God was good today.

Following the service, a daughter of the deceased told me she appreciated the fact that I preached the Gospel and did not focus my attention on her mother.  Wow…it’s not every day I hear something like that.

Praise be to God!

It is always nice to hear comments from family like that, but I am mostly glad that they found comfort in the words that God placed on my heart.

Dear God…thank you for feeding your sheep today.  Amen.

edh -|—

Grant me the words to say this morning as we mourn the death of Gene.

Open the hearts of those who have not heard of you that they may hear the Good News.

Comfort the hearts of those who have heard with the hope of the resurrection.

Strengthen us as we go through these days, weeks and months that lay ahead with the promise that in Christ there are no “good byes”.

May our time together this morning bring you praise, honor and glory as we are FED with the awesome story of Jesus Christ crucified and risen FOR US.

Thank you, God, for your faithfulness.

Come, Holy Spirit.

Amen.

edh -|—

“It was a great celebration of their life.“
“It was very upbeat.“
“Fun stories were shared about him.“
“He lived a very good life.“

There was nothing about the Gospel.  Maybe it was preached but those comments sure don’t sound like that is what they heard.  What this person remembers are stories and remembrances of the past.  I wish I would have challenged them more but being in a public place I shied away from confronting them…but maybe I should have.

[A missed opportunity]

I also remember another conversation (by the way…I am preparing for a funeral this week, that is why these memories are bubbling up).  This conversation was with a family.  I was meeting with them but was unable to do the funeral because of a prior commitment.  Luckily they had a family member who was a pastor so they were going to lead worship.  Through the course of the meeting the daughter was talking about the service and wanted lots of stories about her mother.  I chimed in and said a funeral has nothing to do with the deceased but everything to do with Jesus and what he has done for you and for me.  This was the response I got:

“Well…at my funeral you are going to talk about me!“

I really wanted to argue but I decided that wasn’t the place.  Besides…at her funeral she won’t have any say what I talk about

Why am I bring this up?

As I prepare for a funeral one of the things I am keenly aware of is that there could very easily be people there who normally do not attend worship.  These people only enter a worship space on Easter, Christmas, funerals and weddings.  They go through life without hearing the Good News.  So when they do finally show up in a worship space you just can not miss that opportunity.  You have to smack them right between the eyes with the Gospel, not fun stories about the deceased.  The dead person’s past life is not going to help them.  The only thing that will help is Jesus’ death and subsequent resurrection; the victory he won FOR YOU and FOR ME.

Too many people in the world today water down the Gospel with the prosperity gospel (which is NO gospel at all; not good news).  The prosperity gospel says that if you believe hard enough, are a good person and keep your nose to the grindstone, you can be successful (to have your best life now).  If bad things happen then you somehow fell short. Please do not buy into this false gospel.

Once again…that is NOT good news.

And it bugs me to no end that this message is being preached by many so called ministers out there; leading people astray.  What they are doing is simply preaching a message that people WANT to hear, not what they NEED to hear.

What people need to hear is:
–We are sinners and can not survive this life on our own.
–There is hope.
–We have a savior in Jesus.
–That through faith in Christ there is forgiveness of our sins.
–That there is NOTHING we can do to earn, merit or deserve this grace.
–God loves you!

So when I prepare a funeral sermon (or any sermon for that matter) I try to keep in mind what people need to hear…and let them have it.

So as I prepare for this funeral on Thursday I am winding up and preparing myself to smack people right between the eyes with the TRUE Gospel.  And I pray that God will use the words I say to change someone’s life.  All to God’s glory.

So if you are reading this and coming on Thursday, get ready because I will be bringing it

Praise be to God!

edh -|—

One of the synod ministers was talking about networking; trying to connect people’s gifts and talents with others.  It is a very good idea and am glad we have someone on the synod staff whose job is to do that.

But that’s not the weird thing.

As she was showing us the list of people she has in the data base I was scanning for people I knew and what was listed as their “talent”. For the most part I was not surprised with what I saw.

Then my name came up. (by the way…this is where the “weird thing” begins)

After my name I saw “writing”.  I have never considering “writing” a talent or gift.  Sure…I have been blogging for 5 1/2 years or so but that doesn’t mean I am a gifted writer.  But don’t get me wrong…I wasn’t upset with what I saw, I was just surprised. (This is not the “weird thing” yet…that was just the beginning of the “weird thing” story)

The weird thing that happened was that after I saw “writing”by my name I got inspired.  You see…I hadn’t written a blog post since Dec. 12.  With the Christmas season and an increased emphasis in communicating through Facebook and Twitter, I just kind of drifted away from blogging, but on Sunday I wrote.

And today I wrote…

…and now I feel inspired to write some more. (But don’t worry ramble on and on here)

It is funny/weird how the Holy Spirit works.  And it WAS the Holy Spirit at work that day; kicking me in the butt.  I guess there is more ministry to do done through my so-called “gift” of writing.  Weird…huh?

Praise be to God!

edh -|—

They leave behind a somewhat stable income.
They leave behind a place to live.
They leave behind family and friends.
They leave behind their careers.
They leave behind their comfort zones.

Just like that they go and follow Jesus.  No argument. No negotiating.  They go and follow Jesus.  At least some of those characters in Old Testament tried to object:

I’m too young. (Jeremiah)
I’m a man of unclean lips. (Isaiah)
I don’t speak so well. (Moses)
We’re too old. (Abraham and Sarah)

That sounds more like me.

But God has a response for those excuses and so they follow…and God is faithful…and God accomplishes what God set out to do through them.  As if there should have been any doubt.  God is awesome and God knows what he is doing.

If that be the case (and it is) why do I think I can offer up an excuse for why I can’t or shouldn’t follow?  Do I really believe I can convince God that He made the wrong choice?  Do I really think I can talk God out of what God has in mind for me?  Do I really think that God doesn’t know me better than I know myself?

Silly man!

So whatever excuse you have used to not follow God…throw them out the window.  They’re no good.  When God says “Follow” simply recall to mind Psalm 23 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me” .

Think also of Jesus’ promise from Matthew 28 “…and lo, I am with you even to the very end of the age.”

When God commands you to follow, God is not going to leave you stranded.
When God commands you to follow, God will not leave you orphaned.
When God commands you to follow, God WILL do amazing things through you.

So just follow.
Stop the arguing.
Repent and preach the Good News of Jesus Christ died and risen FOR YOU.
And then…watch the fireworks…praising God always and forever.

Amen!

edh -|—

I have to tell you about a God moment that I had yesterday right before I started preaching.

The text I was preaching on was John 1:19-28 (but I “warmed up” the congregation with John 1:1-18).  On Thursday I found what I thought to be a good opening illustration and copied it into the manuscript.  It wasn’t the best but it still worked.  I then wrote the opening part of the sermon before getting into the “meat”.  The main part was a biblical exposition of John which I did not write out word for word (that was the part I knew very well).  I saved the sermon on my computer and then transferred it to my Kindle (as I sometimes do).

Sunday morning ~ Everything went well at Belmont (8:30am worship), but when I got to the pulpit at Salem (10:15am worship) God decided to show me that he has a sense of humor ~ and more importantly that God is in control.

As the lector was reading the lessons I turned on my Kindle and pulled up the sermon.  I then placed my Kindle in “sleep mode” until I would “wake it up” in the pulpit.  So far so good.  Nothing unusual.

Then…well…God happened

I got into the pulpit and read the Gospel text and then proceeded to open the cover of my Kindle.

It was locked up.

Nothing worked.  It just stared at me as if to say “Hey buddy…you’re on your own.”  A moment of panic set in as I tried to determine what I was going to do without letting the congregation know there was a problem.  I knew I couldn’t go on with my opening part of the sermon since I didn’t know it well enough but I did know the main part of the sermon (“the meat”) like the back of my hand.

And then I got it…God didn’t like my sermon opening.

So…on the fly (and by the power of the Holy Spirit)…I began preaching…and the words just came out.  As I got going more, I got into the sermon and before long my Kindle problems were a distance memory.  After worship I got more good comments about that sermon than I have received in a long time…and from people who normally don’t comment.  Praise be to God!!!

I told this story to someone and they suggested I have a backup copy of the sermon on hand next time.  Sounds like a logical suggestion but part of me is not too sure I want to do that…

You see…on Sunday, God was in control…and I like that.  Isn’t that the way it should be?

edh -|—

P.S. Following worship my Kindle started working perfectly

A season of preparation.

But it doesn’t seem like I am doing a very good job:
–My lights are not up on the garage and house.
–The Christmas tree is not up.
–Not one single decoration is up in the house except from some pumpkin lights hanging in the kitchen (not very festive).
–I do have Christmas CDs in the CD player so that’s something.

Hopefully this weekend my wife and I will get on track…I hope.

Every year it seems like I make some kind of comment that I am not ready for Advent.
Every year Advent seems to sneak up on me.
Every year it seems I make some kind of comment about snow in connection with the Christmas season.

I almost sound like a broken record ~ so let’s not go there.

Because this preparation thing really has nothing to do with what we do on the outside.  Preparing during Advent really has nothing to do with hanging lights, putting up Christmas decorations, playing festive music or the like.  It is amazing how caught up we get in these preparations.  It is amazing that every year I need a slap in the face or a kick in the head to remind me that Advent preparations is one of the heart.

To prepare during Advent is to prepare for the celebration of the birth of Christ, is to turn our hearts towards the one who comes to baptize with the Holy Spirit.  John’s (the Baptist) baptism was one for repentance; something that had to be done often during his day.  But the baptism Jesus came to bring is once and for all.  It is not an outward adornment, but (like I said) one pertaining to the heart.  If preparing during Advent for Christmas is simply outward, then when Christmas is done it is often forgotten.  And let me tell you ~ that is not good.

To prepare during Advent is to:
–Engage scripture.
–Pray.
–Look to the Christ child.
–Remember God’s love for all creation.
–To see our neighbors who are in need.
–To give.
–To remember that God gave us the greatest gift ever.
–And…I could probably go on, but I will stop here.

So, even though I am going to put lights up today and begin decorating, I am going to try to focus on other things.   I am going to be festive through showing Christmas spirit where ever I go.  I am going to try to keep my eyes on the main thing.

And…God willing…keep the Christmas spirit alive long past this Christmas season.

Merry Advent everyone and God bless

edh -|—

Today the Gospel text inspired me to think about “the crowds” that followed Jesus.  In Matthew 4:23-25, the crowd was described as people who had been healed of many things ~ or as I saw them ~ invisible people.  They were people who society had cast aside and looked past them.  And this is not unlike what we do today.  There are many people among us who are invisible.  Sure…we see their bodies, but we really don’t see them because we are so focused on filling OUR lives with meaning through worldly pursuits.

But as I was reading more in the Gospel text I saw something else.  All the invisible people, after they were healed (essentially, made visible by the love of Jesus) continued to follow Jesus.  And this lead me to Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

Isn’t that what we are all looking for ~ to be “filled” in someway?  We try to fill ourselves with stuff, time, busyness, etc when all we need is Jesus.  The people healed in the Gospel text could have returned to their communities, families, synagogues ~ restored ~ but they followed Jesus.  They followed Jesus in order to be filled more with his teaching ~ and love.  If only we would do the same.

Let’s pray…

Loving God, lover of our souls, you and you alone truly fill us.  You and you alone truly give us meaning.  You and you alone truly give us purpose.

Yet

We strive to fill ourselves.
We strive to fill our calendars with busyness.
We strive to fill our checkbooks.
We strive to fill our Facebook accounts with friends.
We strive to fill our homes and driveways.
We strive to fill our careers.
We strive for that which will not bring us life.

Humble our hearts, so much so, that we can see the only one who can truly fill us ~ Jesus Christ.  Heal our “eye sight”, so much so, that we can see the invisible people in our lives ~ so as Christ fills us with his love we can in turn fill others with that same love.  Help us to understand that all our striving to “fill ‘er up” is nothing more than a chasing after the wind.

Thank you, God, that through faith Jesus Christ, we are filled ~ with righteousness ~ that which we TRULY need.

Amen!

edh -|—

Sorry, but I do not have a prayer to post this morning.  My “smart” clock once again got the best of me and set itself back on hour this morning.  Hence…I overslept; throwing off my routine.  I pray that the Holy Spirit may speak to your heart this morning; moving you to action and inspiring you to proclaim freedom for the captives.

So in the words of one of my favorite hymns:
‎”No strength of ours can match is might! We would be lost, rejected. But now a champion comes to fight, whom God himself elected. You ask who this may be? The Lord of hosts is he! Christ Jesus, mighty Lord, God’s only Son, adored! He holds the field victorious.” (Vs. 2 of A Mighty Fortress)

God bless!

edh -|—

Jesus’ teaching about the greatest commandment is a powerful one for me. I need this to keep me centered and grounded.  It is too easy to think ministry is about what WE do and how successful WE are and how many people WE invite to church and how much WE serve.  It is too easy to become selfish.  I need daily reminders that without love my words and actions are empty.

Let’s pray together:

Loving God,

It is easy for me to say “I love you” but do I?
It is easy for me to say “I love my neighbors” but do I?
It is easy for me to say “Of course I do”…but really?

When I consider my actions.
When I reflect on my words.
When I ponder my motives.
I can’t help but see selfishness behind what I say and do.  And this is hard considering what we hear from the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 when he says that without love we are nothing but noise.

I want you to be praised and glorified but there is a part of me that wants to be praised and glorified. 

I want you to receive all the attention but there is a part of me that wants to be center stage.

Loving God…please take away my self-centeredness and fill me with your love. Convict me of wrong motives and show me the most excellent way (Love). Encourage me to share my life with people and not just words.  Strengthen my faith to see you in all things.  And remind me every moment of my life that nails are not what held Jesus to the cross but rather it was love ~ his awesome love for each of us.

Loving God, help me to love you more and my neighbor as myself.

Amen.

edh -|—