We had an egg hunt for the children in daycare during spring break at Big Ridge School.  

They had fun and so did we!

The Crafty Critters made heart pillows to donate to The Mary Ellen Locher Cancer center. They also make port cushions, adult bibs, walker and wheelchair caddies, crochet footies, and prayer shawls.  

They meet most Mondays at 3:30 p.m. at the church.

Gleanings…

Happy New Year! Yes, it is that time again and here we are wondering what will be different this time. I don’t know about your experiences, but mine tell me that the only things that will change for me are the things that I really want to change. Other than that, things will stay pretty much the same. Is that good for you or are you hoping for a bit more?

What drives us to desire change? For most of us, it is finally accepting that we can no longer tolerate the way things are going. When we are fed up enough with the way things are, we will do what we need to, to make our situation better. Until then, we will not willingly change anything.

So, how was last year for you? Did anything leave you desiring a better life for yourself or those that you love? Did you feel at a loss to make sense of events in your life or in the lives of family and friends? Has anything left you feeling, “Here we go again”?

I wonder if God sent Jesus to live among us because he knew things needed to change. Up to that point, life seemed to be one big roller coaster: up, down, fast, slow, right, left, and then back to where we started. Our understanding of how life should proceed never changed; we continued to repeat the same mistakes. Improvement seemed to be tied to doing a better job of following the rules and making everyone else do so, too. I believe you know where that has taken us.

Jesus, though, offered another solution. Instead of focusing on rule-keeping and monitoring others to make sure that they were keeping the rules, Jesus invited people to refocus. Where we had been focusing on keeping the rules, Jesus taught that we would accomplish what we needed to if we simply loved God with all of our hearts, minds, and strength, and loved our neighbors as ourselves. Do not do unto others what is abhorrent to us. As Micah writes in 6:8, act with justice, be merciful, and walk humbly with God (my translation).

What does that mean for our new year? I believe it is an invitation to look at what we have focused on for the past year and adjust our priorities. We do not know everything, and we cannot understand everything; that is God’s realm. Instead, if we will allow that Jesus is the Son of God and decide to follow his teachings, we may find that this is enough to change the outcome of this new year.

God loves us more than we can ever know, and God loves our neighbors more that they will ever know. Let’s decide to allow that to be enough guidance for how we should live. Who knows, maybe it will make this year the one we have all been hoping for.

See you Sunday if not before,

Pastor Braxton ><>

We collected and donated the following needed items for Union gospel Mission! 

Towels, Washcloths, Pillows, Twin sheets/Pillow cases, Twin blankets, Deodorant, razors, shaving cream, Reading glasses, Plastic storage containers for food, Silverware, & Drinking glasses.

Gleanings…

When I was in high school, I convinced my mother to buy me a paperback book on speedreading.  I thought it might help me to read more quickly and with greater comprehension – at least that is what I remember from the cover.  A short time spent reading from the first chapter though, gave me the false (?) impression that I already knew what the author was teaching and did not need to read further.  There have been times since then that I have regretted not finishing the book.

Our most recent Bible/book study used a short book to open our eyes to the need for slow reading.  Taking six weeks to read through, study, and discuss The Lord’s Prayer revealed the richness that can be found in words and literary structures.  When we completed the study, each one of us was amazed at what we learned by spending time with each phrase of the prayer.  I believe it opened our eyes to what we lose when we hurry, especially with very familiar Bible passages and worship liturgies.

Our conference posts a daily email that has as its goal reading the Bible in a year along with all other participants.  One benefit is that you have a daily reminder to read.  So often we are diverted from our intentions by the “crises” of life.  A reminder helps us to return to our tasks, if they can be described as such.  Another benefit is the fellowship that reading the same passages with fellow participants can create.  Sharing your understanding with another reader of the same passage can be a great conversation starter.  One can, however, just see the reading as one more task to complete.

I would like to offer a suggestion.  Break away from the driven approach to reading Scripture.  Instead, buy a Bible with lots of notes on the passages.  Take time when reading to explore what the notes tell you about the background of the particular book and verse.  What was going on in the community where the author lived?  Why did the author write these words to the recipients of his writings?  What do we learn when we compare these words to other writings on the same topic?  Then, look at other translations, richer commentaries, and dictionaries that focus on the words that are only found in Scripture.

One more suggestion: don’t get in a hurry.  Set your books beside a favorite resting place so that you will be tempted to open them.  Read slowly and explore the writings to the best of your resources.  Write down thoughts and questions so that you can pursue them at a later time.  Finally, remain open to what new things Scripture will say to you, be it a challenge or a flash of understanding.  May you find it useful for your life with, and for, others.

Please pray for peace,

Pastor Braxton ><>

Gleanings…

I don’t know why, but it always comes as a surprise when something happens that appears to be related to one of my sermons. It is almost like someone is questioning whether I really meant what I said. Yes, and sometimes that question comes from me.

Like most people I know, we have way too much stuff. Clothes that no longer fit, kitchenware we no longer use, decorative items we no longer display all stack up in some corner until we make the decision to let it pile up somewhere else. Then, we bag it up and ask some ministry that sells stuff to support their operations to pick it up on their next journey through the neighborhood.

When pickup day comes, we place our bags of stuff out by the mailbox and tag it for the ministry, and this usually works very well. Every now and then our stuff does not get picked up and we carry it back inside until the next pickup day.

I imagine that one could mistake our pile of stuff for items left by the road that are seeking new owners. We all have seen various furniture items, in various states of repair, waiting by the street. I would have expected that the tag would tell people that this pile had a new owner on the way, but maybe the tag did not matter.

So, it was with some surprise that I found some of my donated items missing before the pickup had been completed. A flash of irritation washed over me. Why didn’t the person who picked up my items knock on the door and ask? I was home and would gladly have given them the items. Then I thought of the emotional trauma that might have been inflicted on the one who needed those items. It is always traumatic to have to admit that we need help. And, bit by bit, compassion took over and I gave thanks for the Spirit’s gentle reminder of all that I have received.

What does it take to be a good person? Often, it requires nothing more than our willingness to being used without someone asking first. Stepping back to look at it again, I suppose I would have to say that I knew things, like this event, would happen whenever God wanted to bless someone.

When we sign on as disciples, God takes it seriously and expects that we will do the same. God has little time for half-hearted “okays” and “maybes”, and no use at all for “whatever.” If you buy the ticket, you should know that you are expected to take the ride. God has work to do and needs willing disciples to carry it out.

I believe it all boils down to this: We are the people God needs to be the hands and feet of blessing to others. At the same time, God wants to bless us with understanding of how everything works together. So, the next time something happens that you did not see coming, maybe it is really an invitation to grow as a disciple. What do you think?

Pray for peace,

Pastor Braxton ><>