Walking on Water

When was the last time you encountered Jesus? Was it when you or a loved one was diagnosed with an illness? Or almost being in a car accident? Was it when you were in the midst of your own personal storm, a chaotic point in your life when you felt alone? Did you recognize Jesus in the moment? Were you surprised when He showed up? Or are you still waiting to see Him? 

Read Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b and Matthew 14:22-33.

Jesus had just fed the great crowds with merely a few loaves and fishes. He retreats to his prayer life on a mountain and sends the disciples along the way. As the boat gets away from shore, a wind storm picks up. With fishermen on the boat, they knew what to do – it happens a lot in their weather pattern. Yet fear takes hold of the disciples when they see a ghost walking toward them on the waters. Even after seeing Jesus perform a miraculous feeding, the disciples still don’t understand who Jesus is. After Jesus reassures them that it is Him (and it is God), Peter decides to step out of the boat and walk on water like Jesus. However, he looks to the waves and starts to slip beneath the water. His doubt at that moment is greater than his faith.

Storms are a part of life; but it’s when Jesus unexpectedly shows up that we get a little afraid. Ironically enough, even in the presence of Jesus, we (like Peter) doubt what he can really do. We doubt that Jesus will really show up. And because of that doubt, we choose to stay in the boat – we choose to stay with the familiar instead of stepping out in faith.

The Triniteens and I have recently returned from our mission trip to Goodland Academy in Hugo, Oklahoma. Stories and photos will be up in the parlor on Sunday, as well as part of worship. As we got to know the students at Goodland, I believe I see them as Peters. These boys have encountered Jesus through the love and care of their houseparents, teachers, and staff at Goodland. So they are willing to step out of the boat in their chaotic life, to take a risk to improve their lives. Those boys have stepped out in faith, moving away from home and learning how to be a family.

The Triniteens and I were like the disciples in the boat, getting to witness the miracles that Jesus is working in the lives at Goodland. And because of their act of faith, we too are saved – we too are transformed. We too get to encounter Jesus, even where it surprises us – in the laugh of a sixth grade boy, in the friendships between strangers that instantly form, in the cool rainy weather at the end of July.

So where have you seen Jesus? Are you in the boat, witnessing the grace and salvation of Jesus? Are you stepping out in faith, willing to test the stormy waters? Jesus is more than a man, more than a miracle worker, more than a good teacher. He is our Savior, the one who shows up when no one else will; the one who constantly offers us grace and unconditional love. As the Psalm says, "seek his presence continually. Remember the wonderful works he has done." Thanks be to God for our Savior who walks on water.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Kate

Temptations in the Desert: Barren Trees

What would you do with your life if you only a year left to live? Many of us know someone these days who has had to face such a decision. What would you do - go on a long-dreamed-for vacation? Spend more time with your grandkids? Learn that foreign language, apologize to your lostlong relative, make up for time lost or wrongs done?

Read Psalm 63:1-8 and Luke 13:1-9. 

The conversation with Jesus begins by talking about two different incidents that involved tragic and sudden deaths. Already the fragility of life is front and center, as well as Jesus’ firm denial that God brings punishment upon ‘worse’ sinners. Jesus issues an urgent call to repentance in the midst of the conversation – that since we never know how long we have, we need to turn back to God now. 

And then comes the barren fig tree – a parable of divine grace following the call to repentance. During Jesus’ time (and today), good land was a precious commodity, not to be wasted on trees and crops that were not producing. The natural instinct is to get rid of those plants – what are they possibly good for? And yet the gardener – the one who knows the tree intimately – argues for one more year, a stay of execution for the fig tree. He covers the tree in manure, fertilizing and tending and caring for it. 

How often when life throws manure on us do we feel buried and barren? How often are we tempted to just give up, that whatever we do doesn’t make a difference anyway, that we can’t ever be good enough or faithful enough or smart enough? How often do we doubt God’s ability to tend to us when we are going through barren times in the desert? How often are we tempted to see life’s fragility and instead of urgently turning around, we throw our hands in the air and say 'it doesn’t matter?' 

A barren tree in the snow 'desert' at Heartland this week

During the desert times, we feel a pendulum swing between last week’s temptation – the temptation to control everything – and this week’s temptation – the temptation to give up when we feel powerless. But the oasis in the desert is the divine mercy that our Gardener offers us – that while the call to repentance is urgent, Jesus is not ready to give up on us barren trees just yet. Jesus knows that with continued care and second chances, we are capable of bearing the fruit of the Spirit, the fruit of the vine, because He is the one in control. 

Our God of second and third and fourth chances desperately wants us to bear fruit – to feed the world, for our lives to be a witness to the loving kindness of our Gardener. After this winter is over, will you bear fruit? Will you be a drink for those thirsting for knowledge of our Savior? Our God, who is our help and upholds us, is waiting patiently. 

Grace and peace, 
Pastor Kate

Temptations in the Desert: Believing Lies

The Devil has been portrayed in different ways, but oftentimes the image of the traditional red horned creature with a pitchfork or a slithering serpent pops into our heads. Is that what the Devil looks like in your life? Is evil and temptation easy to identify, something that looks and acts very different from us?

Read Psalm 91:1-2,9-16 and Luke 4:1-13.

I wonder what the Devil looked like to Jesus. Did he look more like Peter Cook in the 1967 film Bedazzled – or Elizabeth Hurley in the 2000 remake? Or was the entire conversation between the Devil and Jesus inside Jesus' head?

Peter Cook as The Devil

If we’re honest, we know that temptation always doesn’t appear in easily recognizable forms. In fact, we make excuses and believe the little lies – that this small act is really for the greater good. Isn’t that the exact rationale that the Devil uses with Jesus? Wouldn’t the world be a better place if Jesus had accepted the power over all the kingdoms, or if Jesus had fed himself, or if Jesus had tested God and confirmed how much God loves him and cares for him? Those don’t seem like bad things.

Yet because of who was offering them, Jesus refused. In the midst of his desert time, Jesus couldn’t say yes. But we know in the end, through God’s way instead of the Devil’s way, Jesus did feed the hungry; Jesus does rule the world with justice; and Jesus serves God faithfully. Through God’s way, Jesus invites and expects us to participate in the feeding, the ruling, and the serving. Through God’s way, we are offered an oasis in the midst of the desert of life. Through God’s way, we are offered Living Water for our parched throats and hearts. Through God’s way, we are able to be an oasis for each other as we face our own temptations, as we fight the temptation to believe lies.

So join us as we travel this Lenten journey together, unpacking and facing together our “Temptations in the Desert.”

Grace and peace,
Pastor Kate

Soul Food

What is your “soul food?” I’m not necessarily talking fried chicken or grits or any traditional Southern cuisine. It’s food that somehow, no matter how bad you feel, makes you feel just the tiniest better – tells you that it’s going to be okay. Many of you know some of my favorites – pizza, macaroni ‘n cheese, or those two together. Maybe your soul food that takes you back to a happy time, surrounded by people who love you, or to special occasions – my grandmother’s chocolate cake, my mom’s blonde brownies. It’s food that does more than providing nourishment to your body – it’s food that lifts up your heart and your soul.

Read Psalm 51:1-12 and John 6:24-35.

I see Psalm 51 as begging God for some soul food – help right our souls again, make our hearts clean. And Jesus offers us the bread of life – Himself – that would feed our soul forever. The crowds want a simple recipe for the bread – what should they do for the works of God? What sign will he give them? Will it be as good as Moses giving the people manna? Just tell us exactly what to do, give us black and white answers without any complexity.

Jesus instead offers them a more nourishing meal, with a seemingly simple recipe: believe in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. While the crowds were concerned with their stomachs and today, Jesus makes a proclamation for their hearts, souls, minds, and bodies, one that is everlasting.

So come, hear the stories about how the “soul food” the youth ate last week on their mission trip in South Dakota. Come, hear about Jesus unexpectedly showing up. Come, hear how Jesus is patient through our incomprehension. Come and dine on the music, the prayer, the Word, and the fellowship. Come, taste and see that the Lord is good.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Kate