Posted on by Pastor Poet

Grounded in Hope

There are times when it seems like everywhere we look there is trouble. The places, things, and sometimes even the people that used to give us comfort are no longer doing the trick.  We ride unpredictable waves of emotion up, down and sideways. We become tired,disoriented, frustrated and threaten despair.

What do we do?

In times like these, we need the Savior.

In times like these, we need an anchor.

Be very sure.  Be very sure, your anchor holds and grips the solid Rock…

When life and circumstances go awry, we need to ground ourselves in the One who promises to be with us.  We need to ground ourselves in the grace that gives us hope – the grace that stabilizes us amid life’s storms.  We need to ground ourselves in the unfailing character of our loving God.  We find solace in the non-anxious presence of Spirit, who gives us peace that surpasses understanding.

Be very sure.  Be very sure, your anchor holds, and grips the solid Rock!  

This Rock is Jesus!

In times like these, we don’t lose heart. We don’t lose hope.  We don’t give up. Breathe…

This is not the end.  

This is not our end.  

This is not your end!

We ground ourselves in this grace, and we keep on going…

7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. 

2 Corinthians 4:7-10 NRSV

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

Posted on by Pastor Poet

Grace.

What I’ve learned from being married for thirty years is that grace is unavoidable if you’re going to make it!

No matter how strong the attraction is, no matter how aligned you are in your goals, no matter how much you share the same values, you will find new and creative ways to annoy and offend one another.

These offenses, whether major or minor, are in some ways unavoidable.  The weight of our humanity has a way of pressing on all of us.  Our selfishness, clumsiness, and stupidity show up subtly and simultaneously at the most inopportune times.  And none of us is all right, or all wrong, all the time! We are all sinners, no?

When we were counseling before our wedding, our pastor soberly reminded us that we were both marrying sinners. And as such, we would never find ourselves closer to another sinner!  The idea was not very romantic at the time, but it was absolutely true!  The beauty, however, he said, was that we would never have a greater opportunity to experience or extend the grace that looks beyond faults and looks out for the best in and for another person!

He was absolutely right!  Today, I am particularly grateful for the wisdom in his words!  And, I have learned to see his words as the lynchpin of any healthy human relationship.

Husbands and wives.

Parents and children.

Brothers and sisters.

Friends and family.

Coworkers and colleagues.

Neighbors and associates…

We can get along, grow along, and go along, beyond trials and adversities, when we lead with grace and love is our default.  We can endure and overcome tragedies and trifles when we lead with grace!  

And while it may sound absolutely ridiculous, we learn this most profoundly when we confess that we need it as much as we need to give it! Get it?!

Lead with grace and make lover your default!

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

Posted on by Pastor Poet

Uncomfortable Truth.

When we have grown accustomed to accepting lies, simple truths become offensive.  

It’s interesting how uncomfortable we become when idols are toppled.  But, I want to suggest to us that this discomfort can be constructive and liberative. 

Shakespeare said, ‘oh, what tangled web we weave, when at first we practice to deceive…’ 

What a web we have woven!

Stitching together lies, layer by layer, until we’ve wound and wrapped ourselves into a comfortable shroud that chokes and constricts us, sapping us of our strength.  

We’ve often mistaken these silken strands for an illustrious garment, when in actuality, these are the shackles that will suffocate us.  Thus when challenged by any simple truth that may free us, we reject it for fear of nakedness.  Wrapped in the warmth of comfortable lies, we cling to grave clothes… dooming ourselves.

It takes courage to hear and acknowledge uncomfortable truths.  But this discomfort is constructive and liberative work! Pain and disillusionment are inevitable, but somehow worth it…

“…and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  

John 8:32

Open your eyes, your ears, and your heart!

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

Posted on by Pastor Poet

Living…Hope.

As we rise to meet this new day, let us do so with a living hope – not the frail optimism that depends on human efforts and ingenuity – but rather the living hope God has graciously granted us through the resurrection of Jesus.

As we rise to meet this new day, we do so with resilience and faith that exceeds the simple motivation to survive.  We receive the resurrection power that causes us to thrive even under the harshest circumstances.

As we rise to meet this new day, we welcome the Spirit who stirs and quickens us with every breath and every step.  

As we rise to meet this new day, we receive the uncommon favor of our loving God, who will not allow the worst things to be the last things.

Sorrow, suffering, and death have not prevailed.  We rise – having been born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus. 

As we rise to meet this new day, let us do so with a living hope – not the frail optimism that depends on human efforts and ingenuity – but rather the living hope God has graciously granted us through the resurrection of Jesus.

As we rise to meet this new day, we do so with resilience and faith that exceeds the simple motivation to survive.  We receive the resurrection power that causes us to thrive even under the harshest circumstances.

As we rise to meet this new day, we welcome the Spirit who stirs and quickens us with every breath and every step.  

As we rise to meet this new day, we receive the uncommon favor of our loving God, who will not allow the worst things to be the last things.

Sorrow, suffering, and death have not prevailed.  We rise – having been born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus. 

Provisions find us, the protection covers us, peace pervades us, God’s promises pursue us, and the presence of God persists with us.  These are our birthright and our inheritance is secure! 

As we rise to meet the new day…

In this we rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials…

1 Peter 1:6

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

Posted on by Pastor Poet

Remembering Rightly?

One of the toughest things we ever have to deal with is the fact that while God is gracious, there are consequences for our words and deeds.

Yes, God is gracious, but there are things that we wrestle with as a consequence for the words we’ve spoken and the deeds we’ve done. 

The grace is that we are still here.  The grace is that as we remain, we have the capacity to learn from and grow forward from these consequences.  The choice is ours.

As we are confronted with circumstances today, let’s rightly remember our past.  Let’s confess our faults and failures.  Let’s acknowledge our complicity to our circumstances. Let’s receive grace even through consequences and learn to be and do better…

Let’s resist the urge to rewrite the uncomfortable parts of our personal and shared pasts… Let’s remember rightly, so we can heal…

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 

James 5:16

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

Posted on by Pastor Poet

The Same Spirit (3)

While we are all certainly special and unique, our diversity must never be miscast as division that becomes a stumbling block to our unity and our ability to serve others well.

One of the great challenges of our humanity is the temptation to self-sort – to segregate ourselves – based upon our differences and proclivities.  Sadly, this tendency has become an albatross for the church.  

Our unity is integral to our identity and witness as followers of Jesus.  It is the answer to Jesus’ prayer:

I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 

John 17:23

Yes, we are many but we are of the one and same Spirit – graciously woven together by God. 

We are a tapestry that honors God’s creativity while also celebrating our uniqueness and diversity. 

We needn’t choose one or the other. 

We are many and we are one!

We are of the same Spirit!!

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

Posted on by Pastor Poet

The Same Spirit? (2)

If the same Spirit that raised Christ also quickens us, then it follows that this same Spirit will produce in us the virtue and character of Christ, yes? 

God’s word is true. The Holy Spirit 

dwells within all of those who by grace, have faith in Christ.  The seed of grace has been sown in our hearts.  Nursed and properly nourished,  this seed grows up into a hearty plant.  The seed becomes the plant, and when the plant matures, the plant bears fruit, yes?

The same Spirit that raised Christ, dwells in us.  The seed of grace has been sown.  The fruit will follow.  

What is this fruit? I’m glad you asked.

Paul wrote:

2 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 

Galatians 5:22-23

The fruit of the Spirit is love. 

With all its emanations, the fruit of the Spirit is love…

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

Posted on by Pastor Poet

The Same Spirit!

When our minds are heavy with worry and anxiety, and when we’re tempted to despair, it may be that we have focused too much on what’s going on around us rather than who dwells within us…

The scriptural record is full of examples of God’s people beating the odds, overcoming obstacles, and achieving incredible goals. We draw strength from their witness, but there is no greater hope than the hope we have in the Resurrection of Jesus!

And, guess what? 

The same Spirit that raised Jesus is also at work in us!  As He got up, so do we!  Amid trials and struggles, from darkness and beyond despair,  we rise!  And, if you are reading these words, God has done it again!  

Now, let’s get up and get going!

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Romans 8:11

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

Posted on by Pastor Poet

On Friendship (5)

Everybody wants a friend when they need one.  When needs or crises arise, it is comforting to know that we have those who will respond to our calls.

In the midnight moments of our lives, no one wants to face them alone.  The companionship of a good friend becomes a cherished gift.

So, then, it must be that as we desire such a gift, we must also be willing to become one.  

No one wants a knock at midnight.  No one craves disruptions or inconveniences.  But for a friend – for our beloved – we welcome these.  

Though sometimes tiring, and often frustrating, friendship endures adversity, answers when called, and is available when needed.

Everybody wants a friend when they need one.  So, each of us should strive to be the friend that can be relied on when needed!  Get it?

God hears our knocks at midnight; Jesus hears our cries and calls.  The Spirit meets us in our neediness.

Now, go and BE the kind of friend you NEED! Midnight comes for all of us!

I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 

Luke 11:8

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

Posted on by Pastor Poet

On Friendship (4)

Friendship is both a gift and a responsibility with coinciding elements that include both burdens and blessings. 

There’s little that is more encouraging than having someone remember a special day or having someone you can’t wait to call when something good happens.  There’s also little that is more comforting than having someone sitting with us when sorrows descend and grief visits us.

But in order to enjoy such comfort and encouragement, we must also be willing to be the one who shows up when we receive the call!

While sometimes inconvenient and often requiring time, energy, and resources , it is one of the most satisfying, gratifying, and humanizing investments we can ever make.  Friendship allows for the multiplication of joy and the division of sorrow.  Friendship is the ultimate win-win situation!

So, seek friendship but also make yourself a friend.  Show up. Make yourself available.  You may be astounded at how the rewards of friendship far outweigh any of its potential risks.  Friendship is not only worth it, but it adds meaning to our lives.

Do you need a friend?  Be one!

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 17:17

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam