Loving doesn't take agreement- it takes Jesus

We worshiped this morning with the lovely people of Arvada United Methodist Church.  AUMC is one of the many UMC's in the Denver area, and other usually more urban regions of the US,  which are called 'Reconciling Congregations". These are the churches of our world wide denomination which believe that the Bible should be read differently than it has for the past 1950 years or so regarding same sex life and marriage.

We UM's and most Christian Churches have struggled with this issue since the 1950's. And we struggle with it still.  But at Arvada UMC, as in many other Reconciling Congregations the love of Jesus is what is focused on.  His unconditional love for all persons, regardless of their feelings and beliefs.  We felt that love today as we got to know the Walters and Frisch folk, three generations of the same family worshipping at AUMC. They sat at our table for the pastries and coffee following the service.

All are active in the ministries of the church but daughter and mom is also the Youth Leader for the congregation. She says she is only their follower since they come up with the ideas for their own ministry and she just helps make them happen.  But that is what a leader often does, right?

These great folk told us of their love for the church and Jesus. But on this issue, they read the words of Paul in the New Testament differently than more

                                                                                    traditional, or orthodox, Christians do.

However the Walters and Frisch families view of God's view of homosexuality is in many places around the world becoming THE view. Our daughters Jenn and Chris and their family are proof of that to us.  And my own brothers 30 year plus committed relationship to his partner are so as well. Culture wars have split, and changed churches before.  How will the Scriptures concerning homosexual life that Mona and I grew up with be taught to our great-grand kids?  I have a thought on that.  I believe that I must discover what Jesus would do in any similar situation.  And the similar situation I see in the Gospels is that of the Good Samaritan.

The injured Jew wouldn't have walked on the same side of the street as his 'savior', the merchant Samaritan.  Yet the Samaritan saved his life and paid his bills.  If I believe God loves me even 1/10th as much as that, and I am to love others, especially those I may disagree with and even fight with, just because Jesus/God/The Holy Spirit tells me to, then I have no choice.  I may differ strongly with someone on any issue, even this one, but I must allow God's love to show through me, and into our relationship, unconditionally.

And this is not the simple 'be nice while you face each other' kind of love. This is GOD'S love. I may believe you are a sinner, but I know I am.  

So Lord, forgive us our tresspasses please, and help us to see what You want us to see in your Word, even if it takes till we meet you in the air! Amen.

 -Pastor Ken

PS: Outside the fellowship Center where we got to know the Walters and Frisch's we found this bulletin board decorated with some of AUMC's children's responses to a question I paraphrase as, 'When do I feel closest to God?"

The answers these children give are sometimes expected, "He loves me". and sometimes profound. They seem to come from kids learning to love the Lord and each other, regardless of their differences.

Sabbath is Holy In WaKeeney!

 Today we were driving across the western plains of Kansas and decided to dump our grey and black water tanks and fill up with fresh water at a highway side campground.

Mona searched on Google Maps and we found an ideally located KOA in WaKeeney, KS.

We paid our money, emptied and filled the tanks, and as we were leaving asked the owner, Deb, about getting propane nearby.

 "Oh", she told us with obvious pride, "You will have to get to Colorado or a city to find any propane for sale on a Saturday or Sunday for your RV."
"Why?" I asked with some surprise.
"Because out in the country we honor the Lord Jesus by keeping both Sabbath days for the family and Him."
"Well, that sounds pretty attractive.  Are you Seventh Day Adventists or Mormons here about?"
"No. Just believers."

So I asked her to take one of my cards, at which she was thrilled to learn she was talking to someone who might understand what she was trying to tell me.

I explained that I knew alot about some country practices but this was the first I'd heard of a whole weekend, every weekend, for Jesus.  She assured me that 'real country' folk want to and will honor Christ if given a chance.

Well, I honor Deb for putting her God and family ahead of her business.

Sadly though, like a pastor who must encourage his flock to take Sunday off, but must work that day every week her/himself, Deb has to be available 7 days a week to run the campground.

Darn few of us can say we follow the plan of God to a T.  But at least there is one lady in a small prairie, country, town in Western Kansas who is doing the best she can to do so.

-Pastor Ken

Thank You All so much!

Today was my last sermon at Hope Church in Douglassville, PA.  Something tells me it won't be my last sermon ever.

The children, teens, and adults of Hope, and SO MANY friends and relatives, came to our combined service at 10 am today to praise God with a one show only DORRELL LENTZ CREW return praise team offering. They also came to hear my last message, to share a humongous lunch and to spend so much longer than I feel any pastor deserves being told of the lives touched and changed by things Mona and I did in our 17 years at Hope.

When I think of the pastors and missionaries I've known who have gone to their graves appreciated, yes, but sometimes never hearing just how God has used them to reach out to others with His Word.

So here's one last story to share from the legacy of our time at Hope Church.

I can't give you this person's name.  But we spent 15 minutes in prayer and in discussion over needs they had to have addressed NOW, regardless of the need others had for me to cut cakes, be selfied, and otherwise get personally blessed by each person at Hope Church.

They had been driving by the church on rte 422 and had seen all the cars (today was the largest single service in Hope's history). Parking was literally all over the place. They had been hurting and in need of a positive, hopefully godly, conversation.  They turned into our lot.

They walked in to the church to find that the person they thought God was directing them to, the pastor, was retiring and all those gathered were on hand to kick him out in the street (figuratively speaking, sort of, you know?).

But then they saw an old friend and by the time my lunch was over the two of them had gotten my attention and the two of us went to the quiet pavillion to talk. They asked for 10 minutes.  I was able to give 15.  I've never found that God doesn't provide just the time you need for anything if you put what He wants done first.

We prayed a couple of times.  They shared and asked for advice.  I gave the little I could and they accepted it as from God, not just me. My prayer for this person is now like this. Please pray it with me:
1. Find a church home and pastor with whom you click spiritually.  There are dozens to choose from but pray continually before you enter any one place for God to tell you if THIS is the one He wants for you.
2. Don't settle for a church and pastor that clicks.  Make sure you can get into a small group or class and make a few very good friends who are also struggling as you are in faith and life.  The struggles will never go away.  But the way we and God deal with them will only get better!
3. Stay in daily prayer (conversation) with God. Start your day with Him.  Spend it with Him. End it each evening with Him. You don't know how?  Talk with those other struggling Christians you just met in your new small group.  You'll figure it out!

So you see, no one ever retires from God's ministry.  You may never get paid for it, or ever get paid for it again, in cash.  But oh dear Lord, you WILL be paid so that your cup of life overflows!



-Pastor Ken

Damp Balloon

I woke up this morning on this 3rd from last day of the coach being tethered to the house well before Mona. It was raining, and cool so the electric fire instantly warmed the cabin.  Then I looked out the front bay windows and was reminded of all that is happening to us, to Hope Church, to our family scattered across the USA, (and becoming more scattered as grandson Kaream prepares to head off to Camp Wood in Missouri for a summer of Army National Guard basics).

The balloon which Hope Church gave to us almost two weeks ago at our surprise retirement party holds it's shape so well in warm and sunny weather.  But let the temperature drop a little, and a few drops of cold water fall on its shiny exterior, and it begins to droop like a, well, wet balloon.

Sometimes we do too.

I see so many Facebook posts like, "Woke up sad today.", " Hard day today." , "Can't deal today." etc.  As a pastor I hear these things all too often.  And none of them are wrong, inappropriate, or false.  They are what we truly feel at a given moment when our 'selves' are deflated balloons praying for some warmth of spirit or joy to refill their deformed skins.

No guilt.

It is SO EASY for a preacher to lay on guilt. Just quote the right (or wrong) Scripture and you'll have someone running from you or their hands covering their face as the tears fall. Sometimes the truth has to hurt.  But so often it just needs a little warmth to become full again.

Be filled!

Jesus told us to live as though victorious in life.  Because He made our victory sure. He told us to live an abundant life. Because He gives us all we'll ever need.  He said we must keep our eyes on Him so our hearts will stay full, our balloons of spirit inflated and UP.

So on this dreary wet day I left QUO's rain streaked front windows to make a cup of steaming French Dark coffee, sit down at my laptop, and send you, and myself, this little message:  The rain will go away; the air will warm up.  The sun will shine and the balloon will re-inflate. God is with us, not just in His heaven, and all things are well, even in the midst of sadness, grief, and pain. Rainbows and balloons, just two of God's many signs of redemption and new beginnings.

But don't get too hot out there!  You know what happens to balloons that get too hot, and the helium molecules in them expand beyond the skin's tensile strength, don't you?  POP!!!

Thank God, if our warmth comes from Jesus He gives us an auto temperature control.  When we start getting too hot... we faint in the Spirit!

Have a WARM and SUNNY day, at least inside.
-Pastor Ken