On Sunday, November 10 Pastor Todd spoke from the end of Luke and the beginning of Acts on how the disciples followed Jesus’ final three commands to them. They waited in Jerusalem (in prayer). They received the Holy Spirit infilling on the day of Pentecost. They then burst forth to witness to anyone who would listen.

Pastor mentioned there are many patterns of three in Scripture and that our brains see a three-part pattern as completed. I realized that I recently heard another story of the disciples and a three-part pattern.

Last week at Nazarene Discipleship International Leader’s Conference, we heard a message from Rev. Cricket Albertson, a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary and Executive Director of Titus Women Ministry. She shared the story in John 21 where Jesus has breakfast with the disciples after his resurrection.

Then Jesus and Peter have a private conversation. Three times Jesus asks Peter “Do you love me?” Three times Peter answers “Yes, Lord.” Three times Jesus replies, “Feed my sheep.” Remember this is post-resurrection, therefore it is also after Peter denied Jesus three times the night he was arrested.

It was probably painful that day on the beach for Peter to have Jesus question his love three times. But it was also healing to him. It was also a reaffirmation to Peter, as Jesus says to him again, “Follow me!”

I treasure this story in the times when I feel like a failure. Peter was one of Jesus’ closet earthly friends. But on Jesus’ worst night, Peter deserted and denied him. Jesus gently restores Peter with this three-part call. When we see Peter next, he is waiting and praying in the Upper Room. Then, being filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter is part of the Early Church that changed the world! May it be so for us.

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Cindy

Photo by Michał Mancewicz on Unsplash

This has been another week where a lot of different threads of ideas have been weaving their way through my brain. October 16-18, Pastor Todd and I attended the Chic Shaver Center for Evangelism Conference at Olivet Nazarene University where we were poured into by other pastors, professors and laypeople. We were encouraged and challenged to share the gospel with everyone we meet.

One method of doing this is to B.L.E.S.S. others. Begin with prayer. Listen to people. Eat with people since sharing meals deepens connections. Serve others as Jesus did. Story – share our stories about what God has done for us and can do for them.

Side note: If you don’t know who Dr. Chic Shaver is, he is a small humble man who was a professor at Nazarene Seminary for 30 years. His Basic Bible Studies havesold over 750,000 copies and been translated in over 55 languages.

We missed you all last Sunday, but I listened to the service later. I was challenged again as Pastor Rob spoke of giving up our judgmental glasses so we can see others with compassionate eyes. Then I saw something this week that indicated to me why it is so important for us to see people compassionately as Jesus did, and to share the gospel so people can come to know him for themselves.

It is a chart showing how different groups of people, by their race, political party or religion (as they chose to identify themselves) who think immigrants are “poisoning the blood” of the U.S. The source is a survey done by the Public Religion Research Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization. (www.prri.org)

That anyone would make this kind of statement is both heartbreakingly sad and scary enough to raise the hairs on the back of my neck. It’s sad because it’s the complete opposite of compassionate. It’s scary because it’s the kind ugly rhetoric promoted by Hitler. I know that is a strong statement, but there is a great deal of historical evidence demonstrating how the Nazis promoted this idea. Here is one example: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/aryan-1

May God forgive us of attitudes like this.

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
– 1 John 4:20-21

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Cindy

Last week in service, we learned that Jesus was a hero. He wasn’t the military leader who saved the Jews from Rome as they were hoping. He did something better.

Jesus was a hero because he conquered death. He rose from the dead and was seen by approximately 500 people. There were too many witnesses for it to be disputed. Because Jesus conquered death, we have a chance at eternal life.

Jesus was a hero because of his radical teachings. He took the 613 rules the Pharisees insisted upon and simplified them down to two things: Love God and Love People. I don’t know about you, but I’ve always loved a teacher who can make things clear and simple.

Jesus was a hero because he served the needs of others. Jesus was and is the Son of God, King of Kings…but he said that he did not come to be served but to serve. He taught that serving is the way to be a great person.

This week we learn that Jesus didn’t just teach about serving others, but he calls us to serve others. In Luke 10:25-37 we find the story of an “expert in the law” who asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus knows this is a trick question meant to trap him. After all, every hero must face villains. So Jesus turns the question back on the expert, asking him what he reads in the law.

The expert states the two laws that every good Jew knew by heart. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.” (from Deuteronomy 6:5) And, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (from Leviticus 19:18) Jesus tells him that he is correct and by doing these things he will live.

But the expert asks for clarification, or maybe a loophole. “Who is my neighbor,” he says. In reply Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan. He concludes by asking the expert, “Which of these three (priest, Levite or Samaritan) was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” When the expert replied it was the one who showed mercy, Jesus said “Go and do likewise.”

Go and be a neighbor to everyone. Go and show mercy and generosity, like the hero of the story.

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Cindy