God's Backside 10-07-22

Downtown Mitchell First UMC

310 North Rowley, Mitchell, SD 57301

Rev. Keith Nelson, Lead Pastor

keith@downtownfirstumc.com

So, here’s my question of the day… “Where have you seen the backside of God, lately?” This question comes out of my personal Bible reading, where I am currently in the Old Testament book of Exodus. I’m currently reading at the end of Exodus, chapter 33, where Moses is asking God to not destroy the Hebrew people. What just happened previously is Moses was up on the mountain too long with God, or so the people thought. They figured he was dead or had run away. So, they convinced Aaron to make them a statue that would be their new God, since they were sure the God that brought them out of Egypt had abandoned them. Moses gets the word from God that God will indeed go with the people and guide them. Then Moses asks to see God’s glory. God responds by saying that Moses can see the backside of God’s glory, but not the face of God.

I’m intrigued by this passage and the wording.  The face of God cannot be directly seen, according to the passage, but the backside, or the after effect of God, so to speak, can be seen.  I’m reminded of an image from when I was growing up on the farm.  Sometimes the corn would be really tall so we couldn’t see a car as it traveled the gravel road near our home.  However, we could see the dust the car was kicking up as it traveled, so we knew a vehicle was passing by.  In the same way, Moses wasn’t able to see the very presence of God, but Moses was allowed to see the after effect, the dust or residue of God, after God had passed by.  Thus, my question, “Where have you (or I) seen the backside of God, lately?”

Actually, I have an answer to that question.  Yesterday I was mowing the lawn.  Yes, there were a lot of leaves on the ground and there were the usual fall colors of orange, brown, yellowish/gold, etc.  But there was one bunch of flowers in Nancy’s flower bed that were the brightest and most vivid yellow.  It was such an incredible contrast to the other fall colors.  It was as if the sun was shining brightly on that one little spot of our flowerbed. It brought a brightness and sense of joy to the entire area.  To me, that was the backside of God, showing up on a fall day to say, my presence and glory is still seen, even in the transition of seasons.  

Or, I have seen the backside of God in the joy in a child’s eyes as they were painting a pumpkin at our Family Fun night here at the church just a couple days ago.  The child’s eyes just sparkled with delight.  Thanks Becky and the Family Ministry Team for making that possible.  I saw the backside of God in a request that I received.  Someone wanting a version of the Bible that is more readable because they want to be able to come to a better understanding of God in their life.  That is a sure sign of the aftereffects of God present and at work in a person’s life.  

I see the backside of God each time Love Feast is served, or the backpacks are given out.  I see the aftereffect of God in the commitment of people to volunteer for Meals on Wheels.  I see the glory of God revealed in the giftedness of our SS Teachers, in our various Musicians that help out in worship, I see the backside of God in the spirit of one of the saints of our church who responds to a favorite Bible verse, even as their own life is slowly ebbing away.  I see the wake (like a boat wake) of God in the eyes and attitude of many who come forward to receive communion.  I see the aftereffect of God in a person or two from our church and a team out on a mission trip, responding to God’s nudge to make the world a better place.  I could go on.  

Today, as we continue on our way in this day, I pray that all of our hearts, minds, and eyes will be attuned to see the glory of God, or the backside of God passing by in our midst.  God is there…God is here…just waiting to be seen.  Maybe we should start a “God-Dust” spot at church or on Facebook.  A place where we could post where we’ve seen the presence of God passing by.

Pastor Keith

The Gift of You! 9-30-22

Downtown Mitchell First UMC

310 North Rowley, Mitchell, SD 57301

Rev. Keith Nelson, Lead Pastor

keith@downtownfirstumc.com

I am so glad that I live and work in the day and age in which I do. This is not to say that we are living in the perfect age. Certainly, we all know that is not the case. There are enough struggles in the world and in our own nation to keep us all humble and stretching to do better. No, I’m glad I live and work in the Church in the time-period I do because of all the blood mentioned in the Old Testament.

I’m currently reading from the book of Exodus in my morning time with God. I’m almost to the end of the book and it’s talking about getting the place of worship set up. There’s lots of blood being put on things – splashed here and splashed there, this ear lobe and that toe, this altar and that utensil, etc. Next, I’ll be reading Leviticus which also goes into great detail about sacrifices. It’s not that I’m squeamish about blood, it’s more about the slaughtering of the animals to get the blood that is used in the purification rituals.

I do understand the significance of the Old Testament sacrificial system. The intent was to help people see and understand the value and the importance of following God’s laws and directives. If you didn’t follow the laws that are intended to help you live in God’s ways, well, there would be consequences and it would cost you something. Sometimes something significant! The point wasn’t just to make a ritual so people could get “clean” again through the sacrifice. The real intention was about helping people realize the value of right or righteous living. Thus, experiencing the value and beauty of faithfulness to God.

So, in the midst of my reading about the Old Covenant sacrificial system I also happened to read a bit in Paul’s letter to the Romans in the New Testament. In Romans 12:1, Paul writes to the Jesus followers in Rome, “I encourage you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God. This is your appropriate priestly service.” (CEB) So, what is this type of sacrifice that Paul is referring to?

In the old covenant sacrificial system a sacrifice could only be offered once. The bull, goat, ram, or whatever would be slaughtered, its blood poured out, and then the gift or offering was usually burned. End result, that creature / offering could never be used or offered again. It was sort of a once and done thing. However, Paul is talking about something unique, something very new.

Paul instructs the Christians that if they are going to make an offering to God, make it something that is ongoing, something continual, even something that is life changing. Paul writes, “present your bodies as a living sacrifice.” In other words, this is a sacrifice that can be offered over and over again, even every day. I believe that is exactly the point Paul is trying to make. Every day we have the opportunity to present our bodies and our entire selves to God for God’s purposes.

I wonder how it would affect me, or any of us, if every day I/we took a moment to say, “God, I present my eyes to you. I present my lips and tongue to you. I present my ears to you. I present my mind to you. I present my heart and hands to you. I present my thoughts and attitudes to you. I present my legs and feet to you. Etc.” What a reminder that would be that my life isn’t just about following rules or going through the motions, my life is about serving God. This practice would be a reminder that my entire being is given over to God as an offering saying, “God, use me.”

I once heard a speaker say, “The problem with a living sacrifice is that it keeps crawling off the altar.” This is so true, but the other side of the coin is true as well. A living sacrifice means we have the opportunity to continually place the offering of ourselves before God saying, “Use Me! I am yours!” Today, consider yourself a living sacrifice. How might God use the gift of you today??

Pastor Keith

Pay It Forward! 9-23-2022

Downtown Mitchell First UMC

310 North Rowley, Mitchell, SD 57301

Rev. Keith Nelson, Lead Pastor

keith@downtownfirstumc.com

Pay It Forward!

Tucked away in the early pages of the Old Testament in our Bible is a word from God to Abraham. It’s one sentence long, and those words contain both a promise and a statement from God to Abraham. “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” Genesis 12:2. This is referred to as the call of Abraham. What God is communicating in these words is that Abraham, with God’s blessing and guidance, will become a great nation, meaning Abraham’s descendants will greatly multiply and become a significant presence in the world. That’s the promise.

However, the statement from God, is that Abraham’s blessing isn’t intended for him to keep to himself. No, Abraham is blessed to be a blessing. Meaning that the blessing Abraham receives is something that he is to pass on to others. As followers of Jesus today, many generations after Abraham, we understand that even though this promise and statement wasn’t written to us, it is still a word for us because we are a part of the family of Abraham. Thus, we, too, are blessed to be a blessing. Genesis 12:2 is really the first “Pay it Forward” project in the Bible.

I tell you this bit of ancient history because just a couple days ago I had an experience with an individual that brought this verse to light by helping me understand and experience the power of being a blessing. What happened is that a gentleman stopped by the church seeking some assistance. I wasn’t able to help him in the way that he was initially seeking. But as we talked, I found out he was looking for a bite to eat and a couple other things our church family could help with. We keep some $10 Subway gift cards in the church office to help out in situations like this, for someone needing a meal or two. So, I got two gift cards for him and gave them to the individual and told him that should get him a couple of meals. The gentleman was most appreciative.

As we continued to talk, the gentleman made a comment that this was great that he had two gift cards, because now he could give one away and bless someone else just as he had been blessed. I started to tell him that he didn’t need to give one of the cards away, that they were both intended for him. This way he didn’t have to worry about a meal later in the day or the next day. He would be set for at least two meals. But then I suddenly realized, he was already not worrying about another meal. He was happy to simply have one meal cared for, plus the ability to pass on a blessing. Who was I to take away this individual’s understanding of how he was carrying on the directive from God…to not simply hang on to the blessing, but to pass it on to others. That is what blessed to be a blessing is all about.

There I was thinking I was the one in the role of paying forward the blessing. Yet, this gentleman, who literally had all his possessions in a small backpack, reminded me that blessing others isn’t about the amount of possessions one has…it’s really about the attitude and light in one’s heart. Here I thought I was the one helping or blessing Dennis. Turns out he was helping and blessing me. Thank you, Dennis,…I will bless someone else with the blessing you gave to me.

Serving Together,

Pastor Keith

Connecting with God, Others, and Self! 9-16-22

Downtown Mitchell First UMC

310 North Rowley, Mitchell, SD 57301

Rev. Keith Nelson, Lead Pastor

keith@downtownfirstumc.com

When you stop to think about the course of your day, is there anything that stands out to you? Are there any repeating patterns that make up your life? For many of us there’s the pattern of climbing out of bed, going to work, coming home from work, and then climbing back in bed. Of course, there’s a lot more crammed into the day than what I just described, but for many, work is a big part of the rhythm of our lives.

I guess we all could point out the pattern of eating in our lives. I’m guessing many of us eat roughly three meals a day…and then there’s the snacks and such. Eating is another big part of our day. I’m not even going to go into talking about the pattern in our lives with our smart phones, technology, and social media. Studies are showing this is a much bigger pattern or rhythm than many of us realize or would be willing to admit. So then, what are some of the rhythms of our life?

As one reads through the Gospels, (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) the four books at the beginning of the New Testament that tell the story of Jesus’ life and ministry here on earth, it is interesting to notice the things that Jesus spent time doing. Jesus regularly spends time alone with God, he spends time with his disciples and other people around him, and he spends time alone. That is a consistent rhythm that appears over and over as Jesus walked this earth.

What I find so interesting is that when Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, he had a response that started out with what people expected, but then Jesus added a bit of a surprise. The story is told in Matthew 22. Jesus responds by saying the greatest commandment is, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37.) This part was expected and often repeated by the followers of the Jewish faith. But Jesus didn’t stop there. He went on to say, “And a second is like it, combining two commandments into one: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:39) This second part was unexpected and likely caused questions in the hearts and minds of some of the people listening that day so long ago. To be honest, it still causes some questions in the hearts and minds of Jesus followers yet today.

In laying out what the greatest commandment is, in the way he did, I believe Jesus is also setting out a rhythm for following, a rhythm for living, even a rhythm for each day - that of loving God, Others, and Ourselves! And yes, Jesus “new command” that we love one another fits in beautifully with this rhythm of faith. So, an interesting question to ask is this, is there room for this rhythm to be strengthened in my life today?

The past two years have certainly been challenging for us as a world, a nation, a community, and even as a church. The covid-19 pandemic forced us into new ways of behaving. In some cases, it brought about a sense of isolation as people tended to “shelter in place” in order to not be exposed to the virus. Even though it seems that the worst of the virus is behind us, the effects of it continue. Loneliness and depression is at an all-time high in our nation. There is a greater sense of disconnect than has been experienced before. The truth is we all need to build and rebuild connections in our lives.

Jesus gives us a great rhythm for a time such as this. Thus, Connecting with God, Others, and Self is the theme that we will be building on in our Family Ministries area, as well as in our church as a whole in the next year (and years). In the midst of the chaos of the world, in the midst of the despair that many are feeling, in the midst of the uncertainty that seems to threaten us all, one thing we all need is a rhythm to life that helps center us and strengthen us for the journey of faith in this journey of life. We need to strengthen our connections with God, Others, and Self.

It is my hope that all of us in this church family we call Downtown First UMC, will join together on this journey of developing a pattern and rhythm for life that reflects Jesus’ Greatest Commandment…living a life of connection…Connecting with God, Others, and Self!.

Serving Together,

Pastor Keith

Pastor's Reflection September 09, 2022

Downtown Mitchell First UMC

310 North Rowley, Mitchell, SD 57301

Rev. Keith Nelson, Lead Pastor

keith@downtownfirstumc.com

It’s that season, once again, when little “friends” start showing up at our church facility. No, I’m not speaking of the little children coming to get registered for Sunday School. I’m actually referring to the bats that always make an appearance for a few weeks, this time of year. Generally speaking, these are really harmless creatures. They are likely more afraid of us than we are of them. But, yes, I will admit they are rather startling to see them flying at you when walking down the hallway at the church. So, the question always comes, this time of year, where or how are the bats getting in? That is a great question!

My neighbor happens to be the individual in town who is lovingly referred to as “Bat Man,” since a big part of his business, especially this time of year, has to do with bat issues. In fact, he helped with the bat problem in our church a number of years ago, when the problem was discovered. Anyway, “Bat Man” was telling me (and Dan, our facility manager, has said the same thing) bats can crawl through incredibly tiny holes, cracks or openings. This is one reason why, in the late summer and fall season especially, we ask people not to prop the outside doors of our church open, because that is like a superhighway for the bats saying, Come On In!! This is part of the reason why the Trustees are looking into the tuckpointing project for our church. When we had work done this past spring on our stained-glass windows on the west and south sides of our facility, the workers identified a number of places where the mortar between the block on the outside of our building, or around the windows, was either cracked or missing. If you can stick a pencil or a pen in a crack, it is likely that a bat is able to crawl through the opening. Such a small opening can allow unwanted guests into our facility.

What is true with bats and our building is also true in other areas of life as well. Small openings can allow unwanted guests into our lives. This is also true in our personal and spiritual lives. I’ll say it again, small openings can allow unwanted guests into our very being. Social media and personal computers and such devices can be a positive tool in life…but it can also allow a small crack or opening into what affects or influences us. Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms have what they call reels. I enjoy watching the ones of airplane take offs and landings. But there are other reels that are pretty suggestive with their content. There are even websites on the internet that aren’t merely suggestive. They let you see anything and everything, sexually speaking. This is just one example for one area of our lives.

The question becomes, where are the cracks in our lives that allow the unwanted guest into our lives. Is it the temptation of an addiction? It is certain people that you might hang around that have a more negative influence on your life? Is it reading or listening to something that fills you with doubt or despair? Is it the device many of us carry everywhere? The cracks aren’t necessarily the big things that cause us to stumble. The cracks are the small entry points that seem innocent enough…but they allow the unexpected guest of ugliness, darkness, disconnect, and sin into our lives.

Just as we need someone like “Bat Man” looking at our building and helping us identify the cracks allowing bats in, we also need trusted friends in our lives who can point out the cracks that allow the unwanted guests to make it into our hearts, lives, and very beings. Ask God to help point out the cracks in your life. Build a trusting relationship with a friend, and then ask them to help you examine your life, cracks and all. You’ll be glad you did. The bats, or unwanted guests…not so much. But you’ll be a stronger and healthier person for it.

Together In Ministry,

Pastor Keith

The Lens We See Through 9.2.22

Recently, I had the oil changed in my pickup.  A part of the oil change routine was that one of the service technicians washed the windows on my truck.  I happened to glance up and see the individual doing this and thought to myself, “Oh, that’s nice…but they weren’t that dirty.”  Shortly after that I paid my bill and headed out into the day.   As I drove away from the business I began to sense that something was different…there weren’t so many spots that I was looking through on the windshield. I could actually see things a bit more clearly.  Wow, it just made things seem a little brighter. 

Now understand, the windshield wasn’t mud covered, like you see on some pickups around town.  However, I will admit there were a lot of bug splatters and the usual acquired grime on the windshield that builds up over time.  All of that was simply adding a “layer” to what I was looking through as I drove my truck. Yet all that grime altered my perspective slightly as I looked out the window.  I began to realize that the “crud” on my windshield had simply become “normal” to my perspective.  I just got used to it always being there. 

We all have a lens through which we see the world.  You might be thinking…”But Keith, I don’t wear glasses.  So, I don’t see through a lens.”  Well, that may be true (concerning glasses), yet I still believe that whether or not we wear corrective lenses, we all see through a “lens” of one type or another.  We see through the lens of our experiences.  We see through the lens of beliefs and traditions.  We see through the lens of our education.  We see through the lens of our relationships.  We see through the lens of what we value and what is important to us.  We see through the lens of our economic or financial status.  We see through the lens of what “makes sense” to us.  I could go on and on, but I’m guessing you get the point I’m making.  We all have a lens…in fact, we each likely have multiple lenses.

Jesus, through his teaching, stories, attitudes, and actions, was really good at holding up a mirror to help people see the lenses they were seeing through.  Sometimes this made people feel uncomfortable, sometimes it made them angry and even in some circumstances it caused people to feel joy or relief because they realized that Jesus didn’t see them the way they saw themselves.  Part of what makes Jesus and our Christian Faith unique and special, is that it provides a different lens to see through rather than the lens our culture or world tends to offer. 

So, for just a moment today I want us all to consider a question, “What is the lens you see through?”  And please understand that some lenses are good, important, and necessary.  I’d be in big trouble without my eyeglasses, and my Christian Faith, helping me see more clearly!!  A helpful step in our faith journey just might be identifying and making a list  of the lenses that we see through?  Do any of those lenses need cleaning?  Do any of the lenses cause me to see people or things in a way contrary to how Jesus seems them?  Do any of my lenses need to be replaced?  Do any need to be adjusted or even strengthened?  These are good questions to ask ourselves as we all seek to see more clearly the world, our God, and the people who are around us.

I’m about to head to the eye doctor today.  What will he say about my lenses?  Just as this regular appointment is important for my eye sight, a regular appointment with God asking about the other lenses we see through, might be an important part of our spiritual growth and our connection to God.

Serving Together,

Pastor Keith

What Does This Mean? 8.26.22

Do you have any, “What does this mean?” moments in your life?  We all probably need to have these kinds of moments, I believe.  It would do us good!   This question comes out of my reading in the Old Testament.  Currently I’m reading through the book of Exodus and I’m in the midst of the story of the Hebrew people leaving Egypt.  Something I read this morning really stuck with me. 

Moses is explaining the rituals and the practices that the people need to follow, even in – especially in the future.  Then, when a child asks, “What does this mean?” the opportunity is given for another person to explain the story of the great thing God did in the midst of the Hebrew people. 

Over the years of my ministry, I’ve had a number of friends who have been faithfully following the path of recovery.  One individual always proudly showed me his most recent chip.  If I remember right, he was up to like 25 years.  He would carry that chip in his pocket, and whenever the opportunity presented itself that someone saw that medallion he was carrying and they’d ask him about it, that became an opportunity for him to talk about what God and AA had done in his life.  He’d share how the battle wasn’t over and that it was a daily thing, but with the power of faith and accountability, he was still walking the good walk of sobriety. 

Why do couples celebrate their wedding anniversary or a dating anniversary?  Because it’s an opportunity to remember the day they first really connected or made a vow to each other.  It’s a time of celebrating the past year, and in a sense to recommit themselves to each other for the year to come.  One of the things that I do with a couple just days before I officiate their wedding ceremony, is that I have them write a letter to each other.  In the letter they are to share their love, their hopes and dreams, as well as what brought them to this moment of committing themselves to journey onward in life as a married couple.  I then have them seal those letters in an envelope, and then we send them those letters in a year, so they have them at their first anniversary.  I then encourage them to keep those letters and read them every year as a reminder of their wedding day and their thoughts and feelings in that moment. 

Yesterday I participated in the inauguration of Dr. Daniel Kittle as the new president of Dakota Wesleyan University.  Yes, there was a lot of pageantry and symbolism about the day and the ceremony.  There were also a lot of pictures being taken.  All of it was done to help create the moment and the memory, that in future days Dr. Kittle, and the leadership of DWU, can look back on that event and remember the hope, the commitment, the covenant, and even the dreams that were held in that moment.  But also, when some individual sees one of these pictures, they will ask the question, “What does this mean?” and it is likely someone close by will be able to explain the importance of what was happening in that picture. 

So, what is your, “What does this mean?” moment?  Maybe we should celebrate the anniversary of a person committing their life to be a Jesus follower.  Part of our task as a faith family is to help people celebrate and remember the important moments that define our faith.  Maybe we need to create more moments in which people will ask, “What does this mean?” It is through the telling of these simple, yet powerful stories, that we share our faith and let others know what God has done and is doing in our lives yet today.  Think about it today…what is your story?  And what does this mean?  Yes, God is still in the life transformation business…one day at a time!!

Serving Together,

Pastor Keith

Individual Learning Plan 8.19.22

Wednesday morning, I was doing my usual morning walk with Sophie, our Golden Retriever.  It was a beautiful morning.  It wasn’t too hot, and it wasn’t too cool.  It was one of those “just right” kind of mornings.  The sun was shining…and so were the faces of children and parents that I saw along the course of our journey.  You see, Wednesday was the first day of school.  That meant that Sophie and I got to witness several “First day of School Pictures” that were being taken.  The parents, with camera or cell phone in hand, were proud and a bit grieving all at the same time.  The children, for the most part, were excited and happy, ready to start this new adventure.  Yes, there were a few highschoolers who I could tell were rolling their eyes and pasting on the obligatory smile to get the picture over with. 

Of course, along with the smiling faces of the children, there was usually a backpack involved, stuffed with school supplies, maybe a snack, and a lot of hopes and dreams about what this school year was going to be like.  I wish all these children well as they start into the new year.  And parents, be sure to have your children bring their backpack to church with them this Sunday, August 21, because Becky will be leading us in the blessing of the backpacks!! 

Now I realize not many of us adults carry backpacks with us into our day of work, running errands, and doing the adult things we adults do.  But some of us do carry briefcases, book bags, toolboxes, and other things that contain the items we need for the day.  So, the question I want to ask is this, “What are we carrying with us into this day or year that will help us learn and grow and help us develop into more mature human beings and more faithful followers of Jesus?” 

You see, children and youth go off to school, in most cases, with the expectation they are going to learn some things.  They probably wouldn’t be able to verbalize it, but the truth is, they won’t be the same on the last day of school as they are on the first day.  Last Day of School pictures show the physical changes, but they don’t really show the inner-being changes that also take place.  

So, as we see the children, youth, and others from our community going off to school, the question I want to ask is this, “What are you hoping to learn in the year to come? What are you going to do to keep growing and maturing as you make your way in life?  Please understand that as I write these questions, I also aim them right back at myself.  What if each of us took the opportunity to sit down with one of the many talented, gifted, and caring teachers in our congregation and asked them to help us write up an Individual Learning Plan for the 2022-2023 School year?

And of course, as we think about learning and growing, part of my hope would be that we include in our ILP an aspect of where we want to learn and grow in our spiritual and faith life.  Where might God be nudging each of us to learn and grow as followers of Jesus?  Jesus was continually pressing his followers to learn and grow and think in new ways, and I have no doubt he is still doing that today.

OK, class…take out a blank piece of paper and a pencil or pen and start writing out your own ILP for the year to come.  May we not be the same people next May that we are today.

Serving Together,

Pastor Keith

The "GL" Scan 8.5.22

Some of you know that my first professional ministry work after graduating from seminary was that of being a hospital chaplain.  Specifically, I was an emergency room chaplain, and I loved the work.  I was able to care for people in very stressful times…and I was able to learn about the inner workings of the human body.  There were several nurses that were really good about showing me things as they were doing their work of cleaning wounds, etc.  I got to see a tendon in a finger as well as the lining that surrounds the human skull.  Ask me about that story…it’s an interesting one!!

I for one find it fascinating to learn about the inner workings of my body.   A number of years ago I was having hernia repair surgery when the anesthesia wore off and I actually came too.  I was able to look up into the metal operating room light reflector, which was acting like a mirror, and watch what they were doing in the surgery…inside of me!!  I thought that was sooo cool.  But then a nurse said, “Doctor!” and I was suddenly back in la la land. 

The medical profession has been working hard over the years to help us see what’s on the inside of our bodies and also to bring greater understanding of the connectedness on the inside.  I am grateful for the technology that is at our disposal.  Last November when I had my little amnesia episode, I experienced this technology up close and personal when they scanned my head to make sure everything was OK.  They said it was…relatively speaking. J

As great as our technology is, there’s another scan that is even more incredible and more accurate than anything modern technology has developed.  I call it the GL scan.  What, you haven’t heard of it?  It’s the “God Look” scan.  I Samuel 16 tells the story of the Prophet Samuel going to a family to anoint the next king of Israel.  The sons of Jesse were lined up…one would be anointed king!  The first son was a handsome and big young man.  A perfect specimen to be king.  Samuel was ready to get out the oil for the symbolic act of anointing him, when he heard God speak.  “This is not the one.”   God basically tells Samuel to not just look about the physical characteristics of a person to make this kind of decision.  God looks upon the heart.  God looks on the inside – the character, the integrity, the motivations – the real inner person.  With one GL (God Look) scan, God knew that Eliab (that first son) and all the others were not what God desired.  One son was missing.  You know the story, it was David.  When David appeared before Samuel, God said, “This is the one.” 

The God Look scan is certainly different than the usual human glimpse of how we view people.  This is so evident in the Bible.  God chose Mary, an unknown teenager from a family of little means, to be the earthly mother of Jesus.  God chose Paul, a man who was a staunch Pharisee who was intentionally seeking to stomp out the Jesus movement, and yet Paul became the greatest evangelist that spread the good news of Jesus throughout the world.  I could go on with this kind of list.  The Bible is full of stories of the kind of people that we humans tend to overlook, but the God Look scan says, “That’s a person I need!”

Today as we each continue to grow as followers of Jesus, maybe a good question to ask is, “God, what do you see inside of me that I don’t see?”  Be open to what God might have to say.  Ask trusted friends what they see.  Listen carefully for what God might be saying.  After all, the God Look scan is more accurate than anything we’ve experienced here on earth.  But also know this, the results of the God Look scan are always based on God’s love for each of us.

Serving together,

Pastor Keith

I just did this! 7.29.22

“I just did this!”  Those were the words that I spoke out loud as I prepared to do it again.  I was standing by my lawn mower, having just put gas in the tank and preparing to pull the starting rope.  It was true, I had just done this…just four days earlier.  It’s amazing what an inch and a half of rain and some sunshine can do on one’s lawn.  It makes the grass grow…and grow it had.  I don’t have a huge yard, so this wasn’t a significant time commitment – just an hour and a half at the most.  It was just the fact that I felt like I had just done it. But it needed it again.  So… “let’s git er done” as they say.  So, I pulled on the rope and mowed the lawn. 

The truth is I could have waited another day or two to mow.  It wasn’t in desperate need of cutting.  But I also know that every day I wait, the job will become just a little bit harder.  You see, the longer I wait, it allows weeds to get a little bit bigger.  It allows things to get just a little more unmanageable.  Then, after waiting a few more days I realize how difficult the job will be, so, then I wait a few more days to avoid the mess.  And then you can guess it becomes a really challenging task I want to ignore.

Just the other morning, I was following my usual morning routine; up at 5:30, head downstairs to my office, spend a little time reading my Bible and in prayer.  As I sat down in my office chair and picked up my bible, there was that sense within me that said, “I just did this.”  It’s true, I had just done this very thing…24 hours earlier.  Every now and then I get that little voice within me that says, “You don’t need to do this so often.  You just did this.  You know, skipping a day or two…or three or four isn’t that big a deal.”  In years past I’ve allowed those little voices more influence in my life, but I’ve learned that just like in mowing the lawn, the more I delay, the harder it is to get back on track. 

I’ve learned in my life that when I slow down, or even stop practicing my spiritual disciplines, weeds begin to grow more in my soul.  You know, the weeds of doubt and discouragement.  Or there’s the vines of envy and pride that press their roots deeper into my heart.  Or it’s the seeds of negativity and entitlement that begin to blow around in the field of my mind  Or the crabgrass of callousness and criticism will begin to spread out in the soil of my spirit.  When these destructive weeds begin to take root, staying connected with God becomes more and more difficult.  My Bible reading suffers, my prayer life diminishes, my servants heart begins to harden, my desire for the things of God becomes more easily satisfied with less fulfilling things.  (Ohh, how many “likes” did I get with that Facebook post?)

It was a year ago while on a retreat that I discovered/admitted my spiritual gas can was empty.  Since returning home from that retreat I have been more intentional about making regular stops at the spiritual “gas pumps” of my faith, what John Wesley referred to as “Means of Grace.”  Yes, I still keep a gas can in my office as a reminder to take the time to fill up my spiritual tank.  It’s been a more fulfilling year because of these practices.  That’s why I am more intentional about doing those things “I just did” like reading my Bible, listening for God, reflecting on my journey, serving, working with a spiritual director, etc.  Yes, in many cases, “I just did that.”  But I’ve also come to realize that is a part of what loving God, loving neighbor, and loving myself really looks like. 

One more thought.  When I feel like saying “I just did that” in my spiritual journey I’ve begun to wonder, how often does God feel like saying that every time I ask for forgiveness…again.   Yet, God never says, What…Again …I just did that!”  God’s grace and forgiveness is always present, always generously applied and given when we / I ask.  I am so grateful for God’s grace and forgiveness that never takes a break…and keeps on giving! 

Serving Together,

Pastor Keith