Mark 12: 5b to 17

“Bring me a denarius and let me see it.” ¹⁶And they brought one. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “The emperor’s.” ¹⁷Jesus said to them, “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him.”

Christine and I recently went to the Getty Villa which is a reconstruction of a Roman Villa from the 1st century.   In the museum they have amazing artifacts from the time of Christ.  One of them was a “denarius” which was minted and in circulation during the time of Jesus’ Ministry.

The very coin referred to in the scriptures could have looked just like the coin in the photograph from the Getty Villa.

I once heard that the evangelist, Bill Graham, regretted having been too close to politics and sometimes felt “used” by politicians.

In my 25 (plus) years of pastoral ministry…I too regret political statements I have made in the pulpit or even on facebook.

There are good and bad people on each side of the political spectrum, plus there are really bad people who claim the title of Republican or Democrat.  I need to confess, that at times I have taken a naive view of the world and politics.

Faith, I believe, gives us the opportunity to transcend politics and see the larger picture from God’s viewpoint.

Politics is a wonderful “sport” in American life…but being a pastor is a sacred calling that needs to transcend petty politics.

As Christians…I believe that, as Jesus said, we need to clearly differentiate our politics from faith so that we might always speak the truth the Gospel.

Peace,

Pastor John

Christine loves Point Mugu’s waves because of the singularity of the sensory experience, you can feel concussion of the waves in your chest.   I love Point Mugu’s waves (especially at sunset) because they (the waves) focus my “monkey brain” on a singular experience that so wonderfully releases all my frantic worries.

Yet, Point Mugu is good for at least one more, (and it is the most important), reason – it is a “thin place” where we (Christine and I) feel very close to God.   A place where the difference between Heaven and Earth is very, very, slim and God’s presence is so transparent.

Being so close to God is so thrilling, and yet so many people miss it.   Christine and I have sat out on the rock and seen people “act like fools” (acting like God does not exist) and it is to their detriment.  For once in a great while a “rogue wave” reaching 20 feet plus will splash out over the rock and sweep anyone on the edge out to sea.

It is so very important that we approach the Holy Joyfully and Reverently, those who take God (thus Nature) inconsiderately are playing also with their very own soul.

God’s Wave Machine is there for everyone who seeks God with a joyful reverence that can enrich your life in waves beyond description.  However, those who chose to live their without appreciation or reverence for the life has given them the trouble awaits.   I can see no greater Hell then to live your life without any acknowledgement of God  and then fall into hands of a God you do not know.

Peace,

Pastor John

Being a pastor means learning to ride the waves.  Sometimes you are very very busy as a pastor and then there a lull times.   When I was a young pastor I used to see the lull times as an opportunity to plan even more work.  Then when the busy times returned I was pushed in frantic work.

Now I see the lull times as a time to recuperate, rest, and get ready for the next big wave!  Riding the waves as a pastor has always meant that my life has been varied and blessed.

Peace,

Pastor John

“Trout Fishing” by Eunice Lamberton 1873

Give me a rod of the split bamboo,
a rainy day and a fly or two,
a mountain stream where the eddies play,
and mists hang low o’er the winding way,

Give me a haunt by the furling brook,
A hidden spot in a mossy nook,
No sound save hum of the drowsy bee,
or lone bird’s tap on the hollow tree.

The world may roll with it’s busy throng,
And phantom scenes on it’s way along,
It’s stocks may rise, or it’s stocks may fall,
Ah! What care I for it’s baubles all?

I cast my fly o’er the troubled rill,
Luring the beauties by magic skill,
With mind at rest and a heart at ease,
And drink delight at the balmy breeze.

A lusty trout to my glad surprise,
Speckled and bright on the crest arise,
Then splash and plunge in a dazzling whirl,
Hope springs anew as the wavelets curl.

Gracefully swinging from left to right,
Action so gentle- motion so slight,.
Tempting, enticing, on craft intent,
Till yielding tip by the game is bent

Drawing in slowly, then letting go
Under the ripples where mosses grow
Doubting my fortune, lost in a dream,
Blessing the land of forest and stream.

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—  in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.  When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

“What happens to us when we die?”  I have been asked this many times by my parishioners.   I think it is a question that many people have.   I try not to get to specific because I hate telling people things that are only my speculation.  However I do know that our relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, will not be interrupted by death.

I know we will changed, but I do not know the nature of that change.   I know we will be with God, but I am not sure where that will be.   I know we will look the same, but be different and I know we will be comforted.

There is an old hymn that has always spoke a lot of wisdom to me on these matters:

“I know not when my Lord may come, at night or noon day fair, nor if I’ll walk the vale with him, or meet him in the air.  but I know whom I have believed,  and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto him against that day.”

Peace,

Pastor John

“ As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.”

To me, the 21st street looks a lot like the 1st century.  Those early Christians (living in the first four centuries before the Emperor Constantine legitimized Christianity) knew how to live their faith in the midst a sometimes hostile and always alien culture.

Jesus’ call to “follow me” is as relevant in the first century as it is today.  Here at the Glendale Church we are still falling the call to continue to the work of Jesus, Peacefully, Simply, and Together.

Peace,

Pastor John

I have been blessed to live in the south west corner of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan,  a Western Suburb of Chicago, the far north east corner of Kansas, in a Cove that time forgot in Central Pennsylvania, a river town in Southwest Ohio, and in Southern California.   Each of these divergent places had a specialness to it that appealed to me.

Riding my10 speed  bike  between White Pigeon and Three Rivers Michigan as a teenager was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon.   About 12o miles west of White Pigeon I loved driving my car up Lake Shore Drive with Chicago  Skyscrapers on my left and Lake Michigan on my right made it feel like I was in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  A long, long ways from Chicago are the grain fields of Kansas that stretch from horizon to horizon and you can see heaven touch the good earth and you can see a sky full of stars.  Later I was living at the base of Tussey Mountain allowed me to overlook the Cove as sheep peacefully grazed along the Clover Creek in the foreground.  In my mid 40s and training for marathons I was blessed to be able to run in the Englewood Reserve where I would pass by three wonderful small waterfalls that would inspire me to run  farther.

In my current life I find myself living in urban Los Angeles county where for the first time in my life I do not have “a nature scene” that I can view from my window.   However, with just a 10 minute drive from the house I can be hiking in the foothills and observe all kinds of wildlife OR I can drive the opposite direction and be at the ocean in just over 30 minutes and I love it.

Each place that I have lived has a natural beauty and wonder that inspired me.  Yet, I have come to believe that true inspiration comes from knowing that you are exactly where God wants you to be.   Thus, I am very happy where I am now, because for this time in my life I believe I am where God has called me to serve.

Peace,

Pastor John

Our Church Family – March 2007

Our Church Family, Christmas 2009

Our Church Family, Christmas 2010

All who call upon Christ as Savior our invited to join us for

Communion this Sunday