Right now, Toyota is running an ad campaign which has the refrain from a 1980's song "Saved by Zero" by the Fixx. If you'd like to refresh your memory, you can check out Video "Saved by Zero"
The song portrays a young artist being pulled by two worlds. With a hope of being "Saved by Zero"
Our faith gives a much different and deeper hope. When you feel yourself getting tugged in all sorts of directions, be still and know God. It's an important skill to learn in our 24/7 fast paced do more with less society. Sometimes, you need to find a place of solitude, even if it is only for a few minutes. There are countless studies out there on how we are suffering from sleep deprivation. One study says it is more important to get to bed before midnight, so you sleep in natural darkness. (ask our parish nurse for the full details)
Make an appointment with God daily; write it on your calendar and honor it like any other appointment. During that time, pray simple prayers...Help Me! and Thank you! are perfect prayers. Try to be surrounded by silence, or natural sounds. While listening to the silence, the small voice of the Almighty Creator becomes more clear. Hear it remind you that we are not saved by zero. We are saved by Jesus, who died on the cross and rose from the dead on the third day. We are saved by someone, very real, very human and very Divine.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Tuesday's Word: Honorable
"think about what is honorable"
Once again, we find a word with a plethora of meanings. For a complete run down, I invite you to click on this link: www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honor
What people or things in your life are worthy of you honoring? A person? A special event?
When we honor someone, we take time out to acknowledge all of the good things the individual has done. There are days when I see nothing but bad stuff and it is easy to fall into a rut and assume that people are bad. When I notice this mind set, I force myself to see the good things first. I find that when I start by honoring someone, seeing them as a gift from God, my relationship improves. Whether a little thing, or a big thing, to start with honoring values who they are as God's children.
In Philippians 4:8 Paul takes the pagan values, and tells Christians there is nothing wrong with these things. In fact, he goes on to say Christ embodied these traits. He thought about and did whatever was true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent, things worthy of praise. This is why Paul implores us to think about and do the same.
Word of the Day--True
There is an old computer saying: garbage in, garbage out. Meaning whatever we put in, is what we get in return. This applies to our lives.
When we are filled with garbage, i.e. surrounded by fear filled pronouncements, smothered by pictures and words that debase and demean our fellow children of God or God's creation, we become polluted and less able to function.
Paul in his letter to the Philippians, invites us to ponder things that clear out the mind of the pollution and remind us of God's rich mercy, love, and leadership. You'll find this in chapter 4. In verse 8, he hits upon a series of words and concepts to keep in the forefront of our minds. Today, we'll think about "True"
In our post-modern world, we question everything and live as if there is nothing true. We have become cynical; and so it is time to recapture the meaning of "Truth". While the online Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as: the quality or state of being accurate, we need to recall the older definitions: steadfast, loyal, just. These are words that accurately capture the majesty of God: God is loyal, just, and steadfast. Throughout scripture there are stories of God's involvement in situations to get things back on track.
Jesus promised, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." We do not live in a vacuum; our relationship with God touches every area of our lives. So, when the world seems spinning out of control, think about what is true: God is true. When the nightly news announces doom and destruction, think instead about how God is true; and pray for God's continued involvement in worldly affairs.
This week, may God's true, faithful, peace be upon you.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Martin Luther King Jr once remarked: "There is so much frustration in the world because we have relied on gods rather than God. We have genuflected before the god of science only to find that it has given us the atomic bomb, producing fears and anxieties that science can never mitigate.
We have worshiped the god of pleasure only to discover that thrills play out and sensations are short-lived.
We have bowed before the god of money only to learn that there are such things as love and friendship that money cannot buy....These transitory gods are not able to save or bring happiness to the human heart. Only God is able. It is faith in Him that we must rediscover."
460 years earlier, Martin Luther wrote in the Small Catechism, "We are to fear, love, and trust God above all else" as an explanation on how to keep the First Commandment. (Some people substitute "honor" for "fear" because they don't think we should be afraid of our merciful and loving God. I believe a little fear is healthy because it keeps us humble and reminds us to listen to God's commands.)
Both of these preachers implore us to fully rely on God, trusting the Almighty in times of fear and doubt. This week, each day I'll write some thoughts on the list Paul provides in Philippians 4:1-9 that encourage us to Rejoice in the Lord Always.
We have worshiped the god of pleasure only to discover that thrills play out and sensations are short-lived.
We have bowed before the god of money only to learn that there are such things as love and friendship that money cannot buy....These transitory gods are not able to save or bring happiness to the human heart. Only God is able. It is faith in Him that we must rediscover."
460 years earlier, Martin Luther wrote in the Small Catechism, "We are to fear, love, and trust God above all else" as an explanation on how to keep the First Commandment. (Some people substitute "honor" for "fear" because they don't think we should be afraid of our merciful and loving God. I believe a little fear is healthy because it keeps us humble and reminds us to listen to God's commands.)
Both of these preachers implore us to fully rely on God, trusting the Almighty in times of fear and doubt. This week, each day I'll write some thoughts on the list Paul provides in Philippians 4:1-9 that encourage us to Rejoice in the Lord Always.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Thoughts on Christ
When my dad broke his back in 1979, he and others on the orthopedic floor decided to have a klutz of the year competition to see who had come to the hospital via their own hand in the most foolish way. The winner, a gentleman who stepped back off the ladder to admire his work on the 2nd floor window trim.
This father could have joined them, if not for the quick thinking of his wife.
The following story tells of the willingness of a family to work together. The father was a chimney builder. He would stay at the high top of the chimney until the finishing touches were done by other workers. Then he would drop a rope that he used to let himself down. One day he made the crucial mistake of not keeping the end of the rope for himself. The young son raced to his mother and told her the problem, but what other than earnest agonizing prayer could she do? She knew that often you need to put feet on your prayers. She raced from the house, and yelled at her husband, high on the chimney of the house being built. Despite his experience he was bewildered and shaking dangerously with despair. "Unravel the worsted from your sock," she yelled to him. Both of them knew that the socks were made from one large thread of strong wool and that it could hold together. "Hold one end, and put some mortar on the other end to lower it," she called.
He did; the heavy worsted thread held. After lowering the thread they tied a heavier rope to it, and he pulled the heavy rope to himself. He secured the end and then was able to let himself down as was normally done, and he was safe in the arms of his wife.
Just as the thread held and lead to safety, so our Lord brings us to safety.
The hands of Christ, Seem very frail
For they were broken by a nail.
But only they reach heaven at last
Whom those frail, broken hands hold fast.
This father could have joined them, if not for the quick thinking of his wife.
The following story tells of the willingness of a family to work together. The father was a chimney builder. He would stay at the high top of the chimney until the finishing touches were done by other workers. Then he would drop a rope that he used to let himself down. One day he made the crucial mistake of not keeping the end of the rope for himself. The young son raced to his mother and told her the problem, but what other than earnest agonizing prayer could she do? She knew that often you need to put feet on your prayers. She raced from the house, and yelled at her husband, high on the chimney of the house being built. Despite his experience he was bewildered and shaking dangerously with despair. "Unravel the worsted from your sock," she yelled to him. Both of them knew that the socks were made from one large thread of strong wool and that it could hold together. "Hold one end, and put some mortar on the other end to lower it," she called.
He did; the heavy worsted thread held. After lowering the thread they tied a heavier rope to it, and he pulled the heavy rope to himself. He secured the end and then was able to let himself down as was normally done, and he was safe in the arms of his wife.
Just as the thread held and lead to safety, so our Lord brings us to safety.
The hands of Christ, Seem very frail
For they were broken by a nail.
But only they reach heaven at last
Whom those frail, broken hands hold fast.
Monday, September 15, 2008
The Power of Prayer
Back in July, I changed the prayer for Zimbabwe of our weekly prayer group. For nearly two months, we've been praying
We pray that the situation in Zimbabwe stabilizes and people are no longer threatened for being a part of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Once Zimbabwe was the bread basket for Africa, bless President Mugabe with your wisdom so he no longer fears losing power, but is motivated by a desire to do what is best for the people in his country so that Zimbabwe is once again a wonderful place to live.
Today, I read in the New York Times that President Mugabe is willing to divide up the power in Zimbabwe and is giving some power to his rivals. God has intervened in the situation, sent others to help negotiate the settlement, and once again Zimbabwe is filled with hope.
You can read the full article: Zimbabwe Rivals Sign Power-Sharing Agreement
I pray that this agreement will be honored by all people and is just the first of many steps the country takes on it's path back to being in harmony with all people and God's creation.
We pray that the situation in Zimbabwe stabilizes and people are no longer threatened for being a part of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Once Zimbabwe was the bread basket for Africa, bless President Mugabe with your wisdom so he no longer fears losing power, but is motivated by a desire to do what is best for the people in his country so that Zimbabwe is once again a wonderful place to live.
Today, I read in the New York Times that President Mugabe is willing to divide up the power in Zimbabwe and is giving some power to his rivals. God has intervened in the situation, sent others to help negotiate the settlement, and once again Zimbabwe is filled with hope.
You can read the full article: Zimbabwe Rivals Sign Power-Sharing Agreement
I pray that this agreement will be honored by all people and is just the first of many steps the country takes on it's path back to being in harmony with all people and God's creation.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Balance
Well, it's been awhile since I've written anything. One thing that has permeated my thoughts in the away time has been the importance of balance in our lives. We need a mix of fun, serious, relaxing, hard work, etc. in order to live.
Today though, my thoughts turn towards what is the proper balance between remembering the horror of Sept 11th, 2001 and the need to move from the shock, grief and pain to a new normal. My heart still grieves for those who lost their lives and for those still suffering from the nightmares of leaping over body parts as they fled the towers. We need to remember the significant event; but do we need to focus on the destruction? Do we need to focus on the day we figured out that as a nation we were sort of the emperor in the emperor's new clothes?
We do need a little focus on those parts of the day, but also to remember how quickly the nation responded to help. A few days after the event, I was in a state correctional facility to lead worship for medium security inmates. Those men were hurting, because they couldn't do anything tangible to help the victims.
Today, perhaps the balance is to remember the whole story. To grieve a little, rejoice a little, and ask God to intervene to bring us true peace and justice throughout the planet so that no one need remember a day like this again.
In Christ
Pastor Kim
Today though, my thoughts turn towards what is the proper balance between remembering the horror of Sept 11th, 2001 and the need to move from the shock, grief and pain to a new normal. My heart still grieves for those who lost their lives and for those still suffering from the nightmares of leaping over body parts as they fled the towers. We need to remember the significant event; but do we need to focus on the destruction? Do we need to focus on the day we figured out that as a nation we were sort of the emperor in the emperor's new clothes?
We do need a little focus on those parts of the day, but also to remember how quickly the nation responded to help. A few days after the event, I was in a state correctional facility to lead worship for medium security inmates. Those men were hurting, because they couldn't do anything tangible to help the victims.
Today, perhaps the balance is to remember the whole story. To grieve a little, rejoice a little, and ask God to intervene to bring us true peace and justice throughout the planet so that no one need remember a day like this again.
In Christ
Pastor Kim
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