We Christians hold a great festival during the winter solstice, the shortest days of the year. We call this wintertime festival "Christmas," meaning the "feast of Christ." It takes several weeks to prepare and several weeks to celebrate.  The weeks of preparation are called Advent—the season of growing darkness before the solstice.  In contrast, the commercial "holiday season" begins in November and then comes to a crashing halt on December 25. Advertisers have no use for Advent or Christmastime except when it comes to stealing all the religious symbols of these seasons - the tree, the greens, the lights, the music - to sell their wares. 
 
We Christians own Advent and Christmastime. The symbols of these seasons are our property, not just an advertiser's gimmick. If we want to keep them as part of Christianity, we're going to have to wrestle them back, probably with a good fight. And it's worth a fight. We need Advent. We need a time before Christmas to encounter the darkness, to slip slowly into winter, instead of immediately masking it with tinsel. We need a season of hunger and silence to make us eager for our coming festival, instead of "holiday" parties and concerts and all the other distractions that can rob Advent from us. For without Advent, we stop being what we are: a people who are waiting. We need the gospel's terrifying announcement of the end of time. We need the prophets' consolations and threats. We learn who we are in the uneasy raving of John the Baptist and in the gentle strength of the Virgin Mary.
 
We also need Christmastime. We need a festival that runs beyond a single day, beyond a single week. We need time to tell about the journey of the magi, about the embrace of old Simeon, about the leaping Jordan and that glorious voice thundering what we yearn to hear: You are my beloved child!  In the many days of Christmastime we shout loud and clear that Jesus Christ is born. The reign of God is here among us, in our own flesh and blood. That's why our tradition beckons us to gather around the star-topped tree of life, and tinsel our homes in silver and gold, and spread our tables with the fruitful bounty of the harvest. The marvels of Christmas are not just pretty decorations. They are signs of God's reign, signs of a life that conquers death, of "the light shining on in the darkness, a darkness that did not overcome it" (John 1:5).
 
Of course, Advent cannot exist if we jump the gun on Christmas. And Christmastime cannot exist if we are already tired of it by December 25. These two seasons are a package deal: One demands the other. Only after the silence of Advent can the carols of Christmastime spring. Only after Advent's darkness can a single star give such cheer. Only after Advent's terror can an angel be heard, once again, telling us to fear not. Year after year, we so genuinely need these seasons as a rehearsal for heaven.
​
This festival of the winter solstice - this "feast of Christ" - does more than lead us from one year to another. In the power of Christ, Advent and Christmastime lead us from time into eternity.
 
("Welcome Yule" by Peter Mazar, Copyright 1989, Archdiocese of Chicago)

It didn’t make the cut for last week’s sermon, but I’ve been thinking about our epistle reading from Hebrews a bit this week. This reading gives preachers the chance to correct flimsy cliches like, “The Church is not a building, but a people;” “Don’t go to church, be the Church;” “My faith is not about rituals, but a personal relationship with Jesus.” Though these lines may have a sniff of truth in them, such sentiments fail to grasp the rich and profound importance of God’s sheep gathering as one body around His Word and altar to be served by their Good Shepherd Himself. After all, if gathering for worship is not foundational for what it means to “be the Church,” why does the Holy Spirit admonish us to, “Stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near?” (Heb. 10:25)

Despite the nonsense spewed forth by online memes and virtual, uninformed theologians, the scriptures depict the Church as “people gathering” for preaching, praying, sacrament, and service (Acts 2:42-47). The imagery of a worship service in scripture is not one of consumers being entertained, but of God’s people being gathered around the Throne of the Lamb, joining the heavenly chorus of saints and angels to sing God’s praise and receive Christ’s benefits (see Revelation 4-7). The church is not a manmade religious institution. It is the very place God instituted and promises to dwell with and bless His people. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that you cannot “be the Church” unless you go to church. Going to church, after all, is more about what Christ does for us than it is about what we do, do not do, or even are. To be the Church is nothing else than to be sheep fed and nourished by the Good Shepherd. The life of faith depends on Christ feeding us with His Word and Sacraments. We are completely passive. We purely receive. We are uplifted, instructed, and equipped. Church is where our Lord beautifully, intimately, and profoundly distributes the forgiveness won on the cross to His sinners-turned-saints in the sanctuary.
 
To be fair, I empathize with the temptations. Believe me… more than you probably know.   Don your PJ’s, grab a bowl of Cap’n Crunch, sit on your couch, and do church via a screen. Or sleep in.  Or go golfing instead? Church attendance is not exclusively about numbers, hitting an arbitrary ‘100’ mark and patting ourselves on the back. It is about taking advantage of this incredible invitation from our Creator, to meet with and be fed by Him directly.  We are not to “neglect this gathering” because it is within the Body where Christ, who paid the full atonement price with His blood, reigns and distributes His gifts which sustain us into life everlasting. Good stuff. Pretty big deal. Gathering before the Altar of God, with our brothers and sisters, is the very work of God to sustain us into life everlasting. That is why we go to church.
 
"When church becomes optional to you, it will become unnecessary to your children.” (unknown)
 
Devotion taken from and adapted from Bob Hiller at 1517.org. 

​Today, I share this post with you. It is from an author (a fellow pastor) that I frequently read and very much respect. It is a bit longer, maybe all of 3 minutes.  But it is well worth the read—especially as we inch ever closer to Election Day next Tuesday.  It was originally published back in January of 2021.  However, these words continue to be relevant to God’s people.  It is not meant to rebuke or condemn anyone. It is not meant to minimize or ignore any important issue.  It is not meant to make little of any situation our country finds itself in.  However, it is meant to help you (and me) keep things in proper order. Keep things in perspective. Consider and thank God for your place in His eternal Kingdom.  Your identity through baptism in Christ is far more definitive than what political party you belong to.  Forget not the utmost important commandment: “Thou shall have no other Gods.”  Our Small Catechism reminds us that “a god is something that people look to for good and refuge in times of need.”  God doesn’t want us looking in empty places or to empty people. This includes elected officials and established governments.  The Lord alone works for our good. He alone is our refuge. Not a government. Not a country. Not a politician. “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.” (Psalm 146:3). 
 
One of the best quotes of the election season right here: “If you're discarding a lifelong friendship because somebody votes for the other team, then you've made a terrible, terrible mistake and you should do something different… Don't cast aside family members and lifelong friendships. Politics is not worth it.”  Wise words. Perspective.  I won’t say who said it because you might dismiss it if I did.
 
+++++++
 
Hold on Loosely to Your Politics (authored by Chad Bird)

I will hold with a white-knuckled grip of love to my family and my close friends. You come after them, you’re gonna have to deal with me. Chances are, when the dust has settled, I will have said and done some things in my zeal that went too far, but I will never regret being in their corner.

They are gifts too precious to let go.

I have wrapped my hands around the Scriptures, the creeds and confessions of the church, the faith which boldly proclaims, “Jesus is Lord.” I have sworn, before God and men, that I will suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it. Mock me. Threaten me. Spit in my face. I’m not changing.

The gifts of Christ are of too eternal an importance to let go.

There are some things in life worth losing your life over. These are the same things that make life worth living in the first place. Soldiers die for their brothers in arms. Police officers die upholding law and order. Martyrs die for the faith they confess.

Good. It is good they understand that some things are too precious, too important, to let go. And if clinging to them means dying with them still in your grip, then I will stand and applaud you as a fellow human being worthy of honor and emulation.  I pray that if I am ever in such a situation, I too would rather have my blood spilled for the truth than remain in this world as a coward or apostate.

A Clownish Martyrdom

Only a fool, however, clings with hellish fury to things that are opinions, preferences, or predilections.

Would we not shake our head in disgust at a man who shoots another man over a disagreement regarding football? Would we not think two men mad idiots who brawl because they belong to different philosophical schools? Would we not mock people who sever relationships because they can’t agree on a carnivore, vegetarian, or vegan diet?

Do we have our likes? Well and good. That’s our prerogative.
Do we have our personal preferences? Fine. We can disagree and still get along.
Do we have strong personal preferences or convictions? Okay. Let’s listen to each other. Maybe I will convince you to reconsider or maybe you’ll convince me. In the end, we can still be friends, even if we disagree.

But none of these opinions or preferences are worth dying over. To give our lives for them would be a clownish martyrdom.

Belonging in this category is that sphere of life called the political.

Want to do yourself, your family, your friends, and the world a good deed? Hold on loosely to your politics. Don’t drop it. Don’t toss it aside. Don’t privatize it. But, above all, don’t hold on to your politics as if your life, your soul, and your salvation depend on it.

They don’t. However, if you elevate politics above all other things, your soul will indeed suffer, for you will have bowed the knee before the most laughably unworthy faux deity I can imagine.

Politics is a godawful idol that will suck all of life and love out of you and replace it with nothing but bitterness and hate.

Under Pontius Pilate

If you are a follower of Jesus, as I am, then you probably know that the only explicit political statement in our ecumenical creeds is when we confess that Jesus was crucified “under Pontius Pilate.”

Those three words, “under Pontius Pilate,” have often given me pause. Christianity began when the Roman procurator of Judea, within his full legal rights, had the founder of our faith publicly and horrifically executed to make a political statement.

It seems to me that this fact alone ought to make us inordinately cautious about ever getting too cozy with a political party or candidate, much less heralding them as God’s gift to humanity.

Crosses and national flags are a toxic combination.

Let the church corporate, and we who are individually members of the body of Christ, remember that when Jesus was about to take his seat as King of kings and rule over all creation, he left us some fairly straightforward instructions about what our mission should be.

​We are to make disciples of all nations by:
1. Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
2. Teaching them to observe all things that Christ has commanded us.

Those are good things to hold onto with all our might and main. Those are matters of eternal importance. They are worth living for and dying for. They are worth spreading with zeal and truth and love, beyond national, cultural, political, and ideological borders, to the uttermost ends of the earth.

Hold on tightly to what matters, to what makes life rich and full and resplendent with divine beauty and grace.

Hold on loosely to everything else.

​This past Sunday, was Pastor Appreciation Sunday. Thank you to those who organized a special fellowship hour, and to all of you who gave a card or sent well-wishes. It was a wonderful surprise. Through different outlets, I will consistently see or hear pastors griping about the lack of support or the amount of flack they receive at their church. They will grumble about conflict and dissension between them and their members. I feel bad for them. Their frustrations are valid. Yet, I’m grateful that I have nothing to add to their venting.  To that end, I want you all to know how much I appreciate the people of our congregation. I’m grateful to serve and serve alongside you all. This is a place, that for the past four years, has shown nothing but love and support to me and my family.  Equally as important, we have a church that is engaged with one another. We worship together. We study together. We pray together. We serve together. We fellowship together.  Obviously, we are far from perfect, but I pray that King of Kings continues to be an incredible blessing to all. 
 
I’m not sure what the origins of Pastor Appreciation are. But in a world of National Donut, National Pasta, or National Feral Cat Day (Yes, that’s a real thing. And it’s today, by the way…), why not a day for clergy?  I know this sounds self-serving, but it does feel nice to be appreciated. This is true, no matter what your profession is.  Of course we don’t necessarily seek out such affirmations; and unfortunately not every profession gets a recognized spot on the calendar.  Nevertheless, it is nice to be noticed for your work and efforts.  Whatever it might be. We all need a little encouragement from time to time. 
 
Perhaps an overlooked, or unknown, New Testament figure is Barnabas.  Acts 4:36 tells of a Levite man named Joseph, who the apostles called Barnabas. Barnabas means son of encouragement.  He was a great encourager. Shortly after Saul’s conversion to Christianity, Paul (formerly Saul) began preaching the name of Jesus. He came to Jerusalem where he attempted to join the disciples, but knowing Paul’s history of persecuting Christians, they were understandably afraid of him. They didn’t believe that he truly was a disciple. But, the son of encouragement steps in. Barnabas immediately went to Paul’s defense, personally bringing him before the disciples and sharing with them the details of Paul’s conversion and his preaching of the Word in Damascus thereafter. Barnabas, as a trusted brother in the Lord, was able to bridge the gap and alleviate the disciples' fear of this once-ruthless man. The truth he shared about Paul encouraged the disciples enough that Paul then became one of their own— able to join them in preaching the name of Jesus in Jerusalem (see Acts 9:20-28). Barnabas’s encouragement cleared the confusion and promoted an atmosphere of peace amongst everyone involved.
 
Later, in the earliest times after Pentecost, the early church was facing severe persecution and many believers scattered. When Barnabas, a respected leader of the church in Jerusalem, eventually met these new believers, he was thrilled to witness all that God had been doing in the lives of both Jews and Gentiles. That’s when he offered those new believers some powerful words of encouragement that still ring true for the 21st century Jesus follower. Barnabas encouraged them to keep their eyes on God and to walk in His will, no matter the cost or difficulties along the way (cf. Acts 11: 22-23). 
 
What if you were a Barnabas to someone this week?  In our world today, you are bound to come across a friend or coworker needing a little (or a lot of) encouragement.  Natural disasters, current events, political division,  relational stressors, or financial pressures continue to pile up.  Stress is mounting. Burdens are crushing. Loneliness is looming. Despair is inevitable. So many people are in desperate need of hope.  They need to know that they are not alone. They need to know that they are appreciated, that they are noticed and loved.  People need people like Barnabas, who will stand with them, advocate for them, give them wise counsel.  People need people to encourage them in the hope and promises of the Lord.  The biblical word for encouragement literally means to “call to one’s side.” The picture is that of one person who comes alongside others and encourages them to accomplish a task or finish a race.  Whose side is God calling you to?  As the old adage suggests… be an encourager, this world already has enough critics.
 
“Leave everyone you meet better than you found them. Become an encourager of potential versus a destroyer of confidence.” (Robin Sharma)
“We can improve our relationships with others by leaps and bounds if we become encouragers instead of critics.” (Joyce Meyer)
“Everyone has the potential to become an encourager. You don't have to be rich. You don't have to be a genius. You don't have to have it all together. All you have to do is care about people and initiate.” (John C. Maxwell)

We love going out to eat.  Most people do. Afterall, who wants to menu plan and cook when you can have someone else do that for you!?  My wife and I looking for and trying new restaurants. Searching to find the best dive bar for chicken wings or a hole-in-the-wall place with the best burgers.  If we could, we would eat out most days of the week.  This is especially true now in this busy fall season—as we are chauffeuring and shuttling kids all over the place for cross country meets, field hockey practices, and football games.  As our parental uber responsibilities take us all around the northern part of the state, it is especially seductive to look at the local restaurants.  Even more so when we can have them Door Dash a meal right to the sidelines of whatever field we are at!  (Man are we a spoiled nation!)  Unfortunately, we can’t afford to do this.  The funds only go so far.  The gift cards eventually run out. Eating via Door Dash is not sustainable; and truth be told it is probably not very healthy either.
 
As we were driving home last night, from a late-night football game in Rockaway, my stomach was grumbling like crazy.  My sone and me were hungry.  I drove past a number of restaurants that looked good. I thought to myself as we passed each one, “If only I had a gift card for that place right now.  Or a rich uncle…”  That would definitely solve the problem. I wouldn’t hesitate to stop.  It is always nice when someone else pays the bill. When a gift is given so that you can enjoy a tasty meal.  You can sit back, relax, and order all sorts of things from cocktails to appetizers to desserts, not worrying about what it will cost in the end. If only…
 
This is the beautiful story of the Gospel. 
A gift given. A debt paid. A problem solved.
​Even a meal provided. 
 
Every Sunday morning, we are invited to come out and dine at the table of our Lord where we are reminded that He has paid the ultimate price for us.  He has covered all the expenses. “This is my body, given for you.” “This is my true blood, shed for you.” With these grace-giving words, God satisfies a need that no other food can placate and a hunger that no restaurant fulfil.  Jesus fits the bill. All of it. For each of us.  He is far greater than a rich uncle; He is our redeemer and deliverer.  This is good news indeed. This mysterious meal is the means by which God delivers the healing fruits of His Gospel into the hearts and lives of all who kneel at the altar. This is where heaven and earth collide each week in a sacramental meal that points us to our eternal place at God’s heavenly banquet table. This meal puts an end to the grumbling of the soul, so that we can rejoice in the priceless meals of paradise. 
 
Forget the unhealthy fast-food; this is powerful, salvific faith-food. 
The restaurants will have to wait.
You can Door Dash another day.
Welcome to the Lord’s Table. 
Come, eat, and be satisfied! 
 
Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst… I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6:35, 51)

This past Sunday, we had our annual Rally Day picnic and potluck. After several years of rain, we finally had a beautiful morning.  While sitting out on the front lawn here at church, enjoying the food and fellowship of those in attendance, I couldn’t help but notice our freshly manicured and newly mulched flowerbeds.  As you know, we had two intense workdays over the summer. The first day in July was dedicated to removing all the overgrown shrubs, getting rid of dead branches, and pulling out weeds.  We worshiped and then we weed-whacked.  We sprayed every nook and crack on our parking lot. The second day in mid-August was all about spreading 20 yards of mulch throughout the property. We worshiped and then we wheel-barrowed.  Shovel by shovel that mountainous pile disappeared. Then in the days afterwards, all the flowerbeds were covered with fertilizers and weed preventer.  Over a span of several weeks, so many volunteers worked their butts off and transformed the property. It looked great. It still does.  

​Yet, as I sat there this past Sunday, I couldn’t help but notice the persistent weeds poking through the mulch; the incessant crabgrass rising from the depths of the freshly-strewn mulch surrounding our trees.  Apparently, in order to really keep these tenacious weeds away, one or two days of work is not enough. It needs to be a regular practice.  Certainly, most of them are still gone, but little-by-little the weeds keep popping up. In spite of our valiant efforts, the job is endless. We must keep at it. We’ll have to walk around the property again doing the less intensive, but still necessary task of pulling weeds.
 
So it is, in the life of a faithful Christian.  Most certainly, in the waters of baptism the damning roots of sin were removed. We were washed clean and created anew.  But over time, and throughout our lives, the ugly weeds of sin still show up. They keep poking through. The devil still keeps tempting; and our own sin is just as stubborn as those stupid weeds.  So how do we take care of this?  How do we keep up with spiritual weeding?  We come together for worship. In worship the Divine Creator serves His creatures through His forgiving word and pardoning sacraments. This is the beautiful reality of what worship is. It is not about us coming to do our “Christian duty.”  It is not about being pious. It is not about going through the religious motions we assume are expected of us. It is not about easing our conscience by throwing money in the offering plate. It is not about trying to appease God with our prayers or songs. Worship is about God doing for us what we cannot do for ourselves. In worship, our Lord reaches into the dirt of our lives and rips out the weeds of sin in all its ugly forms. The envy. The judgment. The pride. The doubt. The arrogance.  The idolatry. The messed-up priorities. All of these “weeds” are ripped from our lives before they can choke out the hope and faith that we have. No wonder, God calls us to regular worship; it is His gift to us. In Christ, we have been transformed.  The weeds of sin have been removed. No matter what they are and how often they pop up; our heavenly and eternal Gardner will not stop in His work of sanctifying those whom He has already redeemed. Thanks be to God!
 
In my Bible study preparation for this week, I came across these relevant and applicable words. They are the words of Martin Luther from the Large Catechism, in which he discusses the importance of continually keeping the Word of God in our ears and hearts and upon our lips. I commend them to you: “Even though you know the Word perfectly, and have already mastered everything, still you are daily under the dominion of the devil, who neither night nor day relaxes his effort to steal upon you unawares and to kindle in your heart unbelief and wicked thoughts against all these commandments.  Therefore, you must continually keep God’s Word in your heart, on your lips, and in your ears. For where the heart stands idle and the Word is not heard, the devil breaks in and does his damage before we realize it.  On the other hand, when we seriously ponder the Word, hear it, and put it to use, such is its power that it never departs without fruit. It always awakens new understanding, new pleasure, and a new spirit of devotion, and it constantly cleanses the heart and its meditations.  For these words are not idle or dead, but effective and living. Even if no other interest or need drove us to the Word, yet everyone should be spurred on by the realization that in this way, the devil is cast out and put the flight, this commandment is fulfilled, and God is more pleased than by any work of hypocrisy, however brilliant.”  (LC, 3rd Commandment)
 
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
 
“I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.” (Ezekiel 35:25-27)

Since yesterday, the story of Mary and Martha has been on my mind.  You likely remember the story of these two busy sisters, and genuine friends of Jesus, from Luke 10. Amidst His travels, the Messiah had come for a visit. One sister is hard at it, the other just sits at the feet of Jesus.  Martha is diligently working her tail off to get the house cleaned and food prepared. Mary was lost in conversation, providing no aide or assistance to her stressed-out sister. 
 
As a new school year is upon us, I can’t help but think of these words of Jesus to Martha, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.” He then commends Mary for taking time to tune out the distractions, rest in His words, and relish the moment of calm companionship.  The dawn of a new school year brings all sorts of stress and distractions.  Back to school nights. Teacher’s meetings. Forgotten trumpet rentals (oops).  New practice and game schedules.  All of these are good things, but all of them can lead us to places of anxiousness.  Even if you do not have kids to shuttle around and fill up a color-coded calendar, the pace of life continues to press down.  There are always the demands of household chores, doctors’ appointments, volunteer opportunities, and increased traffic (and construction) on every road. Again, these are necessary things, but they certainly aren’t without stress.  And it is no different here at church.  Grandparents Day. Rally Day. New Bible classes. The start of The MomCo and DivorceCare.  Youth group and much more.  All sorts of exciting, new things are ready to start here too.
 
In His words to Martha, Jesus is by no means teaching that servanthood is not of extreme value to the kingdom. However, He is instructing us that when we walk in relationship with Him, this is a journey that is evident by both service and stillness; doing and being.  After all, it is impossible to pour Jesus into others if you are not full of Jesus yourself. No matter our age or season of life, Jesus reminds us that the single, most “necessary thing” is to take time to be present with Him. God is too easily and often forgotten in all of the madness of our busy lives. Who has time to pay attention to spiritual things? We can sometimes be too busy, too tired, too entertained, or too overwhelmed to care.  The one needed thing is to hear, and this is not just Mary’s need, but it is needed by all the people of God! Your ears are not hearing everything they can if the Word doesn’t regularly tickle your ear drums! When we move too fast, when we are distracted by the busyness of the world, it is easy to lose the crystal-clear Word of God in the cacophony.  To not hear God’s Word is to not hear God’s love for you, not to be called to repentance, and not to hear the good news that God in his mercy gave his Son to die for you, and for his sake forgives you all of your sins!  What a delightful sound this is! 

One final thought… what else did Jesus say about Mary? Not only was she doing the one necessary thing, but she had chosen the good portion. The good portion was necessary, but it also was a choice.  As the world careens on in all its frenetic madness, and many demands insist on our attention, we can become people who choose to be still, sit at the Lord’s feet, and listen to His voice. For it is in His Word that we will receive the good portion we need most.  Hope that you can join us for worship, in person or virtually, in these upcoming weekends, it is the ideal place to find that most “necessary one thing.” 
 
“It is the very nature of sin to prevent man from meditating on spiritual things.” (M.M. Sherwood)
“Christians need the Gospel, just as much as non-Christians do.” (Tim Keller)
“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

Before we returned home from our baseball week in Cooperstown this past Sunday afternoon, we had to travel one last time down Main Street to look for our official “Home of Baseball” souvenirs.  Calie and I both got shirts that let you know, clear as day, where they came from. No doubt they will initiate a conversation or two when we wear them.  “When were you in Cooperstown?” “Did you get to the Hall of Fame?” 
 
This past Tuesday, I worked from home as we had new carpet installed throughout our home.  When the two workers showed up in their company shirts, I noticed that Romans 10:13 was printed on their right sleeve. You better believe that led to a conversation with them, albeit brief.  It also fueled another conversation with the owner of the company later that night.
 
The two scenarios above show how simple we can bear witness to the faith we hold so dearly.  It doesn’t have to be difficult. It doesn’t have to be daunting.  Whether it be a t-shirt, a cross necklace, or a bumper sticker there are so many ways that we can let people know who we are and what we believe.  Of course, there is nothing better than genuine conversation, but making use of the everyday tools we have around us can open the doors for the Holy Spirit to use us. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 

For whatever the reason, on a number of occasions over the past couple of weeks, I have heard these words: “It’s OK Pastor, I don’t want to bother you.  I’m fine.  You’re already busy. Don’t worry about it.”  It has come from many people.  It has come in a variety of scenarios and contexts.  As a result, I want to take this chance to set the record straight and make sure it is crystal clear what DOES and DOES NOT bother Pastor Steve.
 
Here are some things that DO bother me:

• When people are unwilling to engage and understand people with different views and beliefs.
• Having ink or marker anywhere on my skin. 
• When people complain about things but are not willing to do anything about it.
• Having crumbs in the bed or hair in the shower drain.  Gag!
• Young baseball players that leave empty water and Gatorade bottles all over the dugout.
• When people are disrespectful, talking, or goofing around during times of prayer.

 
Here are some things that DO NOT bother me:

• When a member has a question regarding something they read in the Bible, heard in a sermon, read in a book, or saw on TV.
• When a member needs some form of help—financial, manual labor, or otherwise.
• When a member is having problems in their relationships with family, friends, etc.
• When a member feels lonely and needs a visit—at home or in the hospital.
• When a member needs someone to talk to and cry in front of.
• When a member is seeking guidance & encouragement in faith or any other arena of life.

 
As a pastor, God has given me a wonderful calling to be “bothered.”  At one point, I recall a fellow pastor referred to the life of a pastor as one filled with holy interruptions.  He encouraged pastors to embrace the interruptions, because that is so often when real-life and faith collide.  Truthfully, the interruptions that come into my life, into my week, into my every day are not interruptions, as much as they are ministry itself.  This was true of Jesus. He was interrupted all the time—when He was teaching, when He was traveling, when He was trying to find rest.  A great many of His recorded healings and interactions, when lives were transformed and souls were saved, was while He was being interrupted from doing something else.  Jesus was so often interrupted or bothered, even his interruptions were interrupted!
 
As your pastor, God has specifically given me a calling to be “bothered” by each and every one of you!  Anytime, anywhere, regarding any issue.  Of course, the word “bothered” carries all sorts of negative connotations; please know that I don’t use it in that way at all.  As your pastor, I am NEVER too busy for any member of this church.  This is the very reason God established this vocation. My office door is open, my email is accessible, and my cell phone is on.  I am here to serve you.  To help you.  To pray for you.  To counsel you.  To support you. To encourage you.  To laugh with you. To cry with you.  In other words, bring on the interruptions! I look forward to our years of ministry together and I am especially eager for all the unscheduled, unplanned and spontaneous visits that are not, and will never be, a bother!
 
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.”  (1 Timothy 1:12)
 
“The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one's 'own,' or 'real' life. The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one's real life—the life that God is sending one day by day.” (C.S. Lewis)
 
“We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God. God will be constantly crossing our paths and canceling our plans by sending us people with claims and petitions.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer) 

We Christians have this tendency to look at the plans of this ungodly world and then quickly jump to despair.  Have you been there?  If not yet, I suspect in the months ahead you will.  Nations at war. Regimes tottering. Divisions abound. When we look at all the evil in the world, as well as all the grandiose, chaotic plans of the world, we can easily conclude that the church is about to go to ruin and that ungodliness is about to take over everything.  We say to one another, “I have never seen it this bad before.” Or, “It is getting really bad out there.  I worry for my grandchildren.” 
 
We indeed look at the world with its evil plans and can easily be given to doom and gloom.  The prophetic words of Isaiah are just as relevant now as they were when he first penned them, “[those who] call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (5:20)  We see the empty pews, we hear the great plans of human leaders, and we see the rampant evil in the world and conclude that everything is going to hell in a handbasket.  But lest we drop too far off into the pit of despair, we must remember that God is still in control. 
 
It is imperative that we guard ourselves from being tempted to naively believing in the world’s greatness.  Or to say it another way, don’t give this fallen world too much credit. Do not be so easily deceived into believing that the world has the corner market on being all-knowing, all-present, and all-powerful.  The Lord has told us not to put our faith in the princes and presidents of this world (Psalm 146).  After all, there is an expiration date on all who wield the sword in this world; the best-laid plans will perish with them. While the world operates with self-inflated arrogance and robust pride, we do well to remember that God runs the course of the universe.  It is His will that will come to fruition, His plans that will outlast the schemes of this world. Strange though it may seem to us at times, especially if we spend too much time watching the news, God is in charge.  In fact, looking at waywardness and paranoid fear of the ungodly, Psalm 2:4 declares, “But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.” God laughs at the futile, faith-less plans of this world.
 
So do not be frightened when you see the world enacting all its plans. Do not be discouraged in this politically divided climate.  Do not lose hope as the church is persecuted by the world.  The Lord is in control. He laughs at the world’s silly pride and will not only confound the world but will certainly sustain His church.  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (Jn 14:27-28a)
 
“When it looks like things are out of control, behind the scenes there is a God who hasn’t surrendered His authority.” (AW Tozer)
 
“When you accept the fact that sometimes seasons are dry and times are hard and that God is in control of both, you will discover a sense of divine refuge, because the hope then is in God and not in yourself.” (Charles Swindoll)


(H/T to Pastor Matt Richards for his inspirational sermon on Genesis 11.)