Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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I know that former generations handled hospitality better than we do. However, in the current television and internet era, Martha Stewart has become synonymous with hospitality and entertainment. She has built a business empire on delicious foods and hosting elegant events. What was it like 2000 years ago? Guests for banquets were seated in connection to their relationship with the host. The closer to the host, the better the seat. From Luke 14, follow along: “When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, Jesus told th...
Have you ever experienced losing your keys? Many of us have. We are usually in a hurry and heading out the door. Anxiety sets in fast. Often when we slow down, take a breath and retrace our steps, we find the illusive things. Sometimes those keys are lost into the abyss, never to be heard clanging again. In practice, many of us understand the value of forgiving others who hurt us but the actual process of forgiving can be alluding. When we encounter a wrong, frustration and anxiety get a tight grip on our heart, sometimes we get lost. So...
Generosity goes beyond simply giving money; generosity permeates all areas of our lives. One area which we tend to forget in applying generosity is in our relationships, specifically forgiveness. Have you ever wrestled with an unforgiving attitude? If we are honest, we all fall short in this struggle. “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of the...
Most of us remember a time or two when our behavior was haughty and arrogant. Today’s meditation takes aim at the condition of being proud that usually causes such behavior. Again, I’m focusing on Jesus’s parable contrasting the Pharisee and the Tax Collector praying in the temple. “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves...
Jesus often spoke in parables to make clear points; in the Gospel of Luke he compares a tax collector and a Pharisee. Most of us think negatively of both individuals. We are tempted to think the tax collector is like an IRS auditor today. Such a comparison isn’t even close. Tax collectors then were far worse. They collected money for the King and often over charged, keeping the increase for themselves. Those shysters! A Pharisee, on the other hand, was seen in that culture as an upright and religious person, who often gave 10% to the local t...
Generosity, according to dictionary.com, is the spirit and action of freely and frequently giving to others.” Most often this characteristic is associated with those of religious ties, being celebrated world-wide. One can also be generous without any religious background or belief. Do you consider yourself to be generous? Many of us do. We live in a community that is quite generous through non-profit avenues. Generous benefactors give of their time, talent, and resources to those in need. I’m of the opinion that “small town life” is the best! I...
John Maxwell, well known author and book seller, said “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” He also observed “Development is a lifetime journey, not a quick trip.” Two key factors play a major role in the church of tomorrow; healthy leaders and healthy congregations. Together they co-exist. If the church is lacking one of the two, changes must occur in order to be more effective; spreading the Gospel and building disciples. Candidly speaking, both leaders and ministry members are marked by their desire for gro...
This weekend we like to celebrate fatherhood. It’s time to crank up the BBQ, get out into nature, and spend some leisure time together. The history of Father’s Day is directly tied to a West Virginia church which commemorated the death of 362 men who tragically died in a coal mine accident, the first annual holiday was on July 5, 1908. The following year a widow, Sonora Smart Dodd in Spokane, Washington, rallied support from local churches, YMCA and other businesses to memorialize fathers. Presidents Wilson and Coolidge followed suit and urg...
I have been entertaining the question: What will the church be? History says the church in the world builds life. “You cannot pray at home, like you can at church, where there is a great multitude; where exclamations are cried out to God as from one great heart, and where there is something more: the unions of minds, the accord of souls, the bond of charity, and the prayers of priests,” (John Chrysostom). It is so in America I would more than argue. Our early foundations are directly tied to churches. Now nearly 250 years later we are see...
We all have wishes for the future. Saying it best perhaps was the iconic movie character, Doc Brown in Back to the Future, “The future’s unwritten. It’s what we make of it.” The Barna Research group recently reported, “Christianity in the (US) has undergone dramatic change in the last few decades.” They noted that today one in four Americans identifies as a practicing Christian, meaning their faith is very important and that they regularly attend church. The report contrasts findings from their annual 2000 analysis State of the Church, which fo...
Some subjects are easy to address while others are very difficult. This is today’s case. Abuse of any nature whether physical, emotional or sexual is extremely traumatic and sinful. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience physical or sexual assault, and in the United States 1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men are raped in their lifetime. Almost half of victims of rape in the United States were raped by an acquaintance. These statistics are alarming; behind every number is a person with a sto...
Does a day go by without news that America is a racist country? Isn’t it one of the most divisive matters of modern America? Media outlets are complicit, and they fan the flames, while at the same time chiming in “Racism has to stop.” The Democrat Senators canceled South Carolina’s Tim Scott’s bill that addressed police reform. Most objective observers concluded that their reason for doing so was to prohibit Republicans and Donald Trump success before the election. To the large issue of racism, I would like to point out an actual solution...
Just last Sunday many of us celebrated Mother’s Day. It is one of those distinctions that contributes to our civilization. As a matter of fact, in America, Mother’s Day dates back about one hundred years and was signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson. Also, in the Western world, Mother’s Day contributed to holding society together dating back to the 12th century. You can include yours truly amongst those who believe it is essential for us to celebrate Mother’s Day. To all mothers: You are unique, because through you we all have life. Being...
Imagine yourself for a moment as an outdoor enthusiast, on the first leg of a five-day backpack journey. You are loaded with supplies, map and compass in hand. You have charted your course and plan to be at your destination by Day Two. At first, you thoroughly enjoy the fresh mountain air, animal life, and serenity. But, as the sunlight fades on Day Two, something is off, concern sets in, the landscape doesn’t match your research. You’re lost. After a sleepless night the joy of your experience turns quickly to dread, so you do your best and...
Are you tired of political bantering? It is incredibly complex. But, does it need to be? Every issue seems to be politicized, medicine, immigration, the environment, social justice, even sports. During the 2021 NCAA tournament, commentator Charles Barkley said, “I think most white and black people are great. I really believe that in my heart. But I think our system is set up where our politicians, whether they are Republican or Democrat, are designed to make us not like each other so they can keep their grasp of money and power. They divide and...
It’s quite common for people to say, “I’m a good person. I do good things for others. I volunteer a lot.” I’ve heard a version of the following a time or two, “I love God, go to church and say my prayers.” Another candid conversation for refreshment of great value for all American adults concerns the subject of salvation. While it might be somewhat true “good people” exist, we need to be careful about concluding that “being good” somehow equates to salvation. This is a heady subject, and it is part of my writing and preaching for the next coupl...
A danger we may not have taken seriously enough, a danger that has grown throughout the present generation and now may be in clearer view, is that objective truth has been canceled. The effects of Cancel Culture are raging all around us; we see this in the daily news. Are we seeing the process of a disaster? Perhaps we in the church have been too fearful to sound a constant alarm. I’m proposing a simple platform, striking up honest, personable, and intellectual discussions. Dialoging is something we should all strive towards. Faith and c...
Navigating life is a challenge, and it is an arduous challenge without friendship. For many of us, our days are filled with work, meetings, events, and just earning daily bread. But, have we lost something that our grandparents cherished? How often do you sit down and have a meaningful conversation with a family member or a close friend? Deliberate and candid conversations are extremely valuable. Have we lost some of the subtleties necessary to be good listeners? Is this the problem? Our society is undergoing a major shift, and shockingly this...
I often have conversations with people struggling with life’s complexities. Particularly this last year, people have brought loss of health to me. But over time, I think, lost relationships are the most baffling. Yet, in this, I’m often encouraged by the person’s resilience. A week, or sometimes much later, the person tells me that they’ve met with encouragement. We all need encouragement, and I’m always relieved and grateful to God that things have improved. Pastors, I think, are generally in a position to experience deep changes in people. O...
Being rejected by your average eighteen year-old should be a healthy thing say the psychiatrists. But, who of us loves rejection? My assessment, no one. Yet, many wrestle with the feelings associated with rejection whether accurately founded or under false assumption(s). We long to be loved by others and God, the human heart is fragile. One must carefully navigate the sway of emotions tied to thoughts or expressions especially in respect to God’s intentions. A quick leap can lead us to wrong conclusions. The God of the Bible aims at restoration...
Blame is something that gets tossed around. Truthfully, we don’t like to admit we are wrong. In opinion shaped by studying the Book of Lamentations, a very great lie clouding humanity’s judgment is the foolhardy notion that sin is no big deal. Why do we believe that we can ignore the standards that God has established? In part, we develop false security. But, does this account for all of it? Taking lessons from history is always worthwhile. For example, Jerusalem prior to its destruction in 587 B.C. was a highly fortified city. Under the rei...
“The pursuit of happiness,” Thomas Jefferson equated with “Life and Liberty,” when he wrote the Declaration of Independence. More than a century later, from 1930 until 1940, America and the world strained under the greatest decade of economic disaster in history. Then, WWII brought the plight of war across the globe. Since then, Americans have experienced wealth untold from that generation to this. But, does the accumulation of possessions or its allure set us up for a great fall? I believe so. It is true that the recent decade has witness...
“Great is your faithfulness…Lord,” is the most known verse in the book of Lamentations. Throughout church history hymns and choruses have been born out of it. I suspect you’ve sung along with one recently. The background, its context, is unbeknown to many. Great is your faithfulness was born out of much pain and anguish. Following the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C., Jeremiah reveals the hardships among the people of Israel. However, he emphasizes an extremely valuable principle; it’s when you have nothing left that God can become your tru...
The great poet Dante, sometimes referred to as the “greatest poet and writer of the seventeenth century,” wrote, “There is no greater sorrow than to recall being happy when we grieve the deepest.” Uncertainties plague life, and he also said, “Sorrow you will know like kin.” In life, the pressure is overwhelming, just read a newspaper account of growing “suicide.” Borrowing the phrase from Forest Gump, “My momma says life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get,” my take is, I for one like chocolate but appreci...
The judgment of God, all would agree, is complex. So not making this a “can of worms,” let me be as direct as possible. God’s purpose being to create loving people who love Him back, let us humans leave His judgement large. But, let me put this into the perspective of a country that is unrepentant. Let’s again tackle the Book of Lamentations. When one admits his sinfulness, the process of reconciliation begins. I will not say here that humans can break God’s heart. I will say, God’s overall goal front and center is all about forgiveness...
