Kaitlyn and I were on the way to school this morning reflecting on yesterday's worship experience with Dr. Billy Abraham. We were sharing some of the more memorable moments of his sermon when our conversation turned to the general topic of preaching. (Many of you know that Kaitlyn has been flirting with a call to ordained ministry - one that I have tried hard not to push on her, but one that makes me stand about a foot taller when I think of her following in her old man's footsteps!)
She mentioned that she wanted to know where I get my stories from when I preach. I answered her, "Everywhere!" And that is true. I shared with her that I have learned over the years that there is a sermon in just about everything you can see or hear or experience. We were passing the VFW in Sattler when I spotted the sign regarding the Burn Ban being in effect. I shared with her that just off the top of my head, that could be a paradoxical sermon - A burn ban means that because the conditions are so dry, fires can quickly get out of control, and so therefore, burning trash, brush or other debris is banned. "Imagine if you will," I said, "that being a Christian is like a burn ban. It means if you are saved, you will be saved from burning in hell. However," I added, "turn it around. Imagine the world is telling us Christians that we cannot burn - burn with the Pentecost fires of the Holy Spirit! It is as if the world is trying to tell us that we should not attempt to burn uncontrollably. The world doesn't like it when the Holy Spirit is unleashed upon the world - because that means that the world is not in control!"
Ok, so it is a sermon that needs some work. Still the idea is, if you are paying attention, there is a message in everything. There is a message being proclaimed, if you are looking for it, listening to it. There is a sign that will point you back in the right direction.
The problem isn't with the signs. They are everywhere. The problem more often lies within ourselves, and our willingness and ability to be observant.
The challenge lies within us. But there is hope, and help in Christ. The more we spend time with the Word, the more we come to understand about God, and know God's character, God's nature, and God's will. The more we know about God, the more we get to know God.
There truly is a sermon in there somewhere. I'm convinced!
See you in church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Taking a Break...
Spring Break is finally here for my kids. Jan's Spring Break was two weeks ago, because she works in a different district than the kids attend. So, our family is coping as best as possible.
Spring Break. It is a strange custom. I know that someone somewhere had a notion as to why it is needed. Perhaps it was because we needed to take a break in order to recognize that the long dread of winter has come to a close. Perhaps it is because we know that we need to acknowledge that Spring is here! Perhaps it is because we just flat-out need a break from all the school work!
For whatever reason, it comes to us as a welcome reprieve from whatever we've been invested in recently. And as such it can become for us an opportunity for reflection. I don't think it is an accident that we remember the events of Holy Week early in Spring. To know that Jesus' arrest, trial, crucifixion, death and resurrection are remembered in this season is a testimony to the grace God gives us - a chance to repent and believe again anew.
With all the things happening in our world around us, it is good for us to stop and take a break. But I pray that we may use that break wisely - by taking time to reflect on the new beginning that is happening, not just around us as the seasons change, but through us in the redemptive act of a loving God through our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Spring Break. It is a strange custom. I know that someone somewhere had a notion as to why it is needed. Perhaps it was because we needed to take a break in order to recognize that the long dread of winter has come to a close. Perhaps it is because we know that we need to acknowledge that Spring is here! Perhaps it is because we just flat-out need a break from all the school work!
For whatever reason, it comes to us as a welcome reprieve from whatever we've been invested in recently. And as such it can become for us an opportunity for reflection. I don't think it is an accident that we remember the events of Holy Week early in Spring. To know that Jesus' arrest, trial, crucifixion, death and resurrection are remembered in this season is a testimony to the grace God gives us - a chance to repent and believe again anew.
With all the things happening in our world around us, it is good for us to stop and take a break. But I pray that we may use that break wisely - by taking time to reflect on the new beginning that is happening, not just around us as the seasons change, but through us in the redemptive act of a loving God through our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Friday, March 20, 2009
The Word of Hope
Life has taken us down a strange path recently. Maybe it would be more accurate to suggest a roller coaster rather than a path, for we find ourselves being driven on a crazy, hectic rail of emotions, fears, anxieties, and anger all rolled into one big bundle of nerves. The financial world's upheaval, the employment and unemployment tug-of-war, and the political bantering (that seems anything but playful) occupies much of our attention these days. Unless you are hiding under your bedsheets, we all seem to be inundated with a host of crises - one right after the other, and sometimes on top of one another.
Where does one turn when it comes to security? Where does one turn when it comes to stability? Where does one turn when the world seems to be spinning out of control? Actually one doesn't turn very far. One merely has to look God-ward.
Without trying to seem overly optimistic, there is one assurance that we can all count on: God is still God. And in this assurance are the following assurances: 1. that God loves us totally and unconditionally; 2. that God's grace sustains us when we seem to be out of control; and 3. that there is absolutely nothing that we can do to mess up #1 and #2.
The Psalmist wrote: "I lift up my eyes to the hills - from where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth" (Ps. 121). And the Apostle Paul wrote, "Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,, nor angel, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8:35, 38-39).
If we have all this in our favor, we can be assured that our hope is not in stock markets, or bailout plans, or mortgage negotiations - as important as these things are. No, our hope is in God, who has given us Jesus Christ to be our Lord and Savior, and through the Holy Spirit, we can be assured that we are never left alone to face the world.
I pray that you will find comfort in the one has saved you - Christ Jesus - and that the power of the Holy Spirit will bless you and keep you. See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Where does one turn when it comes to security? Where does one turn when it comes to stability? Where does one turn when the world seems to be spinning out of control? Actually one doesn't turn very far. One merely has to look God-ward.
Without trying to seem overly optimistic, there is one assurance that we can all count on: God is still God. And in this assurance are the following assurances: 1. that God loves us totally and unconditionally; 2. that God's grace sustains us when we seem to be out of control; and 3. that there is absolutely nothing that we can do to mess up #1 and #2.
The Psalmist wrote: "I lift up my eyes to the hills - from where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth" (Ps. 121). And the Apostle Paul wrote, "Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,, nor angel, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8:35, 38-39).
If we have all this in our favor, we can be assured that our hope is not in stock markets, or bailout plans, or mortgage negotiations - as important as these things are. No, our hope is in God, who has given us Jesus Christ to be our Lord and Savior, and through the Holy Spirit, we can be assured that we are never left alone to face the world.
I pray that you will find comfort in the one has saved you - Christ Jesus - and that the power of the Holy Spirit will bless you and keep you. See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
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