Posted on by Pastor Poet

Full of Surprises?

The saying, ‘life is full of surprises’ is a truly enigmatic adage that’s been passed down through the years.

On the one hand, nature is unpredictable and mysterious.  But with another set of eyes things are very orderly and predictable.

On one hand human beings are mysterious but on the other hand we are rather ordinary and unremarkable.  

The science and the mechanics that make life possible are awe-inspiring and miraculous.  But human behavior is often obvious and disappointingly ordinary.

There is, in my opinion, one major exception that is truly marvelous.

The human tendency toward greed and selfishness is boring and mundane – the cause of wars, violence, struggles, and unnecessary suffering. We have enough of that, huh?   While the capacity to love and be loved despite such tendencies is as amazing as life itself.

Our humanity is an equalizer.  We are all basically the same – driven (though in differing degrees) by hunger, thirst, and desire.  But, the ability to subvert our primal urges in the name of love bears the markings of a divine impetus.

Love makes us exceptional.  To choose love – to give and to receive love – this makes us extraordinary.

Love, in a world full of hatred and brutality, violence and vitriol, fills our lives with surprise – the capacity for joy amid sorrow, comfort through grief, grace under fire, and resilience in the midst of uncertainty.  

Life is indeed ‘full of surprises,’ when we are led by and lead with love.

So today, I hope we will choose love.  Today, I hope we will abandon the mundane human tendencies that create destructive suffering and yield to the creative power of love.

Yes, love is a risky endeavor, but it is worth it!  It is the noblest and most exciting adventure to which we might give ourselves. 

Indeed, life is ‘full of surprises,’ especially when we are led, and lead with love!

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 

1 John 4:7-8

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

Posted on by Pastor Poet

Just BE…

I don’t know what your morning routine consists of, but as a writer the first thing I do is look for something with which to write…

Let me pause there.  

Long before I stood in a pulpit, I was a writer.  It was therapy for me in a sometimes chaotic, unstable home.  My journaling evolved into poetry, and then, when I became a Christian, many of these thoughts and poems became prayers. And now, these thoughts, poems, and prayers have become the meditations and devotions that I share with you all, and sometimes they even become sermons!  Who knew?

I was concerned when I first started whether these little writings would be well-received or do any good for anyone besides myself.  But time and again, I receive little notes and responses—signposts that affirm my efforts and let me know that I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing.

And this ‘doing’ is an extension of my being.  I am a writer.  I love Jesus.  I love you all.  I am who God created me to be, and I try to use what God has given me for His glory and for the good of others.  And guess what? That’s all God requires.

Whoever God has created you to be –  BE that!  Whatever gifts God has given YOU – use them for God’s glory! BE and then DO what you were created for and God will be pleased, you will be blessed, and you will be a blessing!

Don’t know what that is?  Ask God.  But, don’t be surprised if it is something you have already been given to! Now do it for God’s glory!  You may well discover that someone has been waiting on you to BE who you were created to be!

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

1 Peter 4:10-11 

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

Posted on by Pastor Poet

Kept by God?

It’s difficult to imagine that the difficult days we face are no surprise to God.  

The meanness and cruelty that seems to have seized the day, while disappointing and disturbing, are not rare when we pay attention to the redundancy of human history.

The way power and influence continues to corrupt the hearts of humanity… the way selfishness and brutality are lauded as strength…  the way wickedness in high places seems to go unchecked… While difficult and unsettling, these things should come as no surprise.  Even a faithless student of history can perceive the patterns.

But we are not faithless.  We are counted among the faithful, and we can take heart in seasons of despair and grief.  We can find confidence and relief in the Good News that is able to keep us in the love of God as we anticipate the abundant mercy of Jesus our LORD!

Our ancestors, spiritual and otherwise, endured and encouraged themselves. Even as they witnessed the darkness that pervaded the land, they were emboldened by the promise of God’s grace!

Bruised and battered, tried and troubled, assaulted and afflicted- they built themselves up, they prayed, and remained faithfully grounded – kept in the love of God – sustained by the living hope which is Jesus our LORD!

It’s difficult to imagine that these difficult days are no surprise to God… 

But,

18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

Jude 18-21

Be encouraged, family, and encourage one another with these words!

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

Posted on by Pastor Poet

Surprising Joy?

We are almost halfway through another year, and time has been flying, but not because we’ve been having fun.  

Things have been tough, huh? There is so much suffering and turmoil, so much bad news, it can get overwhelming.  Socially, politically, economically – things are bad.  And on top of all these things,  we all have our personal struggles and trials.  It’s not surprising that we find ourselves weary and restless. It’s not surprising that we are tired and frustrated.  

But what I do find surprising is how joy persists amid our sorrow, how hope prevails despite pervasive darkness, and how compassion continues to cut across the cruelty that seems to be winning the day!

You may be wondering where I am encountering such compassion, hope and joy.  I will tell you where…

When we gather for worship, fellowship, prayers, service, or study – I witness the love of God, the compassion of Jesus, and the glad presence of the Spirit. When we gather, just to spend time, I hear the kindness and sincerity of the gracious words you offer to one another, and sometimes even to me – I see your generosity.

You are a deeply encouraging reminder that light will not succumb to darkness, that love is durable and resilient, and although we do have our struggles – life is sweet!  You are a reminder that we are not alone.  

When I see you,  I see living breathing proof of God’s goodness, faithfulness, and love! 

Thank God for you!

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” 

John 16:33

Good morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

Posted on by Pastor Poet

The Church (1)

If I was to ask a room of people, ‘What is the Church?’ – I would likely have as many different answers as there were voices in the room.  

It seems that everyone has an opinion about what the Church is and what the Church should be about, and who’s in and who’s out…

It’s no wonder we have so many versions and denominations.  It’s a wonder that we somehow continue to survive.  It’s no wonder that we find ourselves in the middle of an identity crisis.

Thank God for the witness of scripture, and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit to inform our understanding.

According to Luke’s Gospel as it extends into the Acts of the Apostles, we find these words:

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.  

Acts 2:42-47

Stay tuned over the next several days as we unpack these words.

Meditate on these verses and learn with me again what it means to be the Church.  

Search for the defining characteristics of the Church in these verses.

But in  the meantime…

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

Posted on by Pastor Poet

The Holy Spirit (6)

Jesus ascended forty days after His resurrection.  Ten days later is what we call the Pentecost – fifty days after the resurrection.  It coincides with the Jewish Festival of Weeks that occurs fifty days after the Passover when God delivered His people from bondage through Moses.

It is an important time for Christians and Jews alike. Jerusalem would be bustling with Jews from all over the diaspora.  Despite their different backgrounds these Jews would travel from all over the known world to be in Jerusalem for the Pentecost.

And it’s here we find a group of Christians gathered together in the upper room, on one accord, and in one place… in one place!

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place , Acts 2:1.  For ten days they stayed together in one place, waiting on the promise of the Father, waiting and on one accord.

For ten days they prayed and encouraged one another as they waited on the promise.  For ten days they chose something bigger than themselves. For ten days they stayed and prayed together…

This is instructive for us.  When we want to encounter God’s power and God’s presence we must choose something bigger than ourselves. Faithfully, patiently, waiting together on one accord – they agreed that the promise of the Father was more important than their own plans.

I wonder if we may ever possess such deliberate discipline. I wonder if we might find such fortitude and faithfulness.  Making unity their priority, these faithful few prepared and positioned themselves to encounter the power of God! Can we?

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 

Acts 2:1

I know the culture has changed us, and more recently the pandemic has undermined the priority we’ve placed on just being together, but I cannot abandon the importance of us just showing up – just being together to experience God’s power and presence.   How about you?

Amazing and wonderful things can happen when we choose unity as an expression of our faith! Don’t miss it!

Good morning, I love you all!  

ihs,

just adam

Posted on by Pastor Poet

The Holy Spirit (3)

I always chuckle a bit when I hear people, particularly clergy, speak of the ‘new ways’ the Spirit is moving and what new trends we need to adhere to, if we are to be relevant to the culture.  I can remember being a young minister and almost succumbing to the hype – the constant pressure to create something innovative, to keep the Gospel fresh,  to make sure that our faith ‘looks cool’ to the young people and to those on the fringes of commitment to Christ.

As I’ve gotten older as both a minister and a tech professional, I’ve come to realize that everything that is new becomes old and while advances in technology do occur, much of what is new is the result of someone reconsidering some old principle or practice and then tweaking it a little bit…  It’s a remix – nothing really new under the sun, huh?

Remember when cell phones got super small and that was the thing? See how now all of us are walking around with flat screen televisions pressed to our faces?  In many ways we have the same basic functionality the either way, but the presentation has changed… Same stuff, repackaged, rebranded, but no less the same!  

At this point, I probably sound like a grumpy old man, so let me get to the point.  

When it comes to the work of the Holy Spirit and the relevance of the Gospel, we need to tread lightly.  When you go to chasing trends and fads, we would do well to take care, because while we like to imagine that God is ‘doing a new thing,’  the ’new thing’ that the prophet was speaking of is Jesus!

I am about to do a new thing;

    now it springs forth; do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

    and rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43:19

So, then, be careful of listening to those who claim that God ‘told them to tell you…’  or that ‘God is doing a new thing…’ We must not be enamored by innovation,  this is a means to an end,  but in these times we need inspiration and revelation from God’s word declared and rightly divided by the power of the Holy Spirit!

Good Morning, I love you all!

Ihs,

just adam

Posted on by Pastor Poet

The Holy Spirit? (2)

How do we both neglect, misrepresent someone at the same time?

The most obvious answer is to fail to listen intently and the second reason is an extension of the former – we don’t really know them.

The Holy Spirit is the most neglected and misrepresented person of the Godhead.  Separated from God the Father and Jesus the Son, things have been attributed to the Spirit that often contradict the character of God.

So, how do we discern when the Spirit is at work? For Christians, the Bible is normative.  But understanding scripture does not always come easy.  

Studying requires more than just reading – it requires grasping context, culture, history, and genre! It requires understanding literary devices and rhetoric.  It requires one to identify presuppositions and assumptions that may influence one’s interpretation, and it requires sitting under the words we dare to stand over and declare to others. 

Because the  Bible is a spiritual document written for spiritual purposes for spiritual people, it requires devotion before one attempts declaration or demonstration. 

But this studying is absolutely worth it.  It provides a basis for an intimacy that allows us to recognize the voice of the Spirit amid the myriad other voices (even our own) that may be  shaping our views and guiding our actions.

So, if your desire is to understand the work of the Spirit and discern the direction we must go, we must not neglect our need for regular and intentional study.

We know better what God is saying when we acquaint ourselves with what God has already said.  There is no substitute, no Cliff’s Notes, no shortcuts to true understanding.  Get it?

Make time for studying.  Get a good study Bible (if you don’t have one, let me know), stay active in Bible study or small groups, pray, and then watch God’s will become clear to you!  

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

2 Timothy 2:15

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

Posted on by Pastor Poet

The Holy Spirit?

When we encounter God’s presence, we should experience bits of both comfort and conviction. The Holy Spirit is both cheerleader and  challenger, a teacher and a trainer.  

In nearly equal parts, the Holy Spirit is both a doting parent and drill sergeant – our Helper and also the One who haunts and hassles us when we need correction! 

We need both.  The problem is that most of us gravitate toward one aspect of the Spirit’s presence while we reject the others!  

We lean in willingly to the comfort of the Holy Spirit, but then we resist anything that challenges or convicts us.  We often crave coddling while we resist coaching. 

Or…we succumb to the opposite expression.  With a conflicting sense of both self-righteousness and self-deprecation – we express conviction so fervently that we end up lacking compassion for ourselves or for others.  

The Holy Spirit is both our Comforter and our Counselor, who chastens, challenges, consoles, and has compassion on us.  And we need all of this!  Too much compassion and we invariably cheapen grace; too much conviction and we are consumed by guilt that renders grace ineffective.  We need both the compassion and conviction that accompanies the Spirit’s presence and nothing less.  

All else is a distortion of the character of God – a liability, that will eventually rob us of the life-giving power, and the liberating presence of God the Holy Spirit – rendering us either too weak or too rigid to embrace and enjoy the promise of the Father!  

We must learn to accept the fullness of God’s presence, the Holy Spirit within us – with all of the conviction and compassion, the comfort and the correction that follows.  This is the holy power that challenges and changes, trains and transforms us!

Come,  Holy Spirit, in the fullness of Your power, fill us, feed us, and fix us, in Jesus’ name! 

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

John 14:26

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs, 

just adam

Posted on by Pastor Poet

Sufficient Grace?

Change is inevitable and adversity is unavoidable. But, we possess agency – that is the ability to choose how we respond to these things.  While we are certainly all shaped by our circumstances, we needn’t allow these things to define us.  We are all more than the sum of our experiences.  We are more than what we’ve been through.  We are more than our trials and challenges.  This is God’s grace to us.

We grow, we learn, and we are changed by what we go through, but God’s grace is also at work and able to transform our experiences so that what is apparently destructive may become mysteriously constructive.  God is able, when we yield to grace, to not only grow us but to get the glory out of everything that we endure and encounter.  This means that no matter what stage we are at on the journey, or what chapter we are on in our story, we are not at the end, and God can turn things around.  God can take even what people intend as evil and make it work out for our good and for the good of others! (Genesis 50:20)

Don’t take my word for it, though.  Ask Joseph, or Hannah, ask Paul or Silas, ask Jesus!  

Choose today to trust God.  While circumstances may have wearied you, don’t you dare doubt that God is yet at work, and God’s grace, living and active, is sufficient for you!  (2 Cor. 12:9)

Hang in there.  Lean on those who love you.  This is not your end.  This is not your destination.  God is not finished.  This too shall pass.  This is God’s grace for you! God’s grace is enough! 

Do you believe this?

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Romans 8:28-30

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam