Biting My Tongue

A couple of weeks ago I had a profound occurrence. It was one of those experiences that rocks your world! This revelation came from the Holy Spirit through a conversation with my wife. Yep! My wife often has profound comments but this one really set me back on my heels.

I have to share a bit of the background for you to appreciate my experience. I had just come back from a Bible study that I have been participating in. This study meets very early (which is not a good thing from my point of view) and it is open to anyone who would like to join us. Now this is a great thing having many different traditions attending because it leads to some lively discussions. It also leads quite often to my biting my tongue when some people share things that are theologically questionable (at least from my perspective).

I had come home from the study and was fussing about some doctrinal issues and comments that had been said during our meeting. I had chosen to not immediately comment on some things that I knew were questionable at best. I wanted the people to feel open to express themselves and then I tried to navigate the rapids that had been created by their comments. While my desire was to come down hard on some comments I realized that the people who were sharing these comments were seeking answers and were vocalizing their thoughts and were expressing where they were in their spiritual journey. My desire was to knock some heads together and “straighten out their thinking” but my job was to gently help guide them through their journey not to correct each and every statement they made (2 Timothy 2:25).

I was home expressing my frustration to my wife on some of the people’s lack of progress in their spiritual journey. She looked at me and said, “If you are frustrated with them just think how frustrated God is with us with our lack progress!”

I have to tell you she took the wind right out of my sails!

I stood there and tried to imagine the frustration that I must cause God with my own lack of progress at times. Even in spite of my best efforts I seem to constantly fall short of where I want to be on my journey. And yet God is patiently encouraging me as I stumble on my way often making ridiculous statements that must cause him to wince. I look back at some of my past thoughts and comments and wonder how many times He’s had to bite his tongue at some of my outrageous comments.

His patience is beyond my imagination and certainly beyond my ability but it is a goal for each of us as we nurture fellow believers. We must gently speak the truth in love and encourage them when their progress slower then we would like.

I’m thankful for God’s patience with us

Treating my bruised & bloody tongue

Pastor Val

Thanksgiving

This is the day that we as a nation have set aside to purposefully be thankful. We remember that our situation is the result of things or a being beyond our control. Often we grumble when things don’t go our way, complaining that God could have done things better. Without fully realizing that God has a much better perspective on our situation (our story), we think that we know better then the “grown up” in the situation. After all why would Father be interested in what’s best for His children. Remember James in is letter to the church reminds us that every good and perfect gift come s down from the Father of lights.

Paul reminds us that we are to give thanks for everything. Not just the things we want or appreciate, but everything. A hard command until we understand that Father really has our best interest at heart. He provides only what will ultimately be in our best interest. You see it really is an issue of trust. Are we willing to trust God with our present, with our future? Or are we convinced that we know better then God what we need?

After all finite creatures are so much more knowledgeable then an infinite being. For those of us who have spent any time around small children we know that very often they think they know what is best but often don’t see the bigger picture. They know that their ball has rolled out into the street and they are singly focused on getting the ball. But adults often see a bigger picture. They see the car driving down the street and a child not aware of the danger. When the adult stops the child from running into the street the child is upset that they didn’t get their way not appreciating the larger situation.

Like the small child we also complain when we don’t get what we want, when we don’t get our way. We never realize that we have often been saved a world of hurt, even if we are inconvenienced, suffer setbacks or occasionally endure minor hurts.

So today, let’s give thanks for everything that we have and are going through.

Counting it all joy!

Pastor Val

I'm Sorry

Recently I guest lectured at a men’s nondenominational Bible study and the passage I was asked to deal with contained three doctrinal hand grenades. Each was potentially incendiary depending on one’s particular faith tradition. I thought I had managed to negotiate the mine fields rather successfully speaking truthfully about the various views and stating them accurately and then giving just a short explanation about why I felt that one view was most likely correct.

I was dealing with the last issue regarding Jesus and the possibility of siblings. I came to the end of the issue and stated that being a man I could not believe that Joseph would live his life married to Mary and continue to be celibate. I mentioned that while I had accepted the invitation to speak that my wife had come in to visit me and that I was anxious for the meeting to end because I was looking forward to spending the rest of the evening with her.

I heard a week later from the facilitator of the group that the following week about 10% of the men were offended that I had told them that I was anxious to get back to my wife so I could “be with” her (as an aside, I wonder who they think I should “be with” if not my wife)

The entire lecture was negated in the mind of these men because of a comment attempting to explain that the natural course of a marital relationship included something that God had hard wired into every man’s DNA including Joseph.

I asked the facilitator if he had suggested to the men if they should speak to me about the situation which would be the correct way of handling the “offense” but to date none of the men have seen fit to do so.

So I have decided to blog my apology for the world to know.

I’m sorry for offending you and hope that you will forgive me! My intention was righteous if perhaps inappropriate.

Wow that felt good

Maybe I should get some more things I sorry for off my chest, too.

I’m sorry that I had to follow Matthew 5’s teaching to go to the men I offended so that I could worship on Sunday.

I’m sorry that these men have yet to be obedient to Matthew 18 in coming to me to discuss the situation.

I’m sorry that my house has not yet sold and I only get to see my wife every few weeks.

I’m sorry that in an attempt at being authentic you were uncomfortable

I’m sorry that I can’t live as a celibate!

I’m sorry that in an attempt to be transparent it was discovered that the pastor “has no clothes!”

I’m sorry that because of my brokenness Jesus had to pay the penalty for my sin!

I’m sorry that I have not yet come to the level of maturity that I should be at after being on the journey of spiritual maturity for almost 50 years.

I’m sorry for being a sorry person!

But I’m thankful for a Savior who loved me enough to die in my place

I’m thankful for a relationship with a loving and caring God

I’m thankful for a God who gives second chances.

I’m thankful for the opportunity to grow and continue to mature.

I’m thankful that God didn’t wait until I sought Him but came after me when I was broken

I’m thankful for a congregation who puts up with a less then perfect pastor

I’m thankful for YOU reader, for taking the time to read this blog.

So, what are you thankful for?

Drop me a note. I’d love to hear some of the things you are thankful for, too.

A sorry excuse for a pastor (just ask my critics)

Pastor Val

Happy Thanksgiving!

In the America we celebrate a national day of thanksgiving. While this is a civil holiday, the roots of this celebration can be traced back to the pilgrims that founded the Plymouth Colony. These men and women set a day aside to thank their Creator for the providence that he had provided them during their first year in the New World.

Thanksgiving and praise are related in God’s economy. The later refers to our appreciation for who God is while the former refers to our appreciation and gratitude for what he has provided for us.

This week I want to encourage you to spend 5 minutes each day leading up to Thanksgiving Day to practice a eucharistic lifestyle and track your attitude.

Now I know that some of our Protestant tribes are skittish about this word (Eucharist), it is simply the transliteration of the Greek word eucharistía. We translate this word as thanksgiving. Some Christian tribes have infused this word with more meaning then the writers of Scriptures originally meant it to have.

I believe that as we begin to live a thankful life especially as we reflect on the greatest gift that God gave to us through His Son. We celebrate this gift when we participate in Communion. This is the embodiment of the highest act of thanksgiving for the greatest gift received from God, the sacrifice of Jesus. Out of this flows the grateful acknowledgement of past mercies we have received.

In reflecting on the greatest gift ever given, we will find that we become a more grateful person. You will grow closer to Father and through that growth you will grow closer to those around you.

So during this time I want to encourage you to “Count Your Blessings”. It will change your lives and after all the writer Paul told us. . .

Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thes. 5:16-18 (NIV)

God does not tell us to thank Him for the circumstances but to give thanks in the midst of our circumstances. God is faithful with His presence and power during difficult times in our lives.

Have a great Thanksgiving

Pastor Val