As Christmas approaches, let me encourage you to be like Jesus by taking the first step towards another person.

What do I mean by this? Let me explain…

We understand that God took a step towards us when he came down to us (from heaven) in the person of Jesus. We call that the “incarnation.” God became human and took a step toward us to show us that we are loved.

Later, Jesus told the women at the tomb on Easter morning  to “go and tell” the disciples he had risen. After that, Jesus to the disciples to “go” and be witnesses to the love of Jesus.

Yet, we hesitate to “go” to others and show that love. Even at church.

Why?

In my sermon last week, I talked about the fact that we in the United States live in a “service-based economy.” In other words, we are accustomed to people catering to our wants and needs. We expect people to take care of us. From wait staff, to salespeople, to the person who rings up our groceries.

We are so used to people catering to us, we are surprised that doesn’t automatically happen at church. Suddenly, the church is labeled unfriendly because someone wasn’t treated like royalty.

Don’t get me wrong, hospitality is important, and it is something we value in our core value of “welcome.” The issue is not just welcoming others, the issue is “one sided hospitality.”

When an individual expects other people to do all the work but does not extend the same courtesy, it all falls apart.

We all should take a step toward each other. We all should take the time to greet and welcome people we don’t know. We have all the opportunity and choice to be like Jesus this Christmas and take a step towards others.

Oh and smile!

Merry Christmas and God bless you,

Pastor Ben

Yes, we are now in the unknown season of Advent. Most of the world is already in the season of Christmas but not us!

Most of the mainline Protestant churches and the Roman Catholic Church get ready for Christmas by entering into the season of Advent.

Advent literally means the “arrival of an important person or event.”

This is the time to prepare ourselves for the return of our King. We acknowledge in our creeds that Jesus will return one day. Advent is the time to prepare ourselves spiritually for Christ’s return.

We “practice waiting” for Christ’s return by preparing for Christmas.

As we await for the arrival (the advent) of Jesus, what else are you waiting for?

Beyond more money in your bank account, I would guess that you might be waiting for more: hope, peace, joy and love in your life.

I know it may be hard to believe, but you don’t have to wait for those things! They are available to you right now.

The issue might be where you are looking for those very things. If you are looking for hope, peace, joy and love in the world, you might come to the conclusion that those things are nowhere to be found. Maybe you are looking in the wrong place. Would you go to McDonalds for a ribeye steak dinner? Probably not.

What we are looking for is found in Christ. Hope, peace, joy and love are given by the Holy Spirit and available to you right now. Maybe it’s time to stop looking for these things externally and start looking upward (towards heaven) and inward (our souls).

Surround yourself with people who want the same thing and walk away from the negativity of others and even the media. In other words, draw close to Jesus and other faithful people as we await his return.

The next time you are in worship, take a moment to look at the Advent wreath in the chapel or sanctuary. The entire wreath has meaning.

• The circular shape: Represents eternity and God’s infinite love .

• The greenery: Symbolizes everlasting life and hope. 
• The candles: Represent the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love.
• The wreath as a whole: Reminds us of the immortality of our souls and God’s promise of everlasting life.

God bless you,
Pastor Ben

If you are a member of Community Lutheran Church, you know that I am a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s church council. Our church is a part of the ELCA.

I was appointed by our bishop over a year ago serve on our church’s national board. It is a great honor to represent CLC and our synod at the national level.

Every gathering consists of four days of meetings. I never knew there was such a thing as a four-day church council meeting before this!

I wanted to give you a snap-shot of the agenda items discussed and acted upon.

• We began by gathering in worship and celebrated Communion together!
• Update from the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church
  • This commission has been looking at how the church operates based on the constitution of the ELCA and other formational documents. They are bringing proposals for potential change to those documents.
• Reports from our Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, our Vice-President Imran Siddiqui, the Secretary of the ELCA, Sue Rothmeyer and the Conference of Bishops of the ELCA.
• A presentation of gender and racial inequality
• I sit on the Service and Justice committee where we heard the following reports:
  • World Hunger
  • Lutheran Disaster Response
  • Young Adult in Global Mission
  • Our ecumenical partnerships
  • Specialized ministries
  • Budget concerns
• Legal and constitutional review (revising and updating the constitution where needed)
• Information about the upcoming 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly of which I will attend as an ELCA church council member. After that event, I roll off the council.
• There will be a Presiding Bishop Election at the Churchwide Assembly in 2025
• Report from the treasurer of the ELCA
• Approved the 2025 budget for the churchwide organization
• Adopted a financial compliance policy for payments and re-payments.
• Report from the Vision Team that is shaping our future to be:
  • A Welcoming Church
• • A Thriving Church
  • A Connected and Sustainable Church
    
• Finally we heard reports from every committee and department within the ELCA.

A lot happens in four days! If you are curious about anything, just ask me!

We are a part of a great church body that cares about people and how we live out of the love of Jesus.

God bless,
Pr. Ben

My two previous blogposts express the importance of integrity and truth. I want to add another character trait that Jesus lifts up as important for every child of God.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5

Meek? Really? We don’t use this word very often and it only shows up in the Bible a total of four times. How significant is this characteristic of the Kingdom of God? Very.

Before, I share with you the importance of incorporating meekness into your life, let me define the word for you.

Meekness relates to gentleness or having a mild disposition. Being meek towards God means to surrender and submit to God’s will without grumbling or complaining.

In a lot of ways, meekness is a polar opposite of self-interest and arrogance.

Jesus said that God’s favor rests on those who are gentle and fully submitted to God. People who possess that trait will be leaders in God’s Kingdom.

This reflects what King David wrote about in Psalm 37. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. Psalm 37:11

There is a promise associated with meekness. That those who are gentle and perceived to be weak by the self-interested and arrogant will one day be “calling the shots.”

I don’t know about you, but I have very little time or energy for those who think they are more important than others and are loudly arrogant about their superiority.

I am weary of those who need to brag and think they are the smartest people in the room. When I think about the words of Jesus, I realize people like that are far from God. It’s more than their spiritual distance from God, they have no interest in a true abiding relationship with Jesus.

Remember what Jesus said about such people, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21

Jesus knows that there are people who claim to be Christian and use that title to influence others. Ultimately, they are not in relationship with Jesus, and it is evident by their “fruit” (see Matthew 7:16) i.e., their actions and attitude.

If being meek was not on your “radar” this week, it’s time to incorporate gentleness into your character. It is time to seek out the gentle people in your life and spend time with them.

Why? Because they are blessed by God. We can learn from them.

God bless,
Pr. Ben

Did you see the story about the “recently” discovered painting by Pablo Picasso?

Here is a part of the story…

A painting discovered by a junk dealer in the basement of an Italian villa six decades ago is actually the work of Pablo Picasso and could sell for millions, according to experts.

Luigi Lo Rosso used to spend his days combing abandoned houses and landfills in search of treasure to sell in the family’s pawn shop in Pompeii, Italy.

In 1962, he found a rolled-up canvas with an asymmetrical painting of a woman in the basement of the villa on the nearby island of Capri.

Luigi’s wife wasn’t impressed by the painting. He put the painting in an old frame and gave it to her anyway.

She didn’t think it was pretty enough to sell, so it hung in the family home for about 50 years and later in a restaurant they owned.

She simply didn’t pay any attention to the artists name scribbled in the corner.

40 years ago, Luigi’s daughter contacted the authorities about the painting and the journey began to authenticate this mini masterpiece. Just last month, the verdict finally came. It is an authentic Picasso painting and could be worth six million dollars.

Imagine possessing of immense value and not even knowing it!

But you do!

As a child of God, you have something called integrity. And it is priceless!

Integrity is defined as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.

I would define it as doing the right thing even if no one is looking.

Doing the right thing is invaluable in every age. Don’t check your morals at the door and don’t look up to people whose integrity is compromised.

Sure, we all make mistakes, that’s not what I am talking about.

When we idolize people who have a questionable moral compass, it will affect us as well.

Saint Paul puts it this way, Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33

Their character, their actions, their mindset will rub off on you.

Choose role models worthy of emulation.

People think they can keep secrets. Eventually, all deeds come into the light.

The person of integrity walks securely, but those who takes crooked paths will be found out. Proverbs 10:9

Your priceless treasure is your integrity.

Remember the words of Solomon…

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. Your riches won’t help you on Judgment Day; only righteousness counts then. Proverbs 11:3-4

Choose integrity!

God bless,
Pastor Ben

There was a major shift in thinking that has contributed to the polarized times we live in right now.

Sometime in the 1990s, truth became relative.

What do I mean by that?

For a very long time, we could agree on what is true for everyone and there was very little discussion about these truths. Truths as simple as “the earth is a sphere” and as complex as “there is a consequence for every choice you make”. The list goes on and on about truths that disputed today.

In other words, your “truth” is whatever you want it to be, and my “truth” is whatever I want it to be. That change in thinking has led to a more conflict between individuals and groups.

Yet as people of faith, we follow the One who clearly stated, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” John 14:6

Jesus is truth and his words are true.

Right before Jesus’ crucifixion, he said this to the Roman Governor, “I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” John 18:37

Jesus is truth and Jesus tells the truth and Jesus expects the truth from his children. Not your truth, but THE TRUTH.

This past week, the Conference of Bishops of the ELCA (our denominational home) met and discussed truth. They too recognize the danger of “relative truth” and half-truths.

In a wonderfully written letter to us, they clearly lay out the importance of being truthful.

Here is a portion of that letter…

We refuse to accept the ongoing normalization of lies and deceit.

We recommit ourselves to speaking the truth and pointing to the one who is truth. We find courage in our collegiality and implore the members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, as well as our partners and friends, to join us as we:

• Pledge to be vigilant guardians of truth, refusing to perpetuate lies or half-truths that further corrode the fabric of our society.

• Commit to rigorous fact-checking, honoring God’s command to “test everything; hold fast to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

• Reject the use of humor that normalizes falsehood, remembering that our speech should “always be gracious” (Colossians 4:6).

• Boldly advocate for the marginalized and oppressed, emulating Christ’s love for the least among us.

• Courageously interrupt hate speech, standing firm in the knowledge that all are created in God’s image.

• Lean in with curiosity, engage with those who think differently and “put the best construction on our neighbor’s action” (Luther’s explanation of the Eighth Commandment).

• Amplify voices of truth.

These are good words, and they remind us to avoid and denounce: lies, half-truths and personal truths.

Above all, seek Jesus and the truth he speaks.

Let me offer a verse from Proverbs to close. This is my prayer, and I hope it is yours too.

Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Proverbs 30:8

Amen.

God bless,
Pastor Ben

The full letter can be found here: Conference of Bishops Letter regarding truth.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Romans 12:9

Words to live by from Saint Paul.

It is good to authentically and deeply love others.

It is commendable to cling to what is good and who is good in this life.

Even hating the evil in this life can be the right thing to do if we are spiritually clear about what evil is. Not everyone has spiritual clarity.

Hating others… is evil. Hating evil stuff that happens is not.

If you think someone is evil, you feel justified in hating them. I have seen a lot of focused hate on both candidates running for president this year. I have seen how both are labeled as evil.

Let me be clear, not everyone you hate is evil.

Second, your hate does not affect them in any way, shape or form. Hate affects you. That’s right, your hate is a boomerang that comes back to you.

A person reaps what they sow. Galatians 6:7b

Your hate affects the quality of your relationship with others. Your hate affects your relationship with Jesus. Your hate taints everything in your life.

Simply put hate is bad for you.

Hate is not only a spiritual issue. Medically, hate is not good for you either.

According to Dr. Rohini Radhakrishnan,  “Hatred negatively impacts the nervous system, immune system, and endocrine system. Extreme emotions trigger the release of stress hormones in the brain. Over time, these stress hormones lead to increased inflammation throughout the body, resulting in significant health consequences. The more intense an emotion becomes, the more physically demanding it is to contain it.

The opposite of hate is often considered love, but this is not true. Opposite of hate is mental and emotional detachment. Hatred creates an attachment to the thing or person hated the most. Hatred is an intense repulsion. Hatred falsely inflates the ego and makes one feel very superior and self-righteous against the thing or person who is hated, which only results in more pain.”

(Dr. Rohini Radhakrishnan, ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon, Reviewed by: Dr. Shaziya Allarakha, MD)

From a medical and physiological standpoint love is NOT the antithesis of hate. To move beyond hate, one must let go of the thing or person they are hating, because there is an unhealthy attachment. Hate can become obsessive, because it is the only thing you think about. Hate creates tunnel vision.

Before you can move towards love, letting go of what you hate must come first.

One can love and support something without having to hate its counterpoint, unless it is actual evil. But that can be a slippery slope (see my comments above).

As for me, I pity hateful people. I have no room in my life it. As the senior pastor of CLC, there is no room for hate in or around church.

I will be following Titus’ (found in the New Testament) instruction moving forward.

Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such a person is warped and sinful; they are self-condemned. Titus 3:10-11

I don’t have the energy for hate anymore. I only have room for love.

God bless,
Pr. Ben

This past weekend, I shared a on message about Ruth, specifically chapter two of the book named after her in the Old Testament. A part of my sermon addressed our own personal reputations.

I asked this question, What is your reputation? What are you known for? How would someone describe you?

Whether we like it or not, someone has been told something about you at some point in your life. That’s your reputation.

The good news is that you are totally in control of your own character from which reputations are forged.

In the Old Testament book of Ruth, we quickly learn that Ruth’s reputation was tied to what she did for her mother in-law Naomi and her hard work. People will tell others about how you treat people and what you do.

This is how it played out in Ruth chapter 2.

Boaz asked the foreman of his harvesters, “Whose young woman is that?”

The foreman replied, “She is the Moabitess who came back from Moab with Naomi. She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.’ She went into the field and has worked steadily from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.” Ruth 2:5-6

Boaz wanted to know about Ruth (they had not met yet). The foreman tells Boaz everything he knows about her. Ruth’s reputation stems from her compassionate care for Naomi (Ruth’s mother in-law) including gathering food for their survival.

Like everyone in the world, your reputation precedes you.

King Solomon knew the value of having a “good name” in the community.

A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. Proverbs 22:1

Why would Solomon write that?

Life is about relationships and not stuff. The meaning of life is not discovered in the accumulation of wealth. How you treat others matters more to God than what you possess.

A good reputation draws others close to you and relationships are deepened. We see that in Ruth’s story. It begins with her character and yours.

As much as we might want to be perfect, we occasionally do dumb stuff, and our reputations can take a hit.

Solomon speaks to this as well in Ecclesiastes.

As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. Ecclesiastes 10:1

Those are the times we own our mistakes and ask for forgiveness. Often that is a time for repentance (change in behavior) so that mistake never happens again.

In my sermon, I said that there is great integrity in owning your own mistakes and moving forward. People will see that too and will admire you for it.

My caution to you would be to guard your heart moving forward because…

“A reputation once broken may possibly be repaired, but the world will always keep their eyes on the spot where the crack was.”  Bishop Joseph Hall

It may not be fair, but there is truth in those words. What should we do in those moments of brokenness? Scripture points the way…

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:23-27

Remember, someone is always watching.

Reach for Jesus and His wisdom… others will see that and follow you as you seek Jesus.

God bless,
Pr. Ben

Last weekend we finished our KCLC Radio Sermon series. We ended with the hit, “We Are the World.”

Although the song was written in 1985, it conveys a spiritual truth contained within scriptures. This truth reflects the heart and wisdom with God.

Here is that truth: Our personal well-being, our personal futures are tied to the rest of humanity.

We are created to be in community because it is good for us. Life is better when we are in relationship. When we spurn that gift of community, we isolate ourselves from our own security and well-being.

We love to differentiate ourselves from others. We want to be unique and special, just like everyone else. There is nothing wrong with that up until the point we tear down others for not being or believing the same as us.

Jesus once prayed for you regarding this very topic. At the Last Supper, Jesus prayed for us. (I am still amazed that Jesus actually prayed for us during his ministry.)

This is what Jesus prayed…

“My prayer is not for the disciples alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message (all of us), that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. John 17:20-21

Jesus prayed for our unity. Jesus prayed that we would embrace each other despite our differences and the difference of opinion.

This is easily accomplished. IF we keep Jesus and his teachings as the primary thing in our lives.

All of us (at times) put people and positions ahead of the love Jesus and the love of our neighbor. When that happens, community breaks down and your own well-being is compromised.

When we come together as one, under the name and banner of Jesus, we are made complete.

Paul tells the church in Philippi this very thing.

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Philippians 2:1-2

We are being called to let go of the hate, stop drawing lines of separation and put Jesus first in all things. Let’s put unity back into our community.

God bless,
Pr. Ben

Jesus said this to Nicodemus the Pharisee,

I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? John 3:11-12

Jesus was of course talking about horizontal and vertical learning and living. I talked about this in my sermon recently. (Click here to listen to that message.)

Jesus spoke about this very thing almost 2000 years ago. Let me just say, if Jesus sees it as an issue, we need to be on guard and fully informed.

Here is the essence of what I said about it in my sermon.

Most of the world lives horizontally. What do I mean by that? Taking life as it comes and only seeing what’s right in front of you. We all do it to some degree.

We build relationships with others at this level. We sort people into categories at this level by picking and choosing who you will associate with and who you won’t.  People acquire knowledge at this level.

Naturally we surround ourselves with people we like and hold the same positions. As a result, our horizontal lifestyle becomes deep-seated.

You do this long enough—and you will suffer from confirmation bias, and not even know it.

Wikipedia defines it this way, “Confirmation bias, a phrase coined by English psychologist Peter Wason, is the tendency of people to favor information that confirms or strengthens their beliefs or values and is difficult to dislodge once affirmed.”

This is what happens when we exclusively live a horizontal life. We gather information that supports what we agree with and discount anything that might call into question our beliefs. The people we choose to spend time with reinforce what we believe with contributions from our favorite news network and personally cultivated social media follows.

Living horizontally can get in the way of the higher thing, the things of Jesus. Vertical living and learning come from above. Jesus calls us to live higher and better than the rest of the world by loving everyone. Even Jesus reminds his disciples at the Last Supper that Christians “are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:16

One of the biggest obstacles to vertical living and learning are the people around us if they don’t point to Jesus in their lives. Your social circle may be all Christians, but if they never talk about their faith (but lots of other things), this can impede your walk with Jesus.

Remember what Jesus said, I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?

Extreme horizontal living will cause you to question or ignore the more important vertical living that is found in Jesus.

Imagine a cross for a moment. It is the horizontal beam that is supported by the stronger vertical beam. That vertical bar supports the horizontal plank.

What comes from above is always better than what we conceive of from below.

Jesus puts this teaching into practice when he was pointing out how some religious leaders were living.

What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. Matthew 23:23

Horizontal living is concerned with appearances. “Look at what I am doing or what I believe.” The teachers in Jesus’ day pointed to their offerings.

Vertical living is concerned with the well-being of others within the confines of relationship and building community. Therefore, concepts like justice, mercy and faith take precedence over appearances and horizontal living.

That is why when Jesus was asked what is the most important commandment, he replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matthew 22:37-38

First and foremost, love God and keep a vertical mindset. Keep God and the love of Jesus as the number one thing in your life. This is primary.

But Jesus highlights a second command that falls under the first. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:39-40

Vertical and horizontal living put in their proper place.

Horizontal living isn’t bad. It only becomes a detriment when we forget what comes first and we forget to love.

God bless,
Pr. Ben