James asks the rhetorical question “What is your life?”. He then states the brevity of life, “you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” (James 4:14) King Solomon in Ecclesiastes states that everything is “Meaningless, utterly meaningless”. (Eccl. 1:2) He then lists the vanity of life pursuits of knowledge, pleasures, work, riches, advancement, etc. as “grasping for the wind”.
So, what is your life? Is it an existential philosophical view with a sense of disorientation and confusion within an apparent meaningless and absurd world? Is it a humanist view that we are “it”, and make up the rules (laws and moral code) of humanity. Is it a diests view that there is a supreme, supernatural being (god), but that he does not interfere with human affairs and that all religions point to this universal god, using different names. Most Americans who say they believe in God believe and live as deists. What is your life?
As a devoted follower of Christ you have an answer. Through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, you are an adopted child in the kingdom of God…for eternity. Your life has great value, a specific purpose, an intimacy with God (Holy Spirit dwells within you), a depth of relationships with one another, and an eternal plan and eternal life in the full presence of God our Father. The world offers a lot of temporary pleasures/pursuits and philosophical views of life, but God’s view of my life is the one that inspires me.
The following question is then, how do you live your life? Take an honest look at your priorities and weekly schedules and you will find the answer. You may profess to be a Christian, but do you live out your life as an existentialist, humanist or deist? That’s a tough question because when the rubber meets the road, belief is only as sincere and meaningful, as it’s lived out in our lives. What IS your life?
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Front Porch
Dear Friends,
As I remember growing up in the hot, dry heat of a mid-west small town, about the same population of Damascus, one of my memorable July activities as a boy was riding my bike through the neighborhoods. The red Schwinn Stingray with the white sparkling banana seat and the flared handlebars was my prized possession. In the early evening, a breeze would clear away the stifling heat of the day, and the young and old would emerge from their cars and homes and settle on their front porch. Built without central air, the 40’s era homes included a full front porch with most having an insect screen.
Some evenings I would cruise with my friends and other times, I would lazily peddle through the town by myself. Elderly couples would sit on their porch with an iced drink and wave, smaller boys would race beside me to the end of the block, dads would grill, families eat, and children play all on or near their front porch, engaging, interacting with one another. With each ride I felt a growing sense of connectedness, familiarity and security. To this day I love and long for that feeling of community.
Living in Damascus with a family of my own, I seek the joy and security of community. With many homes isolated on acreage, and a few scattered neighborhoods, most families have moved from the community of the front porch to the privacy of the backyard. Without the front porch where do we find the opportunity to know our neighbor? To be connected with others within our community, to share our lives with one another, to assist and help in times of need? A 3,000 year old proverb states, Don’t forget your friend or your parent’s friend. Don’t always go to your family for help when trouble comes. A neighbor close by is better than a family far away. Proverbs 27:10.
The front porch may not have its place today, but I have observed community within Damascus to take place in our local businesses, churches, and community events. Specifically within The Journey Church, we have an opportunity to create supportive, lifelong, encouraging friendships across age, economic and family boundaries. Our Wed. night dinners, celebration worship services, small groups, connection groups, events and activities are those times to build community and deepen friendships.
Our church can be a lighthouse of hope and guidance to Damascus and Boring with the joy of fellowship and the strength of community, as long as, we value the openness of the front porch.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
As I remember growing up in the hot, dry heat of a mid-west small town, about the same population of Damascus, one of my memorable July activities as a boy was riding my bike through the neighborhoods. The red Schwinn Stingray with the white sparkling banana seat and the flared handlebars was my prized possession. In the early evening, a breeze would clear away the stifling heat of the day, and the young and old would emerge from their cars and homes and settle on their front porch. Built without central air, the 40’s era homes included a full front porch with most having an insect screen.
Some evenings I would cruise with my friends and other times, I would lazily peddle through the town by myself. Elderly couples would sit on their porch with an iced drink and wave, smaller boys would race beside me to the end of the block, dads would grill, families eat, and children play all on or near their front porch, engaging, interacting with one another. With each ride I felt a growing sense of connectedness, familiarity and security. To this day I love and long for that feeling of community.
Living in Damascus with a family of my own, I seek the joy and security of community. With many homes isolated on acreage, and a few scattered neighborhoods, most families have moved from the community of the front porch to the privacy of the backyard. Without the front porch where do we find the opportunity to know our neighbor? To be connected with others within our community, to share our lives with one another, to assist and help in times of need? A 3,000 year old proverb states, Don’t forget your friend or your parent’s friend. Don’t always go to your family for help when trouble comes. A neighbor close by is better than a family far away. Proverbs 27:10.
The front porch may not have its place today, but I have observed community within Damascus to take place in our local businesses, churches, and community events. Specifically within The Journey Church, we have an opportunity to create supportive, lifelong, encouraging friendships across age, economic and family boundaries. Our Wed. night dinners, celebration worship services, small groups, connection groups, events and activities are those times to build community and deepen friendships.
Our church can be a lighthouse of hope and guidance to Damascus and Boring with the joy of fellowship and the strength of community, as long as, we value the openness of the front porch.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Grasping for Wind
Dear Friends,
A few signs that you need a vacation:
You sleep more at work than at home.
You hand out productivity chore charts/graphs to your kids and spouse.
You daydream of how relaxing it would be if you were in jail right now.
You leave for a party and instinctively take your ID badge.
Your Blackberry/I-Phone is now officially your brain.
You read forwarded email as serious and urgent news.
King Solomon, later in his reign, gave a rather pessimistic look into the meaning of life recorded in Ecclesiastes. In many life issues he states, that certain pursuits are “all vanity” and like “grasping the wind”. Solomon states an observation question in Eccl. 2:22 “For what has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun?” We understand the value and necessity of work for provision and care for our family and home, and yet there are seasons when we lose our balance and priorities. The warning sign is when work becomes all consuming of our time, thoughts, identity and purpose. If our lives, month after month, year after year, become consumed by work, earning more, working more, climbing the corporate ladder, etc. then in the end we will look back and see the terrible cost of consuming work.
With an unbalanced, unhealthy, all consuming work ethic and identity we sacrifice time and attention to our spouse, we miss valuable opportunities as a parent, we only have “work” friendships, church services and events become another “to do” item on the list, quiet time in prayer and devotion disappear, and our physical, mental and emotional health slowly slip into a dark pit. All for what? Generally not for need, but for more…more stuff, more accomplishment, more titles, more ego strokes…like grasping the wind.
The balance of time and attention to work is found in both Proverbs to work hard and not be lazy, slothful or a sluggard, as well as, in Ecclesiastes the vanity of all consuming work. Summer is an obvious time to carefully and prayerfully reflect on this balance between work (at home or marketplace) and relationships. Seek and listen to the Holy Spirit’s counsel and guidance for a healthy Biblical perspective. Maybe you might be in need of a vacation.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
A few signs that you need a vacation:
You sleep more at work than at home.
You hand out productivity chore charts/graphs to your kids and spouse.
You daydream of how relaxing it would be if you were in jail right now.
You leave for a party and instinctively take your ID badge.
Your Blackberry/I-Phone is now officially your brain.
You read forwarded email as serious and urgent news.
King Solomon, later in his reign, gave a rather pessimistic look into the meaning of life recorded in Ecclesiastes. In many life issues he states, that certain pursuits are “all vanity” and like “grasping the wind”. Solomon states an observation question in Eccl. 2:22 “For what has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun?” We understand the value and necessity of work for provision and care for our family and home, and yet there are seasons when we lose our balance and priorities. The warning sign is when work becomes all consuming of our time, thoughts, identity and purpose. If our lives, month after month, year after year, become consumed by work, earning more, working more, climbing the corporate ladder, etc. then in the end we will look back and see the terrible cost of consuming work.
With an unbalanced, unhealthy, all consuming work ethic and identity we sacrifice time and attention to our spouse, we miss valuable opportunities as a parent, we only have “work” friendships, church services and events become another “to do” item on the list, quiet time in prayer and devotion disappear, and our physical, mental and emotional health slowly slip into a dark pit. All for what? Generally not for need, but for more…more stuff, more accomplishment, more titles, more ego strokes…like grasping the wind.
The balance of time and attention to work is found in both Proverbs to work hard and not be lazy, slothful or a sluggard, as well as, in Ecclesiastes the vanity of all consuming work. Summer is an obvious time to carefully and prayerfully reflect on this balance between work (at home or marketplace) and relationships. Seek and listen to the Holy Spirit’s counsel and guidance for a healthy Biblical perspective. Maybe you might be in need of a vacation.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Refreshing Friendships
Dear Friends,
Summer has arrived. The past few weeks have been wonderful with the sunshine, warmer weather, blossoms, blooms and flowers. One of the joys and opportunities we have with summer is our times of renewing and deepening friendships. We all have friends at work, school and community, and yet our relationships with our church family can be a special bond, a deeper friendship, by our unity in Christ. As brothers and sisters in Christ we enjoy the encouragement, the laughter, and the fellowship with one another across generations. Psalm 133 illustrates the blessing of unity, harmony and peace among God’s children.
1 How wonderful and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in harmony!
2 For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil
that was poured over Aaron’s head,
that ran down his beard
and onto the border of his robe.
3 Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
even life everlasting.
As a church we have scheduled many opportunities for us to simply enjoy the refreshing fellowship of one another. Wednesday night dinners are a valuable time to connect with one another, as well as, our Adult “Apply-2-Life” class with a special focus on deepening relationships. Our Journey Students have a number of summer events and activities planned. We have scheduled monthly Sunday BBQ’s/Picnics directly following the morning service.
As individuals and families I encourage you to take the initiative and spend time with another outside of church services/events. Invite someone over for dinner, go out for dinner after service, get a cup of coffee, play racquetball, go fishing, take another family hiking, biking or camping…and enjoy whatever shared activity it is.
Friendships found within the church family can be the most refreshing, encouraging, lasting and blessed relationships you will find, but it does take initiative and time on your part. My prayer for you this summer is this Irish blessing.
"May there always be work for your hands to do, may your purse always hold a coin or two. May the sun always shine on your windowpane, may a rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you, may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you."- Irish Blessing
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
Summer has arrived. The past few weeks have been wonderful with the sunshine, warmer weather, blossoms, blooms and flowers. One of the joys and opportunities we have with summer is our times of renewing and deepening friendships. We all have friends at work, school and community, and yet our relationships with our church family can be a special bond, a deeper friendship, by our unity in Christ. As brothers and sisters in Christ we enjoy the encouragement, the laughter, and the fellowship with one another across generations. Psalm 133 illustrates the blessing of unity, harmony and peace among God’s children.
1 How wonderful and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in harmony!
2 For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil
that was poured over Aaron’s head,
that ran down his beard
and onto the border of his robe.
3 Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
even life everlasting.
As a church we have scheduled many opportunities for us to simply enjoy the refreshing fellowship of one another. Wednesday night dinners are a valuable time to connect with one another, as well as, our Adult “Apply-2-Life” class with a special focus on deepening relationships. Our Journey Students have a number of summer events and activities planned. We have scheduled monthly Sunday BBQ’s/Picnics directly following the morning service.
As individuals and families I encourage you to take the initiative and spend time with another outside of church services/events. Invite someone over for dinner, go out for dinner after service, get a cup of coffee, play racquetball, go fishing, take another family hiking, biking or camping…and enjoy whatever shared activity it is.
Friendships found within the church family can be the most refreshing, encouraging, lasting and blessed relationships you will find, but it does take initiative and time on your part. My prayer for you this summer is this Irish blessing.
"May there always be work for your hands to do, may your purse always hold a coin or two. May the sun always shine on your windowpane, may a rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you, may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you."- Irish Blessing
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
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