Jul 20, 2024 | Pastor Jim's Blog
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
In the second chapter of our first human story, in the Genesis of human history, as God was bringing this wonderful world into existence, it was clear that there was a problem with creation. “God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone.’” The man created in the image of God, was surrounded with the wonders of nature, pure water in the streams and seas, air untouched by pollution, majestic mountains towering toward heaven, and verdant valleys blooming with wildflowers. It was unspoiled and beautiful; and it was not enough.
“It is not good that the man should be alone.” Recognizing the problem, God began to create an amazing array of animals, birds, and fish of the sea. The man took part in creation, not the engineering or assembly, but God gave the man power to name each of the animals. It was unspoiled and it was beautiful; and it was still not enough. The man took great joy in playing fetch with his dog, and he wondered why the feline that he had named assumed that she was created in the image of God. So many animals, yet none would be a real partner for the man. It was then that God created the woman, and the rest as they say, is history.
I was reading an article last week about our aging population. The geriatric doctor’s thesis was that there are three things that largely determine the quality of our lives as we age. The first is the importance of a healthy diet. Fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and less processed food make for a healthier human body. The second is exercise. We do not need to train to be a Navy Seal, but we should keep moving, walking 30 minutes a day. The final key to aging with grace is socialization.
Humans were created to be in relationship with God, with creation, and with each other. Last Sunday, I noticed with fresh eyes the joyful socialization taking place at TLC. People were sharing stories, laughing, wiping tears from their eyes, and eating cinnamon rolls while sharing the joys and sorrows of island life. When we put ourselves in the path of the Gospel by showing up at church, we are not just nurtured by music, prayers and marginal sermons. We are touched by the human spirit. We interact with people who care and are reminded of our shared journey. Many times in my ministry I have had dear parishioners say, “Pastor this is the only time all week that I am physically touched. Don’t quit hugging us.”
Those who show up on Sunday depend on you to show up, to listen, to care, and to honor others with your time. It is not good that we should be alone. God calls us to be together. God calls us to a ministry of presence. This Sunday when you put on your Trinity tee shirt and drive down Highway 525 to worship, sing and pray, don’t forget to punch the clock for Jesus. Engage in the critical ministry that God has entrusted to you, the ministry of socialization that will allow you and others to age gracefully and experience the abundant life that God desires for you.
I will end with a few inspirational quotes:
“What love we’ve given, we’ll have forever. What love we fail to give, will be lost for all eternity.” – Leo Buscaglia
“Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“It was only a sunny smile, and little it cost in the giving, but like morning light it scattered the night and made the day worth living.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald
“One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.” – Bryant H. McGill
“The art of conversation lies in listening.” – Malcom Forbes
“Listening is being able to be changed by the other person.” – Alan Alda
“When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.” – Ernest Hemingway
“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” – Stephen R. Covey
“Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you’d have preferred to talk.” – Doug Larson
It is not good that we should be alone. One beggar telling another beggar where to find bread, I am your,
Pastor Jim
If you would like to email Pastor Jim direct please send a note to: [email protected]
Jul 6, 2024 | Pastor Jim's Blog
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
She made the routine journey from Maple Ridge to Rite Aid without any problems. Patiently she waited in line, purse in one hand and a cane in the other. She approached the counter, her prescriptions were filled, she presented her insurance card and the kind cashier smiled. She owed an additional $96. Reaching for her wallet the man behind her spoke up. “I have this. We will just add it to my bill.” She was overcome with joy, not so much at saving the $96, but overjoyed by an unexpected kindness. In a world where bad news overshadows everyday goodness it served as a good reminder that most people are good. Theologically speaking, I suppose I should say that most people are mostly good.
The Apostle Paul wrote these words in his letter to the church in Rome, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Could it be that we are inherently good and flawed at the same time? Saint and sinner wrapped up in one human package. Martin Luther understood and taught that we are simultaneously saint and sinner. Try as we may, we cannot escape the reality that humans are “simul Justus et peccator.” Luther wrote these words: “Thus a Christian man (or woman) is righteous and a sinner at the same time, holy and profane, an enemy of God and a child of God.”
I believe that most people are good, regardless of their religion, race, culture or orientation. People of all nations and tribes want to love and be loved, they desire good for their families and their communities, they move peaceably through the days and years of their lives obeying laws and respecting their neighbors. Regardless of the news cycle, we generally move from home to Payless, the Post Office, Church, and the ferry without any real fear for our safety. I believe that most people are good, and those who are not so good are typically products of their raising. Broken angry people were often raised by broken angry people. There are exceptions, but I believe that most people are good.
I believe that we are inherently good and flawed at the same time. How might this statement of honesty inform our daily living? Well, if all humans are inherently good and flawed at the same time, then it makes sense that we would adjust our expectations of those we love and live with. Nobody is perfect. Inherently good, but inherently flawed, that is what we are. The Apostle Paul again: “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.” Romans 7:19
So perhaps we could cut each other a break, be a little more understanding of our neighbor’s flaws, and more generous with our forgiveness and understanding. Equally important, perhaps we could cut ourselves a break for being human. If all humans are inherently good and inherently flawed, then you should also not expect perfection from the one who looks back at you in the mirror.
He paid her prescription bill which renewed her hope for humanity and put a smile on her face. I believe that you are mostly good, so go out there today and spread a little random kindness. It will put a smile on your face as well.
One flawed human telling other flawed humans where to find bread, I am your,
Pastor Jim
If you would like to email Pastor Jim direct please send a note to: [email protected]
Jun 29, 2024 | Pastor Jim's Blog
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
Jesus said, “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?”
Our middle daughter Kelsi is currently walking the pilgrim walk known as the Camino de Santiago in Spain. She is walking some 500 miles alone, on a spiritual journey of endurance and personal reflection. She is immersed in a foreign culture, joining pilgrims from every corner of the world as they follow in the 800-year-old footsteps of Saint Francis of Assisi. Kelsi texts me regularly to assure me of her safety and to share her musings. Midway through the journey she sent me a note reflecting on a cultural tradition that she experienced in the Roman Catholic Church of Spain saying, “Seems unnecessary, but what do I know?”
What a wise response from a visitor to a foreign land. How might our world be better if we were more aware of what we don’t know? Humility should be a mark of the Christian life; we do after all follow the one “who humbled himself.” The foot washing servant, the one who ate with known sinners, the blue-collar small-town Rabbi who died on the cross. Saint Augustine said, ”Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues.” The Philosopher Socrates said, “The only thing I know is that I know nothing.”
“What do I know?” Would it hurt our egos to admit what we don’t know? Or might we be freed from our judging and excluding by humbly owning the limitations of our knowledge. What do I know? Anytime we visit the Bible we are visitors to a foreign land and culture. We time travel back thousands of years, daily life would be unrecognizable to us. Anytime we visit the Bible we return to a prescientific era, where every drought was a judgement of God, every disability was attributed to sin, and mental illness was viewed as demon possession. What do I know? The 20th century Protestant theologian Karl Barth was asked what was the most important thing that he had learned after devoting his life to the academic study of theology. His response was, “I have learned Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
Humility is a beautiful thing. What do I know? What do I know about the journey of a divorced mother trying to raise two children on her own? What do I know about the journey of parents who know that their child will never be able to live on their own? What do I know about the journey of those who have to wrestle with their gender identity? What do I know about the trials and tribulations of those struggling with addiction? What do I know about the foundational beliefs of other religious traditions? What do I know about what it feels to walk the streets as a black teenager in this country? What do I know about the Palestinian and Jewish people? What do I know about the lifelong consequences of being abused as a child? What do I know? Not much. “The only thing I know is that I know nothing.”
And what do I really know about God? I see in a mirror dimly. I know almost nothing of the one who is mostly hidden, the Master of the Universe, the Author and Creator of all life. What do I know? Jesus loves me. But Jesus also loves my neighbor, my neighbor of a different color, orientation, religion or party affiliation is equally loved by God.
Would it hurt us to admit what we don’t know? Can we keep it simple? Jesus said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40.
I know nothing, I am one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread, I am your,
Pastor Jim
If you would like to email Pastor Jim direct please send a note to: [email protected]
Jun 22, 2024 | Pastor Jim's Blog
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
“Now there are a variety of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are a variety of services, but the same Lord. To each is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” I Corinthians 12
It was the Fall of 1999. People were worried about Y2K. Bill Clinton was in the White House. Trinity Lutheran Church had a split campus, our offices and Sunday School space were all located on Highway 525. The gym, courtyard and Sunday School wing were not yet completed. Musicians came together to form a band, a worship band that would bring new music and a new sound to our services. Children of the 50’s mostly, rock and rollers who came of age in the 70’s, dreamed of making music together. Breaded Fish came together as a new century was dawning. Since January of 2000, for 24 years Breaded Fish in all its iterations has gifted the people of Trinity Lutheran Church with soft rock, guitar solos, and smooth harmonization. They shared their talents and proclaimed the Gospel with music.
For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to mourn and a time to dance. In a season of transitions, we will be saying goodbye to Breaded Fish. In a season of transitions, we will be saying thank you to Breaded Fish. We thank you for making our lives better, and our worship more beautiful. We thank you for sending us home on Sunday mornings with a song in our hearts and a bounce in our step. Blessed to be a Blessing—we have been Blessed by 24 years of music.
This Sunday we will be honoring Breaded Fish during worship and at a special coffee hour. I hope that you will be here to worship God, to thank the members of Breaded Fish and to remember Breaded Fish members who have moved on from our church or moved on from this world. In the past 24 years the members of Breaded Fish have included:
Brian Plebanek, Deb Lund, Karl Olsen, Ron Rossel, Sally Howard, Jim Nevermann, Steve Schrecengost, Brian Stelling, Matt Armstrong, Kathy Wilson, Kathy Stanley, Susan Blanton, Suzanne Buchannan, Carole Hofstad and Russell Hicks.
Please join me this Sunday! One beggar telling another beggar where to find bread, I am your,
Pastor Jim
If you would like to email Pastor Jim direct please send a note to: [email protected]
Jun 15, 2024 | Pastor Jim's Blog
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
“Many of the Jews read this inscription because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek.” John 19:20
I have studied four languages in my life: English, Spanish, Greek and Hebrew. Through it all, it has been painfully apparent that I have very little aptitude in this area of study. Truth be told, I have very little aptitude in any subject matter, though I did excel at recess and lunch in my school days. I can share my entire foreign language vocabulary quite easily: baklava, cerveza, boker tov, gracias, and bano rapido. Given my language challenges, I have always had great admiration for the multilinguists, standing in awe of all polyglots.
Recently, Felicia and I had the privilege of taking an Alaska cruise, 7 days roundtrip from Seattle. The ship was magnificent, the staff and crew were from every corner of the world, and they were accomplished polyglots. The guests on board were from a multitude of European countries, China, Japan, Canada, England, Norway and even Texas. It was a floating United Nations, and everyone was kind and considerate, unless you cut in the buffet line.
Now this could have been a little intimidating for a man who barely has a grasp of the American English language. I had no idea even what the Brits were saying. But I could not help but notice that there was a deeper, more primal form of communication that was shared by all and very easy to interpret. Our common humanity was on display, our evolutionary DNA did not distinguish skin color or nationality. All over the ship, at dinner, on shore and on excursions the smiles were all the same, laughter rang identical in every language, tender hugs were shared, children cried but their tears did not reveal their native lands or tongues.
We are human; our commonalities dwarf our culture differences. We are human, the children of God. There is only one creator; God by any name is God. We are human; we all long to love and be loved, we want to care for our families, we hope for a better future for our children and grandchildren. We are humans: fragile and resilient, insecure and afraid, somewhat whole and somewhat broken. We are dust and to dust we shall return. We are human; perhaps it is time that we treat each other with tender care, knowing that everyone is carrying a heavy load.
It was only by the grace of God, or should I say my professors, that I passed Greek and Hebrew at Seminary, and that grace has carried me to a life of grace.
I am one beggar, telling another beggar where to find bread. Hasta luego for now,
Pastor Jim
If you would like to email Pastor Jim direct please send a note to: [email protected]
Jun 7, 2024 | Pastor Jim's Blog
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
I learned very early on that one could not survive in parish ministry without a thick skin. If one is too sensitive or too easily offended, this work will chew them up. We get more than our share of criticism. Most of the criticism is offered by good, spirited people who care about us and the church. Sometimes we are a safe place for people to vent. When people are angry, sad or feeling out of control, they let off that steam in our direction. It does not feel good, but it really has nothing to do with us, we were just available.
I learned very quickly that one could not survive in parish ministry without a thick skin. My rule of thumb for all criticism is twofold: first, consider the source. Is the source credible, authentic and trustworthy? Second, prayerfully consider the efficacy of the criticism. All criticism is to be taken seriously. Some criticism will necessitate a change in policy, direction or behavior. Other times we can just chalk it up to a difference of opinion, style or philosophy. Criticism should be considered with an open mind, but rarely should it be taken personally.
On occasion, over the years I have been criticized for not offering enough political commentary; for refusing to condone or condemn politicians, political parties, movements, Israel, legislation or social issues. I choose to preach Jesus, and let you figure out the politics. I choose to encourage you to vote and to take Jesus with you when you do. I am thinking that none of us lack political commentary. Political commentary fills the airwaves, social media, and our in-boxes 24 hours a day. The last thing you need is one more nut telling you how to vote. My calling is to preach and teach the way of Jesus. Your calling is to live your life with integrity as you follow Jesus.
Three years ago, the church sign said, “Tweet others as your wish to be tweeted.” It was a modern play on the Golden Rule, the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:12. In response, I received this email, “Jim, is your reference to Twitter another political message? Why are you, by all obvious accounts, supporting an organization which is censoring republicans and the right? If you voted for Biden, you’re one of those who has paved the way for the evil of globalism.”
Consider the source, consider the criticism. The truth is, the only time people want to hear political commentary from me or anyone else, is when their firmly held views are reinforced and justified. There are precious few open-minded people on the right or the left.
I think it best that I just do what you called me to do 35 years ago: preach the gospel, teach the way of Jesus, and leave the political commentary to others. If we take the teachings of Jesus seriously, we will have our hands full. We will need to care for the poor, the hungry, the widow and the orphan. If we follow the Rabbi from the Galilee, we will have to learn to love our enemies, to be humble of heart, regarding others as being better than ourselves. If we follow Jesus, there will be no room for hatred, prejudice, revenge, or less than respectful discourse.
Are the teachings of Jesus political? Of course they are!
One beggar telling another where to find bread, I am your,
Pastor Jim
If you would like to email Pastor Jim direct please send a note to: [email protected]
