Luke 18:15-30 Get Rid of the Baggage

Luke 18:15-30 NIV
According to Jesus, the way to enter the kingdom of God would be like a little child. That would be unencumbered by the riches of the world; free of all the baggage that we pick up in this world. A little child owns nothing (although some of them think they do). Get rid of the baggage and follow Him into the Kingdom. You cannot get into the kingdom carrying all of your stuff in packs on your back. It would be like a pack camel fully loaded trying to get through the eye of needle. Some have surmised that this "eye of the needle" refers to a very narrow gate in Jerusalem.

Leave the stuff behind you, your sins have been washed away by the blood of the lamb, that you might walk freely and unencumbered through the gate into the eternal kingdom.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 10:17-31 Costly

(Mark 10:17-31 NIV)


A wealthy man asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. He's kept all the commandments. He's been good. But, Jesus tells him he must sell everything. He must give up everything and follow him.

What does it cost to enter the kingdom of God? Well, for you and me to enter the Kingdom, it cost Jesus his earthly life. Then he says we must follow Him. We must follow him to the cross and through the grave. We must be willing to give up everything in this world. This not only upsets the wealthy man, but his disciples are a bit confused as well. They have given up everything to follow him, after all. Jesus comforts them with these words:

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life." (vs 29-30)

These words, at times, seem to be our only hope. They comfort us in times of persecution and when, indeed, we lose family and friends (as many of us have) for following the path that Jesus has set before us. It is a hard path. There are times when we wonder if it the cost is too great. But, then we remember what it cost Jesus so that we might receive the promised eternal life in the Kingdom of God, in His presence.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 19 - Love of Money

     Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
     When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
     Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matt 19:23-26 NIV)

Whenever I read this Gospel in public worship, I get a very uncomfortable feeling. After all, everyone sitting there is richer than a good portion of the world's people. I always hope that they understand that the temptations of having an abundance of stuff are great. This stuff can easily become our false gods, without us even realizing that it has. We become comfortable with our stuff and want more. And, more of our time and energy is spent on ways to accumulate more stuff, which when we die will be gone from us, anyway. Our stuff will be gone. The Kingdom endures forever.

I look out at the congregation and I know that very many of these people have used there wealth for the good of others and for the good of the Kingdom. I, and they, must trust that; although, it is impossible for any of us to enter the Kingdom of God on what we have or don't have; it is impossible to enter into the Kingdom on our own merit, with God all things are possible. It is faith alone that saves and that faith in the Kingdom promised through the blood of Christ will fill us with a desire to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, giving ourselves; our time, our talents, our "stuff" in the service of God and our fellow human beings.

Years (decades) ago, I sold insurance door-to-door in North Carolina. One particular home that I visited had a dirt floor. It was a farming household. They were rich. No, I don't mean they were rich because they had all they really needed. They were literally millionaires. But, they chose to live a lifestyle that appeared to others that they were even poorer than were. The wife was in the kitchen working when I got there. She was visibly upset. Her husband was working in the fields somewhere. After she calmed down, she explained to me how rich they were and she could not get her husband to upgrade their home because he didn't want to lose a penny to the local government. He didn't want to take the chance on having his property taxes raised.

Another elderly farmer's wife that I knew (again a couple decades ago) in Minnesota had a similar story. They had a very nice home, a huge farm. I didn't see much of her husband as he was always out in the barn or fields working. They were both very pleasant people. One day, I found her crying in the kitchen. She had wanted so much to go on a cruise with her husband. It's not that they couldn't afford it. She related to me that years before they had sold some property and invested quite wisely. They, too, were millionaires. But, her husband was what we would call a workaholic. He would not take the time to go away with her. He would not trust his farm to the hired hands. He was afraid he might lose a penny or two while he was away.

The love of money is a great temptation. It will tempt some to spend, spend, spend.... It will tempt others to hoard, hoard, hoard....  It will tempt us to spend time worrying more about our wealth than loving God or our families and neighbors.

I'm just saying that it is not so much about what you have or don't have; but, about what you do with what God has given you. Are you faithful to God in caring for the gifts He has given you? Do you use these gifts so that His will be done and not yours?

Wealth brings great temptations. In the end, we are all subject to these temptations and we are all lost. But, with God all things are possible. Thanks be to God that we are saved, not by our works, but by His grace!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 90 - Substance Abuse - God Sees Our Secret

"You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence." (Psalm 90:8)

Yesterday, I attended a local clergy council lunch.  We discussed substance abuse issues in our county. Baraga County has a reputation for not only being one of the highest in unemployment, but also one of the highest with substance abuse problems in the State of Michigan.

It appears that a Substance Abuse Coalition has been formed in Baraga County. The secret of Baraga County's substance abuse problem has come to light!  That would be funny, if it weren't so sad. Every few years this secret is revealed and then it is swept under the carpet, again... 

 And... that, I think, is partly due to the fact that there is another secret that is still hidden from the eyes of much of the population.  But, it is not hidden from God.  He sees what we would hide.  That secret is who it is that is involved in trying to hide the whole problem.  I don't mean hiding the meth heads...  I mean who is still in the dark and would keep the county in the dark regarding addictions, period.... 

Example:  heavy drinkers who haven't had to face legal consequences promote drinking among our young people.  How many graduation parties have you attended where there are underage drinkers?  Think about it.  There's a few of them, aren't there and not just in Baraga County.

Most people who know me, know that I am somewhat of a prohibitionist.  I do not drink.  I quit completely, years ago, when I realized that people were using me for an excuse to drink.  "Well, Judy, drinks, so it must be ok."  I'm not sure why I should be the morality thermometer, but statements like that were enough to make me want to quit. I did not want to be anyone's excuse for abusing alcohol!

Here's the rub.  There are still many adults (old adults - including church council members and elected officials) in this community and others throughout this country, who are using illegal drugs, or abusing their prescriptions drugs in a manner that makes it illegal. You think it's a secret?  Maybe, not everyone knows you are doing this.  But, there are enough of us.  There are many young people who are using you as an excuse.  "It can't be that bad...  Look, even the _(title of upstanding so-called upstanding citizen) smokes a little recreationally.  It's not recreational if it's illegal.  It is illegal and it is substance abuse.  What an example we make for our young people!  And, then... there is God.  He knows all that we do in secret. 

One more thing...  Those of you who have medical marijuana growing.  Please, quit selling it to your neighbor.  And...  please, keep it secure enough so your children and your neighbor's children can't keep stealing leaves off the plants!

As a former substance abuse counselor, one of the things I learned was that we never have the problem.  It is always someone else who has a problem. As long as someone else stays in more trouble, has a more messed up life than we; we don't have a problem.  As long as someone else can be looked down upon for getting caught in the mess, we can feel good about ourselves.  It's as though we draw an invisible line that if we cross we fear we will have to recognize that we have an addiction.  For example:  I only go to the casino once a week and never spend more than $20.00.  Then it is $50.00.  Then it is $100.00.  Then it's only a couple times a week.  Then what?  You lose your home, your business, your family?  Or... I never drink before 4 p.m.. Then it is before noon.  Then it is only occasionally I'll have a Bloody Mary for breakfast.  And, then there are those who use illegal drugs.  Ever think this one:  as long as I don't use a needle, I'm not an addict. Prescription drugs (including marijuana) are legal. That will be where I draw the line.  Who are you kidding?  Certainly, not God! Be filled with the Spirit of God.  You will never know more peace and joy than that.

Substance Abuse is not a secret.  Even if we choose to pretend it is.  It is time for this county to actually do something about it.  My suggestion is a greater effort in three areas:  Prevention through Education, Law Enforcement, and Treatment.  We need to have a greater understanding of all the dangers of substance abuse so that it might be curbed.  We need to also have real consequences, because often the addict cannot, because of the nature of addiction, recognize that they actually need help until they hit bottom.  We need to have more treatment programs available.  Programs that will not send people away from the community for help, but, keep them here so that they can face the challenges of the community while they grow toward wholeness.  We need more programs that can be tailored to the needs of individual.  One program does not work for everyone.  We are individuals and we all fall and then grow in different ways. All three of these areas are sorely lacking. Approaching one area is not going to do it.

It wouldn't hurt if we actually approached the problem from a spiritual vantage point, as well.  Real wholeness happens when we walk in the presence of God.  It's not advantageous to us to try to hide ourselves and our sins from Him.  He knows all that we do in secret.  There is a life that goes beyond the temporary "highs" and "crashes" in this world.  Live Life!  Carpe diem! as a child of God.

May God help us to show His splendor to our children and may the favor of the LORD our God rest upon us.  (vs 16-17)

God's Peace - Pr. J