Faith Is...

"Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that believers would stake their life on it one thousand times. This knowledge of and confidence in God's grace makes people glad and bold and happy in dealing with God and with all creatures. And this is the work which the Holy Spirit performs in faith. Because of it, without compulsion, people are ready and glad to do good to everyone, to serve everyone, to suffer everything, out of love and praise to God who has shown them this grace" (Luther's Works, American edition, vol. 35, pages 370-371).

 

Faith is alive! When we understand our faith as active – vibrant and dynamic – we can change the world. Sometimes I think people use the fear of “works righteousness” as an excuse for keeping faith as a personal and private expression. While our works won’t get any special favor with God, works are a natural expression of our faith! How can we help but fully live out our faith?

 

Faith is daring!  It is daring to offer the love of Christ to all – and I mean all! No matter your race, creed, sex, sexuality or physical or mental ability – we love with the love of the Lord! It is daring to stand up for justice and peace in a world bent upon destruction and violence. It is daring to live a generous life – denying the scarcity mentality of a large part of the world. We dare because we know we are not alone. God walks with us in all our bold acts. How can we help but be daring?

 

Faith is confident! No we don’t have to be confident in our prayers, or our works, or even our daring lives. We are confident in God. We are confident in God’s presence, acceptance, urgings, and most especially love. How can we help but be confident?

 

Join us this fall as our new beginnings encounter a “Living, Daring, Confidence!”

 

On Being a Healthy Church...

Whenever I get together with other pastors and church leaders, I feel alone. (Well except that Pastor Brad is also there and he knows the same feelings as I.) Clergy after clergy are bemoaning lowering attendance, lack of funds and lack of enthusiasm. Pastor after pastor is lamenting a lack of spirituality and charity. Person after person expresses sadness and depression in their daily walk with God.

I sit there trying to figure out what to say….I want to say, “Things are great at Abiding Love! We are growing. Attendance is up – even for the summer months! Our children are crazy fun and always laughing! Our youth sponsors are bold and courageous! Worship is thought provoking and uplifting. I’m exhausted by the pure joy of it all!” but then, I’m afraid that they just wouldn’t believe me or that I would somehow be putting them down.

The fact is; Abiding Love is a very healthy congregation. Here are a few reasons that I think this is so…
•        We put love first.
•        We are not afraid of change, not just for change sake but for good reasons.
•        You aren’t afraid of your pastors.
•        We evaluate programs and ministries to make them the best they can be.
•        We know that we don’t have to agree on everything to be in ministry together.
•        We value children and their unique spirituality.
•        We talk things out, not behind any backs and not in the parking lot.
•        We put love first. Thank you God for placing me in this community!

Thank you for these members and these colleagues. Bless us as we go about your ministry and bless our neighbors and all those struggling with their calls and congregations. Amen.

He is Risen!

He is Risen! 

And now the real work begins. Just remembering his life, death and resurrection isn’t enough. Now, yes now, we must begin the work of new life.

For if we have understood his message, then we are compelled to BE the people of God that Jesus expected us to be. So, we cannot be routine or complacent. If we truly understand that Jesus came to show us the way, the way to live – then we have some work to do. To live in the kingdom of God as Jesus proclaimed is to be different than the rest of the world. It is to love kindness, to do justice. It is to walk humbly with God. This Easter Season we celebrate seeing and hearing the message so much that we walk differently. Like the disciples on the way to Emmaus we cry out, “were not our hearts burning within us, are not our lives alighted with fire?”   

 

Join us each Sunday as we emphasize Jesus living on through us.

 

"Other Sheep"

I am the good shepherd; and I know my own, and my own know me, even as the Father knows me and I know my Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they shall hear my voice; and they shall become one flock with one shepherd. (John 10:14-16)

As I write this article, I’ve just returned from spending some time with "other sheep". I spent some time with Jewish Rabbi’s, Islamic Imam’s, Indian Sikh’s, Scientologists and more. I sat and broke bread with other citizens of Austin. We prayed together, we shared stories and we cried.

I was a guest of Ben Heimsath, one of the owners of our Architectural Firm working on our remodel. Ben invited me to the I-Act (Interfaith Action of Central Texas) at the "Friends of Faith" luncheon. The topic:  "A Friendship Forged from Tragedy. Two Voices Raised Against Extremism".

The featured speakers were Nader Hassan and Kerry Cahill of the Nawal Foundation.  Mr. Hassan’s cousin is on trial for allegedly killing Kerry’s father at Fort Hood. Together they are speaking out against violence, extremism, media hype and they are speaking for dialogue, education and collaboration. I was humbled by their vulnerability. They are friends; these two who were joined by tragedy have become friends as they work to change the world. 

Ms. Cahill warned us, the twenty or so clergy that were present, that "tolerance and coexisting is not enough". We just cannot live in a bubble thinking that all things revolve around our little church. We just cannot be so overwhelmed with tasks that we don’t get the real business of being church done. We must find ways to listen, serve and celebrate with all faiths. We must find ways to let God use us for good.

The good shepherd loves and protects all. Let’s stand out as a congregation and community that supports inter-faith dialogue, collaboration and just plain loving all. Join me to pray for this kind of peace. God of love, give us courage to welcome all. Give us strength to stand against injustice. Give us wisdom to see you in all we meet. Amen.