful and for time to spend with our families.
2) Thanks be to God for elders and deacons who are faithful to their call and promise and who met the challenge of a 24 hour fast in preparation for the joint board meeting last weekend.
3) Thanks be to God for the new opportunities being brought our way; visiting summer mission teams, expanded outreach through our community lunch, healthy cooking classes and GED.
4) Thanks be to God for the Holy Spirit which moves and enables us to restore relationships which have been broken.
5) Thanks be to God for each brand new day that continues to come our way.
Don't forget that God does the making and the saving. Let's trust God with what God has created and give thanks for the saving.
Pastor Rick
Deep in the heart of the Lenten season we may be inclined to think highly of our fasting, the increased frequency and fervency of our prayers, the piety of our worship and offerings. But Paul, in the passage from Ephesians for this Sunday, reminds us of our dependence, our total reliance on God's grace.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (The Message)
7-10Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
With all the time in this world and the next to give thanks, let's get started.
1) Thanks be to God for spring break and time to clean house and toss out the old and useless and make room for the good and the useful and for time to spend with our families.
2) Thanks be to God for elders and deacons who are faithful to their call and promise and who met the challenge of a 24 hour fast in preparation for the joint board meeting last weekend.
3) Thanks be to God for the new opportunities being brought our way; visiting summer mission teams, expanded outreach through our community lunch, healthy cooking classes and GED.
4) Thanks be to God for the Holy Spirit which moves and enables us to restore relationships which have been broken.
5) Thanks be to God for each brand new day that continues to come our way.
Don't forget that God does the making and the saving. Let's trust God with what God has created and give thanks for the saving.
Pastor Rick
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
On Your Feet Again
Good morning, Loved Ones,
Let's go straight to the scripture this morning. This is one of the morning Psalms from the daily lectionary.
Perhaps you feel as scattered as an exile today. Or maybe you have a broken heart that needs bandaged. Be confident that God will put you on your feet again. Rains bring a refreshed earth. Give thanks even in the cloudy and stormy times and depend on God's strength.
My Gimme Cinco for today:
1) I give thanks to God today for reconnecting me with some long lost friends who remind me of youthful days and have helped me to remember that age is a state of mind ---- no matter what my knees say.
2) I give thanks to God for elders and deacons who are preparing for another important meeting Saturday by praying and fasting. I give thanks for the spiritual renewal that is happening among our leadership which is coupled with intentional outreach efforts. (Rise up and reach out, GP!)
3) I give thanks for the simple gift of 12 Good News Bibles from the folks at 1st Presbyterian Church. They will be put to good use in the youth room.
4) I give thanks to God for a communicant's/confirmation class of 12 eager, intelligent, beautiful, gifted, energetic, awesome young people who are ready to learn about and express their faith. (Pray for the 12 more who could also come and participate!)
5) I give thanks to God for Juanito who continues to spend his days off here at the church making great progress on our new bathrooms. He is saving us a ton of money and time. Juan's dedication to Jesus and Jesus' work here at GP is a thing of beauty.
God has put you on your feet again today. So, what is your thanksgiving hymn for today? Put your fingers to the keyboard and write us five gratitude verses.
We're all eager to sing with you!
Pastor Rick
Let's go straight to the scripture this morning. This is one of the morning Psalms from the daily lectionary.
Psalm 147:7-11 (The Message)
1 Hallelujah! It's a good thing to sing praise to our God;
praise is beautiful, praise is fitting.
2-6 God's the one who rebuilds Jerusalem,
who regathers Israel's scattered exiles.
He heals the heartbroken
and bandages their wounds.
He counts the stars
and assigns each a name.
Our Lord is great, with limitless strength;
we'll never comprehend what he knows and does.
God puts the fallen on their feet again
and pushes the wicked into the ditch.
7-11 Sing to God a thanksgiving hymn,
play music on your instruments to God,
Who fills the sky with clouds,
preparing rain for the earth,
Then turning the mountains green with grass,
feeding both cattle and crows.
He's not impressed with horsepower;
the size of our muscles means little to him.
Those who fear God get God's attention;
they can depend on his strength.
Perhaps you feel as scattered as an exile today. Or maybe you have a broken heart that needs bandaged. Be confident that God will put you on your feet again. Rains bring a refreshed earth. Give thanks even in the cloudy and stormy times and depend on God's strength.
My Gimme Cinco for today:
1) I give thanks to God today for reconnecting me with some long lost friends who remind me of youthful days and have helped me to remember that age is a state of mind ---- no matter what my knees say.
2) I give thanks to God for elders and deacons who are preparing for another important meeting Saturday by praying and fasting. I give thanks for the spiritual renewal that is happening among our leadership which is coupled with intentional outreach efforts. (Rise up and reach out, GP!)
3) I give thanks for the simple gift of 12 Good News Bibles from the folks at 1st Presbyterian Church. They will be put to good use in the youth room.
4) I give thanks to God for a communicant's/confirmation class of 12 eager, intelligent, beautiful, gifted, energetic, awesome young people who are ready to learn about and express their faith. (Pray for the 12 more who could also come and participate!)
5) I give thanks to God for Juanito who continues to spend his days off here at the church making great progress on our new bathrooms. He is saving us a ton of money and time. Juan's dedication to Jesus and Jesus' work here at GP is a thing of beauty.
God has put you on your feet again today. So, what is your thanksgiving hymn for today? Put your fingers to the keyboard and write us five gratitude verses.
We're all eager to sing with you!
Pastor Rick
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The Real You
Good Morning Loved Ones,
Spring seems to be just around the corner and perhaps, today, you are as hungry for rebirth and warmth as I am. Daily we hear about the sorry state of our economy and the world. Daily there are realities we face in our lives that can cause us to doubt that we are heading in the right direction, toward spring, toward God's newness, God's Kingdom.
When Jesus told the disciples where he was going (the cross) and that they should follow him, Peter grabbed him and said, "No!" Then Jesus said to the disciples and the crowds,
"Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for? If any of you are embarrassed over me and the way I'm leading you when you get around your fickle and unfocused friends, know that you'll be an even greater embarrassment to the Son of Man when he arrives in all the splendor of God, his Father, with an army of the holy angels." (Mark 8:34-38, The Message)
We are called to offer thanks in all circumstances and trust that Jesus is leading us to rebirth.
1) I give thanks for conflict and challenging conversations. It is only through facing problems directly and having frank discussions that we can move forward to resolutions. For those who are willing to speak up and confront, I give thanks.
2) I give thanks for moments of clarity, moments of hope, moments of joy in days that get weighed down by confusion and uncertainty. For music that touches my heart, for writers that challenge my understandings, for scripture that puts me in contact with the Holy and even for late-night comedians who can shake a chuckle out of a weary day, I give thanks.
3) I give thanks that even when I am uncertain about the direction I am heading, I am certain that God has surrounded me with people, brothers and sisters in Christ, whom I can trust and depend on and to whom I belong.
4) I give thanks that my family loves me even in my ugly moments.
5) I give thanks that we are led by Jesus who not only takes us to the cross but also to the empty tomb. I give thanks that the way of the cross is not an easy way, but one that challenges me to find the "real me," the child of a loving God whose way is self-giving. I give thanks that my "help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth."
Well, there you have it. Gratitude is not always bright and cheerful. Maybe yours' is today, maybe it isn't. Don't forget Paul's words to the Thessalonians, "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:13)
Grace and peace,
Pastor Rick
Spring seems to be just around the corner and perhaps, today, you are as hungry for rebirth and warmth as I am. Daily we hear about the sorry state of our economy and the world. Daily there are realities we face in our lives that can cause us to doubt that we are heading in the right direction, toward spring, toward God's newness, God's Kingdom.
When Jesus told the disciples where he was going (the cross) and that they should follow him, Peter grabbed him and said, "No!" Then Jesus said to the disciples and the crowds,
"Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for? If any of you are embarrassed over me and the way I'm leading you when you get around your fickle and unfocused friends, know that you'll be an even greater embarrassment to the Son of Man when he arrives in all the splendor of God, his Father, with an army of the holy angels." (Mark 8:34-38, The Message)
We are called to offer thanks in all circumstances and trust that Jesus is leading us to rebirth.
1) I give thanks for conflict and challenging conversations. It is only through facing problems directly and having frank discussions that we can move forward to resolutions. For those who are willing to speak up and confront, I give thanks.
2) I give thanks for moments of clarity, moments of hope, moments of joy in days that get weighed down by confusion and uncertainty. For music that touches my heart, for writers that challenge my understandings, for scripture that puts me in contact with the Holy and even for late-night comedians who can shake a chuckle out of a weary day, I give thanks.
3) I give thanks that even when I am uncertain about the direction I am heading, I am certain that God has surrounded me with people, brothers and sisters in Christ, whom I can trust and depend on and to whom I belong.
4) I give thanks that my family loves me even in my ugly moments.
5) I give thanks that we are led by Jesus who not only takes us to the cross but also to the empty tomb. I give thanks that the way of the cross is not an easy way, but one that challenges me to find the "real me," the child of a loving God whose way is self-giving. I give thanks that my "help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth."
Well, there you have it. Gratitude is not always bright and cheerful. Maybe yours' is today, maybe it isn't. Don't forget Paul's words to the Thessalonians, "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:13)
Grace and peace,
Pastor Rick
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