Apr 13, 2024 | Pastor Jim's Blog
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
I have appeared in courtrooms many times over the past 40 years. Only once was I on trial. I suppose that is a bit dramatic, somewhat of an overstatement, but I was the defendant in that case. Someone had used the Trinity Lutheran Church van and upon returning it to our parking lot, they left it in a handicapped parking spot. When I came to work the next day I noticed it there, and I could not help but notice that there was a ticket on the van. The ticket was issued with a fine of $250. That was standard in Washington for illegally parking in a handicapped spot, but it was a little more than I wanted to shell out, so I asked for a day in court. I appeared alone before the judge, and I pled guilty on behalf of the church. I admitted that someone had negligently parked in a handicapped spot. I then asked the judge if the community would benefit from fining the church $250, a church that gave ten of thousands of dollars a year to non-profits on Whidbey Island. The Judge then offered a swift verdict: “Consistent with your plea I find you to be guilty, and I waive all fines.”
I have appeared in courtrooms many times over the past 40 years. I have been summoned as a juror, appeared as a character witness for church members on trial, showed up in courtrooms to support those who took part in Civil Disobedience, been called to testify, and I joined dozens of TLC members when the church was sued in the 1990’s. Most recently, I appeared in Judge Carolyn Cliff’s courtroom, and I could not have been prouder as she conducted herself with professionalism, clarity, and grace.
The courtroom for judges, lawyers, police officers and clerks is a place to live out their vocational calling, serving the people of our nation, seeking truth and justice, maintaining civil order. I have appeared in courtrooms many times, regardless I never feel particularly comfortable in that environment.
I have been planning a funeral with a family from our community. The family member in charge made it very clear that the funeral was to be a celebration of life, “no proselytizing, no judgement.” This conversation got me thinking a lot about the place where we gather, a place that we call a sanctuary. Sanctuary means “safe place.” A bird sanctuary is a safe place for birds. An animal sanctuary does not allow hunters to roam protected acres that have been set aside for the safe migration or habitation of God’s creatures.
Even though Jesus repeatedly warned his followers not to judge others, through the centuries the Christian Church has often felt more like a courtroom than a sanctuary. There are many in our community today who fear coming in our doors, suspecting that the church and church people will be quick to judge them. Their lives like ours, are fraught with broken relationships, fractured families, addiction, and depression. The last thing they need on a Sunday morning is to show up in a courtroom to be told by arrogant preachers or self-righteous religious people that they sinners, they are guilty, and they don’t measure up to God’s standards.
Courtroom or Sanctuary? Which will it be? Who will we be? Remember Jesus not only cautioned his followers against judging others, he also hung out with “the last, the lost, the little and the dead.” And when the table was set, when the meal was to be served, Jesus ate with prostitutes, tax collectors, known sinners and with those who were about to betray him.
When they finally get up the nerve to walk into our sanctuary, when desperation leads them to take a chance on Jesus, let us make sure that our worship space lives up to its title. Let us be a sanctuary, a safe place for all, a safe place to experience God’s grace. Either all are welcome, or all will be excluded.
One beggar, telling another beggar where to find bread, I am your
Pastor Jim
“The last, the lost, the little and the dead.” A quote from the late Father Robert Farrar Capon.
Contact Pastor Jim if you have questions at [email protected]
Apr 6, 2024 | Pastor Jim's Blog
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
3000 years ago, the Psalmist wrote these words:
“Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” Psalm 95
Now keep in mind that the life expectancy 3000 years ago was only 25 years. That figure is skewed by the fact that nearly a third of all children died in the first year of life. That horrific reality is nearly impossible for us to comprehend. 3000 years ago, life was much shorter, more uncertain, more dangerous, and difficult than the life that we have experienced. There were wars, natural disasters, food scarcity, and health care was mostly non-existent.
2000 years ago, living conditions had not improved much. The life expectancy though had increased to almost 30 years. The people were oppressed by the Romans and by puppet political leaders. Taxation was high, there were no luxuries for the working class, people were illiterate, and opportunities to improve one’s place in life were largely non-existent. Into this setting Jesus told the story of a Jewish father who presided over a dysfunctional family. One son had been disgracefully disrespectful, and the other son had no use for his brother. But when the Prodigal Son came to his senses and came home it was time for a party.
“Bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.” Luke 15
The Apostle Paul had not had an easy life. He was afflicted by some physical ailment, he had been beaten with rods, shipwrecked, and written off by his family. He was in prison in Rome or Ephesus when he wrote these words to the Christian community in Philippi:
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”
Our world is troubled. I know that many of you, especially those who spend long hours watching or reading the news, are troubled as well. Our world is plagued by war, genocide, political unrest, violence in our streets and schools. The discourse in the halls of power and among our family members is less than civil. There are environmental concerns, climate change, the destruction of habitat and species extinction. Yes, our world is troubled.
Having acknowledged that brokenness, I can say with certainty that things are not worse than they have ever been. We live longer and better than any generation before us. We live without food scarcity and with luxuries unimaginable to our grandparents, or to any King or Queen who lived more than a hundred years ago. Unfortunately, family dynamics have not changed since the dawn of human history, but when you disregard your complicated dysfunctional family, and look at the world objectively, I think that you will find that there is much to celebrate!
We would benefit from a more balanced context of contemporary life, that might help us to celebrate what is right in the world. And let’s be clear, there is more right than wrong. Most people are good, with good intentions, living peaceably, wanting only to love and provide for their families. If you can’t see what is right in the world, then you need a new lens, or perhaps you just need to change your diet and quit consuming the poison of media.
Saint Teresa of Avila was a Spanish Nun and Mystic. She lived in the 16th century, a brutal period that included the Bubonic plague, war, political unrest and the Spanish Inquisition. Saint Teresa wrote these words about Christian life and practice, “From silly devotions and sour faced saints, good Lord, deliver us.”
I am not being a Pollyanna here; I am trying to offer a more balanced context for your life. Can we celebrate what is right in the world? Can we celebrate good in the midst of brokenness that has always been a part of the human story? Can we celebrate life, love, acts of kindness by Whidbey Island neighbors who care for this community? Can we do that and still work for justice, feed the hungry and care for the immigrant and refugee? I feel that we are more likely to find the bandwidth to do good when we are encouraged by celebrating the good that is already present in our lives.
“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 weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;” Ecclesiastes 3
Let us not be negligent in our dancing and laughing. Celebrate what is right in the world!
One beggar telling another beggar where to find bread, I am your
Pastor Jim
Contact Pastor Jim if you have questions at [email protected]
Mar 30, 2024 | Pastor Jim's Blog
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
The events of Good Friday are gruesome and painful. It is not the kind of story that I would tell in detail to our Trinity Preschoolers. The savage violence has always been a regrettable part of the human story and it is sad to say that it continues to this day. The powerful in Russia, North Korea, the Middle East and much of Africa think nothing of killing for political expediency. I don’t suppose that we should leave the United States off that list either.
The events of Good Friday are well documented: an innocent man, false witnesses, religious and political leaders who feared losing control, a mock trial, execution, darkness, burial and grief-stricken loved ones left crying at a tomb. The events of Easter are well documented: the stone was rolled away, the tomb empty, the followers of Jesus were bewildered, there was more fear than joy, angels proclaimed resurrection and Jesus was mistaken for the gardener.
That covers to some extent Friday and Sunday, but the events of Saturday are unwritten, unspoken, unknown, resting in silent pages of history. Between the horror of Good Friday and the surprise of Easter is Silent Saturday. We have no recollections of that day. We imagine locked doors, guilt, shame, blame, and the overwhelming sense of loss. Silent Saturday is just that, silent.
It occurs to me that most of our lives play out on Silent Saturdays. We have occasional Good Fridays and every once in a while, an Easter celebration comes our way, but most days are Silent Saturdays. Most days are not captured in the pages of our memory books or chronicled on Facebook. We just carry on, we carry on in faith or doubt, moving from one mostly silent day to the next.
That makes Silent Saturday the most overlooked and probably the most important day in the Holy Week story. Those who did not make it through Saturday never got to experience Easter. Judas never heard the words, “Do not be afraid.” Silent Saturdays might seem unimportant but that simply is not true, for that is where the bulk of our lives are lived.
Take time on this Silent Saturday to make some headlines that will never make the South Whidbey Record. Listen to some music, say a prayer or two, take the time to reach out to a friend or neighbor who might be stuck on Good Friday. Take some time on this Silent Saturday to give thanks for the gift of this day.
Tomorrow we party, but today is mostly silent.
One day closer,
Pastor Jim
Contact Pastor Jim if you have questions at [email protected]
Mar 26, 2024 | Pastor Jim's Blog
Today’s Word from Deacon Amy…
Kindness has been a big topic around here lately. We have a group meeting on Fridays to discuss a book about kindness, which has sparked conversations in several other places as well. I have a favorite t-shirt that has the words “Choose Kind” boldly across the front. I receive a lot of smiles and comments when I wear that shirt.
Kindness is important to me. It is something that I try to instill in the teenagers that I am blessed to spend time with. And, every once in a while, I get to see those lessons paying off.
As we were nearing the end of our high school youth group time last week, one of the boys suggested that each person there say one nice thing about everyone else in the gathering. And, you know what? They did it!
Seven teenagers, sitting in a circle, saying nice things about each other. It was amazing!!
Some of the compliments were fairly shallow – “You’re good at wearing shorts every day.” Some were very deep – “I’ve known you for most of my life, and I’m really impressed with how much you’ve matured over the last couple of years. You’re really fun to be around.” – “I know you have a lot of hard things going on in your life, but I appreciate the way you show up every week, and participate in the group. You have a great sense of humor.”
As I drove home that night, I had to wipe away the tears. I was so proud of these kids! They didn’t have to do that. They could have easily said no, or shrugged off the idea. But every single one of them said something nice about every single person there. They even said nice things about me! Compliments from teenagers are highly valuable.
What a beautiful practice. Maybe this is something we can all incorporate into our lives – giving out compliments. Not with every person we encounter, but with at least a couple of people every day. Tell the bus driver that you love his smile, or the grocery store clerk that her fingernail polish is beautiful. Tell the bank teller that you appreciate how efficient they are, and wish them a beautiful day.
On Sunday, March 24th, we have the opportunity to hear from Donna Cameron, the author of “A Year of Living Kindly.” She’ll be speaking at Trinity at 2:00. The afternoon will include a speech from her, some time for conversation in groups, and then an opportunity to discuss with the larger group.
I’m looking forward to hearing from Donna, learning about her desire to write about kindness, and learning how we can be more intentional about spreading kindness in our own little corners of the world.
Please join us!
Deacon Amy
[email protected]
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Mar 22, 2024 | Pastor Jim's Blog
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
This Sunday we will descend the Mount of Olives in a parade of palms, as Jesus enters the Holy City of Jerusalem for the last time. There were thousands along the pilgrim path that day. Peasants from small villages and religious Zealots with an appetite for revolution. They had traveled for days or weeks to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem. Most had heard of, but never seen, the Rabbi and miracle worker from the Galilee by the name of Jesus. The clip clop of the donkey’s hooves was drowned out by the shouts of the hopeful parade goers. “Hosanna, Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna to the Son of David.” As they raised their palms in anticipation, there were many who would have risked a Roman sword if Jesus had given the word.
The actual followers of Jesus were small in number; the disciples, women from the Galilee, Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Three years after the movement began there were perhaps twenty people who accompanied Jesus on the Palm Sunday parade 2000 years ago. Five days later Jesus would be on a cross, executed as a criminal. One disciple would be dead, the rest were hiding out, afraid of their own shadows, believing for good reason that a cross might be waiting for them.
On Good Friday, the Jesus movement was without movement. It was dark, hopeless; everything worth living for was dying on that cross. It seemed that violence, greed, betrayal and now death, would have the last word in the human story. The adoring crowds were gone. The only one of the twelve to stay around until the end was the Beloved Disciple, John. “Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” The criminal Jesus had been executed, four women and one man remained by his side. There was no movement, there was no leader, no money, no educated clergy, no churches or Sunday Schools, no real reason for hope.
Is there any plausible explanation for the years that followed? How was the entire world changed by Jesus? How is it that this hopeless, illegal, persecuted movement would touch every corner of the Roman Empire and ultimately every corner of the world? On Good Friday there were four heartbroken women and one man following Jesus. 120 years later there would be 40,000 Christians, by AD 200 there were 250,000 Christians, by AD 250 there were over a million followers of Jesus.
In the year AD 313 the Edict of Milan, also known as the Edict of Toleration, declared for the first time that Christianity would be tolerated along with other religious movements. After nearly 300 years of persecution, three hundred years after Jesus had been crucified, Christianity was no longer illegal. Eight short years later in 321, by order of the Emperor Constantine, the Empire that executed Jesus would embrace the teachings of Jesus and Christianity would become the official religion of Rome.
From a Palm Sunday parade to the despair of Good Friday, to a small church in Freeland 2000 years later, it is impossible to explain it, absent the movement of God. God is mysterious, mostly unknown to us, hidden in the pages of history and in the story of our lives. God is bigger than any religion, denomination, or movement, but God is working, God is present, God is loving and faithful.
May our lives be lived joyfully and generously as a response to God’s abundant grace.
I am one beggar, telling another beggar where to find bread. I am your
Pastor Jim
Contact Pastor Jim if you have questions at [email protected]
Mar 16, 2024 | Pastor Jim's Blog
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
Thank you for reading, for sending me emails, for your kind words, and for your gentle reminders that I don’t have all the answers. I read every letter, email, and text. I enjoy conversations that are sparked by the power of the written and spoken word. On occasion, I also get anonymous letters in the mail. I really don’t understand the rational behind anonymous letters. If one takes the time to write a letter, address an envelope, and buy a stamp, why would they want to do so under a cloak of invisibility? I can tell you from my own experience that anonymous letters rarely contain words of encouragement. I received an anonymous letter a couple of weeks ago. Here it is:
“Pastor Jim, please consider this regarding posters in the foyer. Matthew 6:1-4. Thank you.”
Matthew 6 contains the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount.
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before others in order to be seen by them, for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
The posters referred to in the anonymous letter are the big checks that are on display in the narthex. After reading the letter a few times I walked into the narthex and took a moment to reflect on the words of Jesus and upon the criticism of our letter writer. Why do we display these checks? Should we not just offer these charitable gifts without drawing any attention to ourselves? Carefully reading the words of Jesus, you could certainly make a case for my hypocrisy. However, earlier in that same Sermon on the Mount Jesus said,
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.
So, which is it? Are we hypocritical to display the checks or are we simply letting our light shine? How do we understand the words of the preacher? How is it that we let our light shine? How might our gifts inspire the generous giving of others? How is it that the seemingly contradictory words of Jesus in Matthew 5 and Matthew 6 can both ring true? Leave it to a preacher to leave us a little confused.
Most congregations have annual fall stewardship drives. The church leadership spends a month or more educating their membership about Christian stewardship. There are sermons, temple talks, letters and emails, home visits and pledge cards. The annual fall stewardship campaign then culminates in the rendering of pledge cards and a celebration of some kind. I have taken part in such campaigns and have been asked to help lead stewardship campaigns at other congregations. At TLC we have adopted another stewardship model. There are no fall campaigns, no home visits, no pledge cards, no keeping score of anyone’s giving. I choose to focus year-round on the good that we are doing at home and across the globe. I believe that people want to be generous, but they want to be sure that their gifts are being used wisely. The big checks are a form of communication, encouraging people by showing them what their money is doing. We are blessed, but we are never blessed in isolation! We are blessed to be a blessing to others. I am a cheerleader on behalf of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! “Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven!”
The words of Jesus come to us across thousands of years, they come from a time and culture that is unrecognizable to us. I believe the key to understanding the seemingly contradictory statements of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount is to be found in the hearts of those who give. If we offer our gifts to earn God’s favor, then we are misguided. If we offer gifts to enhance our egos or to be recognized in our community then our intentions are less than pure. The gifts we offer to God should flow from grateful hearts, all that we do as Christian people should be in response to what God has already done for us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Christian giving should not be motivated by fear or shame. There is a saying, “Christianity is caught not taught.” Intellectual arguments will rarely convince someone to become a follower of Jesus. It is by observing the authentic lifestyles of Christian people, that others are inspired to join in. When Christian gatherings are joyful, when the good works of their community are observable, then others will be inspired to join the Jesus movement.
Blessed to be a Blessing! “Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” The big checks will continue grace our narthex, to light a pathway to generosity, to bear witness to the work that God has entrusted to us.
Anonymous letters. I never really liked anonymous letters. My office is open, I answer emails, I enjoy theological conversations, I am one beggar, telling another beggar where to find bread. I am your
Pastor Jim
Contact Pastor Jim if you have questions at [email protected]
