On the Pastor's Mind this week

Both the second lesson and Gospel text speak of trials and tribulations.  As believers how are we to think about these things?
 

'The call that Jesus is giving to his followers is to put God, the one who grants unconditional forgiveness, gives unconditional love, and holds out a promise of an eternal relationship, at your center. Our whole struggle, as Christians, throughout our lives is to keep a continual check on what is on the edge of seizing, or has already invaded, that priority place. Sometimes the invasion comes slowly and over time, other times it swallows us quickly. In part, that is why Martin Luther, reminds us that we need to keep the baptismal font in front of us, to remind us of the need for daily renewal."

From Pastor Randy's Sermon  2/23-24 

From Pamela -- If you spend anytime at all reflecting upon your flaws or character weaknesses, you can have a pretty strong handle on the forces that ALWAYS threaten to knock you off center.  Some people know that they have a problem with anger.  Others know they have a shopping addiction.  

But there other times when we are blindsided by a sudden wave of emotion or thought that whisks us into misbehavior.  Or we may be hit by a sudden attack of anxiety or rage that seems totally out of character.  Since we are inexperienced with managing ourselves in that situation we may slip into action that is damaging.  

Of course, we can't prepare specifically for these sudden struggles.   But that is why it is so important to begin each day saturating ourselves in God's presence.  When we soak our minds and hearts in the promises of Baptism, we are rooted and centered in Christ.  Therefore we are protected and sheltered and guided by the One who CAN run defense against all attacks of sin.

  Something is not a temptation if you really don’t care about it or don’t long for it.  So in understanding that, we can look upon this episode between the devil and Jesus with a closer eye.  If the things that were offered to Jesus did not have some sense of appeal to him, he would not have been tempted.  However scripture tells us Jesus was tempted.  What does that mean?  It again shows the fully humanity of Jesus, not only that Jesus wrestled physically without food in the atmosphere of the barren conditions of the desert, he also wrestled spiritually with what  was being set before him.

This is an important dimension that not only portrays the deep humanity of Jesus; it also directs us to where often a much more in depth style of temptation tries to grab us still today.

From Pastor Randy's sermon 2/17     Luke 4:1-13 

From Pamela 

I spoke with an alcoholic who spoke about the power of addiction.  This person said:  "Let me tell how I knew I was addicted.  In my work I spend alot of time with the guys.  They tempt me to go to all sorts of forbidden places, including strip joints and liquor stores.  But you know what?  I would rather be seen in a strip joint than in a liquor store.  You see, I can confidently say that I am not a sex addict.  Liquor, that's another story.  It will always be seductive.  I need God's help resisting it.  I am in spiritual danger in its presence."  

That's the difference between a challenging situation and a temptation.  One makes you a bit uncomfortable and hits on your understanding between right and wrong, proper or improper.  The other one invites you to sell your soul and turn to another God.  

Temptations

On the pastor's mind as he prepares his sermon:  Jesus is tempted... but how do we really view his temptation as it relates to our temptations?

Arrow Prayers

What I mean by "arrow prayers" is this:  These are the type of prayers that we have just prior to a marked event.  I call them "arrow prayers" because of the intentions behind the prayer.  They are the prayers we shoot off, in a major hurry to God.  There is no messing around here, just like an archer draws back his bow and lets the arrow fly, so too with these prayers, we in our rush shoot them straight at God.  They are not fancy, thought out, or dressed up, instead they get to the kernel of our needs in basic fashion, wanting God's attention and support right now.  There are numerous instances in which a lot of us use "arrow prayers."

(from Pastor Randy's sermon)

From Pamela:  Perhaps arrow prayers are actually an invitation from God to be more dependent upon God.  If an arrow prayer is something that emerges suddenly from some thoughtless place within us (perhaps our heart), then they may begin where we have not yet begun to exert our own control.  I think of the thoughts and feelings that God knows we are experiencing in the "secret places".  

When we let go, the prayer is released into the hands of the one who knew of our plight all along!  

Perhaps they are the most authentic prayers of supplication and confession!  

Expectations

When our expectations are tampered with, we become uncomfortable, edgy, anxious, unsettled, and sometimes overwhelmed.  In these circumstances, we very often are forced to reexamine certain aspects of life, so that we may set new perimeters of expectations.  Due to the unexpectedness of life, we find ourselves constantly in a state of widening and expanding our boundaries of what can happen in our daily journeys.  (From Pastor Randy's Sermon on 2/3/2013)

From Pamela:  I have learned about expectations and contentment.  Long ago I was told that the level of contentment is directly (but inversely) related to the level of expectation.  The lower your expectations are the higher your level of contentment.  

I think it works this way:  When you are free of expectations, you are able to see more clearly what is going on right before your eyes.  Expectations are future oriented.  Contentment is rooted in the present.  Yet, without some level of vision for the future (hopes, plans and dreams) we may feel less motivated to step into the next activity or the next relationship. 

So what has to happen so that a person or a group of people keep moving through life? 

 It has much to do with trust.  

Trust is different than expectation.  When you trust that something will happen, it is connected to faith and hope.  When you expect that something will happen there is a bit of judgement -- an implication that you KNOW precisely what should or should not happen.  

I guess I TRUST that the next day will be good, no matter what.  But that doesn't mean that I have any expectations about it.  

What do YOU think?  How do you see your expectations?  What happens when something or someone doesn't meet your expectations?  
From Linda: 
I found this idea of trust being a foundational concept very intriguing.   I'm involved with some leadership training that is using a book by Stephen Covey's son (yes, Stephen Covey of 7 Habits fame).   The book is The Speed of Trust and the main focus of the book is that trust is one idea that changes everything, from personal relationships to nations.    L