Dec 9, 2015 | Uncategorized
“…let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12: 1a-2).”
I am aware of so many struggling this time of year with disease, broken relationships, painful circumstances beyond their control, and grief over loved ones who have died. We talk, sing, watch movies, and hear Bible stories that point to the joy of Christmas, but feeling it is a tall mountain for many to climb.
So what do we learn from the writer of Hebrews about joy in the face of difficult circumstances and suffering? We learn that he encouraged the Christians facing terrible persecution to persevere in their faith by finding joy in the good life in Christ that is to come. Certainly we cannot and should not deny the severity and suffering of our circumstances. Denial does not help us face our challenges and does not lead us to seek God’s help to deal with our difficulties. At worst, it trains us to deceive ourselves and allows our problems to grow larger. But neither should we respond as though we have no better life to look forward to in Christ.
Our joy is not always inspired by present circumstances, but we Christians can always find joy in the life to come in which “he will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away (Rev. 21: 4)” and in which new life flows from God’s throne and “the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations (Rev. 22: 2).”
Jesus endured the suffering and shame of the cross so that we might have abundant and good life in him. That was the joy that enabled him to endure the cross. May the joy of new life that will eventually come fully to us through Jesus Christ enable us to persevere through trials and be the source of our joy in good times and in bad.
I pray this truly may be the “hap, happiest season of all” for each of us, but if it doesn’t feel that way, persevere for the joy set before just as Jesus did.
May faith, hope, and love be yours,
Pastor Cameron
Dec 3, 2015 | Uncategorized
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Dec 3, 2015 | Uncategorized
“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: ‘A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ’Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”’
There is a hunger that grows in every soul this time of year. We label it a “need for a break” or a “need for a mental health day” or something else. We certainly do need rest and mental/emotional space from the rush of daily life and the additional squeeze of holiday preparations. But there are times this hunger is deeper, a hunger of the soul. The soul is often understood to be the part of us that holds the various roles and values that make us who we are together. It is the fabric that ties together what we believe, think, say, and do. It is where integrity is made or broken and where our inner sense of peace comes from.
The soul craves emptiness to remember the value of being full. It wants silence so that speech regains meaning, stillness so that movement has purpose. The holiday culture we live in is overstuffed yet undernourished, over sold and under satisfied, over scheduled and under joyed! Here is a prayer for Advent, the time of waiting and anticipating the return of Jesus Christ and his reign over all.
“Lord, help us observe Advent so we may gain wisdom. Teach us to wait upon You in emptiness, in longing, with faith and trust in Your timing for our fulfillment in Christ. Let us learn from the Prophets who trusted You to save Your people through the Messiah generations after their prayers. They waited with faith, hope, and love. Give us strength to prepare the way for Christ to be born anew in us by protecting space on our calendars to simply rest and be with You and one another. In your love and strength we pray, Jesus, amen.”
Nov 19, 2015 | Uncategorized
“Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good…Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:9, 21.)”
Last Saturday, I found myself sitting on the hard wooden bleachers of Lake Howell High School, stuffed shoulder to shoulder between other family and friends of high school students from across Seminole County who were assembled in a fan shape as an orchestra. Following a deep breath, the conductor raised his baton and his eyes toward the players. Then he thrust them down to start the music.
I don’t remember the name of the piece now, but I remember the swell of emotions that rose in me. It was the day after the attacks on Paris. My mind was wrestling with how evil human beings can be to one another. My heart kept imagining what the people directly affected were experiencing. I pondered what kind of response should be made. The orchestra piece expressed shades of sadness and beauty and wonder that morphed together into hope. It was clear to me that the good these young men and women were letting loose in that gym was the direct opposite of the evil let loose in Paris. That’s when I texted some close friends of mine, “I’m sitting here at a school orchestra performance realizing that beauty is a great antidote to terrorism.”
The scripture verse from Romans 12 keeps rolling around in my head this week. Certainly Jesus’ resurrection shows us that all of the evil and sin in human beings cannot defeat the love of Christ. In the rest of chapter 12, Paul emphasizes how the love Christians express to one another, and even to our enemies, overcomes (has victory over) evil. He contrasts what is evil and what is good, then directs followers of Jesus to defeat evil by overwhelming it with good.
It seems to me, then, that we Jesus followers are not to live as captives to fear or anger or hatred or vengeance. Certainly we will feel these emotions, and just as certainly, God gives us the grace not to allow them to dictate our lives. We are to fully invest our lives in doing good wherever we are in the name of the risen Christ.
So wherever you are, whatever you are doing, in the face of whatever evil in front of you, by the grace of God “hold fast to what is good” and “overcome evil with good” in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord of heaven and earth.
Let me know how it’s going in your walk with Jesus. How can I pray for you?
Pastor Cameron
Nov 13, 2015 | Uncategorized
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Nov 11, 2015 | Uncategorized
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17).”
Think about that. Every good and perfect gift is from God. The Greek words may also be translated “every good (useful) and complete gift.” Take a moment and mentally make a list of everything and every person that is good around you. These are all gifts from God, and God is good and generous!
From the beginning of the Bible, God desired to create and share good life. God did not have to create the earth, the seas, the creatures, and human beings. God did not need any of those things as though God were lacking something. Instead, God was so full of love and life that God wanted to generously share God’s abundance!
Sometimes when Christians talk about stewardship, they only talk about money and they only talk about tithing 10% of their income to God by giving to the Church. Often, there is no conversation about offering our daily work and time and gifts and activities and relationships to God. And if the conversation about stewardship stops at tithing, what are we to conclude besides “God’s real desire is to make sure I’m following the rules and to make sure to get my 10%.”
One of the most freeing and challenging teachings is that God is really interested in us giving our whole lives to Jesus’ mission! God is not only interested in 10%. God is interested in 100%. And since God is interested in molding our character to reflect God’s character through Jesus Christ, God desires us to become generous as God is generous. God wants us to be so full of God’s love and goodness that we excitedly look for ways to give our time, talent, and treasures to help others become more whole as we live our daily lives in the world.
As for the tithing 10% thing…well, that is a practice that helps us trust God to provide what we need, thank God for all we’ve been given, support the work of Lakeside in the world, and learn to be generous people! If you can’t give 10% regularly, give 5%. If you can’t give 5%, try 2%. The key is to start giving regularly and consistently as an act of thanks to God.
Please prayerfully plan your giving to God and Lakeside in 2016 by completing an Estimate of Giving online at https://lakesideumc.net/stewardship/ or at church. This will help Lakeside Leaders to wisely make plans for ministry in the year 2016. If you’d like a copy of the budget, just ask, and we will be happy to provide you with one.
Most importantly, in the words of Paul, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship (Romans 12: 1).”
Pastor Cameron
