Speaking for yourself

Yesterday was Confirmation Sunday at St. Andrew.   Four of our young people stepped up to a microphone and spoke to our congregation and told us what their faith and their relationship with God means to them.  They had the opportunity to speak for themselves and claim the blessings given to them at their baptism.

If I could pick one unifying message from each of their speeches it would be this:  Each one of them is confident that God will be with them throughout their lives, no matter what.

Hallelujah!

All those Sunday School lessons, confirmation classes, Sundays in worship, servant hours and fellowship events have not been wasted.  They get it!  They feel it!  They know it in their hearts!

What a glorious reason to celebrate the Affirmation of their Baptisms as they CONFIRMED what their parents had promised for them, on their behalf as infants, when they were too young to ask to become a child of God with their own words. 

They have now claimed for themselves the membership in the body of Christ given to them at their baptisms.  Their membership fee has been paid in full by Jesus Christ. 

Congratulations to Ryan, Viviane, Hannah and Andrew. 

May you continue to always feel the Creator’s presence, the love of Jesus Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in your lives, trusting in this faith that you have affirmed as a beloved child of God.

Come worship with us this Summer at 9:30 am on Sundays.

www.elcaAndy.org

In God's House There are Many Rooms

Sunday was Father’s Day.

At St. Andrew we invite all the men of the congregation forward to be blessed, not just fathers.  Why?  Because many men function in the role of “father” to people other than their own children, or even when they have no children of their own.

Often when I think about Father’s Day, I think about the scripture, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”  John 14:1-3

For me, this verse epitomizes how we are supposed to trust in God that He, as our Father, will provide us with a home; a place of shelter, love, and family.  In the same way, our fathers on earth are charged with the task of providing a home for their children; a place of shelter, love and family.  Sometimes our biological fathers are not able to fulfill that role and other men (and sometimes women) step in and make sure that we find ourselves in a home, a place of shelter, love and family.  

Imagine our lives without these fathers and father figures. 

Unfortunately there are many children in the world without a father, father figure, or home.  May they take comfort in this Bible passage from John to know that there is one father above all others who will never fail them and who has prepared a place for them where they will find shelter, love and family.

Today I was waiting for a guest to arrive at Newark Airport.  As I waited for her arrival, I was watching all the people coming and going through the security gate.  I was amazed at the variety of people… people of all races and nationalities, ages and occupations… all going through the same gate to sit together on an airplane, just as we will all go through one door into that home God has prepared for ALL of us.  What an amazing assortment of humanity!  God does love to use a broad palette in his handiwork!

In God’s house there are many rooms… and we will ALL have a place there, even if we did not have one here.  Amen.

Did you grow up with a father figure that provided a home for you?  Maybe you are a man who has helped to provide a home for a child, or has acted as a father figure to a child who has none.  God bless our fathers and the men who father us.  May you continue to seek the wonderful role model that God sets before you….for in you, the children of the world will find shelter, love, and family.

Join us for worship this summer at 9:30 am each Sunday.

www.elcaAndy.org

Building our Houses on Sand

Where have you built your house?

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rains fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell – and great was its fall.”  Matthew 7:24-27

We’ve had quite a sprint of bad weather recently, here in NJ and more seriously in other parts of the country, and around the globe.  Last night we had torrential rain with thunder and lightning.   This spring has seen more flood warnings than I’ve remembered in recent history.  Parts of the Midwest are seeing unprecedented flooding along both the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.

News reports have shown pictures of humongous swaths of the Midwest and Southern farm and ranch land covered in water for miles on end.  Earlier this year, right in our own back yard, the Passaic River was above flood stage for almost a week in parts of Wayne and Fairfield. 

It makes you wonder whose bright idea it was to build the homes, now under water, in the flood plain of these rivers.   And who would be foolish enough to buy them?

In fairness, sometimes those homes weren’t in a flood plain to begin with but because of political decisions, flood plains or relief zones are re-mapped and moved.   Again, who thought that was a good idea?

But, we really ought not be too critical.  Don’t we also build our houses on sand?

Maybe not our physical home structures, but certainly our hearts and minds… the home for our spirit.

How often do we put trust in the media, our government, our jobs, a relationship, or our bank accounts over building a foundation of trust in God?

How often do we need to use the crutches of addictions, sensationalism, and other “isms” to prop up our crumbling lives, broken hearts and tortured minds?

How often do we step on the shifting sands of human promise instead of putting our feet on the solid rocks of divine promise?

By forgetting to trust in God and place our lives in His care, our spirits are beaten by the winds, rains, and floods of our lives, and our hearts and minds become weak.  We easily struggle and fall.

By placing our confidence in God, our spirits may be beaten by those same winds, rains and floods of our lives, but our hearts and minds will weather those storms.  We will rise against the world that would tear us down, and our spirits will be lifted high and held safe in the arms of a loving and merciful God who asks only for us to look to Him to be that sure foundation.

May you enjoy your beach vacations this summer; but watch how those sand castles are washed away with one swift wave.  Remember the verses from Matthew and pledge to build your spirit’s foundation on the solid rock of Jesus.  Amen.

In what ways have you built your house on sand?  How can you start rebuilding on the solid rock of Christ?

Come build up your spirit in God's house at St. Andrew.
Join us for worship on Sundays, 9:30 am during the summer.
www.elcaAndy.org

Taking Comfort in the Midst of the Lightning

Tonight as I write this there is a severe thunder and lightning storm going on outside. 

I am safe inside and I am not afraid, probably foolishly so.  Any one of the 10 oak trees on my small property could drop a large branch or come crashing down.

But yet, I am not afraid because a lifetime experiencing storms like this has shown that I can find a safe place where I need not fear the extreme elements; and I have access to scientific information that will explain what this incredible noise and light show is made of and why it happens. 

I am not afraid because I have faith in the constructs of my world, simple though they may be, that protect me from the damage these elements can cause… my home, the power company, emergency personnel and first responders, etc.

I am not afraid because I trust that God will be by my side and protect me and my family.

And yet, I think about how our dog in the other room is tucked under my son’s arm, shaking in fear.  She does not understand the science or that our house will protect her.  Yet she seeks comfort and safety in the one place she knows she is safe.  Her boy.

I think about our children, when they ask in fear, “what is that noise, Mommy?”  and we answer… “The angels are bowling.”  They can not understand what science has told us, so we offer something they might be able to understand, and they trust us to protect them and seek comfort in our arms.

I think about how vulnerable we are, even with all our technologically superior camping gear, should a storm like this crop up while we are camping.  Where would we seek shelter?  The meager protection of our nylon tent?  A trail side lean-to?  A cave perhaps?  Where would our comfort come from then?  I’d bet we’d be praying to our God for protection in addition to flipping through that Wilderness Survival Guide.

And what about earlier peoples in times before our scientific research led to quantifiable answers?  What did Noah think of this type of storm as the rain began to pour down from the heavens?  What about the Israelites wandering 40 years in the desert?  How many storms did they see across the open expanses of sand and scrub, watching it approach closer and closer, praying for it to pass and spare them?

God has given us the gift of science to help understand our world around us, to help us put in place the protections that will help to keep us safe from the extremes of nature.  But in the process, do we rely falsely upon these constructs so much that we no longer turn to the One who can guarantee our safety?  Do we forget to be in awe of the incredible power of the One who created that lightning and thunder?

It has been a wild year, no …make that a wild few years, in the realm of natural disasters and wild weather for this country and for others around the globe.  Our science and prediction devices can only protect us so much.

We must rely on the One who has the only true power to save us.  We must trust, like children, in the protective love of our Father.

“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.” Psalm 5:11

Join us for worship on Sundays at 9:30 am

www.elcaAndy.org

What frightens you?  Where do you find comfort from your fears?

Jesus was at our Church Picnic on Sunday

Sunday was the St. Andrew annual church picnic and Jesus was there.  How do I know?

We all had a blast!  This is one of the reasons I love St. Andrew.  We have a lot of fun together…whether we’re worshipping, picnicking, or working together, it’s all good because God is with us, and everyone knows it.   “When two or more are gathered in my name, I am there in the midst of them.”  Matthew 18:20

And this picnic was more than just standard hot dogs and hamburgers (which of course were there).  We also were treated to strips of steak, sausages, chicken and pulled barbecue pork.  There were baked beans and salads.   Happily, the people who “man” the grill seem to enjoy their role in preparing and cooking the picnic fare, and we are very grateful for their culinary enthusiasm.

But the icing on the cake, so to speak, was the dessert competition.  Each year those who enjoy a baking challenge sign up to bring a dessert to enter in the “Sparkling Spoon Competition.”  The prize?  A sparkling spoon, of course…a wooden spoon (or some other variation) decorated with all the sparkle and baubles of a truly coveted trophy.

This year’s winner was a truly delightful person who is always willing to serve the St. Andrew community and our God…a worship leader, choir member, scheduler of worship servants, member of the Worship Team, and all-round good sport when asked to help with any ministry project.  Totally unassuming, when Sandy won the Sparkling Spoon she was completely surprised and her surprise quickly turned into a dance of joy and laughter that was eagerly enjoyed by everyone in attendance. 

We enjoyed sharing in her joy.  This is what being a part of the body of Christ is all about…sharing in each other’s joys and sorrows.

There was a water balloon toss (actually two games of it) and I don’t think I remember ever seeing as many people join in the fun.

The kids were playing on the playground equipment, and running around with Super Soakers and Bubble Blowers.  They had a piñata game administered and provided by the Youth Group.

The biggest kid of all, Pastor Fred, made sure to wear his bathing trunks so that he wouldn’t miss a minute of the Super Soaker fun.

There was bingo, with all sorts of goofy prizes, probably picked up at our recent Youth Group Yard Sale.

We didn’t even get to the guitar sing-a-long.

We have a lot of fun together.  And Jesus is with us.

We were once given a charcoal drawing of the laughing Jesus.  The pastor that gave it to us said that St. Andrew epitomized this side of Jesus that few people acknowledge…the Son of God who enjoyed life and could laugh.

I’m proud that this is how people see St. Andrew.   Too often Christians are seen as stern-faced and judgmental people.  Too often church or worship is seen as drudgery and couldn’t possibly be fun. 

What’s not fun is trying to live life on your own.

“When two or more are gathered in my name, I am there is the midst of them.”  If we remember that Jesus is with us, then being together will get us through the worst of times and help us to enjoy the best of times with a laughter that must certainly please our Father’s heart.

Come and join us for worship this Summer at 9:30 am on Sundays.

www.elcaAndy.org

Have you ever seen people having fun and felt that Christ was with them?  Leave a comment and tell us your story.

A Matter of Perspective and Faith

Oooh boy.  Yesterday I turned 45.  I remember being 10 and thinking that 45 was SOOOO OLD….like a dinosaur old, that’s almost HALF A CENTURY!!! 

It’s all a matter of perspective.

Now I don’t even really think of people as “old.”

Because I’m never going to be old.

Sometimes I might FEEL old, but I’m never going to BE old.

There are too many things to learn to BE old.

With my family genetics and advances in health care, I’ve probably got a good chance of living to be 90 years old or more.  So in that sense I’ve only lived half my life, maybe even less than half.  I’ve got another half (or more) to go, and a lot of living to do.  And yet, tomorrow it could be cut short, too.  (Rapture anyone?)

In some ways, I feel like my life is just getting started all over again.  My kids are mostly grown and in a few short years will likely no longer live with us.  I’m at a place where I am searching out new career options and will likely embark on something new before long.  The future is wide open.  It’s scary.  It’s exciting.  I feel like I’m learning to walk all over again, and soon someone is going to say it’s time to learn to RUN!

When I started 2011, I told you (faithful readers) that I resolved to let the Holy Spirit guide me.  I’ve been trying to pay attention for “God-signs” in my life, to point me in that direction.  As I look at this “mid-point” in my life I realize that I’ve got a long way to go and I’d really better put it all in God’s hands, or things could get rough.  But I also think to myself, “just think of the possibilities if I truly let God adjust the sails, hold the rudder and sail with His winds instead of against them.”

What will I become then?  What might I accomplish then?  How will God shine through me next?

I’m only half way there.  The journey so far has been filled with blessings, even though I have frequently faltered on the path.  I know that no matter where I journey, if I trust God to lead, I’ll never be alone and things will turn out just fine in the end.

It’s a matter of perspective.  It’s a matter of faith.

So bring on the next 45 years!  I’m ready!

Are you?

Join us for worship.  Sundays at 9:30 am through Labor Day.

www.elcaAndy.org