Pastor Nate’s Children’s message this week is about the Jesus feeding 5000 people with a few fish and a couple loaves of bread.
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
“Give Thanks” by Pastor Nate
I have a group of
10 friends from college, and each day we send a list of 5 things that we are
thankful for that day. They are never
long, usually they are pretty mundane; we’ll list things like coffee, ice
caves, and chainsaws; but making my own
daily list and then reading my friends lists is a real nice way to help me
remember that life isn’t all tragedy.
Lately, I’ve become more and more passionate
about the need for people to just express a little more gratitude in their
lives. I think that part of our job
here on earth is simply to be grateful.
If fact, Science can back me up
on this – scientists have discovered that the act of being grateful on a
regular basis actually changes your brain chemist. Your brain gets rewired through the constant
act of thanksgiving into a place where you are more equipped to handle the
difficult moments that may come your way.
And now, I know
that I’m starting to sound a little bit like a motivational speaker; and so I
promise I won’t use the phrase “attitude of Gratitude” or ask you to buy
a copy of my new “7 tools for success” book.
But, I do think there’s something essential
about cultivating gratitude in our daily lives and furthermore, I can point to
multiple places in the scripture where Jesus is actually the one calling us to
foster an attitude of gratitude.
“Return to your home, and declare how much God has
done for you.”
– Luke 8:39
Jesus
says those words after casting demons out of a man. On this Thanksgiving Day, I think they are
good words for us too. Even though this
year has been far from perfect. Even
though we probably would rather focus on all that has gone wrong, today let’s
take time to declare how much God has done for us and be thankful.
Pastor Nate’s Full sermon for Christ The King Sunday 11/22/20.
This sermon is based on Matthew 25:31-46
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
“A Favorite Place to Pray” by Justin March
Justin March leads the Bethany Lutheran Church Men’s Ministry and sends a weekly email message to the Men’s group every week. Justin has generously permitted us to post his weekly reflections here.
Do you have a favorite
place to pray? Do you kneel at the side of your bed, do you bow your head, and
do you close your eyes? Do you pray at night, in the morning, or multiple times
during the day? How about before meals or in public settings? Is prayer a daily
ritual you practice at home, or is prayer something saved for church or online
worship? There are many forms and practices of prayer, but the real question is
this, do you pray?
My favorite place to pray is in the shower. Weird, right? But as I think about
the reasons behind this, it makes sense why I have chosen this spot to converse
with my maker. It is one of the first things I do in the morning, and I always
feel much better when I am clean and ready to take on a new day.
The shower is one of the few places I can be alone and concentrate on my
thoughts. There are no cell phone distractions, no barking dogs, and no emails.
There is no traffic, no horns, or upset drivers. It is just me, and as the warm
water pours over my head, I find a peace and tranquility in this simple space.
The water does many things for me, and as I relax and allow the shower to rain
upon me, I find God in miraculous ways. First, the water wakes me up and gets
me ready for the new day. It allows me to be open to what God wants to show me
as I become energized and refreshed. Second, the water washes away the dirt
from the day before. It rids me of the stain, uncleanliness, and filth that
comes from living a life of freewill. And third, the water reminds me of my
baptism. It reminds me of the promises I made to God, the church, and my
family.
Yes, I know. The shower may be a strange place for me to spend some moments
with my Savior. But as I dry off, get dressed, and decide what to do next, I
feel refreshed, cleansed, and empowered to face whatever He has in store for
me. It has given me the time to pray for forgiveness and let go of whatever is
holding me back. It has given me the time to uplift those that are sick, needy,
or desperate to hear His words. It has given me the time to be thankful for all
His blessings, for all He has provided, and for all He has answered. And it has
given me the time to be peaceful, warm, and humble as I start a new day in His
glorious creation.
This is just one of the places I find the serenity to pray. Prayer was missing
for many years in my life, but when I discovered the power, the peace, and the
healing it brings, it was an easy practice to embrace. Now, I find myself
giving praise multiple times a day. I am open to what God is trying to show me.
I see His miracles in the creation I am surrounded with, His struggles in the
pain His people endure, and His forgiveness when we are cruel and hurtful. I
see His power when we congregate to pray for one another, His healing when our
worlds are broken, and His grace when we fall short. And whether we feel He
answers our prayers or not, prayer is a necessity and brings us closer to
fulfilling the mission He has for our lives.
So, I ask this question again. Do you pray? It does not matter how you pray,
where you pray, or the words you use. It does not matter how often you pray,
what you pray for, or if you think you are doing it right. What matters is
this. Prayer gives you the chance to let go of that weight that brings you
down. Prayer gives you the chance to lift up those you love and have them
blessed. And prayer gives you the chance to ask for forgiveness, start fresh,
and be open to what God wants to show you. My friends, prayer is the answer
when times are tough. Prayer is the answer when burdens are heavy. And prayer
is the answer when life is spectacular. It is one thing nobody can take away
from us, and when you pray, your mission becomes clear, and you are ready to do
the work God needs from you.
In this time of Thanksgiving, I pray that you find yourself surrounded by love
and peace. I pray that you find reasons to be thankful, no matter what changes
this world brings for this 2020 holiday. And I pray that you feel refreshed,
cleansed, and empowered to face whatever God is ready to show you.
The Evangelical Lutheran Worship book is not just a hymnal but also a beautiful prayer book. Every Monday for the week’s moving forward, Pastor Nate will be posting an image like the one above with a quote from one of our great church hymns. You are invited to use these posts as an opening to prayer– connect with God through these poetic expressions of worship and prayer.
Pastor Gary’s full sermon from 11/15/20 based on readings from Zephaniah 1 and Matthew 25.
This sermon took place at multiple different points throughout the worship service and featured a variety of musicians and creative elements.
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
“Are you too comfortable?” by Justin March
Justin March leads the Bethany Lutheran Church Men’s Ministry and sends a weekly email message to the Men’s group every week. Justin has generously permitted us to post his weekly reflections here.
The Huskers were up
big! The offense was driving up and down the field, the defense was
suffocating, and those Nittany Lions were struggling. It was a dominant
performance, and at halftime, it looked like this victory was going to be a
breeze. But I have been a Husker fan way too long, and if there is one thing I
know, it is to never get comfortable until the final whistle blows.
As it turns out, my
instincts were correct. The Big Red came out flat in the second half. The team
struggled to score, they made mistakes, and the opponent gained momentum. I do
not know if they got lazy or overconfident, but what once looked like victory,
was in danger of becoming defeat. They needed somebody to step up. They needed
someone to make one more play. And they needed a leader who would overcome
adversity and close out this win.
The offense could not
do it. They could not move the ball, run out the clock, or promise a victory.
Those Nittany Lions were gaining ground. With each passing minute, their
momentum grew. They were becoming stronger, they were becoming confident, and
they were ready to take advantage of our lack of preparation and perseverance.
The Huskers had played a great game, but somehow this opponent had a chance to
ruin the day.
Somebody had to step
up. Someone had to make one more play. A leader needed to emerge, and it needed
to happen quick. And that is when the defense decided they would bow up, carry
this team, and stop that opponent from crossing the finish line. They decided
they would use every ounce of energy, they would be strong when it mattered,
and they would win this fight. And when the final whistle blew, the Huskers
stood tall with a victory.
Maybe our journeys are
like this football game. Do we get too comfortable when times are good? Do we
let down our guard, do we get lazy at times, or do we become overconfident when
victory seems near? Do we allow the evil one to sneak up on us, gain momentum,
and stay in the game? Are we on the field, sticking to the game plan, and
executing every move with the precision God intended? If not, I can tell you
this. If we are not focused, prepared, and using every ounce of energy, our
opponent will be waiting to snatch that victory.
God needs leaders to
step up in times of adversity. He needs our lights to shine through the
darkness. He has trained, guided, and provided the tools needed for us to
execute and win. But it takes work. It takes focus, perseverance, and strength
to play every down. We must be ready for obstacles, momentum changes, storms,
and trials. And we must know that victory is not ours until we have done what
has been asked of us, shown others the truth, and spread joy, peace, and love
on this earth. It will not be easy, and the opponent will be prepared to stop
us.
So, pick up that
bible. Read those messages and share them with your teammates. Put on the full
armor of God and be ready to battle. Pray, listen, and prepare for what God has
planned. And if you do all this, if you follow the path that our “coach” has
laid out for us, and if you become the leader God needs you to be, you will be
ready for whatever happens on that field. And when the final whistle blows,
when the clock shows 0:00, and when the enemy has been exhausted, you will be
able to stand tall with the only victory that matters in this life!
The Evangelical Lutheran Worship book is not just a hymnal but also a beautiful prayer book. Every Monday for the week’s moving forward, Pastor Nate will be posting an image like the one above with a quote from one of our great church hymns. You are invited to use these posts as an opening to prayer– connect with God through these poetic expressions of worship and prayer.
“God’s Community of Love” by Pastor Nate
Take a look at this painting. This is a very old work of art. If you’ve ever been to my office, you might have seen the image there. You probably have a lot of ideas at the moment about the photo’s meaning.
What if I told this painting was an Icon of the Trinity? You see it a little differently now, don’t you.
Notice, how they are all sitting together, and yet the focus, the center of the painting is right in the middle, as if you are supposed to sit there with them?
This image that we see is supposed to depict the Father, Son, and Spirit all sitting together and yet the central focus seems to be on the space where we can fit in at there table.
Here’s what I’m getting at. There is a fancy term that people use when talking about the Trinity it’s called “perichoresis”. You’ll notice in the painting that the Father appears to be looking at the Spirit, and the Son seems to be looking at the Father, and the then the Spirit seems to be looking at the empty space at the table. The idea behind “Perichoresis” is that the Father, Son, and Spirit all existence in this loving community, they are three and yet they are still one being, one God. This love they have for each other flows between all three figures, the Father, Son, and Spirit literally are a community of love. And this love they share moves between them, as the Father looks to the Son and the Son looks to the Spirit, the love flows back and forth both giving and receiving.
But notice that in this painting, the figure of the Holy Spirit is looking at the empty spot. This is the same spot that is in the center of the painting, the space that you might feel invited to sit at.
That’s because this is God’s hope for us: that we might know and feel and be apart of God’s community of love.
I don’t know about you, but I find so much peace when I look at this painting and think about the beautiful promises that it expresses. What greater peace is there then to understand that God is love, that God exists as a community of love, and that God wants you to feel and become apart of God’s love?
That’s what some might call “the peace that surpasses all understanding”. I hope this deep peace of God finds you today.
Pastor Gary’s Full sermon from 11/8/20 based on readings from Matthew 25:1-13 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
Pastor Nate and Pastor Gary’s joint sermon for 11/1/20 – All Saints Sunday.
Based on readings from 1 John 3:1-3 and Matthew 5:1-12
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
“Winner Declared!” by Justin March
Justin March leads the Bethany Lutheran Church Men’s Ministry and sends a weekly email message to the Men’s group every week. Justin has generously permitted us to post his weekly reflections here.
The race is over. The
votes have come in, and a winner has been proclaimed. Some people will be
happy, and some will not. Some will stand behind the philosophies, agendas, and
ideals of the new regime, and some will not. Some will believe that love,
acceptance, and unity can be accomplished, and some will not. And some will be
motivated, excited, and ready to get to work, and some will not.
There will come a time
when our “votes” truly matter on this earth. There will come a time when a
winner has been proclaimed. There will come a time when the devoted, the
forgiving, the gracious, the loving, and the generous are rewarded. And there
will come a time when the battle between two candidates is nothing like we have
ever experienced.
There will be no more
term limits. There will be no more voting. There will be no more arguing over
philosophies, agendas, or ideals. There will be one choice to make. You will
choose love, kindness, forgiveness, grace, and generosity, or you will choose
hate, loathing, greed, persecution, and wickedness. You will have the freewill
to choose any way you like, but the results have already been established. One
leads to a life full of God’s riches, mercy, and undying love, and one leads to
torture, pain, and uncomfortable temperatures. You will have the chance to make
that final choice.
The time to prepare is
now. We are not campaigning to run for a certain term limit. We are not campaigning
to instill our own agendas. We are simply being asked to do God’s work. We have
been given the necessary tools to be His hands and feet. We have been given the
grace to accept those that are not like us. We have been forgiven so that we
too can forgive others. And we are unconditionally loved with the faith that we
will love one another as well.
There will come a time
when unity is achieved. Agendas will be erased, philosophies will be proven,
and the work will be rewarded. The prophecies of the Bible will come to life,
and the truths will be revealed. There will be no more voting, and the
arguments will end. The race will be over, and a winner proclaimed. Some people
will be happy, and some will not. Some will have put in the necessary work, and
some will not. And some will choose to follow, and some will not.
God’s people will come
together, and the celebration will be grand. The journey will be over. The
divisions we lived with will be erased, the hatred squashed, and the pain
eradicated. Our leader will live up to His promises, bring us close, and let
love prevail once and for all. So, read your Bibles, say your prayers, and do
God’s work! There will come a day when the voting is over, the race is won, and
the rewards handed out. And the only division left will be a life full of
glory, or a life full of suffering. Listen to His messages, follow His path,
and share His story with any ear willing to listen. Only one “vote” will count,
and it will be a glorious day when we all come together and follow the only
candidate that ever mattered!
The Evangelical Lutheran Worship book is not just a hymnal but also a beautiful prayer book. Every Monday for the week’s moving forward, Pastor Nate will be posting an image like the one above with a quote from one of our great church hymns. You are invited to use these posts as an opening to prayer– connect with God through these poetic expressions of worship and prayer.
“Banquets and Feasts” by Pastor Nate
Last Sunday was All Saints Day, and just in case you missed it, here is a reading we heard:
“6 On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare
a feast of rich food for all peoples,
a banquet of aged wine—
the best of meats and the finest of wines.
– Isaiah 25:6
I’ll be honest, I don’t really like banquets. I remember the first banquet I ever went to, a friend spent the entire evening explaining the many and various banquet rules. I couldn’t just eat each bite with a different fork (there were 3 to chose from!), no each fork had a special job to do: one was for salad, one for the main course, one for dessert. Now what’s the fun in that? And all rules about forks was only a part of the story!
The thing about banquets is that its all about the show. Everything has a special rule and you progress through the banquet as if its an elaborate performance. In my experience, I was so worried about following the rules that I never really enjoyed the food, the company, and the celebration itself. To me, a banquet ruins a good thing with all its regulations.
And you know what, I don’t think that this just happens at banquets. There seems to be a natural human tendency to take something great and turn it into a burden. Financial security becomes greed, love becomes lust, marriage becomes adultery, and politicians become extremists. Again and again we take blessings and turn them into something destructive or painful. We’ve become blind to the Good News that is being offered to us day after day.
Here’s a few more verses from that Isaiah passage:
"7 On this mountain he will destroy
the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the sheet that covers all nations;
8 God will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears
from all faces;
he will remove his people’s disgrace
from all the earth.
The Lord has spoken.” – Isaiah 25:7-8
All Saints Day is a celebration in the church calendar were we remember our loved ones who have passed. It’s a day meant to celebrate the promise God has made to remove people’s disgrace, wipe away their tears, and swallow up death forever. It’s a day of promises and blessings and yet, the pain of having lost a loved one can quickly turn this day into a burden.
And please don’t hear me wrong on this point. It is a natural process to grieve, it is right to mourn the loss of someone you hold dear, and it is healthy and more than appropriate to weep over the loss, but it isn’t healthy to remain there.
Christ has lifted the shroud that enfolds us all. Death has been swallowed up forever.
May we rejoice in the promise of the resurrection and learn to embrace all the blessings that Christ extends to us each and every day. Amen.
The Evangelical Lutheran Worship book is not just a hymnal but also a beautiful prayer book. Every Monday for the week’s moving forward, Pastor Nate will be posting an image like the one above with a quote from one of our great church hymns. You are invited to use these posts as an opening to prayer– connect with God through these poetic expressions of worship and prayer.
“The Nudge” by Justin March
Justin March leads the Bethany Lutheran Church Men’s Ministry and sends a weekly email message to the Men’s group every week. Justin has generously permitted us to post his weekly reflections here.
Have you ever felt
that nudge? That nudge where no matter how much you try to ignore it, it
refuses to go away until you pay attention to what it really wants? That nudge
that is persistent, constant, and demanding? That nudge, that if you choose to
ignore it, will make sure your life is full of worry, doubt, and sleepless
nights?
While I was in
Norfolk, Nebraska last weekend, that nudge came strong. It was Saturday
morning, and my buddy and I were getting ready to watch the first Husker game
of the season. We both knew a winter storm was coming, but neither one of us
paid much attention to it. It is football season, and we will not be bothered
by trivial news like the weather! Then, the nudge began. First, my buddy’s wife
got a phone call from her mother saying that she was worried about me driving
home the next day. We listened, but a concerned mother really is not something
out of the ordinary. But as we watched football that Saturday afternoon, the
nudge strengthened and became more difficult to ignore. The television was
blasting winter storm warnings, the temperatures were dropping, and Sunday
looked like it could be a tough day to drive. That nudge got stronger, and by
the end of the Husker game, it was almost impossible to ignore.
So, after talking to
my friends, calling my wife, and reluctantly accepting the nudge, I packed up,
said my goodbyes, and left Saturday afternoon. Man am I glad I did! If I would
have stuck to MY plans, I would have left Sunday morning and been in trouble. I
would have been greeted by snow, icy road conditions, and a much longer drive
than anticipated. MY plans could have put me in danger, but listening to those
nudges, changing course, and accepting HIS plans, got me home safe.
Whether we realize it
or not, God is always looking out for us. Sometimes the message may come in
subtle nudges, and sometimes the message may hit us like a freight train. But
when those nudges come, we are left with the choice to ignore them or accept
them. God has given us the freewill to do what we want, yet HE nudges us to do
the right thing and follow HIS instructions.
Are you feeling the
nudges in your life? Are you willing to accept them, follow HIS plans, and do
what HE asks? Or are you ignoring them, dodging the work that needs to be done,
and then wondering why life is not turning out the way you had hoped? It is
your choice to accept or deny the nudges, but let me tell you, when you choose
to follow the messages God puts in front of you, you will see the beauty of HIS
creation, you will be able to forgive those that wrong you, you will show grace
when others cannot, and you will love like your family and friends have never
experienced before.
What will you choose
this week? Will you roll the dice and ignore the nudges HE is trying to send
your way? Will you risk the consequences that may come from following YOUR path
instead of HIS? Or will you accept HIS nudges, have faith in HIS direction, and
enjoy all HE can offer in your life? The choice is yours, but I pray you choose
to glorify God, spread HIS messages, and allow HIS nudges to make this world a
better place for all of us!
Pastor Nate’s full sermon from Reformation Sunday 2020 (10/28/20). The sermon is based on readings from Romans 3:19-28 and John 8:31-38.
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
“Excess and Need” by Pastor Nate
Halloween is this Saturday and every year on Halloween I’m reminded of a twitter post I saw on a Halloween many years ago. It read:
“for kids whose stomachs hurt because they ate too much candy, and for those whose bellies hurt because they have no food at all, we pray.”
I’m not always quite sure what to do when I get a cold splash of reality like this. We know that our world exists in the tension of these type of circumstances. We know that some of us have so much that we don’t know how to enjoy it all without getting a stomach ache, while others lack the basic needs for survival but we don’t often know what to do with these situations. How are we to live in a world where there is so much excess and yet so much need?
I’ll be honest, I don’t have a good answer to all these questions. I’m sure that next Halloween will come and go and child will gorge themselves on candy while others go to bed hungry. But in a world where this stark contrast is possible I find the following words of Jesus not only helpful, but convicting:
“When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:1-12
Christ calls some of the most unlikely groups of people blessed not because He thinks their hunger or pain is a blessing but because, by His love he has declared them blessed. And in so doing, Christ challenges us to understand blessings not in terms of what we have or don’t have, but to understand blessing in terms of Christ’s love for us. A love that is powerful enough to overcome the dichotomies within our world.
In our world of stark contrasts, we are called to see the excess and the needs with Christ’s eyes and to bring that love of Christ to the many places of hardship in our world.
May we learn to see the world with Christ’s eyes. Amen.
“Keep on Truckin’” by Justin March
Justin March leads the Bethany Lutheran Church Men’s Ministry and sends a weekly email message to the Men’s group every week. Justin has generously permitted us to post his weekly reflections here.
I have been traveling
the last 2 weeks, and let me tell you, things are different out there. Airport
restaurants close early, in-flight snacks and beverages no longer exist, and
masks must be worn the entire flight. Hotels no longer offer hot breakfast,
cleaning services are only done upon request, and there are limitations to the
use of gyms and swimming pools. Even in my travels by car, the things I am used
to have drastically changed. Most restaurant dining rooms are closed, many rest
areas have shut down, and finding a bathroom is not as easy as it once was.
Yet, amongst all the
changes, all the disgruntled travelers, and all the inconveniences, I found
both trips enjoyable. I was still able to reconnect with family and friends. I
was still able to see the countryside. I was still able to meet new people and
listen to their stories. And I was still able to relax, unwind, and reboot
after a tumultuous 2020. Yes, many things have changed in the way we travel,
but one thing has not. God is still with us and wants us to have new
experiences, meet new people, and spend time with loved ones.
No matter how this
world changes or forces us into different habits, we can still make the most of
what God is trying to show us. We can still enjoy the beauty he has created
around us. We can still share stories, laugh, cry, and fellowship with one another.
And we can still spread his messages of love, forgiveness, sacrifice, and
grace. It does not matter how much this world changes, God is still with us. If
we have faith in him, if we have trust in him, and if we follow his path for
us, he will continue to make this life enjoyable, one day at a time!
The Evangelical Lutheran Worship book is not just a hymnal but also a beautiful prayer book. Every Monday for the week’s moving forward, Pastor Nate will be posting an image like the one above with a quote from one of our great church hymns. You are invited to use these posts as an opening to prayer– connect with God through these poetic expressions of worship and prayer.