A Thought From Pastor Ron

Pastor Ron sent the following quote from 'Deeply Woven Roots' by Gary Gunderson:

“The primary gift of spiritual life is not knowledge of one’s own private functioning. The great power comes from a sense of finding one’s place in the universe and finding that that place is a gift of a gracious God.”

In preparing for the kick-off of the "Led by the Spirit" appeal (May 10th and 11th), he asks:

“How might these words relate to our theme: Led by the Spirit?”

God Loose in the World

If you spent any time on our campus this past Friday, Saturday, and Sunday you are certain to have experienced the power of God’s Holy Spirit working in and through His people. One of the awesome focal points of God’s powerful joy, and energy, and life was Dr. Roland Martinson… who Pastor Ron familiarly called Rollie. In the picture, Dr. Martinson is on the left, and Pastor Ron is on the right.

Dr. Martinson was the keynote speaker for the Men’s Conference on Friday and Saturday. He’s not a particularly big guy; rather like a twin brother to Pastor Ron. I was blown away by his presence, however, and his spiritual stature is immense! He spoke with power and authority, but from his heart, and without pretense. He led us, he instructed us, he equipped us, and he challenged us to “follow the guy from Nazareth.” Add to that the 14 workshop opportunities, the jazz pianist, our Sunday music team, vocal groups, and over a hundred men joining their voices in song and prayer, and you have just a shadowy taste of a fantastic 2-day Men’s Conference.

Now don’t feel bad if you missed the conference, especially all you women, because Dr. Martinson saved his best for last. He preached at all of our services this weekend… and touched the hearts of all who heard him share his faith and his story. He shared so much with us, yet when he closed, I was yearning for more. Two things in particular touched me: How he shared Scripture with us, and the story about the death of his 2-year old son.

The Scripture he shared with us was John 14:1-14. He asked that someone read the first verse aloud, and then somebody else read the next verse, and so on. He assigned no order of readers. Indeed, he assigned no one to even start. Yet someone did start, and was followed by a different voice reading the next verse, and then another, and then another. As the Word of God was read and shared by each of us, for each of us… it unfolded in the sanctuary like a beautiful flower. I found the experience exciting and powerful.

The story about the death of his little boy tied into one of his themes of Jesus healing and mending ‘damaged goods.’ What was really moving was how a young 17-year old girl reached out to him with a poem she had written. Dr. Martinson, who has the poem engraved on his heart, shared it with us with incredible feeling; here is the poem by Bonnie Oien in print:

TEARS

The tears flow gently down my cheek,
Each drop a silent word to speak.
Sometimes when it’s too hard to pray,
My tears know just the words to say.

Sometimes they whisper hurt and pain,
Sometimes they simply fall like rain.
More often they speak warmth and care,
And you will find God’s presence there.

I thank you God for tears that fall,
I thank you that you see them all.
The words are silent, but they’re there,
Each drop a silent liquid prayer.

Because a young woman reached out to him in faith and Christ-like compassion, God’s Holy Spirit could suture Roland’s heart and allow healing to begin.

Have you suffered a terrible loss? Are you still hurting? Are you still damaged? If healing has started, how was God evident in that healing process, or moment?

YBIC, Dave

Becoming One Body

I was raised in the Roman Catholic Church, yet God’s calling has me worshiping, growing, and sharing here at Messiah Lutheran Church in Yorba Linda. Since my parents and siblings are all still Catholics, I found myself in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Placentia on Saturday celebrating the Confirmation of my youngest niece, Gabriella.

I must confess that I am always surprised at how Catholic and Lutheran worship are almost exactly the same. More surprising than that however, was who the presiding celebrant was; not only for the celebration of Confirmation, but for the worship, as well. The celebrant was not the local Catholic Bishop, but a visiting bishop. And not just a visiting bishop, but the Most Reverend Nicholas Samra… a bishop of the Eastern Byzantine Catholic Church!

Bishop Samra was delightful. Although he is certainly a practiced speaker, and sprinkled in just the right balance of humor, it was his spiritual fire that kept the people in the packed church riveted during his homily in the middle of a 3-hour celebration and service. I loved how he answered one young man who had written him to say that he was sorry that his Confirmation instruction was coming to a close. He answered that Confirmation was not an end at all, but just the beginning of a life of learning, and growing, and sharing, and walking… in Christ.

It was a wonderful day.

But it got me thinking… how are we doing at becoming one body in Christ? Would we welcome in a Catholic Bishop to confirm our young people? Would we allow an Eastern Byzantine Bishop to preside over our worship? Would we feel comfortable with him speaking the words of institution, and serving Communion? We are called to be one body in Christ. More often than not, the world views us, not just as isolated parts, but feuding isolated parts.

My question is: What are we doing to work closer to being one body in Christ? Perhaps there are ways in which we are already moving in that direction. Are there examples of us (at Messiah) striving to be one body in our community… in our country… in our world?

YBIC, Dave

God Calling

God called me on my father’s knee,
As Dad read Bible verse to me.

He called again throughout my life;
He called through children, friends, and wife.

And stubbornly, with passing years,
I closed my eyes, my heart, my ears.

And yet, His love, so great for me,
He kept on calling… ceaselessly.

Though crucified upon a tree;
While dying, He called out to me.

He conquered death, that all might see;
And in His rising, called to me.

And then, one day, I lost my pride,
Opened my heart, let God inside.

My empty heart, once cold and chilled,
Through gift of faith, was Spirit-filled.

I know Christ died for my sake, too.
The Good News is: He died for you!

So walk with us in Jesus’ light,
And you can find a world that’s bright.

I know you’ve heard God’s calling, too.
Why, still today, he calls to you!

I wrote this poem years ago, as an excited new believer. Today, I still hear God’s call in my life. More than ever, I am driven to witness and attest to God’s amazing love for us, and our ransomed salvation through Jesus.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
- John 3:16-17

Dear Lord, help me to hear your call more clearly every day. Show me how I can generously share the time, talents, and income that you have blessed me with, to answer your call. Please help me to remember that a comfortable, welcoming environment… and a warm smile speak louder than the most eloquent sermon. Stir me up, oh God, to hear your call, to heed your call, and to step out in faith to bring your love into a broken world.

Perhaps you’d like to comment on how you listen for, heed, step out in, or share God’s call.

YBIC, Dave