In my experience, the Kingdom of God is a condition of our hearts.  It is not a political reality where we enact rules and laws to promote certain behavior and limit others.  It is my belief the kingdom of God is found by the opening of one’s life to a God who loves unconditionally and completely.  The Kingdom is not found through toeing the line and being found right, or perfect in our doctrine or practice, because this kingdom is not like others which are man-made.  This new kingdom is without blemish.  It yields non-stop with patience, love, hope and joy. This kingdom of God, which is found in the heart of the one who is willing to follow Christ into the difficult places to love, requires Jesus Christ at the center, at the very core, to teach and instruct the student into the ways of compassion and wisdom.

Hate speech, which has become pervasive and accepted as normal in our culture, is not allowed in the Kingdom of God.  To speak with vengeance toward another, to blame and cause another to stumble through the uttering of words is hate speech, regardless of our righteous positon or level of competence on the topic.

Actions which are used to cause others pain are not allowed in the Kingdom of God.  Hands to oneself please, children of God.  We should have learned this lesson as a child, yet it appears we did not.  Parents are pleased when children make good choices.  God is no less a good parent in this.  Again, the disposition of the heart is the key.

The Kingdom of God feasts upon true religion, a warming of the heart toward God and one another, instead of a reliance upon creeds or conventions to provide security or positon.  The Kingdom of God is so pure, so holy, that we cannot defile or cause the kingdom to fail.  It is without equal, nothing can come alongside the kingdom to overshadow or rival the Spirit.  It needs no protection from our kind.  Rather all we can do is to offer ourselves, just as we are, to be transformed and redefined into a new and whole person. 

A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, “If you choose, you can make me clean.”  Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose.  Be made clean.”  Mark 1:40-41 NRSV

Fly of the Day

ORANGE ROBIN

Umpqua #6 Curved Hook

Orange #8/0 UNI Thread
Marion County Peacock Hurl
Natural Deer Hair Wing
Light Dun CDC Puffs
Burnt Orange Ice Dub
Brown Rooster Neck Hackel
Sally Hansen's Hard as Nails for Head Finish

A Christmas Story

I was at the Almost Free Shop a couple weeks ago when a young woman came to the ladies and quietly shared her husband was home from the military and she was hoping to find a Christmas tree for him.  I had noticed that Christmas trees do not hang around very long at the shop and as much as everyone wanted to help, I had my doubts that there would be one available.

However, the word spread through the shop and our women went to work and in just a few minutes they had found a suitable tree from the back room, a tree stand that fit the tree, and a big bag of decorations and lights.  Another of our workers came bringing a nice wreath to add to the small mountain of decorations.  The young woman was almost in tears out of a humble appreciation.   Our women declared the tree and decorations to be, “almost free,” meaning there was no payment accepted for this transaction.   Now I was almost in tears.

Having just seen God work in an amazing way I started back across the street to my office.  As left the shop and began to cross the alley, a car pulled up and another family from the church began to pull bags from the car and carry them into the shop.  I stopped to help. 

As I carried the last bag I asked, “What you are donating today.”  The reply was, “we are bringing in some decorations we are not going to use this year.”  It was a Christmas tree, some decorations for the tree, and a nice wreath.  I was stunned, as the tears began to fill my eyes again.  Under my breath I said a quick prayer which ended with, “But God, now I think you are just showing off.”  

Freedom and Responibility

One of Our Neighbors at South Fork

I am a gun owner.  I own three guns: a pistol given to me from my father-in-law, an old Winchester 22 rifle I got from my grandmother when I was a kid, and a shotgun I bought to get rid of skunks and possum.  I keep no guns in the parsonage.  I keep the guns apart from the ammunition.  Separate places, hidden places. 

When I was younger I used to hunt some; rabbits, birds, deer. Not so much anymore.   Now I only shoot the occasional offending animal who might be carrying rabies at the farm and engage in some friendly target shooting; what a friend calls a little “plinking.”  I am safe.  I am careful.  I am discrete.  I care about nature and hold a deep regard for the fragility of life.  I consider the right to bear arms a fundamental freedom.

 

What I do not consider a fundamental part of our freedom is the right to bear military weapons without a special permit or need to carry such destructive force.  Automatic and semi-automatic weapons have no place in our homes.  We should not be able to purchase and stockpile such weapons at will.  Our laws have gone too far in offering carry permits to almost anyone. I believe no real good will come from allowing to own and carry heavy weapons. 

The events of the past few weeks underscore my thoughts on this topic.  From unfortunate accidental and self-inflicted shootings to the event of horror in Las Vegas, as a nation we seem to have lost our minds.  Folks who harm themselves or engage in mass shootings are mentally ill. There is no reason to work to find the reason why the man in Las Vegas shot all those folks, because there is not a reason which is reasonable.  There is simply no answer good enough for us to say, “Yes, I can see why someone would do such a thing.”  Our mentally ill are invisible in our midst.  We must change our focus because our neighbors are clearly in pain.

In addition, I believe we must move toward some kind of gun control, because right now we are out of control and my heart grieves the needless loss of life.  I am not suggesting to round up all the guns in the world and throw them in a pile, like some book burning from the last century.  Instead I am suggesting the process of gun purchase be slow and careful, and making military weapons hard to purchase, very hard.  And persons who ask to carry in public must be able pass very detailed checks. 

Freedom holds responsibilities.  Mental Illness is a clear and present danger.  We are called to join together and follow the example of Jesus Christ in how we live with our neighbors in peace and love.

Weekly Study Notes Leading to Sunday October 08

PERSONAL DAILY STUDY

This week we study Ecclesiastes 3.   You may recall the passage begins with the declaration that “for everything there is a season.” The first section of the reading is familiar however we will go further and consider the good words which follow.  I am confident there is a message for us today with the conflict and division we experience. 

In addition we will read from Luke 12 about learning to not worry and how we ought to focus our lives into the things of God.

Monday: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

A time for everything.  Do you know what time it is today? Right now?  How has the season changed for you in the past months? Days?  Which of these seasons have you found fruitful in the past few hours?

Tuesday: Ecclesiastes 3:9-13

• What does the author say is the best thing workers can find from their toil?  Do you agree? Why?

Wednesday: Ecclesiastes 3:14-15

·         This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible.  What can we learn about God from these two verses?  List the qualities of God.

Thursday: Ecclesiastes 3:16-22

·         This passage is a bit darker in tone and even is sometimes quoted to make a case for the spirit of our pets going to heaven.  Verse 22 may be the key verse in this section. 

Friday:   Luke 12:22-34

• What does this passage teach us about worry?  Instead how should we present ourselves in relation to the world around us?  What is the “Father’s good pleasure/”

Saturday:  Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

·         Take time to read the section again and let the scripture speak to you.   

• What does this passage tell us about God?
• What should be our response?

Sunday:        Reflect and Worship

Sermon Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:14-15

Sermon Title: “Turn, Turn Turn”

SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE

Icebreaker:  Share something nice about the change of seasons.

Opening: Name a God moment from this past week

Read: Ecclesiastes3:1-8, 14-15

Study Questions to Ponder:

• When do the seasons change? Who is in charge of this?
• Why are opposite activities needed in different seasons?
• Share about the anxiety created by changing seasons.
• What season are you experiencing today?  Why?

Share Your Personal Plan: to Worship, Study, and Serve this week

Closing with Prayer and Blessing