Be In Prayer With Me

Dear friends and church family,

This last Sunday I preached about overcoming conflict.  In my message I spoke of the Ferguson MS community, the shooting and death of Michael Brown, and the conflict the community is in.  Since that shooting on August 9th, there have been riots, looting, more shootings, tear gas and curfews, and the National Guard called in.  There is a nationwide awareness with people watching in bated-breath, wondering what happens next.

Earlier today I was at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary meeting with Dr. Gennifer Brooks, who is African-American and originally from Trinidad.  We spoke about what’s happening in Ferguson and in her perspective she spoke of a deeper issue of poverty, racism, lack of quality education and opportunities for minorities to ‘get ahead’ in their lives.  I know there are many issues to be considered with the Michael Brown shooting and death.  I know this is tinder for the fire in many communities and we may see continued rioting and additional shootings.

So, I ask you to be in prayer with me – not only for the Brown family, the Ferguson community and police force; but, for our nation as a whole.  We obviously have much to fix, especially in regards to racism, mis-treating and exploitation of minorities, abuse of power and authority.  There is no easy answer to all of this.  I recognize this.  But again, I ask you to be in prayer with me.

In Sunday morning’s message I said, “I think about what’s going on in Ferguson and I believe the churches of the community need to be involved in helping to restore peace.  I believe the churches have a greater possibility of doing this – than the police, the mayor or the governor.  The families and community and police need to be helped through their grief and find a place of mercy and forgiveness.”

Part of the answer to all of this is deeper than mercy and forgiveness.  Justice, reconciliation and equality must play a part of the solution.  But I believe this begins with mercy and forgiveness.  Church, please join with me in prayer for the healing and reconciliation of a broken community.  May we find ways to work together, shedding our bias and prejudices, and seeking equality in all people.    

Christ’s peace with you,

Patrick

OVERCOME - Finding Purpose In Life

It's not surprising to me that one of the areas we struggle to overcome has to do with our purpose in life.  Why are we here?  What is it we are supposed to be doing?  

The prophet Micah would tell us we are here to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God.

The psalmist would tell us we are here to praise the Lord – to praise with dancing and melody and to take pleasure in God’s glory.

Jesus would say we are to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, and help heal the sick and care for the imprisoned.

I would suggest these are all reasons of why we are here and what we are to be doing.  But, I would also suggest our question of purpose goes deeper than this.

I think one of the questions of purpose we are asking is ‘Do I matter? Do I make a difference?’ Who among us wants to look back upon decades of living and say to ourselves, I've made no difference at all.

Paul helps us to think through this question of purpose in his letter to the Philippians when he writes, "If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy…  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.  Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others."

It is not easy, in all humility, to regard others as better than yourselves.  It is not easy to set aside your own interests for the interests of others.  There is something innately born within us that calls us to be self-centered and to place ourselves first.  Part of this begins as a survival instinct.

As a baby we cry to have our needs met with feeding and changing and burping and warmth on cold nights.  As we grow older we cry and laugh, and pose and pout to get the attention we want and privileges we feel we deserve.

As adults our employers, and sports, television shows, even our education systems inform us we need to be number one.  Be the best.  Be the smartest and most popular and prettiest and better than everyone else.

We celebrate and reward the best and the first, while the last and the least are thought of as… well, as last and least.  What begins as a survival instinct quickly becomes an expression of fallen human nature.

But consider this.  We have been made in the image of God.  Not just some people, and not just believers – we've all been made in the image of God.  The most compelling earthly image we have of God is Jesus Christ.

So when we ask ourselves the question of purpose, we inevitably ask, are we doing all we can to be more Christ-like – to be faithful in the image of God.

John Widtsoe once wrote, “There is a purpose in life – to be nearer to the likeness of God.” 

If our purpose in life is to be nearer the likeness of God it matters not if we are school teachers, factory workers, stay at home moms, retired or just starting in school, whether we are musicians or police officers or clergy. 

In all that we do, in anything we do, we do it for the glory of God – to be nearer to God, striving to be more like Christ. 

God has created us uniquely and with great intent and wondrous love.  It’s not so much of what we do, but how we do.  Paul says, “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.”

Does what you do reflect the character of Jesus Christ – or the mind of Jesus Christ?

In honor of Kristina Laura May Schultz

Our first daughter - born at 6 months and received home by God.  I wrote this and read it as part of the funeral service.

A Blessing to Our Father

How obscured has been our sight

When on the path we pause;

Stumbling in the darkened night

Unable to see the cause.

How precious is your gracious love

Your Son you did commit,

The Word that was with you, O God. 

This is the light that comes to us

The darkness banished before it.

Jesus Christ, the Lamb of Life

Protects and loves his children.

The Lamb of God who lights the way

Guides us on those darkened days.

Give us grace, ease and comfort

In our sorrow, hope and faith. 

Let your tender love, doth guide us; 

Guide us to you every day. 

Our heavenly savior, Jesus Christ,

We pray.

                                                                                                Patrick Schultz

Prayer is good for the soul...

The words, ‘prayer is good for the soul’ seems like a scripture verse we read in our Bible.  Interestingly enough, we don’t find those exact words in the text, but we come close with John’s third letter in the New Testament “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul.” (1:2)  

Some weeks ago I spent the afternoon from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. in the chapel in prayer for each of our church members and friends, for our church and church ministries, for our community, country, nation’s leaders and world.  I prayed for prayer concerns given to me during worship.  I prayed for my peers & colleagues who would be meeting me in Chicago for our residency program. I prayed for peace in our world, help with our church financial situation.  I prayed for those who were filling the pulpit while I was gone in Chicago.

Occasionally, as a pastor and a person, I find myself weighed down with cares and concerns, fears and worries of church and community, family, friends…  This particular afternoon I found myself a bit weighed down, feeling kind of heavy laden, wearied, and burdened.  By the end of my prayer time I felt much lighter – not carefree – but assured and reassured that I wasn’t carrying the burden all by myself.  I share this as a way of saying – prayer is good for our soul.

Are you feeling burdened, heavy laden?   Jesus reminds us in Matthew, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”  (11:28)  Bring it to God, share it with God, tell it to God… let God carry that burden with you and for you.  Know that God loves you my friends.

Student Charge the Dean of the ACTS DMin in Preaching Program

This week the ACTS DMin in Preaching Program installed a new dean - Rev. Dr. Gennifer Brooks of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.  As part of the program I brought before Dr. Brooks a charge from the students.  Here is my charge:

Dr. Brooks, Dr. Edgerton, Bishop Satterlee, esteemed guests, visitors, friends and students, it is an honor to be a part of this momentous occasion with you.  I thank God for the grace and mercy and blessings of this day.  My name is Patrick Schultz.  I am a third year student here and on behalf of the students – Dean, I give to you this charge.

Some years ago I was asked the question by Dr. Ellsworth Kalas, “what arrogance drives us preachers if we feel we have a right to take twenty or twenty-five minutes of time from thirty or one hundred or four hundred people and leave them with no new insight, no quickening of mind or spirit to repay them for the time they have invested?”

This is a question not only appropriate for the preacher, it is entirely appropriate for the ACTS Doctor of Ministry in Preaching Program as well.   

Dean Brooks on behalf of the students, both now and to come, who attend from parts of the world, both near and far, you are asked, “How is God directing you and the leaders of this program so that, as your students take hours and days and weeks of their time here, they leave with new insight, quickening of mind and spirit, to repay the time and money they have invested?” 

You are charged on behalf of all your students to ask yourself this question each time you hire a new teacher, evaluate a class or an advisor, or introduce a new curriculum.  You are charged to ask yourself this question each time you receive a new wave of students.  You are charged on behalf of the churches and communities and families these preachers serve to continue developing a program that repays the investment that has been made. 

You are charged to continue moving this program in such a way that when you stand before God, God will have no choice but to say – well done good and faithful child.  You have helped shape faithful and better preachers out of your students. 

Praise God.  

I read this post earlier this morning.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-mcswain/why-nobody-wants-to-go-to_b_4086016.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000051

I think there are more shades of gray than what McSwain is putting forth.  I have studied Stetzer over the years (began with some of his writings when I was still in seminary in Kentucky), and I don’t think McSwain has it quite right either.  There is more give and take, more shades of gray and complexity than either McSwain or Stetzer can possibly fit into one particular book or post.

I would agree churches are dying; however, I would not say Church is dying.  It is naturally in a state of transition as socio-cultures, ethnicities, ages… change, merge, blend and transition, and grow.

McSwain quotes the numbers of churches closing – 4000-7000 or 8000-10,000 every year (depending which statistics you look at).  I see many articles noting the closing churches (I don’t sit with a "head in the sand saying, it ain’t so!" view)  But I’d like to see more information in articles like this that indicate new church starts, new church communities, new church ministries…  These ‘new churches’ are not always mainline denomination-ally oriented or founded or launched.  This doesn’t make it any less church growth.

A better balance of information would give greater overall perspective.  Truth is, churches have been born, lived, transitioned, dying, changing, merging, melding… since Acts tells us of the newly forming churches following Pentecost.  I don’t think this is anything new.  How many of the churches Paul launched/started/formed we read about in the New Testament are alive and well today?

Nevertheless, there are some good points in this article – ages of church, trending of ‘stylized’ contemporary, ethnic realities, technology and competition…  some truth in what McSwain is saying and areas for us to pay attention to.

What are your thoughts?

New Year's Resolution

I came across the following in one of my readings.  I didn't note where I had made a copy of it, when I did so.  So I can't credit the original author.  My apologies for that and all due credit to whomever came up with this.  I did think it kind of funny and shared it with my congregation last week.

At the beginning of the new year, it is traditional that we make resolutions.  Resolutions are promises concerning things we will try to accomplish in the year to come.  Usually, they have to do with losing weight or something like that.  A wise man once made a list of resolutions that I want to share with you today.  I believe that they are resolutions that will help to insure that we will have a happy and prosperous New Year.

In the New Year, be sure to: LIE, CHEAT, DRINK, SWEAR and STEAL more than you did last year. 

LIE back and relax just a little more this new year.  Let a little more life happen to you without so much worry.

CHEAT failure.  Don't be afraid to try something new because you think you may fail.  It is through failure that we learn the most valuable lessons.

DRINK from the fountain of knowledge.  Many people around you have already been down roads you are about to travel.  Learn from mistakes they have made.  Take what they have learned and use it.

SWEAR to do your best.  All the time, in every situation.  That is all anybody will ever ask.

STEAL a little time for God.  Everyday take a little more time to develop your relationship with God.

So, if you lie, cheat, drink, swear and steal just a little more in the next year, you will have a profitable and enjoyable year ahead!  God bless you in the New Year and may our words, our actions, our thoughts, and our very being be pleasing to God.  

Let’s Get Acquainted With our Bibles

Beginning this Wednesday evening (January 15th) Pastor Patrick will be leading a study group exploring and getting acquainted with our Bibles.  

You know how he’s always saying, ‘Bring your Bibles to church?’  Well, here’s a chance to learn more about our Bibles and perhaps stump the pastor with great questions!  

Study materials are provided.  Bring your own Bible (all translations accepted).  This 8-10 week study is an overview of our Bible, preparing us for more in-depth studies down the road. 

When:  6:00 – 7:00pm

Where:  Study room right off Fellowship Hall

Who:  All ages, all levels of biblical knowledge, all are welcome! 

What:  Bring your own Bible – all translations accepted 

If you do not have a Bible of your own, Pastor Patrick will provide you with one that will be yours to keep!  

Patrick W. Schultz

Franksville UMC

262-886-0326

www.franksvilleumc.org

All In The Family

In the Gospel of John we see Jesus telling his disciples (and subsequently each one of us), “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” 

Loving one another as Jesus has loved us is not only difficult – it seems downright impossible at times!  We suffer a myriad of maladies that hinder our getting along and are often times confused and feeling hopeless in addressing these issues.  At all times of the year this is worth exploring, but as specially as we begin our new year together. 

I recently conducted a very brief survey in my church, asking church members to note their biggest relational challenges.  I took the top five challenges and have developed this new six-week sermon series entitled, “All In The Family”.  In this series I’ll talk about the relational challenges we face and how we might overcome them.  This is not a ‘fix-all’ by any means, but as we look at varying relational obstacles I hope we can identify one, two, maybe three things we can do that will help us.  Most importantly, we’ll see how having God in our lives improves our relationships with one another. 

I hope you can join us for this series beginning this Sunday - January 19th.

1)     The Brokenness of Relationships (Genesis 4:8-10)

2)    This Language is Confusing (Genesis 11:1-9)

3)     I Hate Dealing With Conflict (Romans 12:14-21)

4)     Time Keeps Slipping (Psalm 39:4-5; 2 Peter 8:8-13) 

5)     Living at the Corner of Faith and Finance (Isaiah 9:2; Psalm 121:1-2; 1 Timothy 6:17) 

6)     Standing At the Cross Roads (Jeremiah 6:16; Matthew 7:13-14) 

I believe this series will help us in our marriages; our relationships at church or school or work; and with our families, friends and neighbors.  

Perhaps you know someone struggling in their own relationships.  This would be a perfect time to invite them to spend some time with us and see what God has to say about our relationships! Come and join us beginning January 19^th!   

Made In God's Image

"Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness..." (Gen 1:26)


Today my family and I went to the Milwaukee Museum.  I've been there quite a number of times, but like reading the Bible every time I wander through it something new strikes me.

The museum covers quite a lot of human history, of different people from diverse climates, of multiple cultures from poles apart places and ages:  the ice age, Native Americans, Samoan islands, Neanderthal, the rainforests, Taiwanese, ancient Greece, Andes mountains, Peruvians, Japanese... and so much more.  People, places, time, cultures, societies ... different, diverse, strange and familiar.  The climate ever changing from warm to cold to dry to wet: desert, water, plains, mountains and deciduous.

As I looked upon the artifacts of these various and sundry people - from headhunters to sailors to miners to plains tribes Indians to Milwaukean brewers drafting their beers and the places they lived and how they worked and what was important to each - I thought to myself even with all these differences they still have something (at least this something) in common.

Each one, every person, every being - no matter color, nor culture, nor time, nor place - was and is and always will be created in the image of God.  God imbued all of humanity with characteristics that are godlike. This doesn't  mean we are god, nor should we aspire to be gods.  But we have the characteristics of God - we are made in God's image.

We have the ability to love, and show mercy, to have grace and to forgive, and to create with our own hands using the creative imaginations God blessed us with.  This struck me significantly today as I saw the wide variety of tools people used to cultivate land, or shape wood, or mold clay pots.  I looked at the styles of sailing vessels people used when navigating the waterways.  I saw the weavings and sewings and stitching and materials and cloth and silk and reeds and skins the people used to cover themselves. I held the pots and vessels and plates and eating wares and drinking chalices and marveled at their uniqueness.

I saw the different homes represented in which these beautiful people lived, from one end of the globe to the other; spanning time from one age to the next.

And in all of this I was amazed!  I saw things of creation made at the hands of man and woman.  Tools used to shape the things they would need to survive, to build the homes in which they would live; to make the canoes and sailing vessels that they might navigate the seas and water ways and too, the navigational tools in which to get around on vast seas.  I saw the heavy merino woolen serapes and capes used to keep mountaineers warm in the snowy heights.  There is so much more to describe, yet let this suffice....

In all these differences - peoples, places, climates, and cultures and societies one thing was similar.  All that was made was made with intentional and deliberate beauty imagined and ingrained.  God who created all the world - the universe and everything - created with great beauty.  The world itself is of breathtaking beauty. The beings and creatures roaming and swimming and flying through our world are of exceedingly intricate beauty. And the people made in God's image are beautiful.  


A simple covering (for modesty or to keep the elements off and out) was imbued with color - at times the iridescent blues of the Blue Morpho didius butterfly; at times with the reds and oranges woven intricately to reflect the glorious colors of the setting desert sun.



A simple sailing vessel, a reed canoe, was artfully crafted with a myriad of beautifully designed patterns - it would not do to simply make a vessel that floats.  It must look beautiful as well!

Ancient Grecian pottery, not content to merely hold water or wine, it must be artistically made with designs and colors with ridges and rills and graceful narrow necks - far beyond what was necessary to hold liquids or plates to heft dinner.

China, ivory, gold, valuable woods, silk cloth, bejeweled boxes... All far above and beyond the need to accomplish their base design.

All made by human hands echoing the beauty seen in God's own creation - from the brilliant plumage of the Birds of Paradise, to the iridescent wings of butterflies, or the iridescent carapaces of the Egyptian beetle, to the grandeur of beautifully tall standing trees and the liquid beauty of blossoming moon flowers.

  The things of beauty we strive to create are but mere imitation of the Master's creations, and yet we honor the Creator in our desire to imitate.  

Franksville UMC together...

Each new year we look forward to a time of new beginnings, new challenges, new experiences, and blessings.  Each new year we commit to renewing old contracts with ourselves – I’ll exercise regularly; I’ll pray more diligently; I’ll be more forgiving; I’ll improve my relationship with loved ones; I’ll read the Bible more; I’ll….  While our heart is often in the right place, we find that life gets in our way (yet again) and our intent of new beginnings fades like it has so often in the past.

I find myself falling into this pattern all too often.  How thankful I am that God’s commitment is nothing like my own.  Kimberly Dunnam Reisman once said, “God does not wait for us to have our spiritual acts together before reaching out to us and seeking relationship with us.  This should be a point of great relief and freedom for us,… our relationship with God is not dependent on our success.  God’s love will remain steadfast regardless.”

I am so very thankful for God’s faith and commitment to me, to us, and to this church.

In our new year together, I believe we’ll see the mission and ministries at Franksville UMC continue to grow and flourish.  Our leadership team continues to meet in quarterly retreats, setting actions to vision and vision to prayerful consideration of who God wants us to be as a church.  We continue to reach out in local mission to HALO, Oxford House, our local schools, and local families.  We continue to reach out to sisters and brothers outside the country – like the Mabe Orphanage.  The families of our church come together for worship, song, prayer, fellowship, Bible studies, women’s study groups, men’s groups, children’s events, Family Fusion, community events, fund raising and so much more.   

It’s amazing how much happens here and almost every bit of it through volunteer hours!  Your sharing of talents, gifts, prayers, leadership, and commitment is vital to a healthy and growing church.  Here are three indicators that we are indeed getting healthy and growing in Christ.

1)   23 new members were added this last year – through profession of faith or confirmation.

2)   From January through November (2013) our average Sunday attendance has increased by almost 4%.

3)   Our steward pledges for 2014 have increased approximately 35% from 2013.   

These are all wonderful indicators that help show vitality and growth and are indicative of our hearts desiring to be in relationship with God and one another.  I look forward to this new year with you and give thanks for all you do and all you are in Christ.  

Praise the Lord!

The other afternoon my daughter came up to me and whispered in my ear.  "I want to go outside to praise God" she said.  I asked why we wanted to go outside to do this and she said, "Because I want to shout my praise to God as loud as I can."

Awesome, I thought.  And we went outside.  We began our worship by singing 'Come, Now is the Time to Worship.'  We both know most of those words - and the words we don't know we make up.  Then we had prayer in which we both spoke our prayers out loud.  And lastly, we both looked into the sky, raised our hands and shouted at the top of our voices, "Praise God!"

It was liberating, refreshing, and oh so very joyful to do this.  We sang again, ran around a little bit, raised our hands and called out "Praise God" several more times.

Perhaps on a fine weather day, on a Sunday morning, we can have our whole congregation worship outside and shout to our hearts content, with hands lifted up, "Praise God!"

Father's Day Present Early

This Memorial Day weekend I had a 'date' with my five year old daughter Gracie.  Sunday afternoon we left for mall shopping.  We spent much of our time going up and down the escalator in Sears, looking for fingernail polish for Grace, and some Packer wear for papa.

We had dinner at our one of our favorite restaurants in Janesville and then checked into a hotel for an evening of swimming.

That night we had prayer time while looking out the hotel window at the nighttime lights.  I read to her from the OT Habakkuk, which I'm contemplating a message from.  She read to me a story she had written and illustrated.  By 9:00 pm the lights were out and we were snoozing.

Monday morning we were up early, lazing about, watching some cartoons, reading our Calvin and Hobbes book and then back in the pool before checking out.  Before we headed back home we managed a bit more shopping and then lunch at the Milton Family Restaurant.

The thing about having this time away with Gracie was, there were no interruptions, no deadlines to meet, nothing that really had to be done.  It was like a mini-vacation together without all the hassle of packing a car full of stuff and then not being able to find what you thought you packed, only to realize you left it at home anyway!

Gracie and I agreed to do this every year (at least until she gets old enough to date boys - this is what she told me anyway!)

One of the most important relationships in our life is that between parent and child.  Dads take some time to spend with your children - just you and them.  It's the best Father's Day gift you'll ever receive.

42

This last week, while on vacation, my wife and I went to see the movie 42.  It’s a movie about Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to enter and play in Major League Baseball since the late 1880s.  If you haven’t seen this movie, I’d encourage you to go.  

It’s an eye-opening, riveting movie giving us a glimpse into the challenges of de-segregation in baseball.  It takes place in the mid-1940’s following WWII.  Jackie, who went to UCLA and was the first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports while there; who served in WWII and was honorably discharged from the Army as a Lieutenant; is brought up from the minor leagues to the Brooklyn Dodgers by Branch Rickey, a visionary who felt called to help end the segregation between whites and blacks in baseball.    

Three moments in the movie stood out to me:

• At the beginning of one of the Dodger games everyone is standing and singing the Star Spangled Banner.  The camera pans the audience who are holding hands over hearts and mouthing the words of the song.  The camera pans the players who are doing likewise.  The camera then focuses on Jackie at the moment when the words – “O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave” are being sung.  Jackie is not singing along.  I thought to myself – how is this the home of the free when black people cannot use the same restroom as white people, or they have to enter the stadium through the “Colored” entrance, or black players cannot stay in the same hotel as white players…

• During one of the games in the south (I don’t remember where they were playing at the moment) Jackie came out to take the field.  Just prior, the camera showed a dad and his young son at their first ball game together.  The boy was so excited to see his first game with his dad.  His dad was sharing the story of his dad taking him to the ball game when he was a boy.  When Jackie came on to the field the spectators began to yell at him to get off the field, to go back to the cotton fields where he belonged, and they used the “n” word vociferously.  The little boy looked around at everyone cussing and yelling with great prejudice including his dad and then he himself began to call out, “get off the field you 'n…'”.  Just moments before he had been filled with this joyous innocence.  And then he learned how to shout out in hate and prejudice.  It's amazing what our children learn from us.   

• When Branch Rickey first talked to Jackie about becoming a Brooklyn Dodger he got up in his face asking if he would be able to stand up to the prejudice, the names, the rocks being thrown, that he might not be able to stay at the same hotel, the hate, the vitriol… Branch asked he if had the courage to do this.  When Branch said, “Can you do this you, s.o.b. n...?” Jackie stood up and asked, “You want someone with the courage to stand up and fight against this bigotry?”  Branch replied, “No, I want someone with the courage to not stand up and fight…”

 
It takes courage to not strike out at those who hate, who throw stones, who spit upon you, who threaten your life.  It takes courage to respond, not in kind but, in love and restraint.  It takes the courage of Christ to face that kind of bigotry and prejudice.   
 
As an aside, I found it interesting that Jackie was a Methodist as was Branch Rickey!  

Church

So the churches were strengthened in the faith 

and increased in numbers daily. Acts 16:5 (NRSV)

In my studies of the Old Testament I have come to realize the building of the Israelite nation happened because God wanted to establish a nation living under the government of God – within the laws and commandments given by God so that the presence of God would be seen by the other nations, by the other people.  This holy nation would be a beacon of light in a darkened world, serving to reveal the character of God to the rest of the world. 

On a smaller scale, doesn't this sound like the church of today?  Perhaps you've asked these questions yourself.  Why are we called together as a people?  Why is the church here?  Why do we spend time learning about God’s commandments and making changes in our own lives?  Why are we seeking to become a holy people?  Yes, so that our own relationship with God deepens, but also (and just as importantly) so we can be a beacon of light in a darkened world and serve to reveal the character of God to the people around us! 

O Holy God, strengthen my will today that I may follow your commandments and listen to your Word.  Be at work in me and through me that I may be a beacon of light in a world of darkness.  Through my character, my example, and my invitation may others come to know the grace and peace of Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Patrick Schultz 

Change

For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, have not perished.  Malachi 3:6 

In a world that moves at an ever faster pace we find ourselves struggling to stay caught up.  In the midst of the whirlwind speeds we recognize that many things around us change at an alarming rate.  Job situations are ever changing.  We need to change along with the industry or risk being left behind.  Family situations are changing.  What once was considered a nucleus family of mom, dad, and children has changed to include multiples of moms and dads or even absentee parents.  Schooling has changed with our kids utilizing ipads and iphones and internet on-line classes.  Church can now be “done” by watching television.  One no longer needs to get in the car and drive anywhere.  I’ve even heard of on-line marriages, long-distance joining of churches, and receiving Holy Communion via the internet.  Some changes are good.  Some changes are not so good.  But regardless of whether we think good or bad – change is inevitable. 

The only thing constant, that we can always rely upon, that will never change – is our Lord God.  God has always remained steadfast in love for us.  God’s grace and mercy has always been and always will be in abundance for each and every one of us.  No matter our background, no matter our history, no matter our race, our creed, our color, our sexual preference – God is there and loves us. 

Almighty God and Creator of All, we give thanks for your presence among us.  In the long and lonely nights, in the darkened and frightening moments, when we are at our lowest, we call out to you.  We give thanks that you are there and have not forsaken us.  Patrick 

No Ordinary Teacher

Last week I gave a sermon entitled, "No Ordinary Man" as part of a sermon series called the Story.  The sermon focused on three points of Jesus Christ which I would like to share with you.  The first is, Jesus was no ordinary teacher.  

Most of the faithful Jewish people were accustomed to going to the temple and listening to their rabbis read from the Book of Law.  Imagine coming to church on Sunday morning and having me stand in front of you and read, from the book of Leviticus, detailed instructions for what you can eat and what you can wear and what kind of haircut you can get!  

Jesus didn't teach that way.  Jesus was informative and challenging and mesmerizing.  He told stories or parables with a heavenly message that communicated truth in ways that reading the book of law could never convey.  And people came flocking from all over to hear him – by the thousands.  

One of his teaching moments takes place on the side of a mountain.  We find his words recorded in the gospel of Matthew chapters 5-6-7.  We know this as the Sermon on the Mount.  Thousands of people came to hear this incredible teacher and they crowd in close sitting on the side of this large hill which formed a natural amphitheater near the Sea of Galilee.  

In those days there were no microphones, but the people had no problems hearing him – the acoustics of that amphitheater were perfect.  Who would know these acoustics better than the one who had created this mountainside? 

Now, the thing about Jesus’ teachings was that they were what we might call counter-cultural.  They went against the societal belief  of the people.  After all, who in their right mind would teach that being poor is a blessing? Yet, Jesus taught…
    Blessed are the poor.  

Who would teach that those who mourn or found themselves being persecuted would find blessing?  Yet Jesus taught… 
    Blessed are those who mourn…
    Blessed are the meek…
    Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. 

No one wants to mourn.  No one wants to find themselves oppressed or persecuted.  Jesus even taught…
    Blessed are the pure in heart – Come on!  Purity is for prudes. 

But what Jesus is really doing in this teaching is giving the people a glimpse – a vision – of God’s kingdom and how God’s kingdom is different than the world itself.  He is saying that character is more important than possessions and circumstances and position and prestige.  

Jesus looks around the hillside and sees the people sitting, held in rapt attention;             
    In the faces of the people he sees hunger, fright, uncertainty;            
        he sees the people needing something more than more than what the world was giving them. 

And the kingdom of God that Jesus described to them was not that of the world; but, that of a new garden – a restored version of the garden we learned about in Genesis - The Garden of Eden.  A garden where God will once again come down and walk and talk and dwell with those who believe him.  

One of the lessons Jesus was trying to get across to the people was that they understand that to be part of God’s nation, they had to live differently than those who lived only to an earthly nation.  The people heard this wondrous teaching of Jesus, and they saw him living what he taught and they wondered.  

How does Jesus' teachings help you to live differently?   

God’s Grace Is Sufficient

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. – II Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)

Grace is the unmerited, unconditional, unending love of God.  It is through God’s grace that we receive the gift of forgiveness, salvation and eternal life.  Grace is pardon for sin and peace for tomorrow.  This wondrous gift means that we don’t need to get it all right, in order to be all right.  Likewise, it does not mean we need to know all the right answers in order to live the questions. 

We must understand however, grace is not magic, nor does it whisk us off into some fantasy land or Disney world.  Grace does not cure all our cancers, it does not turn our kids into the perfect children, it does not guarantee a life of happiness and success.  In fact, grace most often shows up in our lives when all is at its darkest.  We all experience those moments when we question our own worth, when we ask if it is worth it, when we are weary and set upon.  It is God’s grace that can help us through those moments that we may become stronger in our faith.

Patrick

Where Is God?

O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen?  Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save?  Why do you make me see wrongdoing and look at trouble?  Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.  So the law becomes slack and justice never prevails.  The wicked surround the righteous – therefore judgment comes forth perverted.  – Habakkuk 1:1-4 (NRSV)

The question, “Why doesn't God put an end to all suffering, if God is good and loving, and all-powerful?” is asked many times over.  As pastor, I have been asked by a weeping mother whose daughter was in the hospital, “She’s been a good girl – I don’t understand why this is happening.  How can this be?”  In light of the Sandy Hook shooting many postings on Facebook demanded, “Where was your God in this?”  Following Hurricane Sandy, the same was wondered.  Time and time again we want to know where God is, why God allows this to happen, how can good people suffer – especially those who follow Christ. 

When God gave to us the gift of Jesus Christ – Christ did not promise us there would be no more pain, no more trouble, no more loss or sorrow.  What he did promise is that he would be with us to the ends of the age.  While God could stop all accidents and disease and suffering from happening, God’s way of working in our lives is less direct than that.  God guides us through scripture and church and the people around us, through the doctors and medicine and science and faith that help and sustain us. 

There is no easy direct answer to the ultimate question we pose, but perhaps we can find God’s presence through our faith, be comforted by this and know that God is with us to the very end.  Perhaps our questions can be turned from, “Why do bad things happen in a world supposedly ruled over by a good God?” to “How is it good things happen in a world of chaos and violence?”

Lord, give me strength to see me through the trials of my day.  Let me be reassured in your presence even and especially in the midst of troubled times.  Patrick Schultz

Sharing the Christmas Spirit

Early last week I was on the doorstep of Hedberg Library (in Janesville) before 9:00 am waiting for it to open that I might check out the book Stanley Weintraub wrote, “Silent Night: The Story of the World War I Christmas Service”.  Sunday's sermon was going to include the story of peace in the midst of this war and the singing of the well-known hymn, Silent Night by the opposing soldiers.   

As I waited, I said hello to a young man sitting on the bench by the library doors.  He said hi and then came over to introduce himself.  His name was Charles; I noticed he had some difficulty in talking, his hands and arms moved in jerky motions, but he had a nice smile and seemed pleased I had noticed him.  

After he had introduced himself he reached into his pocket and pulled out a picture of Jesus Christ.  He told me about the church he goes to – the one on the hill.  He told me of how nice it is and how nice the people are.  I mentioned briefly that we will be celebrating Jesus’ birthday soon and he replied, “I know!” (very excitedly).  It was a pleasant chat and I enjoyed getting to know him just a little bit.  As he went inside the library I heard one of the ladies behind the library desk say, “Good morning Charles.  How can I help you today?”  Obviously a regular visitor.  It’s wonderful, the opportunities we have, to get to know someone when we say hi.