October 23, 2025
The Finish Line!
“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
2 Timothy 4:6-7
As evidenced by the words in our devotional verses found above, the apostle Paul was understanding that he was nearing the end of his life. He states that he is being, “...poured out like a drink offering.” Biblical scholar William Barclay notes that this statement refers to the Roman tradition of pouring out a cup of wine and the end of a meal as a sacrifice. Paul envisions his life, at this point, as being a sacrifice to God. He is now in prison, chained in a dungeon, with his execution being possible at any time. It is easy to understand that he now sees the finish line of his earthly journey looming ahead.
In my vocation I have had many experiences with people as they contemplated their mortality. As you might expect, everyone’s experience varies as they face the consummation of their earthly journey. Some are fearful, anxious about what comes next. Some, like Paul, have made themselves comfortable with the outcome, knowing that they have done their best to live a life that glorifies the Lord. How might we react when our moment of realization occurs?
When I read Paul’s words, I am drawn to the fact that he believes that he has done his level best to, “keep the faith’ as it were. The image of finishing the race does not mean that his contest is over, perhaps it is just this stage of the contest has concluded. It may have been hugely challenging but he has endured. The reward for completing the race may be admission into another, less strenuous journey. So, I guess the question Paul might ask us might be about what we have done during our race. Have we run it to the best of our ability? Should we take another route, or are we doing our best? No matter what our vision of our mortality is, it is what we do during the race that is the most important factor. May we, like Paul, do our best to keep the faith!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck
October 22, 2025
Sharing!
“A generous person will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.”
Proverbs 22:9
If you are of a certain age group (specifically my age group) you may remember a commercial for Cracker Jack from many years ago. A man is sitting in his easy chair enjoying his favorite snack, Cracker Jack. His young son arrives home from school and the man tries to hide the box so he does not have to share. To distract his son the man asks what did he learn at school that day. The boy, on to his father’s chicanery, states in a sweet voice, “sharing.” The jig is up! Dad pulls out the treasured box of Cracker Jack and they both enjoy a mouthful. What we do not see is the emergency trip to the dentist that follows.
Since we were children, we have been taught that sharing is a valuable character trait. It appears that the ability to share with others was valued in ancient Israel as well. Our verse from Proverbs today assures that, by being generous and sharing our food with the poor, a person will be blessed. The specifics of the manner of the blessings are not found here, but that is not the point. The simple act of sharing with others will bring about a gift of grace from the Lord.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus said, “you will always have the poor among you…” (John 12:8a) Jesus did not say this to show indifference to the poor. Instead, this is evidence that Jesus understood that poverty was a symptom of deeper disease in the human condition. The only way to hold back the tide of poverty is for people to share out of their abundance. That lesson is as true today as it was in Solomon’s time. This does not mean that we give up and turn from obligations. We should always seek to support the hungry, both the physically famished and the spiritually starved as well. If we continue this work, without seeking recognition we will be blessed by the Lord!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck
October 16, 2025
Sour Grapes
“In those days the people will no longer say, “The fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children’s teeth are set on edge.”
Jeremiah 31:29
In our modern lexicon the term, “sour grapes” generally applies to complaints uttered by a person who wants something but cannot get it or achieve it. Thus, to cover their disappointment they belittle the importance of what they failed to achieve. An example would be applying for a job, and when you fail to get hired, declaring you really did not want that position in the first place. If you have ever watched the reality show, “Survivor” you would have witnessed sour grapes being spouted by many of the contestants who were voted off the island.
The reference to sour grapes in our reading from Jeremiah for Sunday has a different connotation. For a better understanding we need to refer to the giving of the Ten Commandments in Exodus. In telling the people to not make any idols the Lord explains what the punishment would be for this offense. “You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hates me…” (Exodus 20:5) Now, just so you do not thank the Lord too severe, the Lord does also offer love to a thousand generations of those who keep the commandments.
With that in mind, let us return to the matter of sour grapes. This was a euphemism to describe sinful behavior and the consequences of such actions. So, our above verse would mean that the Lord is making a new covenant in which the children will not be punished for the sins of their fathers. Sour grapes (sin) that the fathers ate, will no longer leave a bad taste in the mouths for generations to come. This is part of a longer revelation by Jeremiah that describes a more personal relationship between the Lord and the people of Isreal.
Modern Christianity, especially that of the Protestant variety, offers a viewpoint that a believer’s relationship with the Lord is personal, there is no need for an intercessor. Thus, our prayers are a manner of communicating directly with the Lord. Protestant clergy do not fill the role of intercessor in the connection between God and humanity, but are more of a facilitator, helping to nurture the people’s bond with the Lord and with each other. Rather than following a strict, and sometimes dogmatic, doctrine, we must be more subtle, seeking to understand each person’s personal theology and needs. This nurturing is not just the work of the Pastor, but instead requires the participation of the people as well. May we all find ways in which we can help each other build a deeper relationship with the Lord and our fellow believers.
Peace,
Pastor Chuck
October 15, 2025
A Heavy Heart?
“All a person’s ways seem right to them, but the Lord weighs the heart.”
Proverbs 21:2
Ok, before the semantic police condemn me (I know who you are), let me say that the above title is merely a bad play on words to attract attention. I realize that the Lord is not going to literally place our hearts on a scale to measure its weight. Maybe the phrase should be, “the Lord considers the soul.” But far be it from me to attempt to correct the author of this verse from Proverbs.
So let us consider these words. It seems to me that the deeper meaning here is that humans go about our lives acting in ways that seem correct to us. However, when the time of judgment comes, the Lord looks into our soul with a divine vision and considers our inner motivations. That thought can make one feel almost naked, spiritually at least.
I imagine most people like to consider themselves to be honorable and do seek to live what would be considered a righteous life. However, we would be remiss if we were not to acknowledge that even the most devout folks sometimes let their own motives creep into their decision making. The disconnect occurs when we start letting the fulfillment of our desires affect the well-being of others.
That is where the keen awareness of the Almighty comes into play. We may deceive ourselves, and others as well, with our public persona. The Lord can look beyond our public image and consider our soulful impetuses. Are we truly trying to serve the Lord by serving each other? Are we seeking to add stars to our crowns in heaven? Those are questions for us to consider even as we travel through our journey in the world. May we always be mindful of the Lord’s desire for us to live out our lives in a manner that glorifies our Lord above ourselves!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck
October 14, 2025
Being Transformed!
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Romans 12:2
I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with this verse from Romans. I love the first sentence in which Paul urges his readers to seek transformation. I dislike that I get confused by the second sentence about testing and approving God’s will. It feels to me that these two sentences are not well connected. So, perhaps I can sort of free associate my way through understanding the deeper meaning, or not.
The image of the early church seeking to be non-conformist regarding the pattern of the world of that time really strikes a chord with me. Paul was telling the fledging followers that need to cast aside the ways by which the people of their time judged a good life. They were not to focus on finding ways to please their desires. Instead, they were to look beyond the consideration of society and be changed to their very core by the teachings of Christ.
However, no matter how transformed I may be, no matter how much I want to approve of God’s will, I find it hard to discern what God’s will truly is. To understand Paul’s words here I turned to my commentaries and even my New Oxford study Bible. In the New Oxford the footnote for verse 2b noted that it may mean that through Baptism the believers might be able to better discern God’s will. While that may be a good interpretation, it still does not help me feel more confident about understanding the grand plan.
In trying to put a bow around this musing, perhaps I may be missing the point here. Perhaps it is the transformation that brings about the ability to test and approve God’s will. Is it that the transformation has not fully occurred for me yet? Does one need to be completely changed to make the jump from merely accepting God’s will to a full understanding of it? When and how does that change happen? Is it when we can fully reject that inner need to conform? I am not sure that I will ever reach that point of utter enlightenment. But even though I may not understand the Lord’s will yet, I will still strive to conform, not to this world, but to the higher standard described in the Words of our Savior, Jesus. May it be so for us today!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck