PEACE

How I want to find some for my life, my fears and my mind. I have
run through a great number of things in my life that I believed, or at least
hoped, would bring the kind of peace that I long for.

Go with me to the Gospel of Luke chapter 19. The chapter begins with the
story of a wealthy, outcast named Zacchaeus. The Bible records that “he
wanted to see who Jesus was.” He had so much; money, security and a
position of power, and yet it seems he was seeking peace.

Chapter 19 ends with the account of Jesus entering Jerusalem riding on a
colt on His way to the cross. During His journey He pauses to look over the
“city of peace,” that is what Jerusalem means. He stops and weeps because
the city, the people, the nation is about to miss the very thing that will
finally bring it peace. For all of its armies, all of its grandeur, for all
of its religious acts, it/they were about to miss peace as He walked in
their midst.

While I struggle to grasp the truth of Luke 19, it seems that peace is not a
feeling, but instead is a person. Zacchaeus found that person while
Jerusalem missed Him. And so I find myself wanting to be where Jesus is.
While I know that Jesus is everywhere, I also know that there a few places
where I can find Him without question. He is in the splashing water of
Baptism, in the simple bread and wine of communion, in the words of the
Bible and where believers are gathered together. And so I take great
comfort, and even find some peace, in the truth that Jesus comes to me and I
don’t need to manufacture peace. Come what may, there is peace in the truth
that Jesus comes my way and into my life.

- Pastor Kevin

HOPE

This is a word that has taken on significant meaning in my life over
the last year or so.  With so much uncertainty in life right now I find
myself looking ahead and “hoping” that things will get better.  But in
wrestling with my fear and worry, it has become clear to me that I may be
hoping in the wrong thing.  You see I am hoping that circumstances change,
that the future turns out the way I want it to, and that somehow hard times
turn to good times.  But circumstances will always bring challenges, my view
of the future is small and myopic, and good times are fleeting.  What I need
is to hope in  something or someone that never changes, that never goes out
of style, and that has nothing to do with me.  And so I find myself back
where my life started, in the grace of a big God who stoops to hold me all
of my life.  As I face the circumstances of life, as I rush into an unknown
future, and as I struggle through hard times I find that I want to be where
King David was when he wrote Psalm 4.

“Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?"
Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.
You have filled my heart with greater joy
than when their grain and new wine abound.
I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O LORD, 
make me dwell in safety.”
- Psalm 4:6-8

And so I live in HOPE.  I pray that you join me in a hope that looks like
Jesus and feels like grace.

- Pastor Kevin