MARCH, 2010

Dear Friends,

          As we begin to look for signs of the coming Spring season, the church has entered the Christian season of Lent.  The Lenten season began on ASH Wednesday (February 17th this year) and lasts for 40 days (not counting Sundays) and ends at sunset on Easter Eve.  The Bible readings, Sunday sermons and song and studies during this time reflect a time of examination:

of our wrongdoings, need for forgiveness, call to lives of service, and the life and death of Jesus.  Lent is the time of preparation for Easter - Celebration of Jesus' resurrection, his overcoming death and the promise of New Life for believers in Him.

          Many, including Christians, would just like to circumvent the Lenten season and especially the events of Holy Week - Jesus' journey to the cross, because it is too sad and morbid.  We don't like the graphic details, the somber words and music, and would like to avoid or ignore the convicting it may stir up in us.  We try to hear the words "you can't wear the crown unless you bear the cross", but struggle to acclimate our own lives with Jesus who literally walked that journey.

           Death is around us every day.  We have freshly experienced the death of loved ones, friends, church members and community members.  We have read and seen of the multiple deaths in Haiti and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  We try to forget about death, try to pretend it doesn't exist and even try to change the appearance of death with different words and final acts.  We sometimes are desperate in our attempts to soften the reality of death.        

          Yet, death is very real.  Jesus showed us in his journey, and God continues to show us, that we need not be desperate in our understanding of death.  Jesus lived as one prepared to die, and that is God's call to us as Christians also.

          Everybody is dying and in fact, the moment we are born we start to die.  I believe the most God-like state of living is the pre-born baby in the womb and eternal life following physical death.  Billy Graham said in one of his messages that death is the most democratic experience in life for it exempts no one. We all participate.  With God's help, we can participate with joy and live as though we are prepared to die with joy and peace not desperation and fear. 

          As I wrestle with death in light of recent experiences, I want to share with you my understanding through the eyes of Scripture.  I firmly believe that as a Christian I am called to live everyday as one prepared to die.  Scripture teaches that death, the end of physical life, is God's enemy and our enemy.  I am not talking about the weakness, fear, pain and distress of dying, but the actual separation from loved ones, friends and community oftentimes suddenly and in the prime of life.  It precipitates thoughts of "How can it be?" and "It's not fair."

          God never meant for us to die.  There was no death in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2).  In our human willfulness, as first evidenced in disobedience in the Garden, we rebel against God and the enemy ensnares.  Because of sin, death came, and death remains the enemy, a real presence in lives today.  But the Good News is that this enemy, death, will ultimately be destroyed forever when Jesus comes again (1 Corinthians 15:26).  In the meantime, though, death has been defeated.  It doesn't seem that way, but Paul in his letter to the church in Corinth says the sting of death has been withdrawn (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).  Death was defeated at the cross when Jesus took our sins upon himself and at the resurrection, the tomb is empty, Christ is Alive!

          With the advances in technology and medical care and the caring respect for life such as Hospice offers, the dying process may not present such a problem for us.  But the unknown of afterdeath can still send us running in the opposite direction of denial and desperation.  We often act like persons only prepared to live!  It is a God given gift to be sad, sorrowful and cry when someone dies--God gave us those emotions that we appropriately grieve loss and separation.  But Scripture also says we are not to sorrow like those without hope (Revelation

14:13).   Jesus lived, died for our sins and lives again, and God's promise for those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is life and victory as the final word, not death and defeat.   The Word speaks the Truth, that gives us the Hope that we receive by Faith in Jesus Christ

(2 Corinthians 5:15).

          Personally, I want to pay tribute to one who for me "lived as she was prepared to die."  Ellie Beckwith lived life with passion, sharing her love and God-given talents with her family, friends of all ages and everyone she met with a smile, humility and grace.  The joy of the Lord was her strength.  I believe she wears a crown of righteousness because she bore the cross of pain and death.  Ellie's death is real; her eternal life is real also.  Sing and play on Ellie!

Blessings with Joy,

Pastor Cindy

God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus,

He  came to love, heal, and forgive;

He lived and died to buy my pardon

An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives

How sweet to hold a new-born baby,

And feel the pride, and joy He gives;

But greater still the calm assurance,

This child can face uncertain days because He lives.

And then one day I'll cross the river,

I'll fight life's final war with pain;

And then as death gives way to victory,

I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know he lives.

Words taken from "Because He Lives" in Family of God Hymnal  p. 292

December 2009

Dear Friends,

            I want to thank you for your generosity recently expressed with the Thanksgiving baskets, Christmas Child boxes, Gideon's LOVE offering, and your church commitments for 2010.  Our simple gifts are making a difference in our church, communities, and world.  Thank you! As we enter the church season of Advent, let us continue to anticipate the joy God has for us as we live lives of simplicity and generosity.

            An unknown author penned the following:

                        I had a dream Joseph.  I don't understand it, not really, but I think it was about a birthday celebration for our Son.  I think that was what it was all about.  The people had been preparing for it for about four weeks.  They had decorated the house and had bought new clothes.  They'd gone shopping many times and bought elaborate gifts.  It was peculiar, though, because the presents weren't for our Son.  They wrapped them in beautiful paper and tied them with lovely bows and stacked them under a tree.  Yes, a tree, Joseph, right in their house!  They decorated the tree also.  The branches were full of glowing balls and sparkling ornaments.  There was a figure on top of the tree.  It looked like an angel might look.  Oh, it was beautiful.  Everyone was laughing and happy.  They were all excited about the gifts.  They gave the gifts to each other, Joseph, not to our Son.  I don't think they even knew Him.  They never mentioned His name.  Doesn't it seem odd for people to go to all that trouble to celebrate someone's birthday if they don't know him?  I had the strangest feeling that if our Son had gone to this celebration, he would have been intruding.  Everything was so beautiful, Joseph, and everyone so gay, but it made me want to cry.  How sad for Jesus--not to be wanted at his own birthday party!  I'm glad it was only a dream.   How terrible, Joseph, if it had been real!!

            Are you anticipating Jesus this Christmas?  Are you preparing for His coming again even as you put up the same Christmas decorations of years past?  Are you expecting Jesus to be made real in your life this Advent (John3:16)?  Are you passing that gift on to others as Jesus commanded (Matthew 22:37-39)?

            I can ask the questions.  Your response holds the answers.  There is an old gospel song that begins, "Into my heart, come into my heart, come into my heart, Lord Jesus."  It is my prayer for you that the Lord who came on the first Christmas and who will come again at God's appointed time, will also come to each one of you this Christmas.  Invite Jesus into your heart, or if He already resides there, invite him to renew His Spirit within you.  The wonder of grace is that God continues to come among us again and again with the assurance that in Christ we will find meaning, in Christ we will find hope, in Christ we will find forgiveness, and in Christ we will find the love of God alive and real!  Welcome Him into your heart by faith and to His birthday party with joy!  All the promises of God are summed up in Jesus who came, in Jesus who comes to us still, and in Jesus who will come again in glory.

                                                In Christmas Joy and Peace

                                                Pastor Cindy