The state of California is heading for a show down.  A massive budget deficit has laid the ground work for the governor, the republicans, and the democrats to play a big game of chicken.  My guess (even though I have only lived here since October of 2007) is that this day of reckoning has been in the making for years, if not decades.  I also think that there is plenty of blame to go around for getting us in this mess.

The sad part is that it is likely that many of our state parks, including Point Mugu (which is pictured on almost all my blogs), will likely close for a while.   The closing of Point Mugu (and other state parks) is a sign of poor stewardship.   Places of natural beauty are given us as a trust from God and we are called to care for the Good Earth that God created.

I am sure that we will eventually come through this time of tribulation stronger and wiser, it will just mean some pain getting to this point.  It seems that we as humans rarely learn our lesson until we have suffered pain.  Or as the singer says…

Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got
Till its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Peace,

Pastor John

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going.” Hebrews 11:8

Imagine gathering together on a beautiful Saturday Morning and hearing the presenter say the following:

“Okay, so the first thing we are going to do is work on vision statement, then a mission statement, and then on our one year, five year, and ten year goals.  We will work in small groups and the use the giant post it notes and sticky dots to help us discern.”

 The above scenario is my view of hell.   Do you know how many perfectly wonderful Saturdays in my life have been wasted on these exercises.   Everyone starts out with energy, but by 3pm we are all dying to get out, we put together a statement that then rots in the drawer or is placed in dusty frame in some hall way.  Somewhere in the 1980s somebody got the bright idea (I am being sarcastic) that churches are best run like corporations - like Enron, or G.M.

Yet, churches are not businesses, they are faith based communities.   Hebrews 11 is the roll call of the faithful throughout the generations, and we learn that most of the most faithful of them all did not know where they were going!   All Abraham had was a promise and a call to get going.   In verse 13 of the same chapter we will learn that faithful many times will not even live to see the promise ultimately fulfilled.

The faithful are called to believe in God’s promises, and sometimes that means that we make it up along the way.   The test of faithfulness is not in meeting goals, it is in continuing to follow and believe in the one who calls us.

Peace,

Pastor John

(Ah, ah) Oh, no, don’t let the rain come downMy roof’s got a hole in it and I might drown

When I first arrived here in October of 2007 a lot of renovation was needed to restore this beautiful campus to the beauty it naturally was given by God.   However, I saw none of the renovation tasks as “undo-able,” except for one - the re-roofing of the church.   I could imagine how fundraising, grant money, and volunteer work would eventually restore the church to glory, but I could not see how the funds or volunteer effort would cover re-roofing the south side of the sanctuary.

In faith we continued the restoration projects while “hard eyed realists” (People outside our church community who believe that they see things as they really are!) kept telling me that is was foolish to renovate the sanctuary while it had a leaky roof.   So when they asked me how I was going to get the roof done, I just said, “God will handle it.”

Well, one day this spring God handled it, funds became available and not only was the roof redone, but were were able to restore the cross on the top of the sanctuary.

Let us always have faith in God who provides for those who “walk by faith, and not by sight.”

Peace,

Pastor John

Life is good.   On Father’s Day we had a wonderful worship service and a friend from Kiwanis worshiped with us.  She was the original model for “Tinker Bell” in the Disney Peter Pan animated movie.  Afterwards a family of the church invited me over for a BBQ after church and it was perfect sitting under the avocado tree (Who knew they grew on trees?).

Then it was off to the Angels’ Stadium to watch my team take on the Dodgers at the 5:05pm game where Kobe graced us with his presence (he stayed until the bottom of the 9th), of course he had better seats, but that was cool.

However, the best part of Father’s day was the two phone calls I received from my daughters during the game.

Great Weather, Good Friends, Close Loving Family, Baseball, Ripe Avocadoes and Faith all make for a wonderful life.

Too bad people miss out on the good parts of life, I wonder if Bernie Madoff ever read the following:

 “A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.” Proverbs 28:20

The photo above was again taken at Point Mugu, and I was just all by myself at the beach, taking pictures of the sunset and these Pelicans flew right over me.  Life is very good.

Peace,

Pastor John

The waves had totally remade the beach in just a few months.  Tons and tons of sand have washed ashore.  The angle of the beach causes the waves to crash with a thunder that you can feel it in your chest.

 I remember being in sanctuaries with wonderful pipe organs and when the musician really let it rip you could feel in your chest and your feet!  Perhaps you have been at a rock concert when the bass is really pounding or you might feel it in a few weeks when the fire works are going off.

Reasonate sounds really effect us. At times that is what our faith is like, chest pounding, we can feel it in our soul.  When was the last time you felt your faith that deeply?

Peace,

Pastor John

These seals were lying in the sun in Long Beach Harbor.  As our boat pulled up, they hardly noticed our presence.  Sometimes it is just good to take a day and take it easy.  After all the most famous Psalm of all tells us that God make us “lie down in green pastures.” 

I have observed that most people’s day to “lie down” is Sunday.  It is their catch up day, a day to rest, and get everything ready for the start of the week on Monday.  But wait!  What is this?  Could it be!  Perhaps you need to double check what I see.  When I look at the calender I see that Sunday is the first day of the week and not the last!  Do not people say that Monday is the start of the “work” week?  So why does the week begin on Sunday?  I think it has something to do with the fact that Jesus rose on the first day of the week.

Hmmm…could it be that there is more to life then work?  I mean work is wonderful, just think of all those great american corporations, AIG, General Motors, Banks, and Star Buck! You know, it just could be that Saturday (or another day) is a great day to sleep in and spending Sunday Morning in worship is a great way to start the week!  Just a thought.   

 I look forward to seeing you bright and early next week!

 Peace,

John 

You can see both of these ships at Long Beach when you walk along the shore.   What a contrast!  The Queen Mary speaks of a time of elegance, unsurpassed service, beauty, legend (she transported troops during WWII), and also of class distinctions, and snobbery.  While the Carnival Cruise Line speaks of fun, egalitarianism, families, and also of being dirty, run down, drunk cruises to Mexico.
These distinctions are also a metaphor for me of the current culture of the Christian Church in the United States.  The wonderful old mainline denominations had class, beautiful theology, and the the worship services were breathtaking.  Also, the old mainline churches served a noble purpose - they saved the world from World War III through the rebuilding of Europe and Japan after the war.   Unfortunately these wonderful churches have also become known as (perhaps unfairly) a little snobbish, stuffy, and not a lot of fun. 

Today we have giant carnival churches (Mega Churches) that are family friendly, fun (Want some espresso to go with your worship? How about a wonderful Abba melody to worship with?).  Unfortunately these churches often shallow, built around a personality (Ted Haggard?), and can leave you a little hung over.

 When I took my sabbatical year off I found that I never once rose up on a Sunday Morning and wished I was going to a Mega Church.  I found myself drawn to a new kind of mainline church.  One that kept the best of the past and embraced what is good about the future.  You will find that here at Glendale Church of the Brethren.  Okay, you won’t get espresso to take into worship, but on the bright side, you will also not have to listen to old Abba tunes either.

Peace,

Pastor John

“Whom shall I send and Who will go for us? Isaiah 6:8

This verse was my call to ministry.  

Yet before I was ever to be a pastor I had  three years of college to complete and I had to do while I was working full time and married with two wonderful children.  I made it, but by the time I hit seminary, I was totally burned out, “I was running on empty.”

More then that, when I arrived at seminary I came to the realization that I did not know everything I thought I knew about the Bible, faith, and ministry.  My education in faith had been mostly from my feasting of the junk food of popular religion - Radio Bible Teachers, self help books disguised as books on faith, and old worn out ideas.

So here I am at seminary, burned out, and facing the realization that I have to rebuild my faith.  

Fortunately, God helped me to replinish my spirit and be “born again” into an intelligent, reflective faith that has sustained me for over 20 years of ministry. How about you, are you running on empty?  

Do not worry, God will provide even in your greatest need.

Peace,

Pastor John

Romans 8:18 - “I consider that the present sufferings of this present time are not work compaing with the glory about to be revealed to us.”

Dating at this time in life is a very interesting challenge.  It seems that there is always something to learn and it is easy for communication to get all messed up.  Yet from each relationship I have learned something valuable, even when the relationship seemed promising and then it just fizzled.   Sometimes ‘it is just too late baby, even though we really did try  to make it, something inside just dies and I know we are not going make it.’

Sometimes relationships end because of political differences, or family issues, or faith, or trust, or maybe it is just like the title of the movie -  ”he/she is just not into you.”  Or perhaps there is some more learning and/or growing that needs to take place.  The difficulty of finding the right person can leave many discouraged and hopeless.

Yet, I do not consider my “present sufferings” to of much consequence when I compare it to how good a relationship can be.  I get a sense of it every once in a while in my dating life, when a date is going really well.   Plus I know that someday (if God wills) it will all happen and come together and I know it will have been all worth it.

Until that time it does not do me any good to moan and complain, for I live in one of the most beautify places on God’s Creation - Southern California, and I am the pastor of a most wonderful congregation.  I give thanks for simple things, like driving my convertible up Pacific Coast Highway through Malibu.  On those days I feel the sun on top of my shaved head, the smell and sound of the ocean, the radio playing great songs from the 60s and 70s, and I turn into Point Mugu and watch a beautiful sunset as the sandpiper runs along!  God is good!

Peace,

Pastor John

How many people are thinking, “Boy, I cannot wait to get up on Sunday Morning and go to a church where everything is political and where people rumor against each other!”  I have never met anyone who wants to attend or go to a church where people do not get along with each other.

 I am very blessed to be serving a church where the people not only love God, they love each other!  There is that famous verse from 1 John 4:20-21 ”Those who say, “I Love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars;  for those who do not love their brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.  The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brother and sister also.” 

The photograph above is a peaceful picture take at sunset at Point Mugu and whenever I arrive their I always feel peace.  Also, whenever I arrive at church at Sunday morning I also feel that peace.   Now worshiping at a church like that is worth getting out of bed, and out of the house on Sunday Morning. 

Peace,    

Pastor John