In the Loop; In the Spirit

She’s just a SLUT!

Wes — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:08:02 +0000

“Who am I?” “What kind of person am I becoming?”
“What kind of person do I want to be?” “What kind of world do I want to live in?”

These are typical questions teenagers ask themselves. Adolescence is a difficult time because young people “find out early that there are many different value systems, and it’s pretty hard for the kids to sort them out.”
Because a teenager very much needs to feel accepted, that he or she belongs is normal, many need unconditional love. Young people need constant reminders of their uniqueness because of pressures to conform to behavior that may or may not reflect their ideals.
We can help them on their road to personal discovery by working God’s word into the lives of those we encounter. So much of the bullying that takes place stems from unmet needs in “children”, yes children who think they are adults. When they relentlessly “bully” or “tease” others the tendency is to think it is just a phase that all kids go through. Just a phase causes many teen suicides. It’s time for Christians and all people to start to straighten out the world not by platitudes but by genuine dialog that gets to the base of our problems and solves them.
Let’s stop making excuses and start to ask that the right thing be done. Doing so can literally save lives.

Love your neighbor

Wes — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:17:01 +0000

I am always amazed by all the people who think they can live for others. I’m not talking about those who become doctors or volunteers. I’m talking about self-righteous individuals who seem to know better than anyone what is best personally for each and every human being. While we talk about the Gospel, I hear self-serving self-interpreted scripture used in ways that it was never intended to be used. Randomly picked texts used as life guides invites us to do as we discover in the scriptures. “And Judas went out and hung himself”. Is this then my directive for the day? Do we want to nit-pick the Bible passages or can we put it in the context of the whole? Jesus puts it simply, Love the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself. Why is that second part so hard to comprehend and be lived out in lives?

Starting Over

Wes — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:17:37 +0000

I haven’t blogged in a long time because I write for Spirit of Christ’s Facebook. There is much that goes on in our world that I comment on every day. I just don’t take time for the blog. But I intend to start now and hope you follow.

The Church has taken some hits over the years. Quite honestly, there is much that we should take notice of and correct. The sense of covering up rather than facing up has been overwhelming. But that isn’t or shouldn’t be representative of the whole church.

Truth has been very much at the forefront of the church. I am a Lutheran and Martin Luther hammered home some truth about the church in his day. Not wanting to, he walked away from his church. BUT, he didn’t abandon church. Instead he created church in a sense that he felt was in accordance with the teachings of Christ. This church he nourished and protected maybe even a little too much.

But I am a Lutheran. I have chosen it over all other varieties of faith expressions. Rather than leave the church because of what it wasn’t, I like Luther have worked to make it what it should be. If we all work to make it what it should be, there will be changes that we don’t have to hammer home on the doors of our modern day churches.

I am very thankful for the churches that have nourished me in my life and will continue to work to see that churches remain so other young children will know how “special” they are and grow up in grace. Join me in this endeavor.

Faint hearted

Wes — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:52:12 +0000

I’ve been gone on vacation. I have returned to “normal” everyday life. One person’s life was interrupted by a broken ankle, another by a broken femur, another lies comatose waiting for the next step. Sometimes when we watch those we love it is hard to see beyond the moment. It is most disheartening to see the situation. Certainly we may be tempted to lose heart. Maybe life gives us more tears than joy. But, whatever is before us may not be the big picture. We need to hold on to faith and hope in Christ. We need to hold on even if it is by the skin of our teeth. Faith, hope and love are wrapped around us as God’s people. Pull those things a little tighter around you in life and you may be surprised at the effect!

Put down that stone!

Wes — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:51:41 +0000

There’s been quite a back lash to Susan B. Komen’s announcement on not funding Planned Parenthood. So many people assume that everything is about abortions. Unfortunately it’s not that simple. Life is complicated. It’s even more complicated when you lack resources. So many people assume that abortions are easy for the person(s) involved. It’s not, it’s complicated on so many levels. I have been pastoring for 37 years. Every woman (or man) who comes to me comes because life and the choices in life aren’t easy. People on the outside think it’s black and white, easy to choose. It’s not. We live life in the grey areas and that complicates life. It’s even harder when others try to make it even more complex and difficult. I think Jesus gives us great insight in his discussion with the woman at the well. Unfortunately, people are so busy determining black and white they can’t hear what he says. Or maybe we want to be so bold, that regardless of Jesus’ words, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” we can’t wait to throw the first stone. And that is sin.

Hijacking the church

Wes — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:58:18 +0000

Yesterday, once again I was reminded of the church as seen publicly. There are so many representations of the Bible, scripture, and Jesus. No wonder there are so many people who could care less about the church let alone believe in God. I am deeply disturbed by those who allow the church to be hijacked by those who think they speak for the church and Christ. It is deeply disturbing to see how the Gospel is brought into each and every individual campaign. The Gospel to be rightly understood is much larger than these religious campaigns. The Gospel speaks about the “context” of God’s love and concern. There are many who completely miss the context of the whole. We need more people who can stand up and say, “You have heard it… but I say to you”. If we can share the words of Christ, they would speak volumes about reclaiming the Gospel and a true vision of “church”.

really?

Wes — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:21:11 +0000

Newt Gingrich made a comment that Mitt Romney was “an elitist” that would say whatever he needs to say to be elected. WOW! Doesn’t that just about sum up most of the politicians? Their salaries are unreal and compared to most Americans their financial increase well exceeded that of the masses. And how many of the representatives represent only themselves? The truth will make you free we are told. The question is whether or not we will know the truth when it is told.

Are demons real?

Wes — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:57:37 +0000

This Sunday’s text has Jesus freeing a man of demon possession. Many people just pooh-pooh this notion of demons. I know the reality of demon possession. We know the person who loses everything because chemicals possess them and demonize their lives. We know the people so possessed by hate, they randomly kill innocent children.
We know those close to us possessed by demons that they lose all sense of reality. There are also those so possessed by demons their only release is to kill themselves.
Yes there are demons. And Yes I believe that Christ can deal with those demons. I believe it because I have witnessed what Mark records in this Sunday’s text also witnessed by others. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, what are your demons?

Creator-creation

Wes — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:10:03 +0000

“They should seek God, in the hope that they might find him for in him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17: 27-28.
When a man recently stood under the stars, exclaiming as he gazed at the myriad constellations, “I know there is a God,” he was realizing his relationship and union with the Creator. This declaration has been repeated countless times. When Abraham stood beneath the stars and believed God’s promise, he realized himself as one living his life in God.
Consequently when we stand in awe at all the wonders of God we continue to grow in a positive and spiritually creative direction. We grow with a conscious awareness of abiding in God. We are aware of our life in him and his life in us.
Our worship under this awareness becomes more consecrated. And our devotion grows into experiences of new heights and joys.
In fully recognizing and practicing our togetherness as dwellers in God we gain an appreciation for the coveted relationship of unity with God. We cannot be dwellers in God without being in union with him. This wonderful aspect of life will continue to have its influence upon our world.

Winners and losers

Wes — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:22:47 +0000

The primaries continue to run their course in finding a GOP candidate. The most interesting aspect for me isn’t the process but the at large thinking. It would seem that the candidate’s qualities, ethics, and experience aren’t the most important factors. The final selection will be made on one question. Who has the best chance to defeat Obama? I remember a movie called “the Candidate” starring Robert Redford as a man working hard to be elected. He wins the election. The question he asks after winning, “Now what?” It might just be me, but I’d prefer that the people elected know “what” before being elected. I also would prefer elected officials who carry ethics, qualities of character and experience. But, like everything else, it’s not how you play the game but it comes down to whether you win or lose. In the pursuit something gets lost, it just may be the people who elect those “winners”.