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Messages from Pastor Mark Borseth
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Pastor's Message, June 2017
Maximizing Power
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8
It almost seems inappropriate to focus on power in the church. It gets so deeply ingrained in us to focus on love and gentleness and humility that we start thinking there is something wrong with focusing on power. Yet, Jesus says that the Kingdom he came to bring with him and invite us into is one of power. Pentecost is the first installment of that power into his church as the Holy Spirit is poured out.
So, if power is a significant part of the Kingdom, how fully do we experience it and demonstrate it as his church? If we are lacking in power, just as with a gasoline engine, the problem may be with the fuel, the fire or the exhaust.
An engine can’t provide any power without fuel. When it comes to your relationship with God, are you running low on fuel? If so, take time each day to read the Bible, to pray, to do devotions, to be part of a small group at church. Each of these things adds fuel which will be available for the next ingredient for power – fire.
Even with a full tank of fuel, there will be no power without fire/spark. When it comes to your relationship with God, do you have the fuel of study and prayer and other things you are using to fill yourself but no fire? Without the fire of the Holy Spirit, all you are is full of yourself, and of little good to anyone else. If you have the fuel, pray for the Holy Spirit’s fire to come upon you today and transform that fuel into power to be a blessing to the world around you. Which brings us to the final ingredient for power – exhaust.
It seems odd, but one of the greatest limiting factors to power for an engine is not the fuel or fire, it is the exhaust. Without having the result of the explosion being released outside the engine, the power will be minimized. The more efficient the release, the more power. When it comes to your relationship with God, do you have fuel and fire in your worship and personal time with God, but it never effects anyone other than you? If so, you will discover very little power to your faith outside your personal interaction with God. If that is the case, pray for the courage, love and motivation to start sharing your faith, praying for people, serving your neighbor. You will discover more power coming into your life as you give more away.
What does your power audit reveal? If you are lacking fuel, start filling your tank with the Word and prayer. If you are lacking fire, pray for a fresh touch of the Holy Spirit. If you are lacking an outward release for the explosion of fuel and fire, start praying for people, sharing your faith with people and serving people.
You were created for God’s Kingdom, and that Kingdom is about power. The more fuel, fire and outward release of God’s activity, the more of the Kingdom you will experience and the more you will be able to share to meet the needs of the world around you.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8
It almost seems inappropriate to focus on power in the church. It gets so deeply ingrained in us to focus on love and gentleness and humility that we start thinking there is something wrong with focusing on power. Yet, Jesus says that the Kingdom he came to bring with him and invite us into is one of power. Pentecost is the first installment of that power into his church as the Holy Spirit is poured out.
So, if power is a significant part of the Kingdom, how fully do we experience it and demonstrate it as his church? If we are lacking in power, just as with a gasoline engine, the problem may be with the fuel, the fire or the exhaust.
An engine can’t provide any power without fuel. When it comes to your relationship with God, are you running low on fuel? If so, take time each day to read the Bible, to pray, to do devotions, to be part of a small group at church. Each of these things adds fuel which will be available for the next ingredient for power – fire.
Even with a full tank of fuel, there will be no power without fire/spark. When it comes to your relationship with God, do you have the fuel of study and prayer and other things you are using to fill yourself but no fire? Without the fire of the Holy Spirit, all you are is full of yourself, and of little good to anyone else. If you have the fuel, pray for the Holy Spirit’s fire to come upon you today and transform that fuel into power to be a blessing to the world around you. Which brings us to the final ingredient for power – exhaust.
It seems odd, but one of the greatest limiting factors to power for an engine is not the fuel or fire, it is the exhaust. Without having the result of the explosion being released outside the engine, the power will be minimized. The more efficient the release, the more power. When it comes to your relationship with God, do you have fuel and fire in your worship and personal time with God, but it never effects anyone other than you? If so, you will discover very little power to your faith outside your personal interaction with God. If that is the case, pray for the courage, love and motivation to start sharing your faith, praying for people, serving your neighbor. You will discover more power coming into your life as you give more away.
What does your power audit reveal? If you are lacking fuel, start filling your tank with the Word and prayer. If you are lacking fire, pray for a fresh touch of the Holy Spirit. If you are lacking an outward release for the explosion of fuel and fire, start praying for people, sharing your faith with people and serving people.
You were created for God’s Kingdom, and that Kingdom is about power. The more fuel, fire and outward release of God’s activity, the more of the Kingdom you will experience and the more you will be able to share to meet the needs of the world around you.
Pastor's Message, May 2017
Christianity: Practice of God’s Presence
“I cannot imagine how religious persons can live satisfied without the practice of the presence of GOD. For my part I keep myself retired with Him in the depth of centre of my soul as much as I can; and while I am so with Him I fear nothing; but the least turning from Him is insupportable.”
― Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God
In 17th Century Paris, the monastery did not draw the attention of people from around the region because of high-ranking dignitaries in the church or fancy architecture or exquisite rituals. The monastery became a magnet for visitors because of a simple, uneducated monk who worked in the kitchen – Brother Lawrence. His life and teachings, as recorded in his book “The Practice of the Presence of God” were drawing priests and bishops and dignitaries to visit him and see what made him different from the normal religious person.
As he cleaned the floor, or as he washed dishes, he kept up a constant conversation with God and had a constant awareness of God’s presence. When you visited Lawrence, you couldn’t help but experience the one with whom he was in constant fellowship – God.
What if the thing the world is hungriest for the church to share with them is not morality, pomp, ritual, systematic theology, or fancy buildings? What if the thing for which the world hungers and thirsts is to experience the presence of God?
I have a sense that the way I can be most influential in spreading God’s kingdom is to spend more time and more attention hearing God’s voice and practicing God’s presence. If I am in constant communion with God, then those who spend time with me will also get a taste of the presence of God. And, as I practice the presence of God for myself, the thing I must not neglect doing is to teach others to practice the presence of God in their own lives.
The influence of that 17th Century monastery was most clearly manifest in the life of a kitchen worker who knew the presence of God. Maybe the influence of my ministry will be most clearly manifest through a school child, a stay at home mom, a garbage man, a mechanic, or a McDonalds employee I help teach how to practice the presence of God where they are – hearing God’s voice, in constant conversation with God.
What do I want my life and ministry to inspire and produce? Yes, I would love to have Pastors raised up by my influence. A seminary professor or Bishop or missionary or two would be great. But, I would trade all of those for one person who practices the presence of God moment by moment wherever they are. In the church, the monastery, the seminary or mopping floors or doing dishes at McDonalds.
Pastor’s Health Update
Thanks to everyone for your prayers, encouragement and support as I move closer to treatment for my Prostate Cancer.
Here is the latest update:
Thursday, May 11 – A scan to map out my prostate and calculate its volume to help plan how many “seeds” to implant and where to put them.
Friday, June 16 – This is when I will have my Brachytherapy (implanting of radioactive “seeds” in my prostate). It is an outpatient procedure, so I will by home that night.
Saturday, June 17-Monday, June 26 – I plan to take some sick-leave/vacation to rest and recover. Thanks to Dr. Paul for preaching and leading worship on June 17-18 and to Bishop Mike for preaching and leading worship on June 24-25.
“I cannot imagine how religious persons can live satisfied without the practice of the presence of GOD. For my part I keep myself retired with Him in the depth of centre of my soul as much as I can; and while I am so with Him I fear nothing; but the least turning from Him is insupportable.”
― Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God
In 17th Century Paris, the monastery did not draw the attention of people from around the region because of high-ranking dignitaries in the church or fancy architecture or exquisite rituals. The monastery became a magnet for visitors because of a simple, uneducated monk who worked in the kitchen – Brother Lawrence. His life and teachings, as recorded in his book “The Practice of the Presence of God” were drawing priests and bishops and dignitaries to visit him and see what made him different from the normal religious person.
As he cleaned the floor, or as he washed dishes, he kept up a constant conversation with God and had a constant awareness of God’s presence. When you visited Lawrence, you couldn’t help but experience the one with whom he was in constant fellowship – God.
What if the thing the world is hungriest for the church to share with them is not morality, pomp, ritual, systematic theology, or fancy buildings? What if the thing for which the world hungers and thirsts is to experience the presence of God?
I have a sense that the way I can be most influential in spreading God’s kingdom is to spend more time and more attention hearing God’s voice and practicing God’s presence. If I am in constant communion with God, then those who spend time with me will also get a taste of the presence of God. And, as I practice the presence of God for myself, the thing I must not neglect doing is to teach others to practice the presence of God in their own lives.
The influence of that 17th Century monastery was most clearly manifest in the life of a kitchen worker who knew the presence of God. Maybe the influence of my ministry will be most clearly manifest through a school child, a stay at home mom, a garbage man, a mechanic, or a McDonalds employee I help teach how to practice the presence of God where they are – hearing God’s voice, in constant conversation with God.
What do I want my life and ministry to inspire and produce? Yes, I would love to have Pastors raised up by my influence. A seminary professor or Bishop or missionary or two would be great. But, I would trade all of those for one person who practices the presence of God moment by moment wherever they are. In the church, the monastery, the seminary or mopping floors or doing dishes at McDonalds.
Pastor’s Health Update
Thanks to everyone for your prayers, encouragement and support as I move closer to treatment for my Prostate Cancer.
Here is the latest update:
Thursday, May 11 – A scan to map out my prostate and calculate its volume to help plan how many “seeds” to implant and where to put them.
Friday, June 16 – This is when I will have my Brachytherapy (implanting of radioactive “seeds” in my prostate). It is an outpatient procedure, so I will by home that night.
Saturday, June 17-Monday, June 26 – I plan to take some sick-leave/vacation to rest and recover. Thanks to Dr. Paul for preaching and leading worship on June 17-18 and to Bishop Mike for preaching and leading worship on June 24-25.
Pastor's Message, April 2017
Fully Alive
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10
I wonder sometimes which team the church is on. The sign that we are on Jesus’ team is that we make people more alive so they can live more abundantly. The sign we are on the enemy’s team is that we steal life, kill spirits and destroy dreams.
Sometimes I wonder if sometimes Christian discipleship’s real intent is to set people free to dream dreams, take risks and be free or to be tamed, emotions calmed, risks minimized, to make us into people who are nice and safe and easily manipulated.
Nice people who avoid taking risks and making mistakes may make a nice peaceful congregation, but they make pretty ineffective change agents in the world. They look more like obedient slaves trying to not create waves and please their master rather than free sons and daughters of God ready to confront evil, take risks, dream dreams of a better world and allow the Holy Spirit to fill them with love and courage and send them to spread God’s kingdom in the world.
What if the sign of effective ministry is not so much that I have a nice group of people who obediently fill all of the committee and ministry needs to keep the church functioning? What if effective ministry means many people don’t have time to be on a church committee because they are living out their faith at work and in the world? What if church growth does not mean more “nice” members who willingly stay busy at church? What if it means there are more people announcing they are leaving the church because God is calling them to be part of a ministry in Africa or to quit their job to go get a degree which will allow them to follow their dreams.
What if making people into nice, submissive, servants who will faithfully do the work of the church (often in areas they have no passion but feel like they need to help where they can) is not following the strategy of Jesus which is to make people more alive and free? What if we are unwittingly stealing the joy, the passion, the adventure, and the hopes and dreams of people to just accomplish our agenda of maintaining the business of the church?
What if settling for creating safe, obedient servants to accomplish church business is precisely what is causing those looking from the outside to say, “If that is what Christian maturity looks like, I want nothing to do with it!”
What if the key to expanding God’s kingdom is empowering creative, risk-taking, spirit-let, fully alive sons and daughters of God who likely to be too busy doing the ministry of transforming the world to spend all of their time on church committees talking about mini?
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10
I wonder sometimes which team the church is on. The sign that we are on Jesus’ team is that we make people more alive so they can live more abundantly. The sign we are on the enemy’s team is that we steal life, kill spirits and destroy dreams.
Sometimes I wonder if sometimes Christian discipleship’s real intent is to set people free to dream dreams, take risks and be free or to be tamed, emotions calmed, risks minimized, to make us into people who are nice and safe and easily manipulated.
Nice people who avoid taking risks and making mistakes may make a nice peaceful congregation, but they make pretty ineffective change agents in the world. They look more like obedient slaves trying to not create waves and please their master rather than free sons and daughters of God ready to confront evil, take risks, dream dreams of a better world and allow the Holy Spirit to fill them with love and courage and send them to spread God’s kingdom in the world.
What if the sign of effective ministry is not so much that I have a nice group of people who obediently fill all of the committee and ministry needs to keep the church functioning? What if effective ministry means many people don’t have time to be on a church committee because they are living out their faith at work and in the world? What if church growth does not mean more “nice” members who willingly stay busy at church? What if it means there are more people announcing they are leaving the church because God is calling them to be part of a ministry in Africa or to quit their job to go get a degree which will allow them to follow their dreams.
What if making people into nice, submissive, servants who will faithfully do the work of the church (often in areas they have no passion but feel like they need to help where they can) is not following the strategy of Jesus which is to make people more alive and free? What if we are unwittingly stealing the joy, the passion, the adventure, and the hopes and dreams of people to just accomplish our agenda of maintaining the business of the church?
What if settling for creating safe, obedient servants to accomplish church business is precisely what is causing those looking from the outside to say, “If that is what Christian maturity looks like, I want nothing to do with it!”
What if the key to expanding God’s kingdom is empowering creative, risk-taking, spirit-let, fully alive sons and daughters of God who likely to be too busy doing the ministry of transforming the world to spend all of their time on church committees talking about mini?
Pastor's Message, March 2017
A Season of Repentance
On March 1, we begin the season of Lent in the church. It is traditionally looked at as a time of repentance and preparation for a deeper walk with God.
The problem is that we so often have way too small an idea of what repentance looks like. We think of the tears and regret over what we have done wrong and how we have not trusted or honored God. Yes, repentance will lead us to admit what we have done wrong and our need for God to do for us what we can’t do for ourselves. But that is not the full extent of the repentance to which Jesus calls us.
The Greek word which we translate as repentance literally means change the way we think, the way we see and experience reality. Yes, the beginning of repentance is to start with admitting we are broken and sinful and in need of God. But Jesus seeks more than just enough repentance to get us to admitting and being forgiven for our sins. He seeks to lead us into the repentance which will help us more fully experience God’s love, power, presence and activity in our lives. Enough repentance for us to live as free, forgiven sons and daughters of God and not just as forgiven sinners.
So, where are you in your repentance? That is the place to begin this Lent. Are you still having trouble admitting you have messed up and are in need of Jesus? For you, my prayer is that you would repent enough to honestly admit your brokenness and need and to receive the forgiveness made possible by Jesus’ death on the cross this Lenten season.
But maybe you have traveled that route in your journey of repentance every year, over and over…”I’ve got to remember how messed up I am so I can keep on being forgiven.” For you, I suggest a simple prayer of thanks for bringing you that far in the journey of repentance and, instead of going back there to re-travel that route, to seek God’s help to repent into a new part of the journey - to the place you see yourself as more than a forgiven sinner.
Part of what Jesus came to do was to invite people to see differently, to see the Kingdom of God. He came to reveal a loving Father, to reveal a world where God’s love was the motivation for life instead of fearful obedience to God’s law. He came to show them a God who chose them, rather than a God they needed to choose. He came to show them that life was about more than saving yourself, but rather to be part of God’s activity in the world for the sake of others.
So, if you have repented (over and over) of your sin and brokenness, it’s time to repent in such a way that it opens the door to the fullness of God’s, life and purpose. A place where you learn to see God as a loving Father and not scary master. A place where you delight in God’s presence rather than fearing it. A place motivated by love and not fear. A place where you were chosen by your Father to glorify him by joining him in loving and serving the world.
It’s time to repent more than enough to become a forgiven sinner. It’s time to repent (learn to see and approach life through the eyes of God) enough to be fully free, fully loved, fully alive, children of God.
On March 1, we begin the season of Lent in the church. It is traditionally looked at as a time of repentance and preparation for a deeper walk with God.
The problem is that we so often have way too small an idea of what repentance looks like. We think of the tears and regret over what we have done wrong and how we have not trusted or honored God. Yes, repentance will lead us to admit what we have done wrong and our need for God to do for us what we can’t do for ourselves. But that is not the full extent of the repentance to which Jesus calls us.
The Greek word which we translate as repentance literally means change the way we think, the way we see and experience reality. Yes, the beginning of repentance is to start with admitting we are broken and sinful and in need of God. But Jesus seeks more than just enough repentance to get us to admitting and being forgiven for our sins. He seeks to lead us into the repentance which will help us more fully experience God’s love, power, presence and activity in our lives. Enough repentance for us to live as free, forgiven sons and daughters of God and not just as forgiven sinners.
So, where are you in your repentance? That is the place to begin this Lent. Are you still having trouble admitting you have messed up and are in need of Jesus? For you, my prayer is that you would repent enough to honestly admit your brokenness and need and to receive the forgiveness made possible by Jesus’ death on the cross this Lenten season.
But maybe you have traveled that route in your journey of repentance every year, over and over…”I’ve got to remember how messed up I am so I can keep on being forgiven.” For you, I suggest a simple prayer of thanks for bringing you that far in the journey of repentance and, instead of going back there to re-travel that route, to seek God’s help to repent into a new part of the journey - to the place you see yourself as more than a forgiven sinner.
Part of what Jesus came to do was to invite people to see differently, to see the Kingdom of God. He came to reveal a loving Father, to reveal a world where God’s love was the motivation for life instead of fearful obedience to God’s law. He came to show them a God who chose them, rather than a God they needed to choose. He came to show them that life was about more than saving yourself, but rather to be part of God’s activity in the world for the sake of others.
So, if you have repented (over and over) of your sin and brokenness, it’s time to repent in such a way that it opens the door to the fullness of God’s, life and purpose. A place where you learn to see God as a loving Father and not scary master. A place where you delight in God’s presence rather than fearing it. A place motivated by love and not fear. A place where you were chosen by your Father to glorify him by joining him in loving and serving the world.
It’s time to repent more than enough to become a forgiven sinner. It’s time to repent (learn to see and approach life through the eyes of God) enough to be fully free, fully loved, fully alive, children of God.
Pastor's Message, February 2017
Lutheran Lenses
The lenses through which you view God, faith, other people and yourself make a huge difference. Two different people can see the same people or same events and interpret them differently which will lead them to respond differently.
When it comes to faith issues, different religions see through different sets of lenses. But, it is not just different religions that have different sets of lenses, it is just as likely to be the case with different groups within the same religion. Christianity, for example.
During the season of Lent, we will be focusing on the lenses used by Lutherans to see God, faith, other people and themselves. The purpose for this is to better understand why we see things the way we do, but also to realize that other Christian groups aren’t less “Christian” than we are, they just have a different set of lenses through which they see the issues of faith and life.
I personally believe Lutherans have a great set of lenses, but I also believe our view of God and the world will be limited and lacking if we don’t spend time with other Christians who may help us see things and perspectives which we are not likely to see and appreciate because of our preferred lenses.
During Lent Wednesdays we will take time to explore some lenses Lutherans and other protestant traditions have trusted in. In the five Wednesdays of Lent, we will look at what some would call the “Five Solas.”
Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone) – Our tradition tells us to focus on the Bible. For Lutherans, the ultimate source of truth and authority is the Bible, not human doctrines or traditions.
Sola Gratia (Grace Alone) – Into a Christian atmosphere where there was much confusion about how we are made right with God – works, indulgences (paying money for forgiveness), etc. – Luther made it clear it is all about grace – what God has done, not what we do, what God has paid for, not what we need to pay for.
Sola Fide (Faith Alone) – How do we access the free gift of God? Being really smart? Being really good or worthy? No. The free gift of God is received by faith, by trust in the goodness of the giver of the gift, Jesus.
S
olus Christus (Christ Alone) – Into a Christian atmosphere where there seemed to be multiple access points to God’s grace – the saints, the priests or the Pope, indulgences – Luther affirmed that we have and need only one access point to God’s grace – Jesus.
Soli Deo Gloria (Glory be to God Alone) – We live our lives of faith not to bring glory to ourselves but to God. It’s not about us. It’s about him!
Wednesdays during Lent we will explore what difference it makes to see life and faith through these lenses.
The lenses through which you view God, faith, other people and yourself make a huge difference. Two different people can see the same people or same events and interpret them differently which will lead them to respond differently.
When it comes to faith issues, different religions see through different sets of lenses. But, it is not just different religions that have different sets of lenses, it is just as likely to be the case with different groups within the same religion. Christianity, for example.
During the season of Lent, we will be focusing on the lenses used by Lutherans to see God, faith, other people and themselves. The purpose for this is to better understand why we see things the way we do, but also to realize that other Christian groups aren’t less “Christian” than we are, they just have a different set of lenses through which they see the issues of faith and life.
I personally believe Lutherans have a great set of lenses, but I also believe our view of God and the world will be limited and lacking if we don’t spend time with other Christians who may help us see things and perspectives which we are not likely to see and appreciate because of our preferred lenses.
During Lent Wednesdays we will take time to explore some lenses Lutherans and other protestant traditions have trusted in. In the five Wednesdays of Lent, we will look at what some would call the “Five Solas.”
Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone) – Our tradition tells us to focus on the Bible. For Lutherans, the ultimate source of truth and authority is the Bible, not human doctrines or traditions.
Sola Gratia (Grace Alone) – Into a Christian atmosphere where there was much confusion about how we are made right with God – works, indulgences (paying money for forgiveness), etc. – Luther made it clear it is all about grace – what God has done, not what we do, what God has paid for, not what we need to pay for.
Sola Fide (Faith Alone) – How do we access the free gift of God? Being really smart? Being really good or worthy? No. The free gift of God is received by faith, by trust in the goodness of the giver of the gift, Jesus.
S
olus Christus (Christ Alone) – Into a Christian atmosphere where there seemed to be multiple access points to God’s grace – the saints, the priests or the Pope, indulgences – Luther affirmed that we have and need only one access point to God’s grace – Jesus.
Soli Deo Gloria (Glory be to God Alone) – We live our lives of faith not to bring glory to ourselves but to God. It’s not about us. It’s about him!
Wednesdays during Lent we will explore what difference it makes to see life and faith through these lenses.
Pastor's Message, Jan 2017
Does Anybody Else Know?
One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4
What are the things I want my sons to know about me which I have never taken the time to tell them? What if something happens to me before I have a chance to tell them? What should they know about family health history, how I see them, my relationship with God?
As I get older, I realize there are many things I don’t know about my parents. They have both died, so I no longer have an opportunity to find out anything more from them. What were some of the health issues they had that they never told us kids about, but which would be good to know now? How did they look at certain issues they never discussed with us kids? There are many things I would love to know.
The people of Israel were told that one of the greatest gifts they had to give their kids was to talk about their relationship with God. They were to tell about the ways God had provided for them, the times God intervened when things seemed impossible, the way they had experienced God’s loving presence and power in their lives.
I know it is a popular idea today to not talk too much about such issues to our kids to they can make their own decisions about such matters. I’m not saying we are to force our kids to believe or act in any particular way, but it is dumb to not share our own testimony of God’s presence and activity in our lives.
I have seen God provide in miraculous ways. I may have written about it or mentioned it in a sermon, but have I talked with my kids about it? I have had times when I was physically overwhelmed with the love and power of God? Have I talked with them about that? I have been in meetings where the presence of God was thick and tangible, where I once saw what I think was an angelic presence in the midst of the meeting. Have I talked with them about that?
If all I have done is take my kids to church and Sunday school. If all I have done is have them go through Confirmation class and memorize the catechism so they could say they know about God and about Lutheranism, but have never shared my testimony of God’s presence, power and love in my life, I have cheated them.
No wonder so many young people see the church as weak, meaningless, unappealing. We carry on the ritual, the morality, the show…but don’t share the testimony of our personal experience of a living God. I have a feeling that if what we shared with the next generation was our testimony of our experience with God, the church would catch fire.
But most are not sharing…the church in not on fire…one who is not sharing has been me…what about you? Does anybody else know about your testimony of God’s presence, love and power in your life?
One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4
What are the things I want my sons to know about me which I have never taken the time to tell them? What if something happens to me before I have a chance to tell them? What should they know about family health history, how I see them, my relationship with God?
As I get older, I realize there are many things I don’t know about my parents. They have both died, so I no longer have an opportunity to find out anything more from them. What were some of the health issues they had that they never told us kids about, but which would be good to know now? How did they look at certain issues they never discussed with us kids? There are many things I would love to know.
The people of Israel were told that one of the greatest gifts they had to give their kids was to talk about their relationship with God. They were to tell about the ways God had provided for them, the times God intervened when things seemed impossible, the way they had experienced God’s loving presence and power in their lives.
I know it is a popular idea today to not talk too much about such issues to our kids to they can make their own decisions about such matters. I’m not saying we are to force our kids to believe or act in any particular way, but it is dumb to not share our own testimony of God’s presence and activity in our lives.
I have seen God provide in miraculous ways. I may have written about it or mentioned it in a sermon, but have I talked with my kids about it? I have had times when I was physically overwhelmed with the love and power of God? Have I talked with them about that? I have been in meetings where the presence of God was thick and tangible, where I once saw what I think was an angelic presence in the midst of the meeting. Have I talked with them about that?
If all I have done is take my kids to church and Sunday school. If all I have done is have them go through Confirmation class and memorize the catechism so they could say they know about God and about Lutheranism, but have never shared my testimony of God’s presence, power and love in my life, I have cheated them.
No wonder so many young people see the church as weak, meaningless, unappealing. We carry on the ritual, the morality, the show…but don’t share the testimony of our personal experience of a living God. I have a feeling that if what we shared with the next generation was our testimony of our experience with God, the church would catch fire.
But most are not sharing…the church in not on fire…one who is not sharing has been me…what about you? Does anybody else know about your testimony of God’s presence, love and power in your life?
We publish the last six months of Pastor Mark's messages here. For older messages, please refer to the newsletters.
