"How Did You Find Jesus?"

Luke 15: 1 - 10

It really doesn’t make sense, does it? Does God really rejoice more over one sinner who repents than 99 who are righteous? It sounds as though Jesus is making a point. Nevertheless it is a lesson which we all need to hear. We all tend to be critical of the lost, and somewhat resentful that they can just walk back and say sorry. God however is never resentful, he rejoices without any feeling of bitterness. If the lost knew that when they returned they would receive rebuke and criticism, then they might be less likely to come home in the first place. There need be no such worry where God is concerned, he always welcomes the sinner, the prodigal… the lost sheep.Imagine how the father of the prodigal son must have felt when his son asked him for his inheritance and went off to squander it on the wrong sort of lifestyle. The poor father must have had so many conflicting emotions, sadness at the lack of wisdom shown by the son, perhaps some resentment or even anger. We will never quite know, but we do know that he let the son go. He did not try and make him stay, or change his mind. He knew that the son had to go and find out for himself, so he allowed him to make his mistakes. Sometimes this is the only way that we can really learn, from our own mistakes. Frequently parents see children make mistakes and they know that these are exactly the kinds of things which they themselves did! Sadly we cannot put old heads on young shoulders. All that we can do is to be there when they come home, perhaps realising the error of their ways, and make sure we don't say I told you so.This is how God is with us. God allows us to make mistakes, even big mistakes, and we learn the hard way… or sometimes we don’t learn the hard way… God is there for us and welcomes us back without the hint of recrimination, just love and forgiveness. The Gospel lesson this morning shows that God cares deeply for those who are lost and far from him. God isn't resentful when they are found or angry that they strayed, but rather God rejoices. Perhaps we should all ask ourselves, ‘are we able to rejoice in welcoming back the lost or would we be more likely to tell them that is was their own fault?’ It is hard for us to be prepared to accept people when they seek forgiveness. It is a human trait to be critical and willing to judge, we naturally think God wants people to be punished. To err is human but to forgive is divine. Its hard for us to forgive, it has to be conditional; and measured and not to freely given in case it encourages bad behavior .

We tend to think like public utility companies and we want every drop of God's grace metered and paid for. It's hard for us to forgive. We often think that forgiveness has to be earned in some way, even if it is only by asking for it properly. Forgiveness however is easy for God, it is God's nature. Jesus tells us about going in search of the lost sheep. Why does the shepherd search for the lost sheep? Is it because it is a favorite sheep? Is it because the sheep is a special sheep? Or because its coat is woolier than the rest of the sheep? No! The only qualification the sheep has which justifies leaving the other sheep and going off after it, is that it is lost.

So too Jesus cares for the lost, because they are lost and seeks them out. We so often get concerned about our qualifications for God. Are we good enough for him to bother with us? And perhaps the church has and still does reinforce this, making hurdles over which we have to cross before we are good enough. Think of Paul’s writings of the Lord’s Supper… Does Jesus, who shares his last meal with the disciples only come after those who have passed the test? Or does he come after the lost sheep?As your pastor, my glad task is to reassure people of God's forgiveness, and as members together of the Body of Christ, that is something which we are all called to do. God calls us to share together in that priestly task… sharing God’s grace is not only my job, it is your job too. Jesus shows us from the cross that he forgives even when people do not ask for it. The Christian faith teaches us that God cares for all of us, especially the lost. The Christian faith teaches that we are never beyond redemption, we are never so far from God that he gives up on us. The message of the day is that the further we have fallen, the deeper is God's grace to rescue us. The will of God can never lead you where the Grace of God can not cover you.Self righteousness and begrudging attitudes are alive and well, they didn't die out in 1st century Palestine. There are those who like the brother of the prodigal son will resent the fact that God is so forgiving. For many people recovery of the lost means that we are only happy when people decide that they want to join us and be like us. For Jesus recovery of the lost meant taking time to befriend and to associate with the lost. Even if it meant getting his own reputation tarnished. Think of the stories and gossip which there must have been about Jesus as a result of the company which he kept. Think of the Gossip around Jesus’ befriending Zaccheus, the tax collector… or Mary Magdalene… or the Lepers… or the sinners…We can sometimes begrudge the mercy of God being so freely given to the undeserving. We don't like people who threaten us… who invade our comfort zones… who appear different from us… who don't measure up to our standards.

Yet Paul’s words to us from Romans 15:7 are to “receive one another, then, just as Christ received you, in order to bring glory to God the Father…

This morning we need to see Christ Jesus as Shepherd… I wonder whether or not we know him as our shepherd today… We repeat the words of the 23rd Psalm… “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…”
He is the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep…
He is the Great Shepherd that was brought back from the dead…
He is the Chief Shepherd who is coming again…
He is the Shepherd and Bishop of Souls…
He is the Shepherd of the sheep, who gathers the lambs with his arms, and who carries them in his bosom…
He is the Shepherd of Israel…
He is Jehovah’s Shepherd…
So it is that Jesus tells these two stories from our lesson this morning to show that God has time for each one of us. Even when the rest of the world thinks that we are too far gone, Jesus comes after us and carries us home.

A young man named Yam Sing, was asked upon joining a church in San Francisco, “How did you find Jesus?” He answered “I did not find Jesus at all… He found me…”

A little boy, in a Chinese Christian family wished to make a profession of faith and join the church. He was told that he was too young to join the church… He replied “Jesus has promised to carry the lambs in his bosom… I am only a little boy… it will be easier for Jesus to carry me…”

I Bid You Peace...

Pastor Ken+

A Cuppa Coffee for September

Dearly Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ;

Grace to you and peace from God our Father, through our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Summer is winding down, and autumn will soon be upon us. With the changing leaves and the scenes which seem to leap off of the pages of Yankee Magazine, comes not only a new school year, but also new opportunities for sharing what God is doing in each of our lives, and in our life together here at First Congregational Church.

I haven't yet seen one falling leaf, but I know with absolute certainty that before too long the leaves will be turning to vibrant red, brilliant yellow, and eye-popping orange.

With each changing leaf, I am reminded of the promise of God that HE will never leave us (no pun intended) or forsake us, and that HIS word endures from everlasting to everlasting. With each season comes change, and new beginnings, and each serves as a reminder that while HIS promises are new every morning, and it can truly be said that no two autumnal seasons are exactly the same.

In like fashion, no two people in the Body of Christ are exactly the same. The mix of gifts and talents that HE has blessed you with are different from the gifts and talents that HE has given me. Yet HE calls us to come together with our talents and gifts and make something beautiful out of them. Just as God designs the beautiful colors of teh changing leaves into a breathtaking tapestry, so HE takes our gifts, our talents, and our personalities and HE also weaves them together into something beautiful; something that brings glory to HIM.

As we begin anew this September and beyond, let us answer HIS call on our lives to come together as HIS people, and allow HIM to weave us into something beautiful... something that brings HIM glory! Let us allow our unique personalities and our equally unique mix of gifts and talents to be used to make a difference in the lives of the people around us.

I bid you peace...

Pastor Ken+

Grace To You...

Three things that we have learned about God's grace this week...

1.) God's grace is free... but it is not cheap.
Cheap grace, according to Dietrich Bonhoeffer, was tantamount to a "007" Licence to keep on sinning. Costly grace, on the other hand, is the realization that God sent HIS son into the world, not to condemn the world... but that through him the world might be saved! Costly grace means nothing less than the fact that somebody died so that you and I could live...

2.) God's grace is unmerited... and undeserved.
Paul writes that it is by grace that we are saved, through faith... not of works, lest any man should boast. In this we can realize that God alone is the author and finisher of our faith, and that it is only because he loves us that we are alive to this day...

3.) God's grace is for you...
Truthfully, there is only one person who Jesus died for... YOU.

Nuff' said...

I bid you peace!

Pastor Ken+

A Side Order of Life (Part II)

Today was a real eye-opener for me. From my vantage point, it seemed to me as if I could see pretty much all of life spreading out before me. This morning, during the worship service, we celebrated a baptism, after church my wife had put together an impromptu birthday party for me, later this afternoon I had a memorial/committal service for a woman who had passed away a week ago, and then later on in the afternoon we celebrated with the family of the young boy who had been baptized this morning.

It rather reminds me of the famous verse from Ecclesiastes "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven."

L'chayim! L'chayim! To life!
To Life! To Life! L'Chayim!

I Bid You Peace!

Pastor Ken+

"Whatever..."

My text for this morning comes from the New Testament Book of Philippians. Paul writes these words to the church at Philippi... "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is Near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praise-worthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of Peace will be with you." (Philippians 4: 4 - 9)

Here Paul is giving us the key to genuine peace of mind... genuine "shalom." First, he tells us to rejoice! (He actually says it twice for emphasis...) He encourages us to put on an attitude of praise (here we call to mind the verse from the Psalms reminding us that he inhabits the praises of his people, creating an atmosphere in us which he inhabits... )

Then he encourages us to "Let your gentleness be evident to all... the Lord is near." IF his spirit is within us, and IF we continue to focus on him... THEN his very presence changes not only our atmosphere, but our lives as well... we can not help but emulate gentleness simply because, as Paul writes elsewhere "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me!"

Paul continues, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Did you get it? "Do not be anxious (or afraid, or concerned) about anything..." Think about this one for a moment... "Do not be anxious about anything..." Is Paul serious? We are by our very nature prone to worry, and prone to anxiety... Anxiety can kill... it can produce heart-attack-like symptoms... this is nothing less than Overmobilization of Fear. Remember something that the Bible says about fear? "God is Love... and perfect love casts out all fear."

Herein we are encouraged "...but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" Paul's message to us is to not be afraid or anxious to present your requests to God. Paul's overall message at this point is that if you have God's very presence permeating your heart and your soul, if you keep your mind focused on him, if you come into his presence with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise, then everything you need will be added to you, and you can come before God and not be afraid to ask him for what you need... because your request will be in line with God's will and God's word.

Watch what he promises next. "...And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." The peace of God... the shalom... which goes above and beyond anything that we could possibly wrap our minds around... this peace will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus!" THIS is God's personal peace-of-mind guarantee... Isaiah writes that "HE will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed (or focused) on HIM."

This next portion demonstrates that Paul knew his target audience when he wrote the letter. He know that by this point the people at the church in Philippi would be asking themselves "Okay... now what? What do we do with this information from our friend, Paul?" Paul picks up the slack and says "Here's the deal... think on whatever is true... think on whatever is noble... think on whatever is right... whatever is pure... whatever is lovely... whatever is admirable... concentrate on the things that are excellent and praise-worthy... focus on those things..." The message, by reverse implication is "don't think about things that are false... or concentrate on the negative... don't concentrate on what is wrong with the picture... or whatever is not pure and hideous... don't focus on the muck and mire... don't deliberately go on a mission to find what is wrong... "

Then Paul sums it up... "think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of Peace will be with you." We are openly encouraged over and over again to focus on the positives, and emulate the lives of other people who also focus on the positives, and who focus on the things of God's kingdom... and his word for us today is that if we focus on these thing, and put them into practice, "... the God of Peace will be with you."

Life throws us curve-balls. Every day, we are faced with situations which jerk our heads around, and cause us enough "agita" In these closing moments, let us make a conscientous effort to focus on the things of God's kingdom.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus... look full in his wonderful face... and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace."

I Bid You Peace,

Pastor Ken+