Crazy Love

A comedian got a few laughs by suggesting that love ranks on the “crazy scale” just after insanity and psychosis. I heard it and snickered for a moment before realizing the truth behind it. Love defies logic, unless getting hurt is high on your list of priorities.

The problem is that we love imperfect people and imperfect things that are bound to fail us. But, then, that’s all we have. Things break or get worn out. People forget or get tired. No created thing or being is 100% reliable.

Lucy and John both recognize the lingering pain and inevitable challenges they face. Entering into a relationship, Lucy noted, means accepting the possibility of losing your partner. “If you are lucky enough,” she said, “you will be devastated when they die. Willingly entering that feels gutsy, but what else could you choose?” – When Breath Becomes Air

Football fans know disappointment, too. But, every season we follow the hype and cheer for a team whose season will end in a loss.

There’s a great deal of risk in love. The return isn’t guaranteed. It’s not even probable, if you’re into statistics. So, the comedian makes us laugh, but maybe this isn’t so funny. Love often hurts. It even hurts God Himself, because He loves His imperfect creation.

But, love also heals.

The love of another human lifts spirits, gives hope and inspires peace for a time. The love of God does all of that into eternity. His love never fails, never gives up and never runs out(to quote Jesus Culture), which is absolutely necessary when we keep pouring our love into the other cracked pots of creation. God continues to pour out His healing love into us.

When God tells us to love our neighbor, He isn’t asking us to feel a particular way, but to act. He’s telling us to pour out our love for the sake of that other human, and expect nothing in return. Love doesn’t need gratitude and it doesn’t get compensation. Loving others doesn’t fill your heart and soul. Being loved does.

God does His part, loving us perfectly, unconditionally, and unendingly. It sounds crazy, but it’s true. Today, as you dare to love, may God’s love fill you to overflowing.

When You Have Eaten

When does the “thanks” part come in? Maybe more importantly to consider: When does it stop? When is thanksgiving done?

Many traditions feature a few moments of recognition…naming the tangible and spiritual blessings that come to mind before diving into dinner. At some point, when it’s time to eat, the family looks like they’ve been deprived of food for weeks. Soon enough, the animal that gave his life for a few is no longer recognizable…his turkey-ness is gone.

Look, the turkey starts off running around the farm until he gets his head chopped off and dies. Still a turkey? Oh, yes. Feathers next. Still a turkey? Yep. Guts – gone. Still a turkey. You go to the store to buy, “a turkey.” You cook, “the turkey.” You eat, “the turkey.”

But, after supper, it’s, “the carcass.” His turkey-ness is gone.

And, so often…the “thanks” part of Thanksgiving goes the way of the turkey.

Where does our praise and thanksgiving go after the Thanksgiving Service? Why do our hearts, that feels so full in that moments before feasting, find itself empty again? For other gifts we receive, where does the hand-written or heart-felt thank-you go after the gift has been opened…or eaten? “Thank you” comes easily in that moment we open the gift and first hold that special token of love. It’s just that sometimes, after we’ve received, we forget.

The Biblical book of Deuteronomy 8:10 says, “When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord…”

This serves as a reminder to do the thing we don’t do naturally. The thing we neglect when our bellies are full. It’s an appeal to not only count your blessings as we usually do, but to also recount them – remember them and tell the story of God’s goodness and grace, even after the turkey is long gone.

Happy Thanksgiving! And, remember: Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Start Stopping Traffic

"A Human Life Is Not an Object"
"Human Trafficking Is Modern Day Slavery"

"This Could Be Your Daughter: Stop Human Trafficking"

With Easter coming in a few short weeks, Christians are ready to celebrate the pinnacle Holy Day of the year: Jesus Christ rising from the dead. I'm looking forward to the big crowd at church and singing the hymns that proclaim the glory of our God!

But, this year I'll be hearing familiar Easter praise in a new light. Human trafficking has come to the forefront of my mind - not because it's in the news in far-off places, but because there are cases in the USA, in Wisconsin, in Door County, in Sturgeon Bay. Phrases like, "No Longer Slaves" and "Redeemed" mean something different when we live in a world where people are physically stolen, sold, bought, and used. 

The Hebrew Passover (March 23 - March 30 this year) commemorates the night when millions of slaves were freed from Egypt and the physical cruelty they endured there. The Christian Easter celebration (April 1 this year) calls Jesus "Redeemer," because He bought us out of slavery to sin, to be free in the Spirit of God.

Christians should be on the front lines of this fight against human trafficking. It's our story. It's our life. It's our Gospel. It's our hope. "Slaves Set Free" is a phrase that should resonate for us, because that's who we are. 

End Human Trafficking (Presentation): Thursday, March 22 at 6:00pm, St. Joseph's Church

Stopping Traffic (Film & Panel Discussion): Monday, April 2 at 6:00pm, Prince of Peace Church

Be part of the solution. Start Stopping Traffic

Easter People

Easter People (from April 22, 2017)

Every Easter, and some days in-between, I find myself humming a little song I learned as a teenager. “Every morning is Easter morning, from now on (from now on), every day is Resurrection Day, the past is over and gone…”

This year, my humming began after reading Pastor Cory Dahl’s Faith Perspective article from last weekend. My remembrance of the words and melody brought me back to the person who taught it to me. I looked for her name online, and found this: “Morrison, Tracie M. age 43 of Rosemount. Tracie died peacefully surrounded by love. July 8, 2016.” I looked further and found one of the last things she posted on her Facebook account: “The Lord is good to us. We accept GREAT things! Isn’t [he] cool. It’s Easter!!!!!”

I don’t know what every day of her life was like. I’m sure that when I met her as an 18 year-old, she had plenty of worries about her future. I’m also sure that near the end, as a relatively young woman with a terminal illness, she thought about what she was leaving behind. But, more pronounced than those profoundly normal and expected concerns, from my perspective her life was bracketed by a faith that trusted the power of Jesus Christ rising from the dead! Her voice was powerful, loud and raspy…and, nothing much seemed to change in the way she pushed through life…death…and into eternity.

I suppose that’s the way life is when every morning is Easter morning, and every day is a day to start fresh and new. As Martin Luther writes about baptism, “the Old Adam in us should…daily…be drowned…and a new man should daily emerge and arise…” This isn’t a commentary about the power of water baptism, but about the power of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! Romans 6:4 says, “We were buried with Him…in order that, just as Christ was raised…we too may live a new life.”

The cross is bare and the tomb is vacant, but neither of them lose their significance unless we deny the power of Christ to forgive and remove sin. Today is a day to start again. Tomorrow will be likewise. Christ died in the past so that we can have a future worth living.

"Good-bye guilt, good-bye fear, good riddance! Hello Lord, hello sun! I am one of the Easter People! My new life has begun!”

A Boy...and His Birds

A Boy…and His Birds (from June 3, 2017)

Said the robin to the sparrow, 'I would really like to know
why those anxious human beings rush around and worry so."
Said the sparrow to the robin, 'Friend, I think that it must be
that they have no Heavenly Father such as cares for you and me."

I was walking around in my back yard the other day, surveying my limited real estate and considering the creatures that live on it. The charcoal grill was fired up and the wind was calm for a moment. As thoughts of the day strolled through my mind, I mused: “I’m just a boy with a brat. And a beer. And some birds.”

Yes, birds. We are now co-owners (with our neighbors) of 8 chickens…half of which are contributing back to society with their egg production, while the others just eat food and poop in the yard. They’re not too complicated, but they are like children in that they both require our attention and garner our affection. They’re unlike children in that they may be eaten, if necessary.

What started as a simple assessment of my life got complicated quickly. “Just a boy” is just part of a much larger scenario, and I didn’t even get to family and work! Suddenly, the idea of somehow stripping down your life, and living “off the land” or “off the grid” sounds so good, pure and right, doesn’t it?

Dear friends, when you walk around, surveying the real estate that is your life – do you remember your Creator? You will always be busy, there will never be enough time and your brain will always be full when you put yourself in God’s role, and forget that you are one of His creatures under His care. When you’re anxious, overwhelmed or worried, Jesus says, “Look at the birds…” (Matthew 6:26).

Seriously, just look at them. If you don’t have any in your yard, come over and look at mine. They don’t frown or sweat. They don’t smile or laugh. They may not worry, but they also don’t know joy. God has created US with the capacity to worry, yes…but, also to know the unspeakable joy of being cared for, loved and rejoiced over with singing. We have great value in the eyes of the One who made us.

“Cast your anxiety upon the Lord, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

Land of the (Sorta) Free

Land of the (Sorta) Free (from July 6, 2017)

I used to think that personal freedoms ended where somebody else's begin. Like, I can smoke a cigar (which I find rather barfy, actually) unless I'm standing in the vicinity of another who would rather not be experiencing it in a second hand way.

That's pretty narrow. What about when I smoke a bunch of cigars at one time, or for a lifetime, resulting in sickness that requires medical attention? Am I free to do that, or do I have responsibility to my family, friends and employer to take better care of myself?

E pluribus unum. From many, one. The unofficial motto of the United States reminds us of the bigger picture. We are individuals with great freedoms, but the question and debate shouldn't be about where those freedoms end...but, about what the purpose of being free really is.

What you choose to do in your personal freedom affects the larger whole, and you are not free to disregard that.

I realize that the Biblical connection to this is normally about the Body of Christ, and that there is "one body with many parts" (1 Corinthians 12), and that we may not belittle or mistreat other parts of that body. I also know many would say that Christians shouldn't expect the rest of the world to operate that way.

Dear friends, I don't expect the fallen world to behave according to God's design, but should that stop us from striving to follow the best model out there? The model given and demonstrated by God Himself? "Love your neighbor" hasn't been revoked, revised or limited in some new way, has it? The God of the Bible wants His church to live out this calling...even in a world that doesn't recognize His voice.

Love is sometimes reduced to caring FOR the neighbor in times of need. But, caring ABOUT your neighbor also makes sense. How do your seemingly personal choices affect others? How do you as individuals impact the group or community?

Being free gives you the opportunity to love. In the land of the free, be brave enough to care for and about your neighbor. It's practically a revolutionary concept once again.

Forests and Trees

Forests and Trees (from February, 2017)

I’m okay with dreams. I’m okay with the grandiose, head-in-the-clouds optimism of the perpetually young-at-heart and hopeful. I admire those who think they can change the world, because you know what? Maybe they can. So what if they try, and fail? At least they tried. At least there was a chance.

But, every dream starts somewhere smaller than the full reality. Every forest starts with a tree. And, one tree has value, even if it’s not part of a larger configuration of vegetation.

These existential thoughts come to mind as I see our nation torn. The Presidential election is behind us, but many questions remain in front of us. Let’s be mindful of the little things.

I admit to not paying attention to all things political. I don’t know all the reasons people love or hate President Obama. I believe that he desired and aspired to do good things. I just think that he & Michelle and others like them, could find themselves doing powerful things as normal citizens. He could just show up somewhere…some neighborhood or city…and make a huge difference – in one place at a time.

This is where seeing the trees instead of the forest can be okay. The dream of affecting a whole nation, or a planet is great! But, even in the Great Commission from Jesus’ own lips, His followers are sent first to Jerusalem (Sturgeon Bay)… then Judea (Door County), Samaria (Kewaunee County) and beyond.

“Where do we start this HUGE TASK, Jesus?” Where do we start telling and loving? Right here. Start where you are. Start with the seemingly insignificant. Start with a seed. There's so much to do that it can be overwhelming unless we break it down to a per-tree level...unless we make it about a person, a family, or a neighborhood.

We hear at times how we can’t or aren’t seeing “the forest for the trees.” That is, we don’t see the bigger picture or the greater good, and get bogged down by the parts of the whole. But, looking at too much can be overwhelming, and it’s okay to let God be the God of all creation, while each of us deals with the smaller gardens that He’s entrusted to our particular care.

Forest: Jesus Christ was sent and given up to death for the sins of the whole world – of all space and time.
Tree: Jesus Christ had dinner with sinners, drew close to the sick and defended the accused.

Tree: My neighbor 2 doors down needs somebody to shovel her driveway in the winter, and to check in on her once in a while.

Go ahead with your pie in the sky, but baking a pie for the neighbor without a working kitchen should be where you start.

Go ahead and dream of what could be. But, don’t wait for all the pieces to fit just right. Chasing that glimmer of hope can begin as a sparkle in your neighbor’s eye when you care for the needs of their body or spirit. 

In the name and the Spirit of Jesus!

Pastor James Gomez