Category: First Steps

Alfred Nobel, founder of the Nobel Prize, said, “If I have a thousand ideas and only one turns out to be good, I am satisfied.”  I wonder how many people believe this to be true.  Does the same approach apply to the spreading of the gospel?  If you asked a thousand people to believe, join you for worship, participate in a Bible study, serve in a mission, and only one person responded, would you be satisfied?  On one hand, the answer would be no.   However, what if that one person who responded experienced conversion which led to a changed life.  Thinking of the Nobel quote, I am reminded of a parable Jesus told in Luke 15:3-7:   3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.   Perhaps this should be our response and maybe one person is enough to be satisfied.  The real issue is will you reach out with the gospel until one lost sheep is found?  This Week’s Readings: * Monday – 2 Corinthians 1 * Tuesday – 2 Corinthians 2 * Wednesday- 2 Corinthians 3 * Thursday – 2 Corinthians 4 * Friday- 2 Corinthians 5 Prayer Requests: *An immediate end to the crisis in Ukraine. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Give our leaders extra wisdom as they navigate this pandemic and economic uncertainty. *Help for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

In 2003, the San Francisco Zoo had forty-six penguins that spent most of their lives inside the zoo. They were well-fed, lived free from predators, and lived in a controlled environment. As one could imagine, they became very lazy. They spent most of their days lying around and would seldom engage others or swim. However, in that same year, six new penguins were introduced to the sanctuary. These new birds spent all their time swimming only quitting at dusk due to exhaustion. The new birds didn’t let the inactivity of the older birds determine their behavior. They wanted to swim. Eventually, the persistence of the new birds affected the older birds. Little by little the older birds started to join in and swim. I think this is a modern-day parable. There will always be resistance to change. There will always be those who desire the path of least resistance. However, it doesn’t have to be you. Because God has called you to live a certain way, be a certain person, then live into what God desires. Eventually, it will affect others. Transformation is a daily process, little by little, bit by bit. The more you stay the course, the more it will influence another. This Week’s Readings: * Monday -1 Corinthians 12 * Tuesday – 1 Corinthians 13 * Wednesday- 1 Corinthians 14 * Thursday – 1 Corinthians 15 * Friday- 1 Corinthians 16 Prayer Requests: *An immediate end to the crisis in Ukraine. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Give our leaders extra wisdom as they navigate this pandemic and economic uncertainty. *Help for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, a day where The Church remembers and celebrates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.  It is also a day that marks the beginning of Holy Week, the last week before his death.  What do you think Jesus thought as he rode the donkey into the city?  As he saw the people waving palm branches and heard their cries, “Hosanna,” I wonder what Jesus pondered.   Was he melancholy?  Was there a peaceful acceptance of what was to come?  Did he silently think of the capriciousness of humanity where there were shouts of joy one day only to be shouts of crucifixion the next?  How did he balance the determination that would lead to a cross with all its pain with the desire to fulfill God’s design for salvation and the joy of accomplishment?   I believe a reoccurring thought was pure love that is far greater than one can imagine.  I hope Jesus was sustained by the endless, far-reaching love of the Father and the intimacy that existed between the Father and the Son.  In a mystical union of divinity and humanity, the incarnate Jesus rode a donkey into a city with the knowledge and acceptance that his life was a ransom for many.  How grateful I am for such a love. This Week’s Readings: * Monday -1 Corinthians 7 * Tuesday – 1 Corinthians 8 * Wednesday- 1 Corinthians 9 * Thursday – 1 Corinthians 10 * Friday- 1 Corinthians 11 Prayer Requests: *An immediate end to the crisis in Ukraine. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Give our leaders extra wisdom as they navigate this pandemic and economic uncertainty. *Help for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

It is through constant forgiveness that we become like God.  Forgiveness from the heart is very, very difficult.  It is next to impossible.  Jesus said to his disciples: “When your brother wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I am sorry,’ you must forgive him.”   I have often said, “I forgive you,” but even as I said these words my heart remained angry or resentful.  I still wanted to hear the story that tells me that I was right after all; I still wanted to hear apologies and excuses; I still wanted the satisfaction of receiving some praise in return—if only the praise for being so forgiving!   But God’s forgiveness is unconditional; it comes from a heart that does not demand anything for itself, a heart that is completely empty of self-seeking.  It is this divine forgiveness that I have to practice in my daily life.  It calls me to keep stepping over all my arguments that say forgiveness is unwise, unhealthy, and unpractical.  It challenges me to step over all my needs for gratitude and compliments.  Finally, it demands of me that I step over that wounded part of my heart that feels hurt and wronged and that wants to stay in control and put a few conditions between me and the one whom I am asked to forgive.   This “stepping over” is the authentic discipline of forgiveness.  Maybe it is more “climbing over” than “stepping over.”  Often, I have to climb over the wall of arguments and angry feelings that I have erected between myself and all those whom I love but who so often do not return that love.  It is a wall of fear of being used or hurt again.  It is a wall of pride, and the desire to stay in control.  But every time that I can step or climb over that wall, I enter into the house where the Father dwells, and there touch my neighbor with genuine compassionate love.”   This is from Henri Nouwen’s The Return of the Prodigal Son.  I think it is a brilliant authentic description of what each person thinks and feels when confronted with forgiving another.  This Week’s Readings: * Monday -1 Corinthians 2 * Tuesday – 1 Corinthians 3 * Wednesday- 1 Corinthians 4 * Thursday – 1 Corinthians 5 * Friday- 1 Corinthians 6 Prayer Requests: *An immediate end to the crisis in Ukraine. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Give our leaders extra wisdom as they navigate this pandemic and economic uncertainty. *Help for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

How challenging it is to accept forgiveness.  To really accept it, to own it, and to possess it, one has to realize there is a need. Likewise, one has to acknowledge that he or she can’t do it alone and that it is a gift of another’s generosity.  How challenging it is indeed to accept God’s forgiveness.  Unfortunately, there is something inside of human nature that resists this degree of grace. On one level, a person either seeks to prove in action or thought, that his/her sin is real-ly too much or dark for God’s grace to overcome.  On another level, one might partially receive God’s grace but on conditional terms, because deep down he or she wants to pay God back for the gift given.  Neither one will do. Eventually, every person has to grapple with a few questions:  Do I honestly want to be forgiven and began a new life in Christ? Do I want to break away from my deep-rooted selfishness and totally surrender my will to God’s grace so that a new day may emerge?  Total surrender involves a regime change where God leads and the person follows.  As long as one believes he or she can dictate the terms or control the outcomes, he or she will always be a hired servant (Luke 15) and push against a wall.  To claim and live into the dignity and place God desires, surrender is a must. This Week’s Readings: * Monday – Galatians 3 * Tuesday – Galatians 4 * Wednesday- Galatians 5 * Thursday – Galatians 6 * Friday- 1 Corinthians 1 Prayer Requests: *An immediate end to the crisis in Ukraine. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Give our leaders extra wisdom as they navigate this pandemic and economic uncertainty. *Help for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

For some people, if they were to be brutally honest with themselves, they would define their identity as, “I’m okay if you are okay with me.”  In some circles, folks may label themselves as helpers, givers, or befrienders. They are generous with their time and resources and excel in relationships. Normally they can sense the needs of another person without being told. Very gifted with discerning the needs of others but struggle with naming their own (needs).  It is here – with their own needs – that God wants to do a good work. When those who need to be needed are most self-aware, they can recognize their own needs and the needs of others. They don’t have to sacrifice themselves for others. It doesn’t have to be “either/or” but “both/and.” If I’m describing you, consider the spiritual discipline of solitude. When one is alone, their focus can be on themself, which is not selfish.  In times of solitude, one’s attention can be redirected inwardly.  Remember, how one loves oneself is the model for how one loves another.   At the same time, focus on who you are in Christ, even if you never help another person. Granted, you might help another person in the future, and odds are you will, but who you are is different from what you do. They are worlds apart. We are healthiest when we know the difference. Finally, practice saying, “No.”  When one is overly focused on other people’s needs at the expense of their own needs, the identity will always be liked to what other people think, say, or do. Instead, one’s identity is linked to God who says, “You are okay because I am okay.  Allow Me to meet your needs.”   This Week’s Readings: * Monday – Mark 14 * Tuesday – Mark 15 * Wednesday- Mark 16 * Thursday – Galatians 1 * Friday- Galatians 2 Prayer Requests: *An immediate end to the crisis in Ukraine. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Give our leaders extra wisdom as they navigate this pandemic and economic uncertainty. *Help for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6