Shepherds

After the birth of the King of all Kings the appearance of angels visiting shepherds is an interesting twist. They are out in the country tending sheep. Suddenly the starry sky is filled with beings telling them not to be afraid, something wonderful has happened! I’m sure they wondered why these celestial visitors came to them, lowly agricultural workers. They were instructed to go to Bethlehem and see this child who has been born. One of my Pastors, Scott Greene of WCC, threw in one of his rabbit trail thoughts recently in a message, “What did the shepherds do after the Angels gave them the news? They didn’t go to a local department store and buy gifts for one another! They went to see Jesus!” Christmas is a time for giving but if we don’t take time for Jesus...it really can be hollow and empty. The Shepherds, unlikely recipients of unbelievable news, headed to see the babe in the manger. Joseph and Mary must have been pretty surprised when they showed up with their flock! But Luke tells us, “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” (Luke 2:17-18) Christmas can be a stressful and lonely time for many. Part of the reason may be that we focus too much on gifts, gatherings and galas. This Christmas focus on The Gift, Jesus Christ, and like those herdsmen of yore share the Good News of His love, grace and mercy to your neighbors, friends and strangers. Go shopping, attend events and serve with a better attitude everyone will appreciate. Merry Christmas!

Plastic Jesus

I stopped at Central Park to take a break and look at the Nativity Scene. Joseph, Mary and Jesus made of plastic with lights inside glowing at night. It reminds those who pass of the real “Reason For The Season.” I wonder if there are times when people look at followers of Jesus (I’m including myself) and see us being synthetic. The world is starved for that which is real and don’t need factitious religious folks. Many years ago William Booth, the founder of The Salvation Army, was asked about a new translation of the Bible and whether Christians should be reading it instead of the King James Version. Booth’s answer was very insightful, “"I want to see a new translation of the Bible into the hearts and conduct of living men and women." He was alluding to verses like Colossians 3:16 that says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” The figures in that Nativity scene are clean, serene and lifeless. Not like the young couple who travelled far and delivered a child in a smelly stable surrounded by livestock. Jesus, the Word of God, put on skin and lived in this messy world showing us The Way. His followers are not called to be statues but living witnesses who reach out in this chaotic world with His love and mercy. Christ should be “translated” into our daily actions as our lives are gifts to “Others” sharing the Good News of Christmas throughout the year!

Trusting God

Watching the 24 hour news cycle can be rather daunting at times. The competition drives the reporters to sensationalize current events. I am not diminishing that there is pain and suffering in our world today. We should never grow callous to the cries of others. One reporter was talking about the issues of our day and saying that this is one of the darkest moments in our history. I almost laughed out loud. Yes, we are divided and I pray we can find unity to solve our problems but we are blessed in so many ways. Take one hundred years ago. The “war to end all wars” had concluded with over 116 thousand killed and more than 200,000 wounded Americans. The numbers for other nations were staggering. During the war the worst flu pandemic in the history broke out. Over 500 million were infected worldwide and estimates of 50 to 100 million died, primarily healthy younger adults. Walking through Oakwood Cemetery one day I noticed in the older section many markers with 1918 or 1919 as the death year, many infants and young. Imagine the fear gripping Kosciusko County in those days! During World War I, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed on May 11, 1918: “‘It being the duty peculiarly incumbent in a time of war humbly and devoutly to acknowledge our dependence on Almighty God and to implore His aid and protection...I, Woodrow Wilson...proclaim...a Day of Public Humiliation, Prayer and Fasting, and do exhort my fellow-citizens...to pray Almighty God that He may forgive our sins.” Though public assembly was discouraged a few months later to reduce infection, calls for prayer to Almighty God spread across the globe. At the end of the pandemic 3-5 % of the world’s population had died. Today is not the darkest moment in our history. The murkiness of our day is that as a Nation we continue to push God out of our public life. A century ago the United States heeded the Word of God, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me." - Psalm 50:15. In these days it would behoove us to look to the God we proclaim we trust and ask Him to forgive us of our sins. Live not knowing what the future holds, but always seeking and thanking the One who holds the future.

Joy Comes In The Morning

There is a “club” that exists in Kosciusko County and everywhere. It doesn’t have regular meetings because many times its members hide in pain. They stay in the shadows and don’t talk about their loved one who is far away from them and God. Alcohol, drugs, pornography to name a few prey on their weaknesses. Their loved ones watch as they spiral into the abyss of despair and destruction. Hope seems to go out the window. Relationships are destroyed by neglect and abuse. I am a member of this lonely hearts society. I wake in the middle of the night at times calling out their name to my Heavenly Father. Why don’t they change? Why like a dog do they continue to return to the vomit their sin draws them to? Why? It seems at times when we pray the sky is built of brass and our prayers bounce off of its surface not getting to Heaven. Romans 12:12 says, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” In the story of the Prodigal Son I sense that the Father often went out and looked down the lane to see if his wayward son was coming home. One day a creature wearing rags and smelling like pigs humbly walked toward him. He ran toward him not caring about the stench or asking about the mistakes he had made. Only hugs and tears were given. That father had hope, though there were many sleepless nights. He had patience though many times afflicted with doubt. Prayers were lifted above and they went past the brass. They always do. Please be encouraged that God hears our cries. He can lead us through the worst of affliction. Even when your loved one is down, they are never out because God sends messages and help their way through you and others. Keep loving and do not give up hope because Jesus can reach and heal the darkest soul through His love and mercy. Find someone to share your burden with and don’t tough it out alone. Hold on...joy comes in the morning...

War To End All Wars

It was called the “war to end all wars”. 100 years ago this week World War I was coming to an end. Finally on the “11th month, 11th day and 11th hour” of 1918 the Armistice was signed and celebrations erupted that peace finally had come. But that war was really the foreshadowing of the horror of the 20th Century. According to Matthew White’s estimate in “Worldwide Statistics of Casualties, Massacres, Disasters and Atrocities” it is estimated that a total of about 123 million people worldwide died in all the wars of the 20th Century. Imperialism, Nazism, Communism, Socialism to name a few made that hundred years the bloodiest in history. Western Democracy bore the brunt of turning back these ideologies that threatened life, liberty and goodwill to all mankind. I am old enough to remember some of the Doughboys who fought “over there”. Two I recall were gentle souls who had been to hell and back. One Veteran who lived around the corner from us had been gassed in the trenches. He shook like he had Parkinson’s Disease and struggled to take care of himself. The other was homeless and suffered from what we would now call PTSD. Our church set up a room for him in the basement and he lived there as the “custodian”. Our parents communicated to us that if these men needed anything we were to help without question. Later they were taken care of at the Iowa Veterans Home until they died. Once in a message our Pastor read Matthew 24:6, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.” I looked over at the “custodian” and he had his head bowed with tears moistening his eyes. He understood that the war he fought in was not the last as America at that time was calling its young people to Vietnam and thousands had died in World War II and Korea. As a follower of Christ we hope for that day when He returns and there is an end to conflict and bloodshed. Until then we owe a great debt of gratitude to Americans who serve in our Armed Forces around the world because war is not going away until Jesus returns. This Sunday, November 11th is Veterans Day. Please take a moment of silence to remember the sacrifice that has been given for Liberty over these 10 decades. At 11 AM the bell in the Kosciusko County Courthouse dome will be rung 21 times to remember. If there are other bells we encourage them to be rung too. Let us pray for peace and renew our trust in the God who has preserved us all these years. To those who currently serve in our Armed Forces and to our Veterans, both living and who have received their promotion to eternity...thank you...

Pastor Appreciation

October is Pastor Appreciation Month. For those of us who attend a church we can sometimes take this person for granted. According to Lifeway Ministries about 250 leave the ministry every month. Around 50 churches close each week in America. The stress of ministry can take its toll on spouses, family and the Shepherd inwardly as well. One survey asked, “What do you struggle with most in ministry?” The answer, “Loneliness.” But they do amazing things serving their flocks and others in the name of Jesus. John B. Lowe II is the Pastor of New Life Church and World Outreach in Warsaw. A dynamo for God, the church he and his wife Debbie have led will celebrate 35 years this Sunday! I thought it would be interesting to ask someone with this much experience, “What are four things your desire from those who attend your church?” He responded with the following. “1. Encounter Jesus in a tangible way. 2. Accept the challenge of not letting anyone out love you. 3. Experience consistent transformation. 4. Give their life away to the world they live in.” To appreciate Pastors the best thing we can do is to put into practice the truths the Lord places on their hearts as they share the Word with us weekly. They don’t want us to focus on them but on Jesus, and love this World as we grow in His grace and mercy. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 says, “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.” Pray for and support your Pastor. There is a spiritual battle going on all around us and many times they are the casualties. Take a moment to thank them and their family this month. To Pastors John and Debbie and many others in Kosciusko County who selflessly serve, “well done, faithful servants!”

WCC Anniversary

I had given up on Christianity. I just didn’t think it worked for me any more. I had to leave full time ministry in 1990 from The Salvation Army because my marriage was falling apart. I tried to salvage that relationship but went through a divorce. Suddenly I was a single dad taking care of three children. I tried to keep things together on the outside but inwardly I was crushed. It felt like a scarlet letter “D” always hung above me. I contemplated suicide. My family Physician, Dr. Matt Datzman, came to my aid with counseling and care but I really believed God had given up on me. Certainly I was a failure in His eyes. In 1994 a good friend of mine was totally mistreated by a congregation which for me was the final straw. I quit going to church. But loneliness gnawed at my soul. I was working at Cardinal Center at the time and Cookie Wilson talked about this new church her husband Denny and some others had formed at Harrison School. For some reason I felt compelled to visit even though I dreaded seeing this Pastor I admired from afar, sure he would define me by failure as well. I headed to Harrison one Sunday in October and walked into the gym, cartoon characters on the wall, and canvas on the floor with metal chairs. I was used to pews and a more traditional setting. Worship was accompanied by guitar and words were up on a screen, no hymnals. I tried to hide in the back so I could escape. The songs ended and Denny stepped up to the microphone. He just stood there with this forlorn look on his face. Finally he explained how he had been struggling and then said, “I can’t do this anymore.” The silence gripped the room. Suddenly, person after person began lining up and taking turns wrapping their arms around Denny and Cookie who had come up front. I was shocked. I wanted to run out of the building but with tears running down my face I got in line. When I got up to Denny I put my arms around him and wept. I stammered, “I can’t do it anymore either.” We cried together, Cookie and others joining us. That day was the beginning of healing for many. Psalm 51:17 says, “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” God loves the broken hearted. I learned that day and continue to be reminded that I am desperately in need of His grace, mercy and leading. Denny was willing to be honest with a simple five word message. We used to sing a song by Micah Stampley that “brokenness is what I need and long for” and then sang in the chorus, “So, take my heart and mold it, Take my mind, transform it, Take my will, conform it, To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord” I humbly look back and thank God for my wife, Sina (Denny performed the ceremony) my family and restoring me back to ministry in The Salvation Army and the community. This Sunday, October 14th, 10 AM at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center in Winona Lake, Warsaw Community Church will observe its 25th Anniversary. A celebration of Jesus, the wounded but worthy Savior, who compels his broken but redeemed followers to live His love in this lost and sin sick World.