Forgiveness

Encountering a miracle

/ The Pastor

In John chapter 6 a miracle takes place…

…Jesus feeds 5000 men with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.

After everyone ate, people realized that something amazing happened, but didn’t truly know what happened (they wanted to forcibly make Jesus their king).

During Holy Communion do we truly pay attention to what is taking place or do we see Holy Communion only as some ritual that happens once/twice a month (or however often)?

Do we comprehend that a miracle take place?

Do we truly understand that we are getting a tangible, physical reminder that Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins (The Body of Christ broken FOR YOU…The Blood of Christ shed FOR YOU)?

Or do we simple walk up front during worship to receive some bread/stale wafer and some wine/grape juice and feel that we have done what we are supposed to do on this particular Sunday of the month.

In Holy Communion a miracle happens.

Praise be to God!

-edh-

Release Time

/ The Pastor / 4 Comments

Here in Jackson, MN we still have Release Time.  Kids in grades 3, 4 and 5 have the option of being “released” from school to head to the church of their choice for Bible classes.  Parents fill out a short form, at the beginning of the school year, telling the school if they want their child “released” and what church they are going to.  This year I have 3 fourth graders and 2 fifth graders.  They are an energetic bunch (one of my fourth graders never and I mean never stopped moving).

Anyway…this first half of the year we are talking about the 10 Commandments and today was Commandment #2…”Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain“.  We discussed names and what it means to honor God’s name.  We talked about swearing and how that effects others.  We closed by talking about forgiveness and that because God forgives us, we ought to honor God by honoring God’s name.

Before the kids were “released” back to school to catch the bus we closed with prayer.  I asked them what they wanted to pray for.  They wanted to thank God for the beautiful day, one asked to pray for her little brother to continue healing and one asked to pray for her kittens.  Then one of them said, “Pray that God forgives us of our sins.”  As a pastor…it’s hard to describe what that means to hear one of your 4th graders say that.

I’m not sure what they are taking away from class today, but it sounds like at least one of them understands that God forgives them through Jesus Christ.  What more can one hope for?

-edh-

No tomorrow?

/ The Pastor / 3 Comments

The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:15-17)

I read this passage this morning and it really caught my attention.  Therefore it got highlighted in my Bible.  Paul wrote this passage for Timothy as he was encouraging Timothy in his ministry.  And through that encouragement I also find encouragement.  Paul was the chief persecutor of the church; killing those that professed to believe and follow Jesus.  But God had other plans and called Paul to be a promoter and preacher of Christ.  Since then, Paul became the greatest missionary this Church has ever seen.

God, though Jesus Christ, came to save sinners which, in the words of Paul, he was the foremost.  God, through Jesus Christ, came to save sinners which I feel I am the foremost.  God, through Jesus Christ, came to save sinners which YOU are the foremost.  But for that very reason I/we received mercy, so that in me/us, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me/us an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life.

We are all the worst of sinners…but God’s mercy and forgiveness and love is so much greater.  This is our urgent message.  We can’t take this for granted.  Who, in your little world, needs to hear a message of hope?  Let our ministry be one that assumes no tomorrow.  If that is indeed the case…what are we waiting for?

-edh-

Sunday morning prayer

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

Hey there…long time no see.  No…it’s not that you haven’t been here for a while it’s that I haven’t stopped by my own blog for a couple days.  So please allow me to make excuses here:
(1) The busyness of September seemed to sneak up on me.
(2) The busyness of September seemed to sneak up on me.
…and (3) The busyness of September seemed to sneak up on me.

That is enough said on that.  I think I am beginning to get a hold of things now so you will see me a little more in the coming weeks.

Anyway…the Gospel text I am preaching on today comes from Matthew 18:21-35.  This is the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant.  Peter asks Jesus the question, “How many times should I forgive my brother when he sins against me?  Seven times?“.  Jesus goes on to basically say, “You forgive continuously.   There is no number.”  Then we get this parable.  What hits me square in the face is the contrast in debts.  The debt God forgave me and the debt I often refuse to forgive others.  This is indeed a convicting parable.  The debt we owed God was a debt we could not hope to repay but yet God says, “I love you so much and I want so much to be in a relationship with you that I am going to forgive this debt of yours.”  Wow…that is an amazing God.  Let’s go and do likewise…forgiving others the sins they have committed against us; showing them Christ’s love.

Let’s pray…
Gracious and forgiving God, we can’t even begin to express how thankful we are for the forgiveness you show us in Jesus Christ.  We are so unworthy.  But yet you love us anyway.  Grant us strength to forgive others as you have forgiven us. So we may mend and nurture relationships with them as you do with us.  In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

-edh-

Where’s the forgiveness

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

I might stir up a hornet’s nets with this post (those who think people should take more of a stand on social issues), but those of you who know me, know that that is not going to bother me.  So here it goes…

A couple weeks ago, Kelly Tilghman from the Golf Channel, made a racially incentive remark concerning Tiger Woods (by the way, Kelly and Tiger are friends — Follow this link for the story).  In talking about Tiger’s dominance on the PGA tour, a reference was made that the only way to stop Tiger was to have the rest of the golfers taker him (Tiger) out back and "lynch him".  Obviously this remark is extremely inappropriate.  No harm or disrespect was meant toward Tiger — it was just a moment of bad judgment.  Kelly later apologized on air and to Tiger personally (an apology that Tiger accepted).  Kelly was then suspended from the air for two weeks and is schedule to return shortly.

But this issue is not over…

Many people (including former football great, Jim Brown) are upset that Tiger has not spoken out more about this racially insensitive comment.  They feel that Tiger needs to take more of a stand on social issues – to which Tiger says he does everyday and that this is a "non-issue" now. 

So here’s my beef:  Kelly said something inappropriate (I don’t condone that) – she apologized to the public (admitting her guilt) – apologized to Tiger personally (an apology that was accepted) – and was punished for her comment – Now people want Tiger to continue to drag this out and make an example of Kelly.  Why?  It’s not like she meant to cause Tiger harm.  It was a very bad mistake – inappropriate and wrong.  And she confessed her guilt (sin).  My question is this:  WHERE IS THE FORGIVENESS?

Like I said, I am not condoning what Kelly said, but is there any need to make this any more an issue than it has already become.  The thing is, society does not like forgiveness when other people are involved.  we have such an over-developed sense of justice that forgiveness gets forgotten – it becomes a "non-issue". Tiger is setting an amazing example for people.  He does not condone Kelly’s comments either, but neither is he carrying a grudge.  Case closed…let’s move on.

I know racism runs wild in our society today.  And I know we need to take a stand against it.  And if Kelly had not apologized or waited a long time then I would be in favor of Tiger speaking out about this.  But let’s not condemn someone for showing forgiveness.

When apartheid ended in South Africa and Nelson Mandela was elected the first black president, he didn’t start preaching that blacks should go and "get justice" by condemning their white oppressors, but rather Mandela preached forgiveness.  He never said that apartheid was O.K., but he did say that if there is going to be any hope for healing, forgiveness needs to be in the picture someplace.  Maybe you can’t snap your fingers and forgive, but at least work your way to the road to forgiveness.

So my message to Jim Brown and others is this:  Through Jesus Christ, God offers forgiveness to all people (even to you and even to Kelly).  Without forgiveness there is not hope of a peaceful society.  Justice must be sought, but hasn’t this issue run it’s course yet?  Please…move towards the road to forgiveness and let’s move on towards being a peaceful and love-filled society.  Tiger is moving in that direction…let’s follow suit.

-edh-

I can’t remember

/ The Pastor / 6 Comments

Update:  Just a quick update before I move on to what I want to share with you today.  My grandma is still alive.  She’s not eating or drinking and her kidneys continue to fail.  I can’t imagine this will go on much longer. I continue to pray that these last moments with grandma are ones that create precious memories that last a life time.  Thank you again for your prayers.

Now on to what I want to share with you…

I am participating in a book discussion group with two close friends of mine.  The book we are discussing is The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning.  It is a wonderfully rich book talking about God’s amazing grace for each one of us.  It is a book I read a number of years ago, but it has been great to dive into it again and discuss it.

Yesterday we read a chapter that largely dealt with our response to this awesome grace.  As he is talking about responding to God’s grace with trust, Manning shares the following story:

Four years ago in a large city in the far West, rumors spread that a certain Catholic woman was having visions of Jesus.  The reports reached the archbishop.  He decided to check her out.  There is always a fine line between authentic mystic and the lunatic fringe.
    "Is it true, m’am, that you have visions of Jesus?" asked the cleric.  "Yes", the woman replied simply.  "Well, the next time you have a vision, I want you to ask Jesus to tell you the sins that I confessed in my last confession."  The woman was stunned.  "Did I hear you right, bishop?  You actually want me to ask Jesus to tell me the sins of your past?"
    "Exactly.  Please call me if anything happens."
    Ten days later the woman notified her spiritual leader of a recent apparition. "Please come", she said.
    Within the hour the archbishop arrived.  "You just told me on the telephone that you actually had a vision of Jesus.  Did you do what I asked?"
    "Yes, bishop, I asked Jesus to tell me the sins you confessed in your last confession."
    The bishop leaned forward with anticipation.  His eyes narrowed.  "What did Jesus say?"
    She took his hands and gazed deep into his eyes. "Bishop," she said, "these are his exact words: ‘I CAN’T REMEMBER."

Bennan Manning continues:  "Christianity happens when men and women accept with unwavering trust that their sins have not only been forgiven but forgotten, washed away in the blood of the Lamb"

What an excellent reminder of this awesome love, grace and forgiveness of this amazing God we have.  Not only does God forgive us our sins, but God forgets them.  We forgive each other, but we never truly forget.  And because we never forget, when a person continues to sin against us it can get harder and harder to forgive them.  But God does not have that problem.  And thank God for that.

Praise be to God…ALWAYS and forever…Amen!

-edh-

Expensive pants

/ The Pastor / 7 Comments

54 MILLION DOLLARS!!!  What is this world coming to?

A judge in Washington D.C. is suing his dry cleaner for 54 million dollars for losing his pants.  Check out the story here.  I know this post probably doesn’t exactly fit the flow of what I have been writing on this blog, but I need to say something…because seriously…is a pair of pants really worth 54 million dollars?  I guess if they were gold plated with diamond studs running down the seams with a solid gold belt bucket then I could begin to understand.  But at last check…they were a pair of suit pants.  Sort of looked like a pair that I have (and mine are not gold plated with diamonds).

The judge here is claiming that this mom and pop business is engaging in deceptive business practices with two signs that say: "Satisfaction guaranteed" and "Same day service".  Seriously…if you are not satisfied with the service most places will make it right — if they don’t is the "damage" really worth 54 million dollars (unless of course we are dealing with gold plated pants with diamond studs and a solid gold belt buckle — hmmm…I better be careful here…this judge might sue me for 54 million dollars for writing this. <UPDATED> "God, forgive me…I need to be nice here").

Anyway…to my point:  Where does forgiveness play in this case?  I am not saying this judge should just ignore the fact that his pants were lost but at what point do you "turn the other cheek"?  In 2 Samuel (the Old Testament text for Sunday June 17) king David committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed to cover it up.  Of course God was not too pleased and sent Nathan to confront him.  After David learned of his sin and was caught red handed he pleaded to God for forgiveness.  God spared David’s life when the sentence should have been death, but God DID punish David by killing his son with Bathsheba…seems like an appropriate punishment.  God did not go overboard.  There was forgiveness and there were also consequences.

In our legal system AND in our world there needs to be some grace but there also needs to be accountability and punishment when deserved.  In the case of the missing pants isn’t grace deserved somewhere?  Isn’t a more lenient punishment justified (if indeed the dry cleaner is guilty)?  At what point do we cross the line and go too far?

I don’t know all the facts in this case so I will stop short at passing judgment on this judge (even through my rant at the beginning may communicate otherwise).  What I want to do is pray that this man experiences God’s forgiveness in his life.  For when we understand how much God forgives us through Jesus Christ (see the woman from Luke 7:36-8:3) then we are able to show much love.

Mr. Judge person…Jesus Christ died for you.  Jesus Christ loves you beyond measure.  Jesus Christ offers forgiveness to you.  Can you show this love to your neighbor (including your dry cleaner)?  Won’t you please live in peace?

We have an awesome God!  Love as if you have been forgiven much (and you have).  Praise be to God, always and forever.  Amen!
-edh-

Reprise — Now THAT was a sabbath day

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

The Gospel was preached; forgiveness was announced and mothers were celebrated — Now THAT was a sabbath day.  I just hope others look back on Sunday and say the same thing; not because I preached such a great sermon (only God knows whether I did or not) — but because forgiveness through Jesus Christ was announced to everyone.  The reality of the situation is that probably no one remembers or cares (I wish I could be more optimistic) — or maybe the Holy Spirit did do something in someone’s heart.  Either way, I am looking back and saying, "Now THAT was a sabbath day!!!"

Now I am facing an even more daunting task this week.  On Wednesday May 16 the baccalaureate service is being held and I am preaching.  I have never preached at baccalaureate before.  Actually…I haven’t attended baccalaureate since I was a senior in high school (and that was a long, long time ago).  The scripture texts I choose are:  Isaiah 55, Psalm 23, and John 4:7-14.  They all have the theme of Living Water.  I felt drawn to these but now I am pondering and praying about how to preach these to a bunch of high school seniors and families.  I am looking forward to the opportunity and am extremely honored to be asked, but I find myself at a loss right now.  I know that I have a couple days to prepare, but there is this pressure to really do well.  People who have never heard me preach before will be listening me.  I want to impress people.  I want people to say, "Now that pastor at Salem is really on the ball." <pause> What is wrong with me?

Yes…I am being selfish and sinful here.  Preaching is not about me.  Preaching is about the Good News — it is about Jesus Christ.  So for me to worry about this service is crazy and foolish.  I have been preaching for over three years and I should know better.

So I need to get over myself and preach the Good News.  To heck with what people will think of me.  I want people to hear and listen to the Gospel.  Maybe I am taking my first steps this week in preparing for this sermon.  But I would like to hear your thoughts.  Has anyone out there ever preached for baccalaureate?  Any advise for me as I prepare?  Any insights about the given texts for these seniors (I know preaching is contextual, but seniors across our land do have things in common)?  Any thoughts would be appreciated.

So on Wednesday of this week at baccalaureate, the Gospel will be preached and forgiveness will be announced (despite my sinfulness).  And with any luck (actually it won’t be "luck") people on Wednesday will look back on baccalaureate and say, "Now THAT was a day". -edh-

Now THAT day was a sabbath

/ The Pastor / 4 Comments

Check out the following cartoon I found (I couldn’t help help but to laugh):

(Copyright Gospel Communications International, Inc – www.reverendfun.com)

Healing_lepers_2

The Gospel text from John 5:1-9 ends in a way that makes me smile.  Jesus is talking to a crippled man by a healing pool outside the city gate and asks a very usual question, "Do you want to be made well?"  I mean, seriously, want kind of question is that.  But the guy’s answer is just as curious.  He doesn’t come out and say, "Yes, of course I do".  The crippled man goes into an explanation of why he has not managed to get himself healed.  Basically, a long way to say , "Yes".  After the man’s needless explanation, Jesus says, "Stand up, take your mat and walk"  The man got up and walked away.  Then the Gospel writer says (emphasis mine) "Now THAT day was a Sabbath."  And let me tell you…THAT was a sabbath day.  It was a sabbath day like nothing anyone had ever seen before.  What a sabbath day.

I wonder what the church would be like if people today said something like that.  I am not expecting people to say, "Whew…what a sabbath day…that sermon was something else, wasn’t it?"  I am sure this is a fantasy for nearly every pastor.  But what I am talking about is people saying, "Whew…what a sabbath day…my sins are forgiven.  Can you believe that?"  People just don’t seem to care about forgiveness.  Maybe it is my vantage point that is skewing my vision, but people today seem to take forgiveness for granted.  What can we as preachers do about that?

Imagine being at that pool outside the city gate the day Jesus showed up.  As you watch the scene you notice Jesus talking to a man who has been crippled for 38 years.  You can’t hear the conversation but the next thing you notice — the man is walking.  Wouldn’t that get your attention?  If you were the one healed, wouldn’t you say "Now let me tell you, THAT was a sabbath day"? 

God’s forgiveness of our sins through Jesus Christ is amazing.  We are totally unworthy of God’s forgiveness yet Jesus says to us, "Stand up, take your mat and go home."  My friends THAT is amazing.  After you leave worship next time, think back.  Think about your sinfulness.  Think about the fact that you are unworthy.  Think about the fact that on our own we are lost and hopeless.  Then remember the words of the worship leader speaking on behalf of Christ, "Your sins are forgiven".  I don’t know about you, but THAT is something.  Praise God always and forever.  Amen! -edh-

The Prodigal Father

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

The Gospel text for this coming Sunday is from Luke 15 (see my post titled Wild Forgiveness).  The parable Jesus is telling is commonly called "The Prodigal Son".  When looking up the definition of "prodigal" I come up with "wasteful".

I wonder…maybe I should title my sermon for Sunday "The Prodigal Father".  After all, wasn’t the father in this parable being wasteful with his forgiveness and mercy?  Aren’t we called as Christians to be "wasteful" with the Good News of forgiveness; boldly proclaiming this to everyone and anyone…even people we deem unworthy?  Maybe we have something to learn from this "wasteful" Father of ours.  God sent Jesus to die for the forgiveness of our sins.  Are we worthy?  Thank God for wastefulness.  -edh-