Pastors' Blogs
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Recent Sermons
- March 2006 Calendar [3/1/2006]
- Prayer's Divine Persona [1/1/2006]
- Merry Christmas - in July? [7/24/2005]
- Help for the needy [6/5/2005]
- Commencement in the School of Discipleship [5/22/2005]
- Wind - Fire - Word [5/15/2005]
- Glory [5/8/2005]
- Breakthrough Trust [5/1/2005]
- Gifted to Grow Not Vegetate [4/17/2005]
- How shall we recognize him? [4/10/2005]
Recent Blogging
1/25/2008 | By: Tim | Category: First Fruits | Comments
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Please Be Mine
For God so loved the world that He gave..." (John 3:16).
As we all head out in the next couple of weeks to buy our valentines something special - chocolate, flowers, diamonds - we all look for that one special gift that truly says, "I love you."
When God was looking for just the right gift for us, He gave us His most precious and special possession - He gave us Himself.
How will you say "I love you" to God this year? You can give Him your offerings and that is very important. You can give Him your time and volunteer to help with something at church. You can give Him your talents and do something for a neighbor in need.
But what God really wants is you - your heart, your love, your life. Say "I love you" this year by giving Him your self.
You really are the greatest gift, because when you give your whole self, you are giving Him everything else too.
1/9/2008 | By: Tim | Category: First Fruits | Comments
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How are your New Year's Resolutions coming?
January is a month of new beginnings as we set off on a New Year. It's a good time to review the past and set a new direction or renew an old commitment too.
As you think about 2008 and what you want to accomplish, please consider the following intentions too:
Will you be in worship with your brothers and sisters every week that you can?
Will you take time with God every day, reading the Bible and talking with Him?
Will you use the gifts and time that God has given you to do something for Him and other people this year?
Will you give as God enables you to His work at Trinity and in the world?
The new year is an exciting time. It is a new beginning. By God's grace we can leave the past behind and try again with His help to live the kind of life that will glorify Him. As we work on these spiritual intentions, we will find our lives growing in ways that no diet or exercise resolution would ever make happen.
May God bless you as you start afresh in 2008. May He give you peace and joy and happy times. And may He help us all to set Him as a priority in our lives.
12/13/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Is Jesus the one we have been waiting for?
John the Baptist sent word by his disciples and said to Jesus, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me."
Is Jesus the one we have been waiting for?
It depends on what we have been waiting for.
In John's day some people were waiting for a Messiah who would make Israel great again. Other people were waiting for a Messiah to make them rich or to at least make their lives comfortable.
John asks the question not because he is unsure but because he wants the answer to be absolutely clear to his disciples.
Jesus replies with God's Word from Isaiah and with the evidence of His life. He is the one who has come to bring healing to people, to help people see, to raise the dead and give life to the spiritually deceased. He is the one who has come to raise up the poor and bring God's kingdom of love, justice and peace to the world.
He is the one that John was waiting for. The next time we see the Baptist he is laying down his head for the sake of Jesus the Christ.
Is Jesus the one you have been waiting for?
If you have been waiting for Him to make America great, He is not the one.
If you have been waiting for Him to make you comfortable, He is not the one.
However, if you have been waiting for someone to stand up to the devil, to sin and death and corruption, if you have been waiting for someone to care for others rather than Himself, if you have been waiting for someone to challenge the powers of this world, to stand up for the poor and the abused and the overlooked, if you have been waiting for someone who could inspire you to get over your own selfish self-concern and give you a cause and a King and a Kingdom worth giving your life for, then Jesus is the one.
Pastor Tim Booth
12/6/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Watch Out For This Guy in the Dark Alleys
He was a rather scary looking guy. You wouldn't have wanted to meet him in a dark alley. He was dressed in camel's hair; his hair was wild and unkempt; he was always preaching and wagging his finger menacingly at people. "Repent!" he shouted. "Repent! The end is coming! The Kingdom of God is at hand!"
You probably would not have wanted to meet him in a brightly lit church either. He made you take a good hard look at yourself and the direction your life is going. "You're going the wrong way," he'd yell at you. "Turn it around. Come back to God."
Advent gives us all an opportunity to examine ourselves and the direction of our lives. Are we living just for ourselves or is God at the center of our love and our lives?
As you are buying presents and singing those warm and wonderful Christmas carols, take some time to do the hard work of preparing for the King. Take some time to examine your life and to straighten out your course again with the Holy Spirit's help.
Pastor Tim Booth
11/29/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Advent: Wake Up! Get Ready!
You must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Matthew 24:44).
Today's Gospel sounds the clarion call of Advent: Wake up! Get ready! The Light is coming into the world!
All around us darkness has fallen and the twin dangers of the night threaten, urging us either to party like there is no tomorrow or to drift off and fall asleep.
Jesus is coming. The signs in Matthew 24:3-28 have all been fulfilled. Soon He will appear and one will be ready and taken to meet Him, and another will be partying or sleeping and will be left.
How awake are we? How awake is our faith?
Advent is a time of preparation. That preparation begins with recognizing what time it is and setting our hearts to be ready.
Pastor Tim Booth
11/21/2007 | By: Tim | Category: First Fruits | Comments
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Christmas Caring
Christmas Caring is a year end tradition that started at Trinity in 2002 when a generous member offered to donate $50,000 if the congregation would match that amount. That year members gave $60,000 and a total of $110,000 was raised. Over the past 5 years Christmas Caring has continued to be a year end celebration of giving even though we have not received matching funds.
The Christmas Caring offering has been used for missions, paying off a furniture and equipment loan for the Family Center, to pay off our line of credit at the Bank, and for electronic equipment upgrades at our facilities.
God has richly blessed our ministry at Trinity as we continue to extend our outreach in the community. This past year we have been blessed with the arrival of Pastor Mark, our two new youth directors, Drew and Cathi, and a full staff of teachers at Trinity Academy. The six ministries at Trinity are fully staffed and growing. However, we continue to need special gifts beyond what we normally receive each week to keep the ministry of Christ moving forward here.
If you would like to give a year-end gift to celebrate a blessed 2007, or just celebrate the gift of the Baby Jesus, please put it in a green envelope available at the ushers' tables at each location or in a plain envelope clearly marked "Christmas Caring" and drop it in the offering between now and December 31. Gifts of stock are also welcome; please contact our Parish Administrator, Katherine Fossler, for more information.
May God bless you and keep you throughout this blessed Holiday Season.
Merry Christmas
11/21/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Pledging Allegiance
Everyday when I was growing up we stood up in the morning and pledged allegiance to the flag. Such an activity is certainly a good thing and important for our formation as citizens of the United States of America.
All of us know, though, that talk is cheap. The real measure of patriotism is the willingness to give one's life for one's country. Allegiance is measured in action. Even paying taxes is a measure of our commitment to our country, its ideals, and our fellow citizens.
The same is true when it comes to pledging allegiance to our King - Jesus. This weekend is celebrated as Christ the King Sunday in the church year. We stop to acknowledge Jesus as the supreme ruler of all things and to pledge our allegiance to Him.
As good a thing as it is to come to church for this weekly "rally" and to stand up and pledge our allegiance in saying the Apostles' Creed, it is even more important in this Kingdom to put our allegiance into action. To give our life for our King in loving others, forgiving others. Even pledging and giving our money and time are acts that speak louder than words ever could about our commitment to God's Kingdom and our love for the King.
May the Lord help us to be good patriots of His Kingdom.
Pastor Tim Booth
11/14/2007 | By: Mark | Category: TLG | Comments
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Short and Simple Prayer
Matthew 6:19 - 20 (NIV) Jesus said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Father of us all, Creator of the vast universe, all things are in your hand. We often struggle with contentment, pondering the things that we don't have. Give us an appreciation for the daily bread you give us, for the warmth of our homes, for friends and family. Help us see that having Jesus is having everything that we need. Help us to clearly see that every good and perfect gift comes from you. And make us wise in how we use those gifts. Teach us to return a fitting offering to one who has given so much, in the name of our precious Lord and Savior, ...Amen.
Pastor Mark Neumann
11/8/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Harvest of the Heart
I have noticed that most of the crops are out of the fields. I saw one monster-eyed combine gobbling up the last of the field near our house on Monday morning before dawn.
How is the harvest of your heart going? Have you expressed your love and gratitude to God or is there still some thanksgiving to be harvested?
Next week we are going to bring our pledges forward to the Lord. They arrived in your mailbox a couple of weeks ago. Please take them out this week and pray over how you are going to respond to all of God's blessings in your life. Fill out the cards, put them in the envelope and bring them with you to worship next week - or if you won't be in worship, please mail them or drop them off on Thanksgiving or the last Sunday in November.
Please do join us in making a plan and filling out a pledge. God's mercy and grace deserves a considered response and not just our end-of-the-week leftovers.
Pastor Tim Booth
11/1/2007 | By: Mark | Category: TLG | Comments
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God Will Supply...
C. H. Spurgeon once said, "God is satisfied with Himself, and sufficient to His own happiness. Therefore, surely, there is enough in Him to fill the creature. That which fills an ocean will fill a bucket; that which will fill a gallon will fill a pint; those revenues which will defray an emperor's expenses are enough for a beggar or poor man." Didn't Paul say, "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus?" And He sees fit to bestow these riches on us as an inherent gift. Thus all believers possess Christ, but not everyone has all His gifts, for He gives them as it pleases Him. His pleasure is according to His knowledge. At Trinity we will count on God to supply us with more than enough to accomplish His mission. He'll enable so much through the people, their talents, their treasures. It will be an adventure to watch Him work!
Pastor Mark Neumann
11/1/2007 | By: Mark | Category: First Fruits | Comments
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A Drop in the Bucket
Let's not refuse to give the little we have; God will multiply it. There was an elderly man who was giving very little, but it was truly sacrificial. He had a younger friend who was always making fun of him. "Such need in the world, and yet you think that with your few dollars you will make a difference! Old friend, what you give is only a drop in the bucket." But the old man with rejoicing in his face turned to his friend and said, "Yes, all that God expects of me is my drop and He will see to the filling of the bucket."
10/25/2007 | By: Mark | Category: TLG | Comments
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The Bible Changes Hearts...
Many years ago in a Moscow theater, matinee idol Alexander Rostovzev was converted while playing the role of Jesus in a sacrilegious play entitled Christ in a Tuxedo. He was supposed to read two verses from the Sermon on the Mount, remove his gown, and cry out, "Give me my tuxedo and top hat!" But as he read the words, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted," he began to tremble. Instead of following the script, he kept reading from Matthew 5, ignoring the coughs, calls, and foot-stamping of his fellow actors. Finally, recalling a verse he had learned in his childhood in a Russian Orthodox church, he cried, "Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom!" (Luke 23:42). Before the curtain could be lowered, Rostovzev had trusted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.
What a great example of the Bible's awesome power. It changes hearts, and that's why it is a passion of a Christian's heart to read, hear, study, and meditate on the Word of God. At Trinity we want to keep the Bible in very high and holy regard, pursuing a deeper understanding of it at all times.
Pastor Mark Neumann
10/19/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Passion of the Heart: Prayer
Two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bull. Instantly they darted toward the nearest fence. The storming bull followed in hot pursuit, and it was soon apparent they wouldn't make it. Terrified, the one shouted to the other, "Say a prayer for us, John. We're in for it!" John answered, "I can't. I've never said a prayer out loud in my life." "But you must!" implored his companion. "The bull is catching up to us." "All right," panted John, "I'll say the only prayer I know, the one my father used to repeat at the table: 'O Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful.'"
If the only time that we pray is when the bull is bearing down on us, it's going to be hard to find the words to say. But if prayer is the conversation of our souls, we are always going to be in touch with God.
Maybe these farmers were northern Europeans. Probably. They didn't want to bore God or wear Him out with their constant conversation. Men of few words.
But in Luke 18, Jesus encourages us to just keep talking. He told a parable about a persistent widow "to the effect that we ought always to pray and never lose heart" (18:1). God loves to hear His children pray. He never gets tired of our talking to Him about the littlest or the biggest things. And, of course, He likes it when we listen to Him. That is prayer too.
Prayer is conversation. It is talking with God. Every relationship does it. Talks. Listens.
Remember when you were falling in love with the love of your life - how you could talk and talk and the hours slipped away making you late for your curfew? "We were just talking, Dad."
Such is prayer. It's talking and being with the one that we love and the one who loves us. God is waiting for you today. He is listening. He loves you.
Tim
10/19/2007 | By: Tim | Category: First Fruits | Comments
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Love
Why is it that our televisions are so full of commercials about diamonds? Why is it that spouses complain because their loved ones never bring them flowers?
Why is a sink full of dishes always the test of our love?
Why do we get harangued at home because we're always working and never around?
It's because love is about giving... giving time, giving gifts, giving our special talents at dishwashing or foot massaging to each other.
God loves us and so He gives... His Son, His life, our lives, everything we have.
Our love for Him is about giving too.
Talk is cheap, as I have been reminded from time to time. How are you showing God that you love Him too? Don't let it be just all talk. Love never is.
10/11/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Passions of the Heart: Thanksgiving
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! (Psalm 106:1)
Our parents all taught us to say "thank you" when someone does something nice for us. No one has done more for us or deserves more of our thanks than God. And yet, like in the rest of our relationships, no one probably gets more taken for granted than He does.
In your ś Minutes with God" or your daily time with Him, or just before you drop off to sleep, take 30 seconds to review your day and say "thanks, Father, for all that you have done."
+ Tim
10/3/2007 | By: Mark | Category: TLG | Comments
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Tending Leading Gathering
The gospels in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) show that the disciples were also often confused about faith. However they were wise enough to ask Jesus about it. In Luke, chapter 17, you see the disciples asking Jesus to increase their faith. And here was Jesus' response to them:
"If you had faith like a mustad seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea'; and it would obey you." Jesus' response is interesting. Notice He doesn't say some of the things that we've become accustomed to hearing Christians say. Jesus didn't say, "You just need to try harder." Nor did Jesus say, "You just gotta believe." Jesus' response reveals an important truth about the nature of faith. The mustard seed is the smallest of seed. Jesus used that fact to illustrate that it isn't the size of your faith that's important. Rather...the power of faith rests in the reliability of its object, not in how confident you may be. We desire the faith that is needed to grow as God's people. It will transform our life.
10/3/2007 | By: Mark | Category: First Fruits | Comments
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Today, I was thinking about stewardship-not just in terms of Trinity, but holistically: in terms of everything in my life. A steward is defined as "One who manages another's property, finances, or other affairs." For each of us, what we are managing is not ours; what we manage has been given and entrusted to us by God. We are here on earth "managing" that which He has given us.
This is important to remember because it means that nothing is ours. Nothing. You've heard the old saying, "You can't take it with you." Well, you can't take it with you because it's not yours to take.
This creates an interesting situation. I don't think we are asked to give up everything, but we are certainly asked to take stock of our situation and give...and to likely give a little more than we first think we ought. For many of us, the first thought at giving isn't much; I'm not advocating painful levels of giving, but it is typical that our first thought is probably some amount that is little when compared to our bountiful blessings. If we are given "much" to manage let's manage to give much. It's an adventure to give as God supplies!
9/27/2007 | By: Mark | Category: TLG | Comments
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Voting vs. Vision
The pastor of a church decided that God was calling the church to a new vision. So at the deacons' meeting, he presented the new vision with as much conviction and passion as he could muster. When he finished, the deacon chairman called for a vote. All 12 deacons voted against the new vision, with only the pastor voting for it.
"Well, pastor, it looks like you'll have to rethink your vision," the deacon chairman said. "Would you like to close the meeting in prayer?"
The pastor raised his hands to heaven and prayed, "Lord! Please show these people that it's not MY vision but it's YOUR vision!"
At that very moment, the clouds darkened and a bolt of lightning shot through the window, splitting the table in two. The deacons were all knocked out of their chairs as the pastor remained standing untouched.
As the deacons dusted themselves off, the chairman said, "Well, that's twelve votes to two now."
Today, Pastor Mark shares a developing vision with the downtown church. We pray God's blessings as we contemplate together the wonderful future ministry he has for us.
Pastor Mark
9/20/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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The TLC Cross
After Peter confessed his faith in Jesus, the Lord said, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). What was that cross that Peter was to take up every day? What is that cross that we at Trinity are called to pick up every day in following Jesus?
During the next two weeks, Pastor Mark and I are going to address that question and share a Model of Ministry for Trinity that is formed by that cross.
It centers in the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ and grows outward to love God and care for family, community, and world. The TLC Cross expresses the mission of Trinity: "Reaching out from a growing Heart to Heaven, Home, and Humanity Near and Far."
It's not a cross that is easy to carry. It requires that we deny ourselves sometimes. And we don't get to put it down when we leave here and pick it up again next Sunday when we return to church.
But it is a cross that Jesus Himself helps us to carry as His love grows in our hearts and flows over into our relationships with God, family, friends, and the world.
Pastor Tim
9/14/2007 | By: Mark | Category: TLG | Comments
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Beginning a Labor of Love
I've been looking forward to this weekend with you. Being installed as your pastor brings me great personal joy. Trinity is a strong and vibrant congregation in a special community. I know that we have what this community needs to be even better. We've got the good news of Jesus Christ and his gracious redeeming work to save the world from sin and death. We've got a hopeful word for families and for a new generation of young people who are hungry to know Jesus. I'm looking forward to the following weeks as Pastor Tim and I outline our vision and mission, along with prioritized ministries that are beginning to take shape. An installation is time for both pastor and congregation to make a collective agreement to work together in the Gospel mission. Pastor Tim and I are ready for you to join us for what will be a labor of love for the Hudson community and the world, in Jesus' name.
Pastor Mark
9/14/2007 | By: Tim | Category: First Fruits | Comments
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A Reason to celebrate-a reason to give
If there was ever a reason to give - beyond the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ - we have that reason in these weeks of September. God has been so good to us here at Trinity. For months we have been praying for a pastor and youth director and in these few short weeks God has given us both.
God wants our giving and serving to flow out of a grateful heart. As we install our new Lead Pastor, Pastor Mark, and welcome his family, let's say thank you to the Lord by redoubling our efforts to support the work of Christ through Trinity with our offerings of money, talents, and time.
+ Stewardship Team
9/7/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Wahhoowah
That would be Norwegian for "Praise the Lord!"
We have started out the new school year with a big bang. Everybody is back, school is in session.
We have a new pastor, Pastor Mark, and we are going to celebrate his installation next week with two great worship services and lots of good food and fun.
And, Wahhoowah! we have two new Youth Directors and we're working on a third.
Our new Youth Directors are Cathi Smits and Drew Mulder. They are each working half-time, sharing the responsibility for middle school and high school youth ministry at Trinity.
Cathi is a mom of youth, with a young heart, gifts in relating with kids, organizing, teaching, and music, who has also been a youth director. Drew is in his mid-20's with a fire for Jesus in his soul. He has a passion for kids to know the Lord and he has had youth ministry experience too.
As we prayed and searched for our youth ministers, we came to recognize that we needed even more help in youth ministry. We felt led to a third youth minister as well, a full-time Director of Christian Education. However, we recognized that Trinity wasn't in a position right now to be able to afford an additional full-time position. So we are looking for additional funding and working on and praying for all of us to catch the vision of what God could do here among our youth and give a little more to help make it happen.
God has been so good to us. When I think about where we were even just this time last year, it's amazing. No youth director. No pastor. A Trinity School teacher less. But God has blessed us as we have pulled together to follow Him and to pursue His dreams.
The dreaming goes on even though the future is here. Believe with us. Celebrate with us. Work with us. Wahhoowah!
Pastor Tim
8/31/2007 | By: Mark | Category: TLG | Comments
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Labor for the Lord
This weekend we pause to reflect on the laborers who collectively make our nation great. We take the weekend off and get a little reprieve from the normal routine, the Labor Day holiday. Reflecting on this annual celebration makes me want to highlight a few things about our labor for the Lord. Our labor for the Lord is: 1) a labor of love (I Thes 1:3). 2) a labor not in vain (I Cor 15:58). 3) a labor known by Christ (Rev 2:2). 4) a labor God does not forget (Heb 6:10). 5) a labor which is to be done together (I Cor 3:9). 6) a labor for eternal things (Col 1:28-9). 7) a labor which is to reward (I Cor 3:8). 8) a labor done to be accepted by Him (II Cor 5:9). 9) a labor which doesn't have an end (Luke 10:2).
Have a terrific Labor Day!
Pastor Mark
8/31/2007 | By: Mark | Category: First Fruits | Comments
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THE POWER OF 57¢
What seems like a very small gift may be very powerful. Back in the 1880's in the city of Philadelphia, there lived a little girl named Hattie May Wiatt. Hattie was a member of the Baptist Temple, which was growing very quickly at that time. One morning when she arrived at Sunday school she found the school so crowded that she could not get in the door. She stood outside, confused and afraid to push through the crowds of children to find a place in the Sunday school. The kindly pastor, Reverend Russell Conwell, came by and saw the scared little girl standing outside with her Sunday school book and he picked her up, carried her on his shoulders and found a place for her in the crowded Sunday school classroom.
The next day Reverend Conwell saw Hattie again and he told her that he was hoping to soon have enough money to build a bigger church so that there would be lots of room for all of the children.
Some time later Hattie May became very sick. She died in 1886. After the funeral the family came to the pastor with a worn and crumpled little purse containing 57¢. They told Reverend Conwell that Hattie May had been saving the money to help build a new church and Sunday school that would have enough room for all the children. The pastor could not believe it. He had not even begun to save or raise any money for the new building. The pastor told his parishioners about Hattie's small gift and very quickly more and more people were making donations for the new church. They all knew that if a little girl could give 57¢ surely they could give something.
Today this simple little Temple Baptist Church is one of the largest in Philadelphia with seating for 3,300 and Temple University where hundreds of students study the Christian faith every year. And they credit it all to Hattie May's 57¢!
Note: For more information on Hattie May you can go to the Baptist Temple web site - www.baptisttemple.com. They have there the full story of what happened with the 57¢ Hattie May gave.
8/24/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Build Yourself Up
In our postcard for today from Jude, the brother of Jesus encourages Christians to "build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life."
The Christians of Jude's day were living in a very difficult world with a huge task - to make disciples of all nations. One would expect him to say, "get going...get busy." Instead he says: "build yourselves up."
It reminds me a lot of the Green Bay Packers. An enormous task. A huge challenge. Overwhelming odds. But they start by building themselves up. Eating well. Working out. (The Vikings do too, of course). After all, you can't share what you don't have and none of us would be able to survive very long against the behemoths of this age without the strength which only God can give us.
As you gear up for the fall, then, take some time each day to "build yourself up." Eat well. Exercise. But also take some time with God to build up your faith too. Set aside fifteen minutes to be with Him, read and reflect on His Word, and pray. You wouldn't leave the house without getting dressed. You shouldn't leave the house in the morning without a good breakfast. Don't venture out into the world without your daily time with God either.
Pastor Tim
8/17/2007 | By: Tim | Category: First Fruits | Comments
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Stewardship
"Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth." (3 John 5-8)
It goes all the way back to the apostle John - this encouragement to give and to support the work of those who take the truth about God out into the world. Ever since the beginning, Christians have been urged by the Holy Spirit to contribute to the work of brothers and sisters who are taking the Gospel of Jesus to people who don't trust him yet, to do this great and loving work for strangers - for people that they don't even know.
And God is not embarrassed to urge us as well. The time is short, the need is great. People are dying without faith and going to hell. He wants us to support with our money, with our time, with our prayers, those who are taking the Good News to people who are dying. Spending money on our own spiritual lives is okay, and taking care of our families spiritually is important, but it makes God and His apostles proud when we become "fellow workers for the truth" by giving to someone and something beyond ourselves, to servants of Jesus who are taking salvation to others.
How are you doing in supporting people like these? You can be a hero, a missionary, a standard-bearer for the truth every week as you give and support God's work with your offerings and tithes.
Pastor Tim
8/17/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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The Greatest Joy
It seems kind of crazy but it seems like it's almost universally true. No matter how big your family, how many kids you've got, it's always great fun to have your children's friends hanging out at your house.
We had six kids when I was growing up and it seemed like we always had at least 12 or 15 in the yard, house, basement, kitchen - the kitchen, in the refrigerator, sitting around the table or on the countertop talking with my mom. As my mother reflected with us a couple of years ago, her greatest joy was having her kids around with all of their friends laughing, eating, even weeping sometimes. A house that is full of love is an open and welcoming home.
John reflects on his greatest joys in the postcards that he writes at the end of the New Testament. He is so happy when his spiritual children are walking in the truth, close to their Father and their brothers and sisters. He is proud when they leave home to take that truth out into the world. And he is thrilled when they welcome others into their fellowship, sharing the truth and the love of God's family with them. The more the merrier for Him.
God has blessed us with a wonderful church family here at Trinity. We have a great time together and it is a precious Truth and very warm love that we share here. Let us work to deepen our Father's joy by reaching out to welcome people that He brings into His house here. Don't let somebody you don't know walk past you on Sunday or Saturday or Wednesday without talking to them. The world is full of spiritual "orphans", "displaced people", and "weary travelers" who are looking for somebody to love them. In this family, they will find that love.
+ Pastor Tim
8/9/2007 | By: Mark | Category: TLG | Comments
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Consistent Truth
A small boy was on the witness stand in an important lawsuit. The prosecuting attorney cross-examined him, then delivered, he thought, a crushing blow to the testimony. "Your father has been telling you how to testify, has he not?". "Yes," the boy replied and did not hesitate with the answer. "Now," said the lawyer triumphantly, "just tell us how your father told you to testify". "Well," the boy said modestly, "Father told me the lawyers would try to tangle me in my testimony, but if I would just be careful to tell the truth, I could repeat the same thing every time". God's Word is Truth. If we are consistent in speaking God's Word, we can repeat it every time and not get tangled in the world's way of thinking and speaking. In 2 John we learn that the way of truth and love are inseparable. People who live in God's love live in truth. People who live in His truth live in love.
Pastor Mark
8/2/2007 | By: Mark | Category: First Fruits | Comments
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What Would You Share?
There once was an old farmer who was constantly bragging about how generous he would be if he were only rich. One night God sent an angel to test him. The angel asked, "If you had $1 million dollars, would you share some with God?" "Of course I would," answered the man without hesitation. "If you lived in a mansion, would you let God have a room?" the angel asked. Again the man quickly answered, "Absolutely." Finally, the angel asked, "Would you let God use your old horse out back?" The man thought for a long time and finally answered, "No." "Why not?" asked the angel. The man answered, "Because that horse is the only one I have and I need him." Moral of the Story...
It's harder to be generous with things that we actually have than it is with riches we hope to have someday. But what we do have and use for building God's kingdom are Fruits of Faith. He is glorified in our giving.
Pastor Mark
8/2/2007 | By: Mark | Category: TLG | Comments
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Ants
I was reading a teachers' plan for observing the behavior of ants. The basic point of the lesson was to get the students to watch the ants deal with obstacles, to see how they would react to varying degrees of difficulty in overcoming things that either get in the way or must be moved. Ants are really amazing! They are designed by our creator God to be enormously strong for their size and tenaciously determined to accomplish their work. The Bible tells us that we are also able to "overcome" even the world. Because Jesus laid down His life as a perfect sacrifice for our sin, the most formidable enemies of sin, death, and satan (the spell checker on my computer thinks that imp deserve a capital letter on his name but not me) are already defeated. That leaves just the small stuff, which sometimes feels pretty big to us. Our God is able to take it all on Him as we walk with Him, we can overcome the world.
Pastor Mark
7/26/2007 | By: Mark | Category: TLG | Comments
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Puncture-Proof Heart
Some of these newfangled inventions are great-especially the puncture-proof tire. If you are driving along with ordinary tires and a nail goes through one of them, whis-s-s, you lose all the air. But a puncture-proof tire is different-if a nail goes through, there is some stuff inside that runs around and stops the hole and the air stays in.
The heart of a Christian is like that puncture-proof tire. An ordinary heart may be filled with love, but when someone does something to puncture that heart, all the love runs out and hatred and hard feelings take its place. But a puncture-proof heart is different. It is filled with the Spirit of Christ and when someone, through their words or deeds punctures that heart, immediately the hole is stopped up tight and the love stays in."
Today, we focus on staying in the truth and staying in love. It's a great place to be as a child of God. With his help and perfect strength we are committed to "abide in love" and to live it out daily even amid those hazards which would try to put a leak in the love.
Pastor Mark
7/19/2007 | By: Mark | Category: TLG | Comments
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Children of God
A boy was kept by his mother in an attic in WWII to keep him from being drafted. For years he lived in the little attic. His mother who was well off died, and several days later she was found. They heard a noise and soon found the boy. Half starved scared and afraid, they led him out of the attic. After being fed he was told the war was over, and explained he was financially well off and they asked him what he wanted? His reply? He wanted to retreat back to his grubby little room.
Many Christians are in the same situation. They live miserable lives afraid of everything, trying to save themselves instead of living wonderful wholesome lives, receiving the blessings of God. The Christian has all God's resources to be used, but often because he does not put his trust in the Lord he lives a poor and sad existence. How odd that so many who are children of the King would live like a pauper instead.
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1
Pastor Mark
7/12/2007 | By: Mark | Category: TLG | Comments
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Dangerous
"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11
A pastor and post-modern leader, who I admire, Erwin McManus, relayed the story of his young son who called him into his room at night because he was afraid. He asked his daddy to pray for protection and that God would make him safe. Erwin said to his son, "No, I won't pray that. I'm going to pray that God would make you dangerous. That you would be so dangerous, that demons would be afraid of you."
The son replied, "Then pray that I would be very dangerous."
The point was that believers should be so close to God and so armed with His weapons that they would be able to stand against the world and the evil one and to be bold like Jesus.
Being in the Word makes us so. As we continue our look at New Testament Postcards we ask that God would make us dangerous.
Pastor Mark Neumann
7/11/2007 | By: Tim | Category: First Fruits | Comments
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Brief Update on Current Expenses
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
I want to give you a brief update on our current expenses. From the first of the year to the present, general offerings are down more than 6 1/2% and Fruits of Faith [capital fund drive to reduce the debt] is down more than 32% which means that, if the current trend continues, by the end of December we will be down $55,000.00 for general offerings and down $50,000.00 for Fruits of Faith.
However, we are very close to hiring a Youth Director, Pastor Mark Neumann is on board and ready to go to work, and with the hard work and dedication of Pastor Tim, Cheri, Katherine, and the rest of our staff, I believe the ministry is ready to explode and go to the next level, which, I believe, will take care of things long term.
But our real pressing need is short term cash flow. It looks like we will have to borrow money to meet expenses for July and August. But there is absolutely no money in the budget to pay back this loan, which will be a very huge setback for Trinity.
PPC and leadership are asking all of us in the congregation to talk with God and prayerfully consider your current giving and see if there is a way you can help us get through this problem.
One way is to sign up for Simply Giving, which will insure that your offering will be at the church each week which will help us with expenses.
Please remember that the Bible states that God our Father commands us to be good stewards of the resources and gifts he has provided for us on earth and here at Trinity. God bless you all!
Jim Miller
Trinity president
7/10/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Walking in the Light
My favorite part of the day is early morning - just as the sun is rising. It seems like all the things that concerned me the previous night, all the things that kept me awake thrashing through the night, just kind of evaporate as the sun comes up. Of course, all those things are still in the light but somehow the light gives me a different perspective on them. I can see hope in the morning. I can see help in the morning. I can see some possibilities.
God sends us a postcard today in 1 John 1. It's a picture postcard. A picture of the sunrise, of Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, dawning on us and all who struggle through the night. With the Son of God there is hope and help and possibilities. On the backside of this picture, God says to us: "Walk in the Light." Let Jesus shine on you every day. As you get up in the morning, turn your face to His Word. As you journey through the day, let His light guide you. As you lay yourself down at night, commend yourself into His light and let Him fill your heart through the long, dark night.
Good morning! Good day! God's peace!
Pastor Tim
6/27/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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How do you welcome a new pastor?
Excitement is running high for our new pastor. People are wanting to know how we can welcome him and make him and his family feel at home. Send him a letter? Mail a card? Email him? Make him cookies?
As impressively warm and welcoming as chocolate chip cookies would seem to me, there is one other way to make Pastor Mark feel welcome here. And that's by getting involved in some part of the ministry here, participating every week in worship, and sharing together with him and all of us in prayer.
This weekend we are focusing on the story of Samuel. God had blessed Samuel so much in his life. He had, first of all, given him as a gift to his barren mother. He then blessed Samuel by accepting him into his tabernacle service. Israel's current priest/prophet/judge, Eli, was getting old and so Samuel was a gift to the nation too. Late one night Samuel was awakened by a voice calling, "Samuel." He went in to Eli, thinking that the old priest needed something. But it wasn't Eli. He returned to his bed and heard the voice again. It turns out that God was calling Samuel and he responded: "Here I am, Lord. Speak for your servant is listening."
Pastor Mark has answered the call of God and said, "Here I am, Lord." He is coming here after hearing God's voice calling to serve Him.
The call of a new pastor, though, is also a call for all of us to get involved. The Lord is calling us by our names too as Pastor Mark begins his work here. God is saying to us: "I have made you a gift. I have given you gifts. I want you to serve me too."
In a lot of congregations, when a new pastor comes, the people who have gotten involved in the interim are glad because they think they can back away now and let the pastor do it. That's not God's intent though. He is bringing Pastor Mark here because there is even more work to do and He needs all of us to do it together.
Do you hear the voice of God calling you? Welcome Pastor Mark by answering that call yourself. Worship every week. Pray. Get involved. And he will feel very much at home.
Pastor Tim
6/27/2007 | By: Tim | Category: First Fruits | Comments
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Missions and Ministry
One of the exciting aspects of our budget for the new fiscal year that starts this month is that we are sending 2% of our offerings (about $12,000) to our national church body for missions and ministry. There are a lot of reasons for celebrating this milestone: 1. This month we are welcoming our new Lead Pastor, Rev. Mark Neumann. Our mission donations support our seminaries where Pastor Neumann studied for our ministry. He also attended one of our LCMS colleges where he received a Master's Degree in Family Life Education. Our offerings help us directly, then, and 6000 other LCMS churches to have trained and caring pastors.
2. During this month we will also be adding a Youth Director to our staff. Our mission tithe helps to prepare Youth Directors and Directors of Christian Education at several LCMS colleges. Most of the candidates that we are considering have benefited directly from our giving.
3. We could not have called such an excellent Lead Pastor and Youth Director without the help of our LCMS District President, circuit counselor and staff. They provided us with names and information about candidates. They gave us Pastor Neumann's name. They helped guide our process. They also have demographic information available about Trinity and the Hudson area to help us in understanding what kind of pastor we needed.
4. The LCMS mission fund gave us $480,000 to help support the Family Center ministry for four years. Trinity had been sending a tithe of our offerings to national and international missions through the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod until we opened the Family Center. Because this was such a huge mission outreach, we were not able to continue that commitment. Now, though, we are able to start helping other congregations expand their outreach in the same way that we were helped.
5. And then there are all of the reasons to celebrate our giving that don't flow directly from what we ourselves get out of it. There are all of the missionaries and ministries that our giving supports around the world and all of the people who will be in heaven because we gave a portion back to God of what He has given to us.
So, you see, the money you give in the offering every week is very important. It benefits you and your children and all of your church family here at Trinity, your neighbors in the Hudson area, and people around the world.
Your giving is a good investment.
But even more, your giving is a wonderful and very effective way of saying thank you to God for all that He has done for you.
Pastor Tim
6/20/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Praise God for our new Pastor
After much prayer and deliberation, Pastor Mark Neumann has accepted God's call to serve as Lead Pastor at Trinity. He and his family will begin their transition to the Hudson area in July.
Pastor Mark writes in his letter of acceptance, "I am now very convinced and filled with deep peace that God Himself, moving with His Holy Spirit, The Counselor, has given me a clear and compelling call to serve Trinity. I joyfully accept that call and look forward to building our lives under the Word of God to extend his kingdom near and far. I look forward to the vision we will see together as He enables us to follow His call as an entire body of faith-filled travelers on the journey of life."
Pastor Neumann has been helping us with preaching at the Family Center from week-to-week and many people have gotten to know him and appreciate his ministry. He is married to Diana and they have seven children. Pastor Mark has a master's degree in family life education and is completing a four-year program in the Pastoral Leadership Institute. He has served in a dual parish in Minnesota, a Missouri Synod mega-church in Texas, and a large congregation in Ham Lake, MN. His strengths are in preaching, leadership, creativity, visioning, and family ministry. He is a people-person who is easy to talk to and somebody who cares about others.
Please pray that God will bless our new pastor and his family as they move to the Hudson area. Pray that their house in Oak Grove, MN will sell quickly and that the transition to Trinity will go smoothly.
Pastor Tim
6/13/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Father's Day
The Sunday School and Xtreme Kids Bible story for today is a great one for Father's Day. It's the story of Ruth and Naomi. Neither one of them is a father, of course, but they teach us about our heavenly Father and about our relationships in our families.
Naomi had two sons. Her husband died and then her sons died. All she had left in the world were her two daughters-in-law. However, she encouraged them to return to their families, find new husbands, go on with life again. One of them did. But Ruth refused. She said: "where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you." (Ruth 1:16, 17)
Ruth and Naomi were family. Ruth had taken a vow to Naomi's son and that vow made them family and Ruth was going to honor that commitment no matter what. They probably got along like a lot of mothers- and daughters-in-law. Naomi could be a little bossy; she was not so very happy. But Ruth stuck with her family. Her family commitment was the number one thing in her life.
We see the same kind of commitment in our heavenly Father. He says: "I will not leave you or forsake you" (Joshua 1:5; Deuteronomy 31:6,8). We can be very immature, self-centered, loud, obnoxious, inconvenient, disobedient, disrespectful, but He never leaves us. He continues to do whatever He has to in order to serve us and help us and save us, even to the point of giving His Son to die for us. He is a very patient and dedicated Father.
It's not always easy being a dad - or a son or daughter or daughter-in-law or father-in-law either. But in God's love and in the relationship between Ruth and Naomi we see the blessing that such a commitment lived out makes in the lives of people.
Whether we are dads or moms or kids or nieces, nephews, or cousins, may God keep us close to one another and to Him.
Pastor Tim
6/13/2007 | By: Tim | Category: First Fruits | Comments
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Stewardship and the Christian Life
Stewardship and the Christian life are not things you can do just half way.
I fertilized my lawn this spring. Unfortunately, I ran out of fertilizer half way through. When I put it down, I couldn't tell where it was and where it wasn't. I thought, "Oh, it will be alright." And I didn't go back to the store and get more.
Well, now you can tell. The part that got the fertilizer is lush and green and there is a plentiful harvest of grass to mow at least once a week.
The rest of the lawn is pale and sickly.
If we go at the Christian life just halfway, at some point in our lives it will show up - in a crisis, in the way our kids grow up, in stressful times and relationships, in the amount of contentment and joy that we experience in life.
Jesus said: "The one who sows bountifully will reap bountifully." If we are being nourished spiritually only on Christmas and Easter, or only during the school year, we are not going to have all the growth and beauty that we could otherwise. And the output and result of our lives - our impact in this life - will not be as great either.
As my lawn pro friend tells me, "It's not too late. But you have to fertilize during the summer too. If you're going to have a beautiful lawn you have to keep at it."
Pastor Tim
6/12/2007 | By: Tim | Category: First Fruits | Comments
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Packing Up For Vacation
Don't forget God. Not that you can squeeze Him into your suitcase. Besides, He's already there where you're going and He will be with you all the way.
Instead, make time for Him. Find a church to worship in while you're gone or on the road. Read the Bible in your spare time - it's a great beach book - lots of mystery, romance, drama.
Stop the mail and the newspaper, kennel the dog, and sign up for Simply Giving so your thankfulness for your vacation can resound in your offerings even if you're not in church. You can get an application from the church office or on the church website or from Thrivent.com. Have a great summer!
6/6/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Hair-the Gift
The older I get (and the balder) the more I understand what a gift Samson was given. The children are studying about Samson in Xtreme Kids and Sunday School today and the Downtown adults are looking at him too.
When Samson was born, God told his mom never to cut his hair. It was to be part of his "nazarite" vow, a vow to live his life for God. As he grew up, that hair became his strength. He was able to do mighty and great things because of it.
Unfortunately, he squandered this gift. He used it for his own purposes and to impress people. And he sold his gift out to Delilah. He committed adultery with her and revealed his secret to her, a Gentile and unbeliever. And she betrayed him to his enemies by cutting off his hair when he was asleep in her lap and inviting them in to capture him. It is such a shame the way his life turned out. He was so gifted. I remember hearing my dad say that and I have heard parents here saying it to their kids: "You are so gifted. Don't waste it."
God has gifted all of us. He has given each of us talents and abilities and spiritual gifts. Are we using those gifts as He intended, to help others, to serve Him and the world? Or are we spending those gifts on ourselves, keeping them to ourselves, squandering them on fame, pleasure, or comfort?
In the end, Samson realized the gift he had been given and he gave his life then in serving God with it. Hopefully, we won't have to go bald, be put in chains, have our eyes put out, and hit rock bottom before we appreciate God's grace and our God-given purpose in life.
We are a gifted people and we have an awesome, gift-giving God. May the Lord help us to treasure those gifts and use them to His glory.
Pastor Tim
5/31/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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One Plus God is a Majority
What kind of a general sends 21,700 of his men home so that he can go into battle against 25,000 enemy soldiers with just 300 men?
His name was Gideon and it wasn't really his fault. He was only doing what God told him to do. "The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into your hand," God said to Gideon, "lest Israel boast over me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.'" (Judges 7).
God wanted the Israelites to know who it was that had saved them so that they would depend upon Him alone. We could probably use this lesson too. How often don't we go into battle thinking we are all on our own, depending on our smarts, or charm, or good looks? And when victory comes, we take credit for ourselves. If only we could see the invisible arm of the Lord at work in our lives, striving against the evil that seeks to overwhelm us and the circumstances of life that trouble us.
Trust in God and give glory to Him, my fifth grade teacher used to say. Don't be afraid but don't be conceited either. Everything is possible with God and without Him you could have 50,000 friends (or dollars) and still lose.
Pastor Tim
5/23/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Tapping into the Power
"You will be my witnesses," Jesus said. That must have scared the disciples as much as it sometimes scares us. People were out to kill them. They already had killed Jesus. Of course, He had risen and come back to life. And He promised that all those who trusted in Him would likewise rise and rule with Him. But still, they quivered a bit.
And so He promised them some supernatural help. "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you." Power to go to their neighbors. Power to share with their friends. Power to stand in front of lions and executioners. Power. Boldness. Love that would light up the world. It's pretty amazing how the Holy Spirit could turn these dim wits into blazing and pulsating beacons of hope and grace.
Power is what Pentecost and the Holy Spirit are about. Power that comes from faith in a risen and reigning Jesus Christ. Power that comes from the gifts that He gives His faithful ones. Power to love Him and our perishing neighbors more than our own comfort and ease.
The Holy Spirit filled the disciples on Pentecost and the Spirit has filled every Christian since in our baptisms and faith. That source of boldness, courage, and love lives in us like a light bulb, no, like a life-saving furnace, just waiting for our faith to flip the switch and tap into the power.
God wants to turn the Light on in the world, friends. He has put the power into our hearts and veins. All it takes to light up our neighborhood is believing Him, trusting the Spirit, flipping the switch and opening our mouths. Even the words, He said, would be given to us. Happy Pentecost - a Power Pentecost - to you. Let's light up the St. Croix Valley with His love and the message of His grace.
Pastor Tim
5/17/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Why are we (still) here?
On Thursday, the church celebrated the ascension of Jesus into heaven. For forty days after His resurrection Christ was with His disciples, reminding them of what He had taught them. Then He took them out to a hillside overlooking Jerusalem and, as they were looking at Him, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight into heaven.
The disciples just stood there then, gazing up into heaven. Where did He go? When will He come back? Why can't we go with Him? They were agape with mouths wide open. Two angels appeared next to them and broke their reverie. "Why are you just standing here? This Jesus is going to come back."
They knew that. Jesus had told them. He had also told them that they had work to do before He returned. "You will be my witnesses to the end of the earth.... Go and make disciples."
Jesus had left them behind to finish the work He had begun, to take the message of the Kingdom out into the world to get everyone ready for His return. That's why they couldn't go with Him.
Why are we still here too? We have believed their message. We have trusted in Christ. We are ready to go to heaven. But God has left us here because our neighbors aren't ready yet, because people in other parts of the world haven't heard yet, because even some members of our own family don't believe yet. Jesus has left us here because there is still work to be done.
Are we just standing here too, looking into heaven?
Pastor Tim
5/9/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Pray for Pastor Neumann
On Sunday, May 6, the voters of Trinity prayerfully and unanimously called Pastor Mark Neumann to serve as Lead Pastor of the congregation.
Pastor Neumann has been helping us with preaching at the Family Center from week-to-week and many people have gotten to know him and appreciate his ministry.
He is married to Diana and they have seven children. Pastor Mark has a degree in family life education and is completing a four-year program in the Pastoral Leadership Institute. He has served in a dual parish in Minnesota, a Missouri Synod mega-church in Texas, and a large congregation in Ham Lake, MN.
His strengths are in preaching, leadership, creativity, visioning, and family ministry. He is a people-person who is easy to talk to and somebody who cares about others. During the next several weeks, he and his family will be praying about and considering this call. Please pray for them that God will clearly reveal His will about their life and ministry.
5/2/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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True Love
Jesus Christ stands between the lover and the others he or she loves. I do not know in advance what love of others means on the basis of the general idea of love that grows out of my human desires - all this may rather be hatred and an insidious kind of selfishness in the eyes of Christ. What love is, only Christ tells in His Word. Contrary to all my own opinions and convictions, Jesus Christ will tell me what love toward my brother and sister really is. Therefore, spiritual love is bound solely to the Words of Jesus Christ. Where Christ bids me to maintain fellowship for the sake of love, I will maintain it. Where His truth enjoins me to dissolve a fellowship for my love's sake, there I will dissolve it, despite all the protests of my self-centered love. Because spiritual love does not desire but rather serves, it loves an enemy as a brother or sister. It originates neither in the brother or sister nor in the enemy but in Christ and His Word. Self-centered love can never understand spiritual love, for spiritual love is from above; it is something completely strange, new, and incomprehensible to all earthly love.
+ Dietrich Bonhoeffer, from "Life Together"
4/25/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Come to the Voters' Meeting on May 6 and What is a Lead Pastor
Come to the Voters' Call Meeting on May 6
We have been praying and searching for over 15 months for the man that God wants to serve here. The PPC is recommending that we call Rev. Mark Neumann as Lead Pastor at Trinity. I would urge you to come to the meeting on May 6 at noon at the Family Center to hear more about him and to pray with all of us for the Holy Spirit's direction.
What is a Lead Pastor?
When Pastor Mark Tewes was here, he and I served as co-pastors. As time went by, we discovered that we were always waiting for each other, and people often didn't know who to go to. In our estimation, the ministry of the congregation did not move forward as smoothly as it could have and things were not as coordinated and vision-directed as we thought they needed to be. Before Pastor Mark left, we recommended that Trinity move in the direction of a Lead Pastor.
Since then, the staff and PPC have studied this idea and the PPC has established the following as the Ministry Description for the Lead Pastor.
The Lead Pastor:
· Keeps the vision before the congregation and staff, holding the ministry up to the mirror of the vision (example: new ministry ideas need to fit into the framework of TLC vision, or they are not pursued)
· Leads the staff and members in monitoring the progress in pursuing and maintaining that vision in the congregation, community, and world;
· Leads the joint meetings of the site planning teams and the overall coordination of Trinity's program ministries;
· Has the final say in which Pastor should act as the spokesperson for Trinity's ministry in the community and larger church - situational;
· Serves as site pastor at one of Trinity's sites, to lead the ministry, outreach, and worship at that campus. The Lead Pastor is not responsible for day-to-day administrative operations of Trinity in the areas of finance, human relations, property or schools. He leads in the spiritual and programmatic ministry of Trinity and works with the Parish Administrator and PPC in all other administrative functions.
Each site will have a pastor to help coordinate the ministry at that campus (Pastor Mark at the Family Center and me at the Downtown site) but Pastor Mark will serve as the Lead Pastor of the congregation. Each site pastor will implement the vision of the congregation through the work of the respective site but both pastors will also serve the whole congregation and all the members as pastors leading Bible studies for all, visiting the sick at either site, sharing ideas, and preaching at the other site on a scheduled basis.
This is a new concept for Trinity so things will adjust as we go along and learn, but I think that having one Pastor serving as the Lead will be immensely helpful and a blessing for us all.
As we prayerfully searched for the pastor God wanted here, we decided that we would let the gifts, abilities, and experiences of the two pastors determine who would be the Lead Pastor.
I am excited about the possibility of Pastor Neumann being called as Lead Pastor because he definitely has the gifts, training, and experience to be Lead Pastor. I would look forward very much to serving with him using my abilities in the areas where God has gifted me and supporting him as our Lead Pastor.
So please come to the Voters' meeting on May 6 at noon at the Family Center. If you are a member of Trinity, 18 years of age or older, you are eligible to vote. If you are not a member or not over 18, you are still invited to come and pray with us. This decision belongs to you and to all of Trinity. Please continue to pray that the Holy Spirit will lead and guide us.
Pastor Tim
4/18/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Follow Me
Today's Gospel from John 21:1-19 is one of my favorites (I have a lot of favorites). Jesus meets His disciples at the Sea of Galilee after He is risen from the dead. He has a fire going with bread and fish. He says: "Come and have breakfast." (I love breakfast)
After breakfast He takes Simon Peter aside and asks him: "Simon, do you love me more than these?" Three times He asks Peter the same question. Three times Simon says, "Yes!" And three times Jesus re-commissions Him saying, "Feed my sheep." Three times - once for every time Simon denied Jesus at His crucifixion (I have denied Him too and constantly need to be re-commissioned).
Jesus then tells Peter that Peter is going to finally give his life in service to Jesus. He will be killed being faithful to Christ and not give in to pressure or fear (would I be able to die for Jesus?)
This Gospel is Good News about forgiveness and restoration. Even though we deny Him still He loves us and renews us and re-commissions us to His service. He still wants us and can use us in bringing His kingdom into this world.
The paragraph after this, though, is also one of my favorites (I told I you have a lot of favorites). Right after being forgiven and restored three times, Peter still needs a fourth.
He turns and sees John following them. He says, "Well, if I'm going to die for you, what about this guy, John?" (I am always doing that too. What about those people? Why do they get what they get? Why not me?)
It sounds a lot like growing up with brothers: why do they get that and not me? (Or sometimes like churches or sites or men and women or neighbors or nations or sick people and well-people). Parents and grandparents oftentimes go crazy trying to make sure that their kids get everything equal. Jesus is not into equal. He is into justice and doing what is right and treating people fairly because those are the values of His kingdom - the kingdom whose coming is His highest priority - the kingdom of love and service. But His priority is not making sure that everybody gets the same.
And so He says to Peter: "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? YOU FOLLOW ME!"
Lord, help me to stop looking around at what other people get and be thankful for the grace and love and resources that you have given to me. Help me to stop spinning my wheels whining about life and get busy living.
Pastor Tim
4/12/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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How can we worship Him?
All during Lent and Holy Week as we remembered the sacrifice of Jesus the question kept coming to me: "How do we worship such a God in a way that even approaches what He deserves?"
It starts by understanding: What is worship? Worship celebrates the Triune God. It focuses on Him, on who He is and on His mighty deeds.
In our individualistic, self-centered, entertainment-oriented culture, worship is in danger of becoming about me - my feelings and my needs - or about the band - or about the peppy worship leader or the dynamic, energetic preacher.
Biblical worship has a different focus. It is focused on the Triune God. It celebrates God by proclaiming the wonderful things He has done in Jesus Christ. We do not come into an auditorium to hear musicians or a choir in concert, or a lecture hall to hear how to parent better, or a coffee house to drink coffee and talk with our friends, or a music room for a sing-a-long or a pep rally to make us feel better and send us out excited. We do not come to be entertained. We come into the heavenly Temple to worship, to serve God, to be so focused on God that we lose ourselves in serving Him, in celebrating Him and His wonderful deeds.
The writer of Hebrews says about worship, "You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel...Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:22-24,28-29).
In worship, we come into the heavenly Temple, into the presence of the living God who is a consuming fire, to Jesus Christ and to His blood, surrounded by all the angels and saints, to worship Him, to celebrate His mighty deeds. And the appropriate attitude with which to come? Reverence and awe, says the Bible.
Think about it today as you worship. How focused are you on God in worship? Or is your focus on the band or choir, or the cute children, or the energy of the leaders or how good and up you feel when you leave? How often are the words "I" or "me" or "mine" sung or spoken and how often is the name of Jesus and the work He has done proclaimed? How much do you judge a worship service by what you got out of it rather than what you put into it?
Pastor Tim
4/5/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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What Difference Does Easter Make?
So what if the Easter bunny wins the hearts of children everywhere? What if searches for Easter eggs raise more excitement than getting up for the Easter Sunrise service? What difference does Easter make anyway?
It makes a lot of difference to those who are in touch enough with reality to take life and death seriously. It made a lot of difference to a very real woman named Mary. Mary saw her Lord die an excruciating death, his body hanging limp from the nails driven through his hands and feet, suspended from a cross like a common criminal. Was all her hope for nothing? What of all the thousands of diseased bodies he had healed? The broken lives he had restored? The promises of the Kingdom of God?
But early Sunday morning she was back at the tomb to finish anointing his body. When she arrived, the tomb stood open. Was it an Easter bunny that rolled that stone away? No, it was the powerful hand of God as Jesus Christ stepped forth brimming with Life.
Yes, Easter bunnies still capture the hearts of children and children still go hunting through the grass for Easter eggs, but we know what really happened on Easter and it makes all the difference.
It made all the difference for Mary that the one who stood before her in the garden was not some big galoot dressed up in a big bunny costume or even the gardener, but her friend, Jesus, risen from the dead.
It makes all the difference that Easter is about the Christ, God came to be one of us, killed for us, who rose again that Sunday morning.
It makes all the difference for people whose loved ones have died, who need some hope. It makes all the difference for people whose consciences are killing them, who need some forgiveness. It makes all the difference for people who are so sick of the conflict and division in the world who need some peace and a new faith-keeping king to follow. No Easter bunny will ever save our souls. No Buddha can forgive us. No Confucius will lead us to heaven. No Mohammed can bring us into the Kingdom of joy and light that we long for.
Only Jesus the Christ of God risen from the dead. "I am the resurrection and the life," Jesus said. "He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."
Christ is risen! He is risen INDEED! Alleluia!
Pastor Tim
3/29/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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In It For the Long Haul
This weekend we near the end of the road with Jesus. Up to this point it's been kind of fun. Healing people. Feeding people. Having people praise you. The countryside was electricified and all the people were lining the street to welcome the Messiah to His capital city. There had been nay-sayers along the way. But by and large, everybody was excited to see Him.
This was it, the disciples thought. Now is the time when the glorious Kingdom was going to be declared with Jesus as King and each of them as princes. This is it, the people thought. The Messiah was coming to His throne and there would be bread and privilege for all. "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"
Jesus, however, and maybe a mother and a friend both named Mary, were the only ones among the half a million people in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to know how long and hard the road still was. The next week would seem like an eternity. And the last two miles, up the Golgotha hill to a cross and to hell, would seem like forever.
It would be too far for all of the rest of them. The crowd would turn against Him. The disciples would leave Him. But Jesus was in it for the long haul. He had come from heaven for this very moment and He was not going to stop short because the way got too hard or too long. He was going to go all the way for us.
Kind of makes you cringe, doesn't it? To think of how little we are willing to put up with, how much we like to be spiritually and physically coddled and comforted, how quickly we turn away from Him when His way conflicts with our own desires and schedules.
There is a part in the committal service at the cemetery where we all pray: "Lord, do not let the pains of death turn us away from you in our last hour."
In the pains of death He turned to His Father, and as He did He brought all of us along. "Father, into your hands I commit myself." Now we too can commit ourselves to the long haul because we know that the Father's hands will hold us up as well. One foot after another, His Spirit will bear us along.
Pastor Tim
3/22/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Living a life in balance
With people so busy these days there is a lot of talk about keeping our lives in balance. What usually happens, then, is that we cut up our lives in pieces and dedicate one piece to work, another to family, another to working out, another to sports, another to TV, and so forth, and if there is any piece left - an hour maybe on Sunday - another piece to God.
And so God gets a sliver and we end up feeling guilty or run ragged. We end up dropping all the pieces we're trying to juggle and falling down exhausted ourselves. This compartmentalized life is very different from the well-balanced life that God wishes for us. That life is exemplified by what Paul wrote in Colossians 3:17 - "Whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
What would it mean for us to "wake up in Jesus' name?" Or to play softball in Jesus' name? To eat in Jesus' name or to play with our kids in Jesus' name? What would finding our balance in Jesus' name mean for greeting our spouse or our co-workers?
What would doing all things in Jesus' name mean for the decisions about what we do with all of our time? Or shopping in Jesus' name? Or sleeping in Jesus' name? Now we begin to get a sense of the radical nature of what it means to live a well-balanced, well-ordered heart. "Whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of Jesus."
We sometimes miss the point because we tend to divide up life like a pie and neglect the center. Balance requires a center of gravity. And our lives require a center too.
What is at the center of your life? Or Who? It makes a difference.
Pastor Tim
3/14/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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The March Morphing Madness
March Madness is upon us. For those who watch college basketball these are the golden days. The top teams now play for pride and supremacy and thousands of fans are exalted but millions are brought low.
"These are the days that try men's (and women's) souls," when the high and mighty are brought down and the bigger they are the harder they fall.
These are the days to learn from.
Jesus said, "people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."
Jesus turns the tables on us. In His Kingdom it doesn't matter how tall you are or how many points you can score. The basketball player who trusts in his own strength ends up limping off the floor or covering his head with a towel. The only thing that matters is Jesus and our relationship with Him. Jesus comes and takes our place. He plays the game. Beats the demonic opposition. He wins the game that we all inevitably lose ourselves.
And when we are on His team, He shares the trophy and the victory with us.
Good luck with your picks. Remember only one team can win.
Pastor Tim
3/7/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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What is forgiveness worth?
This week we are talking about the role that confession and prayer play in experiencing the life that we've always wanted.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor martyred under Adolf Hitler, wrote about confession:
"Why is it that it is often easier for us to confess our sins to God than to a brother? God is holy and sinless, He is a just judge of evil and the enemy of all disobedience. But a brother is sinful as we are. He knows from his own experience the dark night of secret sin. Why should we not find it easier to go to a brother than to a Holy God?" Maybe it's because we have to look a brother or sister in the eye when we confess to them, but with God we keep our eyes closed.
Maybe it's because a brother or sister would hold us accountable to working on amending our sinful life, but we expect God to just pat us on the head and say, "Good boy. Now go back out and play."
Maybe it's because confessing to another human being costs us something - somebody else knows us now; we have to reveal our dirt to another; it's so humiliating. And somehow with God it's just a private thing, just between him and us. It doesn't cost us anything. No shame, no humiliation, no tears.
Not like hanging alongside the major road into town, naked, with a public pronouncement of your guilt nailed above your head and all your friends and neighbors passing by looking up at you and clucking their tongues.
Maybe, if we understood how tremendously costly our forgiveness was, our confession on Sundays would be more heartfelt and during the week it would be more real. Then confession could really help transform our lives. Our costly confession coupled with Christ's costly absolution would have the power to transform us and help us to experience more of the life that we've always wanted. Because, you see, he really does love us, but we don't really understand how much, until we are able to confess also what "poor, miserable sinners" we really are.
Pastor Tim
2/28/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Oh boy, more snow!
Do you remember three weeks ago when we were lamenting what a dry winter it's been? Just 12 inches of snow all winter. And now in one week it looks like we will end up with 24 inches more. And we'll almost be back to normal.
I know. I probably shouldn't be rejoicing. Three-quarters of Hudson has to commute on slippery, windswept, treacherous roads and the drive stretches out to twice or three times as long and it's really hard to appreciate the white stuff after that.
One thing it does, though - it forces us to slow down. At least I hope that you are slowing down in the snow. For some of us it takes a good snowstorm to slow us down. No wonder so many people have heart, digestive, and relationship problems. We're always going.
The Israelites were a lot like us and even more so. Their land was not so fertile, their crops not so plentiful, their economy not so vigorous. If they didn't work, they didn't eat.
But God commanded them to take a Sabbath every week - one day off whether they could afford it or not. Actually, they had to work around the Sabbath, plan for it. They had to consider God as they scheduled their week. They had to dial down their life or find a way to work smarter. In any case, they had to take time for rest, for family, for God. Not because God was such a killjoy, but rather because it was good for them.
These snow days can be good for us too. Snowed-in time to spend some time playing with kids and spouse. Slowed-down time on the freeway to spend reflecting about life and talking with God. A gift from God to learn and play and grow.
I know the snow can be inconvenient. But perhaps if we embrace it we will find a treasure hidden beneath it. A Winter Carnival medallion for all of us. And besides, spring is not far away.
Pastor Tim
2/22/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Experience the Life You've Always Wanted
Does life seem dry and brown? Do you find yourself hungry for something more, something deeper? Is life a struggle now and you feel like you are being assaulted by forces of darkness all around?
Good news! Jesus knows exactly what you are feeling. He has been there himself. Out in the desert for 40 days fasting and fighting with the power of evil. Going even beyond that into the darkness of death itself. And he is standing with you.
Today we draw on his power, the power that enabled him to overcome the Evil One and rise from the dead. The power that is in the Word of God is for us too.
When he was being assaulted, he went to the scriptures and drew on the power of God to feed his soul and to strengthen him in his battle with Satan. As he quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3, "man shall not live by bread alone." From him we learn to read the scriptures, to memorize them, to apply them to ourselves, and to draw on the Holy Spirit's help who speaks and works through them.
Life can be better, sweeter, more meaningful if we are drawing from the source of Life itself, if we are drawing on the Word of God. Take 7 ½ minutes each day this Lent to read a couple of verses and let God nourish and strengthen you.
Pastor Tim
2/15/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Transformed
"We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18)
One of my boys' favorite toys when they were growing up were "Transformers": cars or trucks that you opened up and rearranged into superheroes or giants or fighters.
In the same way, Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians, God is transforming us. He is opening up our lives, rearranging and renewing us, until we look like Jesus Christ.
This is his goal in his work with us. Not just to save our souls the way they are and bring us to heaven. But to transform us now in this world so that we conform to the image of Christ, the image that we were created in, the image that lies within all of us just waiting to be brought out of us by the power of the Holy Spirit.
That's why they call us "Christians", little Christs. Because God is at work in us to bring out the life and the love of Christ in us.
When people look at you, do they see Christ unfolding in you?
Pastor Tim
2/8/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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I love you, Really!
When I was a kid, we had to give valentines to everybody in the class. It was kind of tough. There was a kid who was always picking on me. Three years I just signed my name to the card and grimaced when I put it into his valentine box. Finally in seventh grade I scratched out, "Please be mine," and wrote over the top of it, "This year your [life] is MINE, Bully Boy." After that I got a lecture from my teacher about how we're supposed to love everybody. "Luv ya." "Luv ya' too." How can you love everybody, really?
We hear that so much about God too. "For God so LOVEd the world..." But how do you know? How do you know it's not just something he says to everybody? How do you know that he means it?
I guess he means it because as ornery as I can be he still "gave his only begotten Son." Gave him, not some frilly valentine. Gave him instead of a hard, stale tootsie roll. Gave him to die for me, for you.
Happy Valentines' Day! God really does love you.
Give a bully a Valentine this year and tell him God loves him too.
Pastor Tim
2/1/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Are You Ready for Spring?
It won't be too long and it will be fishing opener again. Although with Jesus, fishing is not limited to any particular season. In the Gospel appointed for today, he calls four fishermen to follow him and tells them that he is going to send them out to fish for people.
Fishing for people is a lot like fishing for fish. You have to be patient. You put the food out there in front of the fish but then it's up to them whether they are going to bite. You have to pay attention to the tides and currents of life so that the message isn't too deep or too shallow, but meets people where they are at. You have to trust God.
But in some ways it's different too. No person is too small that you have to throw him/her back. Every one is special and precious - there aren't walleyes that are better and carp that are garbage. And once the person is in the boat, they are safe and live forever, not destined for death and the fire.
If you're getting a little eager to throw your line in the water again, you could go ice fishing (brrrrr). Or you could try fishing for people.
Pastor Tim
1/25/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Bearing the image and life of God
Today is Sanctity of Life Sunday in many congregations throughout the United States. Here at Trinity we, too, believe and teach that all human life is sacred. Human beings were created in God's image and bear his likeness.
And humanity was sanctified and made holy, too, as God took on human flesh and blood and joined our humanity to his divinity in the incarnation, "enfleshment", of God in Jesus Christ.
As the God-Man is conceived and grows in the womb of Mary, he makes holy all who are conceived for he shares our flesh and blood in the womb. As he dies on the cross, he makes holy all who die. And with every heartbeat along the way, he makes all life, every life, special, redeemed, precious. It's not an argument that we can make in the halls of congress because not everyone shares our understanding of God and humanity. But it is what we believe. It is who we believe the Triune God has made us all to be, bearing his image, sharing his life.
And because we believe that human life is sacred and holy, we treat every life with compassion, love, and mercy in every circumstance along the way.
We know that life is hard sometimes and that people are faced with difficult decisions.
· So we don't judge or condemn.
· We try to support people who are going through these tough times in every way that they need.
· We care for everyone regardless of what decisions they have made, with the compassion and forgiveness that Jesus has extended to all of us.
Because God has humbled himself to become the most vulnerable of us all and commanded us to care for the least and for the powerless, we also care for those who are the weakest and can't speak for themselves.
· We work to alleviate the conditions that sometimes lead people to consider abortions.
· We seek to protect the lives of unborn children.
· We speak for the frail and vulnerable and help and support their caregivers.
And because God shares not just the beginning and the end of life but every heartbeat in between as well, we seek to improve the conditions of life for everyone.
· We care for poor people with every resource at our disposal.
· We work to end prejudice and discrimination.
· We seek a more equitable distribution of resources and opportunities for all people.
· We support efforts to eliminate AIDS and other diseases.
· We oppose the use of war except as the very last resort against an overwhelming evil.
· We question the taking of a human life through capital punishment.
All human beings from conception to death bear the divine image and life. Either we are all holy and precious or none of us is. It's not a matter of my rights or my life, my comfort, my security, or my revenge. It's the life of God in us - in us, in humanity, in all.
Pastor Tim
1/25/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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How goes the journey?
One of the best known of the Desert Fathers of fourth-century Egypt, Saint Sarapion the Sindonite, traveled once on a pilgrimage to Rome. Here he was told of a woman who lived in one small room, never going out, always praying. Skeptical about her way of life because he himself was a great wanderer, Sarapion called on her and asked, "Why are you sitting here?" To which she replied, "I am not sitting, I am on a journey."
All of us are on a journey. To be a Christian is to be a traveler. We are like the Israelites in the desert of Sinai on their way to the Promised Land: we live in bodies that are more like tents than houses, for spiritually we are always on the move. We are on a journey that is not measured by the hours on a clock or the days on a calendar. Our journey is a journey of the heart "out of time into eternity."
How is your journey going?
By faith we come to Christ. Through the Gospel and his sacraments we walk with him daily - hour by hour, moment by moment. And with hope and love we move ahead to that time when we will be eternally in his presence, worshipping with the angels.
May God bless your journey today. They also travel on who sit and pray.
Pastor Tim
1/10/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Heavenly Worship
I'm still stuck in Christmas. Maybe it's the lack of snow or what a wonderful Christmas celebration we had this year. But as I think about the birth of God's Son in Bethlehem, the singing of the angels, the worship of the Magi, the Holy Family brought together in the Child-Christ, I think about our worship here and am amazed.
Every week we enter into heaven right here and share in the worship of our God-made-flesh with angels and saints, with one another and God's people around the world. As we worship here, Christ comes again into our midst in the bread and wine of the Eucharist and the proclamation of his Word. He is present with us here in his Spirit who makes us one through faith in Christ and who helps us to experience that oneness as we share together in the one loaf and cup of communion. He is here among us as we share his peace and love with one another.
As we worship here, the Kingdom of God becomes visible on earth. As we worship here, our prayers and praise are joined with the saints and angels in heaven and with Christians around the world and in heaven too.
What happens here in every service is none other than the breaking in to this world of the Kingdom of heaven, the dimmest glimmer and first appearing of heaven on earth. What is this time about and why is it so special? It is being in the presence of Jesus with one another, with those we love who are in heaven, with all the saints who have gone before us, with angels and archangels, with brothers and sisters who are gathered in other places around the world, all of us gathered together in and around Jesus Christ. He is here in the midst of us to bless and feed us with his grace, to receive the sacrifice of our prayers and praise, and to equip us for the spiritual worship of our lives lived in service to him and the world.
For our worship does not just happen in this building. Our worship continues as we go out into the world to live out our thanksgiving and praise in loving service to Christ and the world. As Saint Paul wrote: "Brothers and sisters, I urge you by the mercies of God to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to him - this is your spiritual act of worship" (Romans 12:1,2).
Want a taste of heaven? Look around you. It's right here.
Pastor Tim
1/4/2007 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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Follow the Star
Saturday, January 6, is the Feast of the Epiphany in the Church. On this day we remember the star that led the Wisemen to the Light of the world, Jesus Christ, and we give thanks to God for the light that he has shined in our lives.
Saint John wrote that "In [Jesus] was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:4,5). Sin has made our world a place of darkness and deep shadows. Every once in a while a spark has appeared here and there, an event of love, a firing of God's compassion, and hope has appeared, if only for a brief moment. And then the darkness has moved in again and the world has waited still.
But now in Jesus Christ, the Source of Light, Light and Love and Life itself, God himself, has come into the darkness and try as it might the darkness has not been able to overcome him. Even the deep darkness of death could not hold in the light of God that shines in Jesus Christ. The Sun of Righteousness, the Son of God, has come and now there is hope for those who grieve, forgiveness for those who are guilty, eternal life for all who will look to Him and live in the Light.
Two boys were out playing in the spring sunshine. "John, John, I can't see," one of them yelled. "Everything is dark."
John came rushing to his side. "What's the matter?" "My eyes are closed," he laughed. And opening them he could see again (and just in time, because John was just taking a swing to hit him in the arm).
The Light has come and has overcome the darkness of the world. The Holy Spirit is encouraging us in the Epiphany, the "shining forth" of the Light, to open our eyes and see, see the Light, see the Love, see the Hope of God. Have a blessed Epiphany. This season of the Church Year lasts through the next seven weeks, some of the darkest days of the year. But Christ shines in every day. May his Light fill your life with light and confidence and peace.
Pastor Tim
12/28/2006 | By: Tim | Category: TLG | Comments
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What Will the New Year Bring?
This is always an exciting time of year for me as we start a new year. It's amazing to look back at 2006 and remember all of the things that have happened in the past 12 months. And now we look ahead and think of everything that could happen. It's kind of scary in some ways. Maybe even Jesus will return in 2007.
Human life is filled with uncertainty - or rather, humans are filled with uncertainty as we look to the future. The future is certain in God's knowledge and experience. He knows what lies ahead and he says, "Don't be afraid. I am with you."
I think that's why God kicks off the Jewish new year in Exodus 12 with the Passover and the Exodus from Egypt. God wanted them to remember his faithfulness, his presence, and his deliverance every year as they faced the uncertainty of a new 12-month segment of their journey through life. He wanted the memory of the Exodus to encourage them as they set foot into a new year.
We set a tentative foot into 2007 with a memory too. We celebrate Christmas at the doorway to a new year. We remember that God has delivered us too. We recall his love that caused him to come himself into our world in Jesus Christ. We celebrate the victory he won over the Devil and even death. We toast his steadfast love and proclaim our faith in his mighty power.
The God who overcame the powers of hell on Christmas is with us in the new year to walk all the way with us, to protect us and guide us and lead us finally across the river and into the promised land.
Who knows what will happen in 2007? We know something even better though. We know that God goes with us into the new year; indeed, he is already there. May your new year be happy with the Lord in it.
Pastor Tim