Pastoral Ponderings 12/29/05

John 1: 16From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

Dear Friends,

As I ponder 2005, I find I faced some challenges but personally and professionally. But I also quickly realized that the blessings that God has bestowed on me over the past year far outweighed the difficulties. I suspect I am not alone. As the year ends, let us thank God for these blessings and recognize that even in our challenges, God was with us to sustain us.

Pastoral Ponderings 12/21/05

John 1: 14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth

Dear Friends,

Like you I am trying to get all those last minute details done in time for Christmas. In the midst of having a headlight repaired (why couldn't the bulb have held out one more week?) my cell phone went off and I discovered I will have to conduct a funeral on Christmas Eve morning for someone younger than I. This got me to pondering about the real meaning of Christmas. We often get so caught up in trying to create the "perfect Christmas," that we lost sight of He who alone is perfection, of He who though immortal was born in mortal form to give us the gift of immortality..
In our busyness, may we all find time for He who should be the focus of all this activity, even Christ Jesus.
Pastoral Pondering 12/15/05

Gal. 4: 4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.

Dear Friends,

I just came from a holiday memorial service offered by a local funeral group for the families of those they served over the past year. There was an air of poignancy about the gathering since recent losses are especially difficult during this season. And yet, there was an air of hope as I stood before a Roman Catholic altar with the Pastor of that congregation and an Episcopal priest. One of the directors remarked he was very moved by the picture of the three of us standing together to minister to those in need. Hope springing up in unexpected places. This is not a bad theme to ponder in this time of Advent.

Pastoral Pondering 12/12/05

"Jesus Christ is the light of the world, the light no darkness can overcome." Taken from Evening Prayer in the LBW

Dear Friends,

While the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice, is not coming for another nine days, this evening marks the earliest time that the sun will actually set. As one who attempts to walk a bit in the later afternoon, I know that tomorrow, I shall have a few more moments to be in the life giving rays of the sun. The reason that Christmas is celebrated on December 25 is that this was the date of the winter solstice some 2,000 years ago and a great pagan holiday. Christians baptized the day and made it their own. All this got me to pondering that while many things change in the course of the years, but we still standing in the light of the Eternal Son.

Pastoral Pondering 12/5/05
Luke 16: 10"Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much

Dear Friends,

In this season when we are all shopping and sometimes falling into the temptation of thinking that spending more money on presents is showing more love, I came upon the sad story of Mack W. Metcalf and his estranged second wife, Virginia G. Merida. An alcoholic blue collar worker living on the edge of poverty, he won $34 million in a lottery. It seemed a great dream come true for the pair, but within five years they were both dead, he of his alcoholism, she of a drug overdose.
"Any problems people have, money magnifies it so much, it’s unbelievable," said Robert Merida, one of Ms. Merida’s three brothers.
Now I don’t propose eliminating Christmas shopping. I am currently looking for an Amazon shipment full of goodies at my front door. But I am proposing moderation. God has called us to be loving family members, but He has also called us to be wise stewards. In this season of excesses, let’s ask the Almighty for the wisdom to keep a balance.

Pastoral Pondering 12/1/05

Mark 13: 28"From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Dear Friends,

Yesterday our prayer group visited my Alma Mater, the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. We toured their new facility. It is amazing. This got me to thinking about change. As I looked at the "old campus" from the perspective of the Refectory (dining hall), it looked like the small cozy school in which my ministry was shaped. Now I find myself in culture shock. So much has changed. Yet almost all of that change is for the better. In my day the school had a little over 100 students, now the enrollment stands at over 500. In my day we struggled in rooms that were built in 1888 and were modernized in 1928! Today students enjoy comfortable and secure housing. In my day technology consisted of a video camera and a 20 inch television in the attic of an old mansion. Today every new classroom can accommodate computers, the internet and a variety of audio visual aids there were unimagined in the '60's.
Do I have a bit of nostalgia for the old days? Indeed I do. But so much has changed for the better I believe a bit of culture shock is a very small price to pay. And after all we know in all this change, we can stand firm in the God who remains constant in His love and in His Holy Word.

Pastoral Pondering 11/29/05

Luke 19: 2So he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.

Dear Friends,

With the celebration of Thanksgiving now a memory, the Christmas season preparation is upon us. We are busy figuring out what to put in the stockings of our loved ones. At the risk of sounding like a Scrooge, let us not forget that we have already received the greatest gift of all, the love of Christ Jesus. Sharing this love is the greatest gift we can give.
Unfortunately, we fall prey to the temptation to substitute expensive gifts for that love. Is that proving a wise steward? I came upon the following statistic yesterday. The total debt burden of Americans is $2.15 trillion, much of that on credit cards. This is equal to almost half of our national debt. A fact to ponder.

Attached are two sermons which represents a series on visioning.

Pastoral Pondering 11/21/05

Psalm 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house,

those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the LORD guards the city,

the guard keeps watch in vain.

Dear Friends,

I came upon this provocative thought.

Nine people are striving to get people to go to church for each one who is striving to make people realize that they themselves are the church.

Pastoral Pondering 11/14/05

Isaiah 58:
8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,

and your healing shall spring up quickly;

your vindicator shall go before you,

the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Dear Friends,

I am upon this thought from Hugh Redwood.

For this is the wonder of God, that when we walk in the light of His countenance, the very shadows of our life are charged with healing power.

Pastoral Pondering 11/7/05

PASTORAL PONDERINGS
Psalm 116: 15
Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his faithful ones.


Dear Friends,

This was an extremely challenging All Saints Sunday. At a little after 8:00 AM I learned of the death of Anna Beaty of our congregation. Anna was an icon. One of the first 5 children baptized in our congregation (along with her 4 siblings) in 1931, Anna became our second Sunday School Superintendent in 1939 and has remained in that role ever since. Three generations of parishioners have know her in that position and have had their lives shaped by her. A good Lutheran to the end, her liturgical time was impeccable. All Saints Sunday is a day when we recall with gratitude all those saints in the Lord who have shaped our lives. And so I invite you to ponder who those saints might be in your own faith journey.

Many have asked about funeral arrangements for Anna, so here they are. They will be a viewing at the Braun Funeral Home in Eatontown on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9. Her funeral service will be at Reformation a 9 AM with interment at Woodbine Cemetery with a luncheon at the church following.

Pastoral Pondering 11/3/05

PASTORAL PONDERINGS

1 Cor. 3: 9For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Dear Friends,

Last night I went to a reception to heighten community awareness over local poverty hosted by the Long Branch Concordance (a community non-profit seeking to have a central place those in need can obtain necessary resources) and the Rotary Club of Long Branch (comprised primarily of local business people). Terri Blair, the Executive Director of the Concordance said she hoped to combine the soul of the non-profit with the wisdom of the business community. I like that. I thought of our recent alliance with Temple Beth Miriam, Monmouth University and the Braun Funeral Home to assist in our food pantry here at the church. I hope we can see more of this joining together to meet needs that only seem to increase.

Pastoral Pondering 11/1/05

PASTORAL PONDERINGS

I Thess. 3: 11Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. 12And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. 13And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

"We stand on the shoulders of giants."

On this day of All Saints, I think about the many people who helped to shape me who now rest from their labors. Images of my parents and extended family, of my teachers and some friends come to mind. If I have become the person I am today, if I offer some small witness in the church, it is only because of the legacy they have left for me.
Who are the Saints in your life for whom you give thanks today?

Attached is last week's sermon.

Pastoral Pondering 10/27/05

PASTORAL PONDERINGS

Mark 10: 45For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Dear Friends,

This past Tuesday I traveled to New Brunswick Seminary to hear the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, Mark Hanson speak. He was great. Let me share just one thought as he was contrasting our view of being an evangelical with some other evangelical views.

Unlike some, we do not proclaim a Gospel of certainty, but of servitude.

Definitely something to ponder.

Pastoral Pondering 10/18/05

PASTORAL PONDERINGS
Gen 6:12And God saw that the earth was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted its ways upon the earth. 13And God said to Noah, "I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; now I am going to destroy them along with the earth. 14Make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch.

Dear Friends,

For a while it seemed like we might have to build an ark here at the Jersey Shore. Our basement held out for five days, but on the sixth the waters came. Not a great deal of water mind you, but just enough to be a bother. I think we are finally getting up the last of it. And then I heard of the earthquake in Pakistan. If a bit of water can be such trouble, imagine the anguish of those poor people. We can do our part to help, to be sure. But I also ponder just how spoiled we have become here in America and how very good God has been to us.

Pastoral Pondering 10/10/2005

PASTORAL PONDERINGS

Gen 15: 7Then he said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess."

Dear Friends,

Today is Columbus Day. We recall that the great explorer was willing to think outside the box and go where it was felt no one had ever gone before. This had its risks, but look at all that happened as a result. Sometimes I think that we in the church are afraid to try new ideas, new ways of sharing the Gospel. I ponder how many opportunities we have missed because of our limited thinking.

Pastoral Pondering 10/6/05

PASTORAL PONDERINGS

Hebrews 4: 1Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2For indeed the good news came to us just as to them; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3For we who have believed enter that rest,

Dear Friends,

As I walk through my communities, I am always looking for little parables of life and God. Several days ago, I was walking by a day care center near Monmouth Medical Center when two little ones, about 3 years old came off a school bus. Since it was about 3 PM I figures they were coming from the nearby pre-school and joining the after school program. I suspect it was because the parent(s) had to work to be able to afford to live in our area. I know of a number of people who have to work two jobs to be able to make ends meet. Mind you, the children looked happy enough, but I thought this is a long day for a 3 year old. Which got me to thinking life is not getting any easier for many of us. I ponder where this will all end. It is fortunate we know Who offers rest to us all.

Pastoral Pondering 9/26/05

Matthew 23:12All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted

Dear Friends,

Sunday I was privileged to have one of those once in a lifetime experiences. I was able to hear, His Holiness, Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dahli Lama, at Rutgers University. Admittedly, I was joined by 36,000 other people, but it was quite moving. I believe I was most struck by his humility and compassion. Early on, he said, "I have nothing new to say today, so I hope you will not be too disappointed." Another time he confessed, "I am not an overly formal person. Even with this many people I feel like we are close friends having a little chat together." All in all a Sunday that will remain in my memory.

Pastoral Pondeing 9/20/05

Exodus 12:
25When you come to the land that the LORD will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this observance. 26And when your children ask you, ‘What do you mean by this observance?’ 27you shall say, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt, when he struck down the Egyptians but spared our houses.’" And the people bowed down and worshiped.
Dear Friends,

Given the fact I am a Certified Financial Planner, many people ask me money related questions. I found the following insight most intriguing.

Ironically, both boomers and elders share the same fundamental philosophy. The Allianz study revealed that four pillars construct a legacy: values and life lessons; final instructions and wishes to be carried out; possessions with emotional value; and financial assets and real estate…In fact, life lessons and objects of sentimental value were approximately 10 times more important to people than the money.

The New York Times Magazine
September 18, 2005

In thinking about this, I realized there are echoes of the instructions regarding Passover where a sacred remembrance, rather than a sum of wealth is to be passed from one generation to another.

Pastoral Pondering 9/15/05

1 Thess. 5: 16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Dear Friends,

I came upon this intriguing thought on prayer. "God relies on our prayer to take the limits off His activity in our world. We are not called to prayer in order to pander to His vanity, but in order to make a real difference in the earth."