SCC Pastors' Blog

More than just “green”…
I admit it. I got the idea from someone else. In January I did a message titled “Can They Hear You?.” In it I encouraged people to learn a little about they popular culture we live in. I used the movie “Avitar” as an example. Being a “missionary” is not something reserved for people who go to the deepest darkest parts of the world. Its a calling for everyone who follows Jesus. Just like anyone else who is going to work in distant country – we need to study the place where we live, learning the stories that impact people and the language they use to express themselves.
Growing up, St. Patrick’s Day was always about wearing something green so I wouldn’t get pinched. I think I later learned that old St. Patty rid the island of snakes. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I learned the real story of St. Patrick and his work. Its a fascinating story. He was kidnapped when he was 16 from Britain. He served as a slave for years in Ireland but escaped and went home. But he went back years later to share with pagan tribes the good news about Jesus. He was a pioneer in his work – he developed new strategies to reaching the tribes. He learned their stories, and their language and observed their religions. Because of his work (more than 1500 years ago), Irish people everywhere still celebrate his work (although its done with a few more beers now)!
So I’m not really teaching any kind of profound new truth, I’m borrowing from what Jesus did so well and what Patrick did in Ireland. It still works today.
Heres a good short history: http://jonathandodson.org/2010/03/st-patrick-the-missional-leader/

Here is Patrick’s famous prayer:

As I arise today,
may the strength of God pilot me,
the power of God uphold me,
the wisdom of God guide me.
May the eye of God look before me,
the ear of God hear me,
the word of God speak for me.
May the hand of God protect me,
the way of God lie before me,
the shield of God defend me,
the host of God save me.
May Christ shield me today.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit,
Christ when I stand,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
 Amen

WOW! how cool is this. A blog. this is a first for me. I like it. I’m a blogger! I’ve been called worse.

Yesterday was a Blessing beyond words for me. It’s been 2 1/2 years since I’ve been in the pulpit and I had forgotten how that third service can be testing.  I pray that every person left with the knowledge and the belief that God’s Mercy is the original “trickle down” theory.   I know, I always thought it was Ronald Regan too. The truth is “The more we are willing to grant Mercy … the more God’s Mercy is poured out on us.”

Think of it in the same way we think of our giving. We are asked for 10% but promised that the more we give the higher our return will be.  Just today I received a letter from a member of our church addressing this very thing.  I hope he won’t mind my sharing a bit of that letter here.  He wrote: “Knowing that God is a loving and generous God, we knew we could never out give Him,”  and as Jesus said in Luke, 6:28, “Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  Paul tells us in Galatians 6:7 that “Whatever you sow, so shall you reap” but also tells us in 2nd Corinthians 9:6 that “The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and that the person who sows generously will also reap generously.”   It just makes sense that the more you sow, the more you stand to reap.”

Take these words and apply them to the Forgiveness and Mercy we are willing to sow in our relationships.  Please!

I believe that if Adolf Hitler could have awakened from his nightmare and realized his sins, and confessed those sins at the feet of God, and Repented and begged for His Forgiveness…that God would have poured out His Mercy on this skumbag.. So why do I still have times in my life where I doubt that He would do the same for pitiful me?

In the 12 step programs, we have a story dealing with Forgiveness that tells us to pray for the person we hold resentment against.  Pray for 10 days and ask God to give to this person all the good things we would want God to Bless us with. Try it. I think you will be surprised at the results.

Finally, I want to share a thought with you that was imparted to me by my dear friend Dr. Bob Andrew (I miss him so)  If you have sinned (let me correct that) WHEN you have sinned against another ask for forgiveness three times… if they won’t forgive… the sin becomes theirs. ” THEN MOVE ON.”

I don’t ask for forgiveness and mercy for them (whoever “them” may be) and I don’t grant forgiveness for them either… I do it for me…  I do it so I can keep My side of the street clean. I want to give God a clear shot at my heart and mind…

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you”.  Lewis Smedes, Forgive and Forget

Please remember my invitation to contact any of the pastors for an appointment to discuss this or any issues keeping you from being “Free in the Lord.”

God Bless,     Rex