Trust in God

Psalm 91:2

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Well – my football team’s season is over. As I write this devotional – it looks like the Lions and the Chiefs might be in the Super Bowl (Lions are up 24-7 with 12 minutes left in the 3rd quarter). The Lions have never been to the Super Bowl and the Chiefs have gone 4 of the last 5 years – I think. I may watch it for the commercials – they are usually pretty good. I’m glad I wore my Raven’s jersey this Sunday – instead of waiting for the Super Bowl.

Some friends on Social Media seem to have lost their minds over the Raven’s loss. Watching the game between the Ravens and the Chiefs – the Ravens had a number of opportunities to tie the game or go ahead – but with two turnovers in the end zone (a fumble into the end zone and an interception in the end zone – stopping two drives with no points) – you can’t expect to beat a good team that made few mistakes – if any. I confess that I was not and am not happy that my favorite team lost – but – it isn’t going to impact my life. It is a game – after all.

When my favorite baseball team – the Baltimore Orioles were swept in the playoffs – I was not happy – but – it didn’t impact my life. Remember one of my favorite sayings – Happiness is circumstantially driven – why Joy is spiritually derived. Not being happy about the circumstance of my favorite teams losing – doesn’t impact my life or the joy I have in Christ – because – in I trust in God – which is where my joy originates.

Summer Clothes

Colossians 3:12

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Summer is here and our choices of clothing change with the weather – being out of school – and vacations. Did any of us have a favorite piece of clothing growing up? Apparently – according to old photos – I had a favorite cowboy shirt and a red baseball hat. In many of my childhood pictures – from a certain age – that was what I had on. I still have favorite clothes – enjoying the more casual look over anything dressy.

When I was in my early teen years – into my dating years even – I had a favorite hat that was always on my head – or so it seemed. I remember when I finally had to give it up – it was old – torn and smelled from years of sweating in it. I remember buying it with my own money at Ocean City one year. I know my girlfriends probably didn’t like it much – but it was a favorite!

As a pastor – I know there are proper times to wear certain clothes. For instance – when I have a funeral – I will bring my collar and my suit jacket to work with me – so I can change before the service. I will return to the office for meetings after the funeral and put on my church shirt – typically a polo shirt with my name and the church’s name on it. I hardly ever wear a tie anymore – using the clergy collar shirt when I need to dress up.

I Could Use a Nap

Psalm 121:1-2

I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Here we are – mid week. A few days away from Annual Conference and a few days until summer begins. Time marches on.

The baseball season is going well for the Baltimore Orioles. They have the second best record in the Major Leagues as of the writing of this post. Unfortunately – the best record is the team ahead of them in their division. The Ravens are in camp and looking forward to the new season with high expectations. We get all excited about sports – but this is not real life! These are games and mean little to most people!

Life comes at us fast. Life can throw us curves. Life can tire us out real fast. Like the family birthday party that ended with 3 deaths and other wounded by a shooter. Like the diagnosis of cancer and the medical opinion that they’ve done all they can. Like a denomination leaving orthodoxy and straying from Bible truth and the Book of Discipline of the church.

Where do you go when you are tired and exhausted in real life (like most of us are right now)? When you need rest – where do you turn? I’ve had a busy couple of weeks. The last two years were to be the start of my retirement – yet – ending two years of being an interim and another year to come – and I can say it has been an exhausting time. Being creative in ministry is not easy folks. Being a pastor is stressful. I woke this morning around 3 am – not unusual – and checked my phone and found out about Trinity’s connected to the mass shooting in Annapolis and couldn’t get back to sleep.

As we enter our 3rd year at Trinity in a couple of weeks – I could use a nap! Taking a nap seemed like a punishment as a child. As an adult it is something I look forward to taking! Who agrees with me? 😇💤

Clothing Ourselves!

Colossians 3:12

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Dear readers – did any of us have a favorite piece of clothing growing up? I apparently – according to old photos – had a favorite cowboy shirt and a red baseball hat. In many of my childhood pictures – from a certain age – that was what I had on. I still have favorite clothes – enjoying the more casual look over anything dressy. When I was in my early teen years – I had a favorite hat that was always on my head – it seems. I remember when I finally had to give it up – it was old – torn and smelled from years of sweating in it. I remember buying it with my own money at Ocean City one year. I know my girlfriends probably didn’t like it much – but it was a favorite!

As a pastor – I know there are proper times to wear certain clothes. For instance – I when I have a funeral – I will bring my collar and my suit jacket to work with me – so I can change before the service. I will return to the office for meetings after the funeral and put on my church shirt – typically a polo shirt with my name and the church’s name on it. I hardly ever wear a tie anymore – using the clergy collar shirt when I need to dress up.

Our Daily Walk

1 Thessalonians 5:17–18

¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

If you didn’t hear yet – the Baltimore Ravens beat the Kansas City Chiefs – on Sunday night – 36-35 – with some timely plays at the end of the game – and even throughout the game. If you had your windows open Sunday night you might have heard the screams from fans all over the area.

It amazes me how crazy we can get about our teams. I guess we need to be reminded that a fan is merely short for fanatic. I wonder what it would be like if Christians were fans of Christ? What if we got excited when a soul was added to the kingdom or a prayer was lifted? Oh – what God could do with a church filled with fans of Christ who were not ashamed of the Gospel or letting others know they are followers of Christ?

As a Christian – have you ever wondered what your daily walk should look like in Christ? I mean – we know we are to serve Him daily – right – not just on Sunday mornings from 10:30 to 11:30. We are to be fans or even fanatics of and for Jesus. The Bible even tells us the following. Mark 12:30 – Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Matthew 16:24 – Then Jesus said to his disciples, Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. That sounds like being a fan to me – giving our all and following Him wherever He leads us.