The Jekyll and Hyde of Families

 Hello Church,

Family can be confusing.  Sometimes you really like them and other times they annoy the heck out of you.  Sometimes they appreciate you and other times they take you for granted.  Sometimes they are very thoughtful and other times they don't seem to think.  Is it me or do all families practice this sense of inconsistency?

Every family story is unique.  Dysfunctions vary in size and scope.  Blessings come in many different ways.  However, as different as our stories can be, there seems to be at least one consistent dynamic.... we love them anyway.

My granddaughter Maebree turns 4 on Friday.  She is another chapter in our family story and we adore her sassiness.  Of course, that sassiness will be less appreciated in about 8 years or so.  Isn't it interesting that what we adore one day we detest the next?    

Family, of course, plays a big role in the story of Israel.  Indeed, it sort of IS the story.  God picks a family (Abraham) and loves on him.  What begins is a family story of confusion, annoyance, appreciation, thoughtfulness and, yes, sassiness.

I invite you to think about your family story, all the good and bad and the dysfunctions and the blessings.  Then consider that God, who stuck with Abraham's family for numerous generations, also sticks with you and all your generations.  I know it is sometimes difficult to believe, but God really does love you that much.

So be thankful and thank God.  He is our hope as years come and go.  Remember that when your adorable grandchild turns into a grumpy monster.....

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

Hitchhiking Jesus

 Hello Church,

I picked up hitchhikers yesterday.  I know, I know, you aren't supposed to do that.  It isn't safe.  I know this as a result of my wife's reaction when I told her that I picked up hitchhikers yesterday.

The hill between Batavia village and UC Clermont has a lot of foot traffic.  A lot of low-income people live in the apartments near the campus.  The result is a lot of walking between there and the village.  If you have seen the hill (and if you have walked it or biked up it like me), then you know the pain that it is, quite literally.  So on my way to the church building yesterday (you know, the place where we learned to be a good neighbor), my heart found a soft spot.... and I gave a couple a lift up the hill.

I don't pick up hitchhikers often.... maybe 4 times in my life?  Though I understand it used to be quite the thing to do and, in some parts of the world, still is.  Then I realized that Jesus could have been quite the hitchhiker.  He traveled everywhere on foot. I wonder if He ever hitched a ride on a wagon.  I bet He did.

I also bet you would feel bad if you knew you passed by Jesus and didn't offer Him a ride.  No, this isn't a guilt trip to motivate you to pick up hitchhikers.  Don't do that.  It isn't safe!  (I know this because of my wife's reaction when I told her I picked up hitchhikers).  What I am suggesting is to be aware of stereotypes we have of certain kinds of people and how false those stereotypes can be.

Bill and his girlfriend just moved into the area.  They were super appreciative of the ride.  Their apartment isn't fully furnished yet.  I invited them to our big yard sale in September at the church building.  They are going to check us out.  They thanked me again.... and then again.

I won't be picking up hitchhikers again anytime soon... unless my heart finds a soft spot again.... as I'm going to the church building.... you know.... that place that tells us to be a good neighbor...

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

Ready Or Not... Here Comes School

Hello Church,

School is about to begin.  Anxiety is running high.  I have it in my home and many of you have it in yours.  Whether you are a student or staff member or parent, this is a month for anxiety.  What do we do?  Turn it over to God.  You can't add a single hour to your life by worrying, but some argue that you can take away hours of your life by worrying.  'Chill out' is a phrase that I sometimes use, but it is a phrase that can come across stronger than I intend.

Don't misunderstand.  I have concerns.  But I would say that there is a difference between having concerns and spending energy worrying.  .... I'll stop rambling here... and let the book of Matthew take over.  He communicates it better than I can.....

Do Not Worry

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

Sloppy, Messy Blessings

 Hello Church,

On today, my 48th birthday, I have come to realize a rather fascinating fact:  I have spent more of my life with Kim than without her.  I would love to take a bunch of credit for this.  As marriage records go, it is no longer assumed that you'd spend so much time with one person.  Indeed, it is now a rather impressive feat.  I could make a list of all the things I've had to endure over the years, not the least is helping to raise 5 kids and a handful of pets.  However, I've learned not to make such lists.  Why?  Because I have been with Kim over 2 decades now.  I know better.

Truth is, her list would likely be longer.  Yet at the end of the day is a long list of blessings.  My first birthday present was from my granddaughter.  It is a T-shirt that, on the surface, looks messy, sloppy and not something I would wear in public.  But I think it is a perfect gift for spending half of my life in semi-chaotic existence with lots of messes throughout the wonderful years with Kim.  

Appreciate who you have in your life.  Thank God for love.  

I am going to go wear this T-shirt in public.  My granddaughter is going to take me to lunch.  But she says I have to do the driving...... and the paying....

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

Time To NOT Turn The Other Cheek

Hello Church,

The saying is familiar.  It is one of passiveness.... going above and beyond to avoid violence.... turn the other cheek.  Jesus taught it.  It was taught to me.  I taught it to my kids.  However, in some cases, it does not apply.

Here is one such case:

Back in February I had things rolling.  I was on the Keto diet and had lost about 18 lbs.  I was on a mission to be more optimistic in 2020 and was well on my way.  Things were pretty good....  then...

Covid has dealt me (and maybe some of you) a serious blow.  Over the months I have wrestled with mental and emotional issues.  Isolation and helplessness are the big ones, trying to lead a church that has a hard time even meeting in the same room.  Add to it the uncertainty and divisiveness of how to live in this pandemic and it can create increased anxiety.  Based on past experience, I know these can lead to bigger issues like depression and feelings of inadequacy.  Because I know this, I started getting frustrated with myself.  But what really ticked me off?  I gained all my weight back and then some.

There comes a time when you just have to punch back.

Today Kim and I start the 'Couch to 5k' program.  God wants us to take care of ourselves even in the midst of pandemics.  I don't have Covid.  So why am I letting it take away my health?  Ridiculous!

I'm also going to talk to someone who can give me an objective perspective and bring me back to some sort of mental/emotional balance.  I've done it before and it always has helped.  So why have I waited?

I invite you to give yourself a fair account on how you are doing.  What would Jesus say?  If Covid has beat you down, would He tell you to turn the other cheek?  Or punch back?  Hear it from your pastor:  take a hard swing at Covid.  

God Is Good,

Pastor Joe