LTSP Blogs

For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord Jesus, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord Jesus, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord Jesus himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ Jesus will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord Jesus in the air; and so we will be with the Lord Jesus forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

As I write this I am recovering from a viral inner ear infection called labrynthitis and sitting in my house with heat, electricity and cable. When I got sick I called my primary care physician and got in the next day. I received prescriptions from him and went to a local pharmacy and got them filled. My insurance paid all but $8 of the bill.

I have an absolutely favorite song – most of you probably do. Mine is a song that I can listen to anytime, anywhere, and at any moment -- and no matter what I happening in my life it makes me smile. It is a song that takes me to a place that helps me through good times and bad.  It is a song that reminds me of being in the theater in New York City hearing it for the very first time.

In every church and/or denomination there are disagreements. Sometimes the disagreements are about seemingly “small” things – the color of the new carpet for the sanctuary, whether to move the worship time earlier in the summer since the church does not have air conditioning, whether or not to place a memorial plague on the new baptism font, or what time the youth group should meet for pizza.

When I was pastoring a church full time I heard many of my pastor friends talking about burnout and dissatisfaction with their vocation.

Give the things that are Caesar’s to Caesar, and the things that are God’s to God.

Caesars, emperors, pharaohs, oh my! Claims about earthly dominion and heavenly sovereignty undergird and perfuse the scriptures and the societies that emerged from them, deeply influencing us across time, including here, today.

Give the things that are Caesar’s to Caesar, and the things that are God’s to God.

I was asked recently to preach for the installation service for a PhD student at her new church in central Pennsylvania. I was happy to agree to preach at the service and enjoyed greatly seeing the affirmation of her calling and the acceptance of her by the congregation. Present were her Bishop, Synod Dean, extended family, colleagues, and her church community – both past and present.

There are few things that I like less than being reminded that there are times in life when things do not go my way – or the way I want them to go. I heard it as a child from my parents and I found myself saying it to my son recently. Being able to hear that is hard sometimes – despite your age or life experiences. Being willing to accept that is a sign of maturity.