Rest for Your Souls

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) What does it mean to find rest for your soul? To have your mind and heart be at rest?  And why does this rest of soul seem so difficult to come by and so hard to maintain?Jesus’ words, “I am gentle and humble in heart,” just drip with restfulness, at least to me. Proud and harsh don’t go together with a soul at rest, that’s for sure, neither do anxious, worried, hurried, arrogant, violent, greedy, or being all about yourself.Jesus at once confronts both empty religion as well as simply ignoring the truth. The soul cannot find rest in either. Empty religion regardless of its name promotes something less than the truth and will peddle salvation and peace with God through some system of merit, of works of our own, and fill your bowl with guilt if you don’t comply. That’s why the religious leaders of the very people Jesus talked to constantly came out with new and more nuanced regulations. And that’s why people then and now turned their back on religion. Guilt is a big burden to bear it won’t let the soul rest. But godlessness does not bring rest to the soul either; it ignores the truth of the soul and of God. The truth of the soul is that exists because of God and is accountable to God, and death does not provide relief from accountability but simply ushers us into final reckoning. The truth of God is that he exists and his sovereignty extends over our lives, he can and does decree what is right and what is wrong, what is moral and what is immoral. If empty religion piles on false guilt then ignoring God fails to deal with real guilt before God. One is harsh and the other is proud. Neither can give the soul true rest.This is why I am growing ever more leery of moralistic preaching. It allows the soul to give itself a false sense of rest. It provides rest based on comparison to others, “I thank you God that I am not a sinner like …” (Luke 18:9-14). It steeps us in rest of soul based on merit and vaporizes the instant we transgress ourselves. It will strap the burden of hypocrisy on your back in the blink of an eye.This is why I am leery of empty preaching, the kind that looses itself in self-improvement, in comfort, in mere political action. The kind of preaching that leaves Jesus out or makes him secondary, the stripped down version of Jesus or the cleaned up version of Jesus. The fact is that he is more than psychotherapist, more than a guru, more than economist, more than a revolutionary, more than one among many. We exist because of him and only because of him (Colossians 1:16-17). He is not neat, comfortable, and clean, but beaten, bloody, crucified, buried, and risen because of his great love for us and our great sinfulness. He really can forgive, he really can teach me how to forgive, how to die to self, how to love God, how to love my neighbor, and how to love one another and find in that rest for my soul.Are you as amazed as I am that he says to us restless souls, “Come to me ..?”Thank you God for Jesus! Love you, pastor Hans  

Until God Wipes Away the Tears

Until God Wipes Away the TearsOn this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine-- the best of meats and the finest of wines.On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation." Isaiah 25:6-9 (NIV)Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." Revelation 21:1-4 (NASB)No matter where you go in the world you will find tears, mourning, crying, pain, and death. By the time you get to the 25th chapter of Isaiah it is clear that God holds every nation, all peoples, and His own people responsible for their contribution to the sea of grief filled with tears. Tears, pain, and death caused by pride, oppression, exploitation, corruption, greed, godlessness, worship of false gods, violence, the thirst for power, evil desires, the exaltation of self, and a lack of kindness and compassion.I rejoice in the fact that God promises real hope beyond this seemingly unbreakable cycle of tears, grief, and death. Most Christians, dare I say most people, would welcome no more mourning, crying, pain, and death. But not everyone will experience the glorious day when God wipes away the tears. We need to not just be quick to claim the promises, we need to also remember who can claim those promises, namely those who order their lives according to God’s heart, God’s will, God’s ways, and God’s Son Jesus Christ. God’s judgment will fall on the unrepentant, those who fail to love, those who turn a blind eye to the poor and suffering, those who ignore or pervert justice, and those who reject the Christ life.It seems both the Prophet Isaiah and the Apostle John got the same glimpse of what God is working toward. I wish it would come sooner than later except that so many still need time to repent. I wish I would not have to make another hospital visit, counsel one more couple whose marriage is falling apart, respond to another humanitarian crisis in some way, or conduct another funeral service. I have to be careful not to lose myself in singing of all the glorious things God has prepared for those who loved His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8) while the world around me is crying. As much as we yearn for no more tears we need to remember what to do until then.Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD.Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. Romans 12:15-21 (NLT)Until the day of no more tears we must not forget that, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). I do not necessarily need anything else to mourn over or shed tears for and I am sure you probably don’t either, but who and what we mourn over and are able to weep with and for does define us –  and should define us – “Jesus wept” (John 11:35).To God be all glory, love you, Pastor Hans  

My Mama's Love

My Mama has been with Jesus for over 24 years and I miss her still. This July I will be back in my hometown, Heiningen/Germany, visit her grave, and wish she was still among the living. I would love to eat some more of her cooking, for her and my children to know each other, to sit out on the veranda for Kaffee und Kuchen, to laugh and sing together, to reminisce and bask in that incredible love between us.My Mama’s love, my love for her has not waned. It is as strong, as precious, as wonderful and beautiful as it has ever been. It has not ceased to blossom and bless. It is not a relic, not just a memory, but it is alive. I think it is so because her love was real, uncomplicated, constant, free of manipulation, and sweet – so very sweet. This love she lavished on us, poured into us, and cultivated in our hearts was not fragile, or fickle, and above all it was without fear, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, …” 1 John 4:18 (NIV).I know this is not everyone’s Mothers’ Day reality and I know my Mama was blessed with terrific Mom and Dad herself, but the loving has to start somewhere and if didn’t begin with us we have to decide to continue the love we received. Life, health, my Dad, and we her sons did not make it easy for my Mama. She could have easily felt sorry for herself, become bitter, complained, repaid evil for evil, decided that it was time to make life about herself. But she didn’t, she chose to love, and love some more. She believed that’s what God would want her do, what following Christ meant. She was right.Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV). My Mama’s love was healing, just the memory of it is like aloe vera on a burn. It brought sanity into insanity, perspective to chaos, forgiveness to bitterness and hate. She refused to add to the sins, she wanted to be part of the crew who made the pile smaller, cover up the stink, and grow flowers on the wasteland of sins. And she did, I still get to pick them every day. Thank you Mama, you bless me still.Happy Mothers’ Day, to God be all glory, Pastor Hans  

To Love

To LoveI know it is wrong to bring up being on a sunny beach in the middle of winter, but we were laying in the Southern California sun, Huntington Beach to be exact. I was recovering from being pummeled by a massive wave, which is what happens when you turn your back to the ocean. That’s when my prayers were answered, she put her hand into mine. That’s when we went from being best friends to romance, to complete twitterpation.33 years latter I still love for her to put her hand into mine, and I still feel like I am the luckiest guy in the world. Actually I think it was Mother’s prayers at work. Susie and I talked about it the other day, trying to figure out how she ever said yes to me. Without my Mama’s praying I am certain I would have fell for some bimbo and ended up with hard drinking, chain smoking, nagging floozy. But somehow her prayers had me looking for godly, gifted, graceful girl, a bright, beautiful, and breathtaking woman.I knew she was something special, but I had no idea how special. Actually I am still finding out just how blessed I am to have her as my wife, my best friend, my love. She is God’s abiding favor in my life. It is true, “The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD” (Proverbs 18:22, NLT).What my Mama prayed for me and my brothers I am now praying for my children, to look for, pursue, and find godly men and women who will turn out to be the greatest blessing of their lives – the very favor of God. To experience how wonderful, how thrilling, and how lasting love can be.Happy Valentines, Pastor Hans 

the look

The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, "Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times." Luke 22:61 (NASB) We’d all be in jail, if looks really could kill.If you want to be a good parent you have to be able to both recognize looks:“Don’t you give me that look young man!”“You had better not roll your eyes behind my back young lady!”“That’s about the daffiest face I have ever seen.”“I can tell you’re lying just by the look on your face!”“Those puppy eyes worked when you were three, what do you want.”“What’s with the sad face, what’s going on?”You also have to perfect your own “looks” as a parent. Your repertoire needs to include glares, stares, beams, as well as the looks of:“You’re in so much trouble, you don’t even know it!”“One more word and you’re grounded for life!”“I told you so.”“How could you?”“I’m so proud I think I’ll pop.”“That’s MY boy/girl!”Jesus had a lot of looks, looks of compassion, concern, grief, anger, peace. John 8 even records a non-look; it says something too, doesn’t it. One of Jesus’ looks has always fascinated and puzzled me. Peter, who had promised Jesus that he would die with Him if need be has just sworn up and down that he never knew Jesus. He has completely disavowed any association with Christ. What’s more is that Jesus had told him that he would do so before the roster would crow. Before the words of his last denial leave his lips a roster does crow, and at the very moment Jesus in His hand cuffs turns and looks across the courtyard. He looks Peter right in the eyes (Luke 22:54-62), He doesn’t speak a word, a look is all that’s needed. What look did Jesus give him? Wouldn’t you love to know? I sure would. This much I know, Jesus’ look didn’t keep Peter from repenting and returning. It also broke him. I think he remembered that one look for the rest of his life. He must have told Luke about it.I can’t prove it, but I think that look Jesus gave Peter, when Peter was at a minimum both scared and confused, reflected the depth of relationship Jesus seeks to have with you and me as well. Most people do not know God – Jesus like that, but gloriously He invites us to know Him like that. Do you?To God be all glory, love you, Pastor Hans     

Strong love - lessons from a "bad"dog

As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness. Proverbs 26:11 (NLT)Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins. Proverbs 10:12 (NKJV) Now the end of all things is near; therefore, be serious and disciplined for prayer. Above all, maintain an intense love for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:7-8 (HCSB) I tell you what; she knows how to irritate the living snot out of me. And she was so cute when we brought her home. Now she has grown up to be the biggest dog we have ever owned, but her brain has not kept pace with her body. Just this morning I walked into my garage and confetti made from a roll of shop towels covered the floor. A roll of shop towels I had purposely set up on my work bench because I thought, “If I leave this toll sitting by this jack Sweet Tea will make confetti out of.” So what does she do, besides reading my mind, she gets them off the work bench. Yup, and she also does the vomit thing you read in the proverb above, she is both dumb and dumber and disgusting. When she is confronted she does this “I am really very sorry” thing, looking all contrite, and then thinks she can weasel herself into good graces with her wet nose nuzzling my hand. Well, all I can say is that Sweet Tea can be very rancid, and that she is walking on thin ice.Things like that with a dog are one thing, but what about when it comes to people, people we love and care about. It isn’t easy to know what love looks and acts like beyond the emotion of our hearts, but in the face of repeated foolishness, of anger, of hatred, of strive, of what is and feels like constant manipulation, of wrongs, and of sins. What if things are way beyond thin ice, but so broken, and so painful that going there feels like returning to vomit, embracing senselessness, inviting frustration, a total waste?I swear (I know good preachers are not supposed to do that) that dog is trying to guilt trip me, like somehow I am responsible for all her misbehavior and destruction. She ‘s got the whole package going, the poor me face, the “I’m such an abused dog” slinky walk and saggy butt, the silent treatment, and the “I am just going to stay in this corner and not give you any affection until you feel so guilty you will apologize” gig. If she could talk she would undoubtedly use words to ratchet up the guilt trip even more. Maybe you are familiar with that spiel when it comes to people as well?When trying to figure out what love means in difficult context, what love should look like in terms of a particular person, what decisions to make without being riddled by guilt, there are some things to keep in mind:

  • Love is the way to go, don’t give up on love (1 Corinthians 13:8);
  • Love is honest, both with others and with self (1 Corinthians 13:6);
  • Love is kind, it refuses to let pain and evil to rob itself of kindness (Luke 6:35);
  • Love does say no, it doesn’t play games or let’s itself be manipulated (1 Corinthians 13:5-6)
  • Love hopes, but does not enable. (1 Corinthians 13:7, Mark 10:17-22)

To God be all glory, love you, Pastor Hans   

02-26-12 Tough Love

Tough Love –“… the Lord disciplines the one He loves and punishes every son (daughter) He receives. Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline—which all receive—then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had natural fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but He does it for our benefit, so that we can share His holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it” Hebrews 12:6-11 (HCSB, parenthesis mine).I have a confession to make. Sometimes, as our children were growing up, I would stand outside of their bedroom doors while they were throwing a fit, or were having a pity party on the other side. And yes, sometimes I would just be cracking up at what was coming out of their little mouths, “No one loves me around here, …”“I don’t why they always tell me no, why they like all the others better than me?”“This is the worst day of my entire life!”“That’s so unfair, why am I always the one who ….?”“They all hate me! I am just invisible to them!”Of course none of it was true, Susie and I love them, we have never hated them, and we don’t have favorites (most of the time). I did tell them that “life isn’t fair,” but Susie and I have tried to treat them as fairly as we could and as was warranted. But since we did not want to raise brats we did believe in discipline, we did not and still do not belief in just giving them anything they wanted, we believe that real love knows how to say “No!”, regardless of whether or not that sets off  tantrums, comparisons, guilt trips, silent treatments, or any other kind of manipulative behaviors.Real love is tough. It knows when to say no, when to reprove, when to let go, when to oppose, when stand up, when to wait, and when not to intervene. Real love, Christlike love supports holiness not evil, it doesn’t join manipulation games, it is forthright and honest. Christlike love is tender and tough, hoping but not desperate, serving but not enabling, pleading but not insecure. It is decisive and knows how to respond to the decisions of others. It doesn’t try to erase all consequences of bad choices. It does not support someone shredding their life, but it is ready to help pick up the pieces. It is unafraid of being accused, of being misunderstood, because it surely will be and because it is anchored not in the approval of others but in God.I don’t know how often, after having my fun, I walked away from the above mentioned door and with the tantrum still going strong on the other side talked with my heavenly Father about teaching me and helping me to love like Him.To God be all glory, love you, Pastor Hans 

02-19-12 A Knocked Out Hummingbird

The little thing hit the window hard. So hard it knocked itself out. Luckily my daughter Andee was close by and picked up the unconscious little Hummingbird before our dogs noticed.Hummingbirds, in spite of their size, are amazing creatures, flying acrobats. No other bird can do the areal maneuvers they are capable of, able to hover, fly backwards, sideways, or straight up and down. They slow their heart rates when resting, and if you and I were to burn calories like them we would need to eat 30,000 a day.I have often watched them at the feeders in front of our large living room window, sometimes, when the light hits them just right incredible colors light up, especially on their heads and throats. And those little guys fight, they have fierce air battles and high speed chases. But for all my Hummingbird watching have never seen one as up close as the little knocked out one in my daughter’s hand. What a beautiful creature it was, delicate, feather light, and covered in bright, almost neon green feathers that had sparkles of silver; a true work of art, a testimony to the creativity, imagination, and sense of beauty of God, its maker.Equally amazing is the fact that this bird’s crash not only was noticed by Andee. Almighty God saw it all even before she did, and who knows maybe that’s why she found herself in that spot at that time so she could scoop up the little flyer and care for it until it recovered and flew off. Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent” Matthew 10:29 (HCSB). “Look at the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?” Matthew 6:26 (HCSB). It is astounding to me how much God cares for every single creature He designed and gave life to.Birds, however, are not the only ones who crash, who knock themselves out, we do as well. Although no one might notice, God does. Though our world of resembles the dogs on my front porch, who have neither mercy or compassion for an unfortunate ( maybe even foolish bird), God wants us to remember that no one is more aware of us than Him, no one cares more about us than Him. Oh, all the things God has to tell us, remind us of, even through a Hummingbird’s crash.The moment the little guy (or was it a girl?) flew off we lost track of him (her), but God didn’t. Even right now he knows the exact location and condition of that, and every other, Hummingbird – and ours as well. Jesus obviously thought it important to remind us of this truth, to help us with regular life, when we crash, when worry, and when we are afraid.This week, “Look at the birds of the sky …”            To God be all glory, love you Pastor Hans  

02-05-12, Choose – Choosing God = choosing to learn how to love like Christ

Choose – Choosing God = choosing to learn how to love like Christ"If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15 (NASB) You really don’t know what you’re getting into when you get married, and the same can be said for having kids. You can tell yourself that you do, but you’re only kidding yourself, there are way too many variables and unknowns. What is for sure is that you have to learn how to love to be any good at either one. After having taken a go at both marriage and parenting I do know this much:  They are two of the best choices I have made, and I am still learning about love.You really don’t know what you’re getting into when make a decision to live with God, when you respond to Jesus’ invitation to follow Him. If a wife and children can blow your mind, think of what living with God will can do to you. There is no one who will challenge you more, stretch you more, and shape you more than God, than Christ. What is for sure is that you will have to learn how to love. You cannot really live with God without it.Jesus made no bones about it; all followers of His must learn how to love. Choosing Him meant choosing a life of love: “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.” Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God” Mark 12:29-34 (NLT).“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” John 13:34-35 (HCSB).“If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (MSG). “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love…. We love, because He first loved us” 1 John 4:7-8, 19 (NASB). “… I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect” Matthew 5:44-48 (NLT).When Joshua challenged the people in his day to choose God they responded with a, “Yup, we’re in. We choose God.” Joshua told them, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy and jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins” Joshua 24:19 (NLT). Why did he tell them that? Because they needed to learn how to love and what to love, because he knew that we struggle with love and that God gives us a pass when it comes to love, because he knew that at the root of all human failure and sin you find a lack of love.I am challenged by God’s call for me to love, and I pray you are as well. If we are serious about following Christ we will make learning to love like Him our greatest pursuit.To God be all glory, love you, Pastor Hans