Author Archives: Pastor Jim Driskell, Lutheran Church

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About Pastor Jim Driskell, Lutheran Church

I am the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Chestertown, Md. I pray that you will come and worship with us, worship is 10 am Sundays. We are a renewal church and we are lifting God up in classical worship, and being faithful disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. 101 Greenwood Av, Chestertown. Plenty of parking behind the church.

Diversity? OK, but to what end?

I really do not have a problem with diversity. Obviously things that involve a wide swath of a population should have input, I’m not really sure, despite all the math that I barely passed in college, that swath is inclusive. Further, why is it that “diversity”, is usually a platform for the handful of cranks and usually excludes legitimate segments of the population?

It’s almost laughable, even if we accept the latest polls, that the United States is 70% Christian, how many times do you see “diversity” include a Christian perspective? I honestly can’t recall one time, unless it was an issue specifically to do with religion. We have a minority sliver of homosexuals that is probably about 5% of the population, but you better make sure that if you’re talking “diversity”, that nominal 5% of the population is represented. (No it’s not 10%, which is also still a nominal percentage. The only “research” that found 10% was done back in the 1950s and it was extremely flawed “research”. Any contemporary, generally recognized contemporary studies all hold around 5%, yea really).

In view of how we seem to crave a representation of those who chose to openly reject God’s plan, I wonder even more why the most significant part of the population (70% of the population still is a larger majority than any other segment, even men or women). Seems to be ignored or underrepresented, the vast majority of Christians in the population and the workplace.

Say what you will, you see a mob of people moving toward you and then you realize they’re carrying Bibles, you’re going to feel a lot more comfortable. Why then is the corporate world not interested in including people who strive to live their Christian life in the corporate world and more interested in the “win at all costs, no scruples” types like; Michael Milken, Ken Lay, Bernie Madoff, Dennis Koslowski, Bernie Ebbers (WorldCom), Arthur Andersen (the accounting firm)? (Hey thanks to the unbelievers who always seem to make life tougher for the rest of us.) Oh yea, people with out scruples make money, have to remember what idol we’re worshipping. Of course that ignores the numerous successful companies run by openly professing Christians. It’s like the hit on athletes, that Christians couldn’t win the big ones, of course guys like Kurt Warner and Tim Duncan to prove that was nonsense.

Rich Karlgaard in Forbes Magazine (May 4, 2015 p 34) writing about diversity, of course covered all the coveted corporate considerations; ethnicity, gender, age, abilities, position, talent, but maybe he should be talking a little about people who are concerned with not just succeeding and driving a team, also doing it with integrity and pleasing to their heavenly Father.

You want diversity, success and lot less likely to end up with a felony record? You might want to quit messing around with the idea that we all stop being Christians at 9am Monday morning and more concerned that you have people who are concerned with the many great things of Christian integrity.

We meet on Wednesday mornings at 10am, midweek Coffee Break and take some time to talk about the things that really matter, of which is of course how we perform our jobs with maximum success and integrity in Christ. Corner of W King and Beaver Sts downtown York, Pa. Parking right behind the church at 140 W King.

Scientism vs Christian faith, they’re both faith systems

I’m rebloggin the following, you can find it on “Faith and Science News”

http://www.evolutionnews.org/2015/06/wall_street_jou096501.html

Wall Street Journal: Coyne’s Atheist Tract Is a “Splendid Specimen of Scientism”

David Klinghoffer June 1, 2015 3:34 PM | Permalink

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I wouldn’t advise any book author to take a negative review too much to heart. However a really singeing one like science writer John Horgan’s takedown of Jerry Coyne’s atheist tract, Faith vs. Fact, must hurt.

Writing in the Wall Street Journal (“Preaching to the Converted“), Horgan agrees with evolutionary biologist Coyne about some things that might have made you expect a more positive response:

I share his enthusiasm for science — as a source of both truth and power over the world — and his concern about religion’s ill effects. I opened his book hoping to find arguments that I could borrow for my writing and teaching.

But no. In summary, “[Coyne’s] shrill, self-righteous diatribe is more likely to hurt his cause than help it.” This part struck me as germane to our concerns here:

Mr. Coyne’s loathing of creationism… leads him to exaggerate what science can tell us about our cosmic origins. Mr. Coyne asserts that “we are starting to see how the universe could arise from ‘nothing,’ and that our own universe might be only one of many universes that differ in their physical laws.” Actually, cosmologists are more baffled than ever at why there is something rather than nothing.

The popularity of multiverse theories — a hypothetical corollary of several highly speculative physics theories — merely shows how desperate scientists are for answers. Multiverse enthusiasts seem to think that the existence of an infinite number of universes will make ours appear less mysterious. The problem is, none of these other universes can be observed, which is why skeptics liken multiverse theories to untestable religious beliefs.

Mr. Coyne repeatedly reminds us that science, unlike religion, promotes self-criticism, but he is remarkably lacking in this virtue himself. He rejects complaints that some modern scientists are guilty of “scientism,” which I would define as excessive trust — faith! — in science. Calling scientism “a grab bag of disparate accusations that are mostly inaccurate or overblown,” Mr. Coyne insists that the term “be dropped.”

Actually, “Faith vs. Fact” serves as a splendid specimen of scientism. Mr. Coyne disparages not only religion but also other human ways of engaging with reality. The arts, he argues, “cannot ascertain truth or knowledge,” and the humanities do so only to the extent that they emulate the sciences. This sort of arrogance and certitude is the essence of scientism.

I was curious to see if Coyne, an active blogger if nothing else over at Why Evolution Is True, would comment on Horgan’s review. Nope. But he’s posted some really nice pictures of birds instead.

Image: “Hubble Peers into the Most Crowded Place in the Milky Way,” via NASA/ European Space Agency.

Ministry to those who are there after or never had children,

The Midlife Church Crisis

Image: Shutterstock

A while ago, my husband and I went to a newcomers’ luncheon at a church we were considering attending. We watched as church staff, almost all in their early- to mid-30s, schmoozed with the young families. While I recognize the demands at these types of events, only one staff member connected with the newcomers who were obviously the oldest people in the room. We left the gathering feeling like we’d become an anachronistic punch line.

I’ve had one too many conversations with empty-nester peers about what it’s like to go to church once our kids are grown and gone. Our midlife crisis of faith came from questioning not our beliefs, but our role in the body of Christ.

When the bulletin is filled with announcements for mothers of preschoolers’ gatherings, family camping weekends, and Vacation Bible School, I know I’m welcome to lend a hand by baking muffins or doing crafts. I’ve gotten the message that, now that my own children have grown, my role is to support the real focus of the church: families.

Decades ago, baby boomers and older Gen Xers pushed to create churches centered on the young, nuclear family. Sadly, this ministry model now excludes many of us. Having outgrown the local church’s core programs, we’re left to usher, teach fourth-grade Sunday school, or attend committee meetings. At times, I can’t help thinking: Been there, done that. Got the Christian T-shirt to prove it.

While local churches work to reach a younger generation, some of their graying members are stepping away. In our 50s, 60s, and beyond, we face a new set of challenges: relationship shifts, loneliness, health risks, divorce, and death. Boomers have begun attending church less frequently, according to Barna Research, while Gen Xers registered a significant uptick in those with no church affiliation.

I recently took an informal survey on my blog, and heard from nearly 500 believers about their church experiences as they’ve gotten older. Most stayed involved, using their extra empty-nester time to serve and continue their relationships with other congregants. But a little less than half said they’d scaled back their involvement from what it had been a decade ago. Those who had downshifted or left cited weariness with church politics, increased career demands, significant time devoted to caring for parents or grandchildren, health issues, and a sense that they’d somehow outgrown their church. “I’m tired of the same programs year after year,” one said. “I want deeper relationships with fewer people, more spiritual exercises like prayer and meditation than the canned studies offered.”

Those who’d scaled back emphasized that they hadn’t quit their faith. Many churches categorize churchgoers only as committed or not-so-committed, sorting the two based on participation in already-existing programs.

Anecdotally speaking, it seemed that those over age 40 who discovered meaningful service, worship, and connections reported that their church was committed to intergenerational ministry rather than family-centered, child-focused programming. Though there is some overlap between the two ministry philosophies, the congregations that concentrate on families with children under 18 unintentionally marginalize those who don’t fit the profile. Churches with intergenerational ministry have invested in building connections between members of different …

OK, kind of get this. But it seems to me that people have been part of the church just because of their children and now that they’re gone they’re realizing that they need ministry???

Amen on the following observation: “…it seemed that those over age 40 who discovered meaningful service, worship, and connections reported that their church was committed to intergenerational ministry rather than family-centered, child-focused programming.”

Dealing with trials so that God can use you to witness to others to Jesus

The Blackabys point out how Paul used his circumstances to continually witness to Jesus (Experiencing God p 177)  When someone gives me the “prosperity Gospel” nonsense, Paul is the first person I refer them to. If Paul isn’t the greatest Christian in history he’s in the top five. Yet Paul suffered a lot during his ministry. He was regularly jailed, beaten. He often went without food and water. He was shipwrecked and just generally subjected to harassment and abuse. But he didn’t lash back about those circumstances but used them to demonstrate his faith in Jesus and what Jesus did through Paul. He witnessed to mobs who wanted to abuse him, he witnessed to others jailed with him, to those who were judging him. Paul really never tried to defend himself when Festus was judging him, only witnessing to Jesus to the point where Festus says that Paul almost had Festus convinced of Jesus.

Certainly our witness is much more effective when people see us living our life in Jesus. Sometimes they’re not always seeing the best, but maybe they need to see that side also. Maybe they need to be assured that to be a Christian does not mean that you have to be perfect. Let people see Jesus in you and what that means in real life, wether that is as Paul points out in prosperity or in need. How is God going to use the circumstances that you are dealing with in order to bring someone to salvation in His Son Jesus Christ? What better service could you do then be God’s instrument to bring someone else to salvation?

Renewal of a great Christian Church

I’ve been the pastor of First Saint Johns for five years now (wow, I cannot believe FIVE YEARS!) OK, I’m better now, anyway, First Saint Johns really is a great, old downtown, almost cathedral. A place where God is truly glorified and has been for 140 years. It is also the focus on a “Renewal” effort, in order to rebuild a great temple to God.
Due to that I have done a lot of study and experimenting and while this is a message to someone else who is helping on this, I thought I would share this with the blogosphere.
While it might look like First St Johns has been a stuffy, tradition bound church, actually First St Johns “traditions” have been changed considerably in the last five years. While you might assume it has always been a liturgical type of worship, when I started there it was much more a kind of “folksy” as it were, contemporary, really wasn’t feast or fowl. I did not come to First St Johns with an agenda for liturgical worship, but the more I studied and also interacted with other ministries I felt that this is the way we should go. There was a lot of study and thought that went into this, there were no snap decisions and has been handled in a pretty subtle way, partly so that I could learn to do this better (and yea, I have a ways to go). Liturgical worship is not part of my experience, I did not grow up in any particular Christian tradition and my first years were in the United Methodist Church, so it’s not based on an agenda, but in terms of how are we best serving. I certainly could be doing some things in an unconventional way, but there again, I think the repetition of liturgical worship is built in to the worship in order to reinforce the point of the worship for the day. I would agree worship may appear to have a lot “stuffed” in and I’m not sure that’s the best way to go, but I really think a little overkill is more effective and I think it is effective in terms of overcoming years of downplaying Scripture in the church.
There is the issue in terms of using unfamiliar language, I’m not trying to intimidate, with liturgical language. But I think for too long the church has not challenged people, that it has made it easy and not made it something that was something important and God’s glory but that was supposed to be easy and therefore not even worth trying to understand.
I’ve done a couple of worship services, and planning to do it again, that walks through the service and explaining what it was about and why it’s done, something I try to stress for new members also. I really don’t think it’s an issue of “alienating” as much as including people in something that they should come to recognize as something so much bigger, more meaningful, that God does really change lives, His ways are not our ways, be a part of something that is God’s and not something that the church is, again, doing to lower itself into the world, but to raise God’s children above the world.
As I said in my sermon yesterday, worship in a more ancient manner ties us to the ancient church and also as a common factor with Christians around the world. I have seen a lot of current research that finds a desire in people, who, living in a period of such fragility, that we’re in, failure of institutions around us, the desire is for something that is stable, that has survived the centuries, that reaches to a massive number of Christians. Something that is solid, has stood the test of time and will move into the future.
The more we build that, establish that and project that, the more people will realize what they are not getting in their lives right now. During the Pentecost period, we do, mix things up a little. But during the high seasons, I want to emphasize the sacredness of those times and remind people of the important points of Christianity.
The reason why I resist a lot of praise songs is that the emphasis is changed from Jesus to the individual. One of the members of the congregation made an interesting observation (and I’m not really sure he supports liturgical worship), but he said that he’s always counted the number of personal pronouns in “praise music” and the I, me, mine always seem to dominate praise music. Hymns were written to be another way to convey the message of that day’s topic, too much praise music sounds nice, but there seems to be either little teaching or rather superficial teaching. I would very much like to do more with praise music. We’ve been trying to get a First Friday function ramped up to showcase Christian praise, I’d like to do other times of praise music, Erin Bode was at First St Johns a couple of years ago for an evening event. Believe me I love contemporary Christian music music, I have an extensive personal collection.
But it also raises another issue what you and I think of as contemporary Michael Smith, Amy Grant, Michael Card, and what older members think of, Gaither Band, is not what people today think of as contemporary “King and Country” “David Crowder” Modisha, which I also happen to like, but I’m sure you can see that kind of music would not go over big with the majority of people in the congregation. Gaither Band, would not be a big hit with younger members. I really am interested in any suggestions and if it really comes to pass that it would be doable to do a separate contemporary I would certainly consider it.
My reluctance there would be something that other churches have found in doing separate services for awhile, is that it tends to separate the congregation, segment it, instead of bring it together. We may not be able to avoid that since I would very much like to implement a separate Spanish speaking worship, but I honestly believe that at this point, more liturgical worship is what younger people are looking for in terms of stability and other factors that I could go into and would actually unite everyone in one method, vs, doing something that would be more pleasing to one group and would not speak to any other groups.
While I realize that these conclusions are not going to generate a whiz bang. upturn, I do believe that it has stabilized the congregation and given it something that can be shared by everyone and they can bring something that is rather unique into the world as a whole.
One other factor for me is this, I really do have to pick a lane with this church. We have been enormously blessed, and we are in relatively good shape, but we do need to stabilize on a common ground and take that into the world and trust that God is going to use this unified outreach and bless it to His glory and grow His church at First St Johns

Break Well

Andrew Toy's avatarThe Official Colonel Sanders Podcast

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On my breaks at work, I work.

I have my laptop with me, I go out to my car, and I write.

It’s nothing work-related – my job is not important enough for that. But my writing is important. It’s important to me that I write well enough to get a ticket out of this day job. So I don’t waste a second writing as much as I can during the small amount of time that’s given to me.

My colleagues however, go out to their cars and sleep. Or smoke. Or text.

And if they’re not in their cars, they’re in the break room watching The Steve Harvey Show or The Price is Right. And then they go back to their desk and complain about how much they hate their job.

So, I ask you, if you hate your day job – if you haven’t reached your dream job yet…

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El Espíritu Santo nos da la Iglesia para servir a un mundo oscuro

[translation by Google translate]

Hacemos nuestro comienzo en el Nombre de Dios el Padre y en el nombre de Dios el Hijo y en el nombre de Dios el Espíritu Santo, AMEN

Hoy es Pentecostés, el nacimiento de la iglesia, cuando el Espíritu Santo descendió sobre los que fueron escogidos para establecer la iglesia y para ponerla en el mundo. La iglesia fue dada autoridad por Jesús a través del Espíritu Santo. Es por esto que la iglesia es importante, porque a través de Pentecostés fue facultado para predicar, enseñar, administrar los sacramentos, mantenga las llaves y ser representantes de Cristo en la tierra. Nada, nadie, no hay otra manera de que el ministerio de Cristo se lleva a cabo en la tierra que a través de su iglesia. Subrayo SU no la mía, no tuya, no la gente que lo construyó. Este fue construido y se ha mantenido bajo la autoridad directa de que Jesús ha dado a través del Espíritu Santo. Así que cuando alguien te dice que no necesitan de la iglesia, sobre la adoración a Dios sentado en la playa o en la montaña, que es sólo pura tontería racionalización. La iglesia fue autorizada por Jesús, esto es cuando nació la Iglesia, en Pentecostés, la iglesia es el ministerio de Jesucristo en la tierra, Él es el Hijo de Dios, que Él demostró a través de su vida, como dice Lucas al comienzo de los Hechos : “En el primer libro, oh Teófilo, he ocupado de todo lo que Jesús comenzó a hacer ya enseñar, hasta el día en que fue recibido arriba, después de haber dado mandamientos por el Espíritu Santo a los apóstoles que había escogido. A ellos se presentó vivo después de su sufrimiento con muchas pruebas, apareciéndoseles durante cuarenta días y hablándoles acerca del reino de Dios. (Hechos 1: 1-3 ESV)

Hoy es también el Memorial Day, que es una yuxtaposición inusual de temas. La última esperanza y la promesa del mundo es en Jesús, que la esperanza y la promesa ministrado a través de Su iglesia. Damos por sentado, que la iglesia es un recordatorio constante de la esperanza y la promesa, que es la iglesia que siempre está ahí en los puntos más importantes de la vida; nacimiento, ser parte de la iglesia, la muerte, esos momentos en nuestras vidas en que necesitan más que las limitaciones y la superficialidad del mundo, los lugares comunes vacíos de un mundo superficial, pecaminosa y sin esperanza. Nosotros, en la iglesia no detenerse en el vacío de esta vida. Nos centramos en la esperanza y la promesa de la vida eterna. Esa esperanza y promesa es en la vida, muerte y resurrección de Jesucristo, y culminaron con la aparición de Dios el Espíritu Santo en forma de llamas que bailan en las cabezas de los que nombró a Jesús para ser los evangelistas y ministros de su iglesia ” sobre esta piedra edificaré mi iglesia, y las puertas del infierno no prevalecerán contra ella. “(Mateo 16:18). Esa es nuestra esperanza y promesa, no lo que el hombre hace en el mundo, pero lo que el Espíritu Santo hace en la iglesia de Jesucristo. Es sólo a través de Él, que trabaja a través de su iglesia que tenemos la esperanza y la promesa de la vida eterna, la vida real, la vida más abundante en la resurrección.

Memorial Day es un día importante, recordamos a los que hicieron el máximo sacrificio, que recordaba las palabras de Jesús cuando dijo: “. Nadie tiene mayor amor que este, que alguien da su vida por sus amigos” (Juan 15:13 ESV) Los inicios de Memorial Day eran justo después de la guerra civil americana, una guerra que tiene cerca significado aquí en York. Algunas actividad local y sobre todo al oeste, donde la batalla más grande en la historia de América del Norte llevó a cabo, la batalla de Gettysburg. Los hombres y mujeres que murieron en una guerra para liberar a los que se había mantenido en la esclavitud, para que pudieran tener la libertad de vivir su vida.

Día de los Caídos fue instituido como “Día de Decoración” en 1868. La guerra a menudo tiene muchas causas nobles, y, ciertamente, los que murieron en el servicio a su país han dado todo, independientemente de la nobleza de la guerra, sin lugar a dudas han servido noblemente a ponerse en perjudica manera de servir a sus semejantes. Pero hay una triste realidad de la guerra, en la que la nobleza no es tan terrible tragedia. Charles Oliver era un capellán en el ejército confederado durante la guerra civil y escribió lo siguiente durante y después de los combates alrededor de Chancellorsville, Virginia 05 1863: “La guerra es una cosa tan extraña. Aquí estamos gay, descuidado, jocoso, ayer corrimos por nuestras vidas a través de este mismo campo, mientras que la muerte dealing disparó fueron barriendo sus colinas. Hoy en día algunos de nosotros pusieron los restos destrozados de nuestro valiente camarada TE Dillard en la tumba de un soldado; en este momento cuando el sol brilla tan intensamente, y la brisa besa las mejillas tan amablemente; sin embargo, estamos ahora en medio de una gran batalla terrible … Todo esto días se me ha oprimido con la idea de que era el día de reposo. “Un hombre de Dios que de buena gana se apresuró a servir a los que en medio de la terrible tragedia, recordando en medio de la tragedia que todos vamos a arrodillarse en adoración a Dios.

Especialista Emily Thompson escribió lo siguiente durante su servicio en Afganistán: “Hay un entumecimiento en el interior que me parece que no puede entender. Extraño mi casa. Sin embargo, pienso en aquellos que dieron sus vidas delante de mí, aquellos que están muriendo en este mismo instante, y me olvido de hogar para ellos aún más. Tal sentido de culpa está presente cuando pienso en casa. Deseo dejar tan mal, pero no me siento digno de salir de este lugar. De vuelta a casa deja una parte de mí detrás, uno que nunca voy a volver. Una pieza tan perdido, como los que han caído y dado todo para alguien como yo. Seis pies bajo y recordado como un recuerdo; Rezo por la paz. Juro vivir para ellos, para beber y celebrar la grandeza que son, y respirar en la vida que han perdido. Para todos y cada uno son mi sangre y mi corazón, la razón detrás de mis lágrimas, y el intenso estímulo para enfrentar otro día sin nada más que pura gratitud “.

El mundo nunca va a ser un lugar fácil para el cristiano genuino. Para aquellos de nosotros que entendemos que no es la muerte en la vida, somos bautizados y el viejo se pone a la muerte, volvemos a nacer en el Espíritu Santo y nos convertimos en hijos e hijas de Dios Padre verdadero, Él es nuestro Padre, Él es el Padre de Jesucristo, Dios el Hijo y del Padre procede el Espíritu Santo. Para ser su hijo o hija significa ser parte del sacrificio del Hijo. También significa ser habitado por el Espíritu Santo como los cristianos han sido desde que el Espíritu Santo se convirtió en parte de los discípulos y luego los guió para construir la iglesia de Jesucristo y ha estado guiando cristianos desde entonces para construir la iglesia católica y apostólica. Sin la iglesia que alcanzará a los perdidos, que le servirá un mundo herido, que estará ahí cuando se necesita orientación? No hay nadie más que estará allí para mostrarle la verdadera salvación y la vida eterna en Jesús. Usted puede venir a esta iglesia, me puedes llamar y voy a hablar con usted, yo escucho, y, a veces, sí, eso podría ser en una hora difícil del día o días de la semana. Espero que en tiempos de crisis, la tragedia, una verdadera lucha que usted me llame y quieres que te ayude. Eso es lo que la iglesia existe para y no sólo a mí, sino a otros hermanos y hermanas en Jesús. Dime, ¿dónde más vas a ser servido así? ¿Quién más va a salir y te servirán en tiempos de verdadera necesidad? La iglesia de Cristo es estar ahí en tiempos de verdadera necesidad. No hay nadie más que estará allí para usted cuando te enfrentas a los momentos de duda, la desesperación y la tragedia. Por eso, entre otras cosas vitales, que Jesús estableció su iglesia. Por eso, el Espíritu Santo descendió sobre los discípulos y los llevó al mundo a proclamar el Señorío de Jesús y ser un faro de luz y esperanza en un mundo desesperado y lleno de pecado.

Dr. Martin Luther nos da la mejor manera de conciliar Pentecostés, la venida del Espíritu Santo, el establecimiento de discipulado cristiano en el mundo y el desorden del pecado y de la tragedia en el mundo: “No basta simplemente que se predique a Cristo; la Palabra debe ser creído. Por lo tanto, Dios envía el Espíritu Santo para impresionar a la predicación sobre el corazón a hacerlo aquí y vivir en ella. Sin lugar a dudas, Cristo realizó todo quitó nuestros pecados y superó todos los obstáculos, lo que nos permite llegar a ser, a través de él, señor de todas las cosas. Pero el tesoro se encuentra en un montón; no se distribuye y se aplica en todas partes. Antes de que podamos disfrutar de él, el Espíritu Santo viene y la comunica al corazón, lo que nos permite creer y decir: “Yo también, soy una persona que tendrá la bendición. ‘”

Finalmente le pido que recuerde compañero guardacostas suboficial Nathan Bruckenthal que murió en acción y hacer el último sacrificio en Irak el 24 de abril de 2004.

La paz de Dios que sobrepasa todo entendimiento, guardará vuestros corazones y vuestros pensamientos en Cristo Jesús. Amin y Shalom.

The Holy Spirit gives us the Church to serve the world First St Johns Memorial Day May 24, 2015

[For the audio version of this sermon click on the link above]

We make our beginning in the Name of God the Father and in the Name of God the Son and in the Name of God the Holy Spirit, AMEN

Today is Pentecost, the birth of the church, when the Holy Spirit descended on those who were chosen to establish the church and to bring it into the world. The church was given authority by Jesus through the Holy Spirit. This is why the church is important, because through Pentecost it was empowered to preach, teach, administer the sacraments, keep the keys and be representatives of Christ on earth. Nothing, no one, there is no other way that Christ’s ministry is conducted on earth than through His church. I emphasize HIS not mine, not yours, not the people who built it. This was built and has been maintained under the direct authority that Jesus has given it through the Holy Spirit. So when someone tells you they don’t need the church, about worshipping God sitting at the beach or on a mountain, that is just pure rationalizing nonsense. The church was authorized by Jesus, this is when the church was born, on Pentecost, the church is the ministry of Jesus Christ on earth, He is the Son of God which He demonstrated through His life, as Luke says at the beginning of Acts: “In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1: 1-3 ESV)

Today is also Memorial Day, which is an unusual juxtaposition of topics. The ultimate hope and promise of the world is in Jesus, that hope and promise ministered through His church. We take for granted, that the church is a constant reminder of Hope and promise, it is the church that is always there at those most important points in life; birth, being a part of the church, death, those times in our lives when we need more than the limitations and superficiality of the world, the empty platitudes of a shallow, sinful and hopeless world. We, in the church don’t dwell on the emptiness of this life. We focus on the hope and promise of eternal life. That hope and promise is in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and culminated in the appearance of God the Holy Spirit in the form of flames dancing on the heads of those who Jesus appointed to be the evangelists and ministers of His church, “on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18). That is our hope and promise, not what man does in the world, but what the Holy Spirit does in the church of Jesus Christ. It is only through Him who works through His church that we have the hope and promise of life eternal, real life, life more abundant in the resurrection.

Memorial Day is an important day, we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, who remembered Jesus’ words when He said: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.”(John 15:13 ESV) The beginnings of Memorial Day were right after the American Civil War, a war that has close meaning right here in York. Some local activity and especially west where the greatest battle in North American history took place, the Battle of Gettysburg. Men and women who died in a war to free those who had been kept in slavery, so that they would be free to live their life.

Memorial Day was instituted as “Decoration Day” in 1868. War often has many noble causes, and certainly those who died in serving their country have given their all, regardless of the nobility of the war, have without doubt served nobly to put themselves in harms way to serve their fellow man. But there is a sobering reality of war, in that nobility there is such terrible tragedy. Charles Oliver was a chaplain in the confederate army during the Civil War and wrote the following during and after the fighting around Chancellorsville, Va in May 1863: “War is such a strange thing. Here we are gay, careless, jocular, yesterday we ran for our lives across this very field, while death dealing shot were sweeping over its hills. Today some of us laid the shattered remains of our brave comrade T.E. Dillard in a soldier’s grave; at this moment though the sun shines so brightly, and the breeze kisses our cheeks so kindly; yet are we now in the midst of a great terrible battle … All this day I have been oppressed with the thought that it was the Sabbath.”[1] A man of God who willingly rushed to serve those in the midst of terrible tragedy, remembering amid tragedy that we all will kneel in worship of God.

Specialist Emily Thompson wrote the following while serving in Afghanistan: “There is a numbness inside that I can’t seem to figure out. I miss home. Yet, I think about those who gave their lives before me, those who are dying right this instant, and I miss home for them even more. Such a sense of guilt is present when I think about home. I wish to leave so badly, yet I do not feel worthy of leaving this place. Going home leaves a part of me behind, one that I will never get back. A piece so lost, like those who have fallen and given their all for someone like myself. Six feet under and remembered as a memory; I pray for peace. I swear to live for them, to drink and celebrate the greatness that they are, and to breathe in the life that they have lost. For each and every one are my blood and my heart, the reason behind my tears, and the intense encouragement to face another day with nothing but sheer gratitude.”[2]

The world is never going to be an easy place for the genuine Christian. For those of us who understand that there is death in living, we are baptized and the old man is put to death, we are reborn in the Holy Spirit and become true sons and daughters of God the Father, He is our Father, He is the Father of Jesus Christ, God the Son and from the Father proceeds the Holy Spirit. To be His son or daughter means to be a part of the sacrifice of the Son. It also means to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit as Christians have been since the Holy Spirit became part of the disciples and then guided them to build the church of Jesus Christ and has been guiding Christians since then to build the catholic and apostolic church. Without the church who will reach out to the lost, who will serve a hurting world, who will be there when you need guidance? There is no one else who will be there to show you true salvation and eternal life in Jesus. You can come to this church, you can call me, and I will talk to you, I will listen to you, and sometimes, yes, that might be at a difficult hour of the day or day of the week. I would hope that in times of crisis, tragedy, genuine struggle that you would call me and want me to help you. That is what the church is there for and not just from me, but other brothers and sisters in Jesus. Tell me, where else are you going to be served like that? Who else will come out and minister to you in times of genuine need? Christ’s church is to be there in times of genuine need. There is no one else who will be there for you when you face times of doubt, desperation and tragedy. That is why, among other vital things, that Jesus established His church. That is why the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples and led them into the world to proclaim the Lordship of Jesus and to be a beacon of light and hope in a desperate and sin filled world.

Dr Martin Luther gives us the best way to reconcile Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit, the establishment of Christian discipleship in the world and the mess of sin and tragedy in the world: “It is not enough simply that Christ be preached; the Word must be believed. Therefore, God sends the Holy Spirit to impress the preaching upon the heart—to make it in here and live therein. Unquestionably, Christ accomplished all—took away our sins and overcame every obstacle, enabling us to become, through him, lord over all things. But the treasure lies in a heap; it is not everywhere distributed and applied. Before we can enjoy it, the Holy Spirit comes and communicates it to the heart, enabling us to believe and say, ‘I too, am one who shall have the blessing.'” [3]

Finally I ask you to remember fellow Coast Guardsman Petty Officer Nathan Bruckenthal who was killed in action and made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq on April 24, 2004.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amin and Shalom.

[1] Brinsfield, Davis, Maryniak and Robertson  Faith in the Fight quoting Charles J Oliver pp 103-104

[2] Emily Thompson  Face Book post May 22, 2015

[3] Martin Luther, about Pentecost, from his 1523 church postil

Remember and record how God has moved in your life.

I really encourage people to journal. It’s a rare sermon when I’m not encouraging the congregation to do take the sermon topic and write about it from their own perspective. “Spiritual memory is crucial in the Christian life. Do you vividly recall times when you know God spoke to you? It would be tragic if, in your haste to advance in your Christian faith, you neglected to leave spiritual markers at the key crossroads of your life.” (Henry and Richard Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day p 174).

“Hearing God” means a lot of things. That movement in your soul, heart, head however you put it, when it’s almost impossible to resist that you know God is moving you. The Blackabys refer to spiritual markers in physical terms. God picked me up and moved me from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania, so I’m not going to see physical markers. But there are those markers I remember, I think the Holy Spirit brings them, to mind as a way to keep me on course.

We need to do a much better job of remembering the times when God moved us in our lives. That doesn’t mean the tedious evangelical testimonials, “God spoke to me because I’m special and He told me to tell you”‘ ya? No! God speaks to all of us, sure share what He says to you; Mark it down in your heart, mark it where He’s doing it, why, what’s going on around you. God moved you, He moves all His children, so for the tedious, self-absorbed types get over yourself and develop a spirit of humility and grace. I’m really tired of the big mouths that make Christians and Christianity look like buffoons.

“A spiritual marker identifies a time when you clearly knew that God had guided you.” I know exactly what Blackaby is saying. I can’t pinpoint it and I’m not unique because God did it to me, but I am loved by my Father who takes an interest in all those who He has made His children and is constantly working in their lives. We should keep track of those times. As I’ve written, I make a point of what the people in the congregation should take home and journal about. I have no doubt that God will use that to reach each person and guide them the way He wants them to go. Sit down and journal about these times in your life and use them to grow in spiritual maturity. Praise and glorify God for the things that He has done in your life and encourage others to learn from what you’re doing and apply it in their own lives. Go back on a regular basis to see what God has done in your life and raise up thanksgiving and share those with others. Not that you’re somehow spiritually superior, but to encourage them to see God working in their own lives.

Acting Audaciously

Pastor Jim Driskell, Lutheran Church's avatarPastor Jim Driskell

Audacity will usually be rewarded. We started here at First St Johns at what was probably its lowest point in a history that dated back to 1875. We still have a long way to go and it’s certainly all about God’s will. The question remains as to how we may or may not end up, we could still very well not make it, but this church would be missed.
There is no doubt that we have made a mark, the test is, will the church be missed if it closes tomorrow? Without qualification I would say yes, that FSJ would be missed. Jim McClure the editor of the York Daily Record identified FSJ as a community outreach church, we have made a mark with the Food bank, employment group, Grief Share, NA, AA, prayer breakfast, workout area and of course the radio station has garnered an immense amount of attention.

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