Happy Thanksgiving
Nov 27, 2008“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…. It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.” (Melodie Beattie)
On this day of thanks, may gratitude to God usher you into the abundant life Jesus spoke of – the life not dependent on the accumulation of things, but on Jesus Christ.
It’s the life Paul speaks of when he says:
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
- Philippians 4:12-13
This holiday season, I am grateful to God for you! This is such a wonderful, loving Church community and I thank God for bringing us from Seattle to Philadelphia to be part of what God is doing here.
Wishing you peace, gratitude and contentment from Jesus Christ our Lord!
-Pastor Tara VinCross
God Ran
Nov 23, 2008In Luke 15, Jesus tells three stories about things lost, beginning with a lost sheep and a lost coin, and concluding with a lost son. This son is rebellious and he disgraces his father, takes his money and wastes it in a distant land. A severe famine hits the land and as he’s serving slop to the pigs, longing to eat what they’re eating, he suddenly “comes to,” as if waking from a dream or coming out from under anesthetic, and realizes what he needs to do.
Luke 15:20-24
So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ’Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it.
Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
My question is not, do you believe in God, but what kind of God do you believe in? Do you see God running to you, embracing you, loving and accepting you just as you are?
Jesus told us these three stories in response to a certain understanding of the day that God only cared about those on the “inside,” the ones who are following God. The accusation of Jesus from those on the inside was, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” They were uncomfortable with the way Jesus was hanging out with those whom they thought were unworthy.
In reply, Jesus tells these stories to illustrate what God is like. In other words, if you want to know what God is like, look at this father in this story. And what does this father do? He runs, embraces, kisses, holds, welcomes… restores. This is what God is like.
This is the truth, and it is this truth that changes everything.
- Pastor Tara VinCross
a life of calling
Nov 16, 2008“I am convinced that what characterizes people who know Jesus is not their lack of sin, but the presence of a radical, wild, mysterious calling from God.”
-Collected Writings of Mike Yaconelli, p. 138
Often we think of following Jesus as a list of “nots” and “don’ts.” I hear people say what they’ll have to leave and what they’ll have to quit and what they won’t be able to do if they follow Christ. In the Scriptures, the witnesses who heard and recorded Jesus understood something quite different. What Jesus spoke of was “life more abundant.” Life is more than food, clothing, possessions. Above and beyond any of these things, life is about calling, the Divine calling on your life.
“The mission of the church in America is not only saving souls, it is saving people from a life without calling. The Church, through Jesus, must save its people from a life of meaningless, unfulfilling empty work.”
-Collected Writings of Mike Yaconelli, p. 139
At mid-week prayer meeting we read Ephesians 4 together. What stood out for me was verse 28, which says, “Those who have been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.” The thief is told not to steal and to do something meaningful with their hands on behalf of those in need. Instead of only being told not to steal, the Bible says what they should do.
Jesus came to be the “Bread of Life” that truly satisfies, the “Living Water” that quenches our thirst and “The Life” that ignites passion in our hearts – infusing our everyday with meaning and purpose.
Instead of what you’re not, or what is not in your life, realize what Jesus has made you to be.
Yesterday, over 20 volunteers went door-to-door, inviting our neighbors to give to our food drive for the needy. All food will be given to a local organization, Philabundance, who will distribute the items to those in greatest need. I am pleased to say that together with our Chestnut Hill community we have collected in the neighborhood of 1,000 – 1,200 lbs. (we’ll know the exact weight at drop off) of non-perishable food! This is in addition to the fresh and canned food that we collected as a church for the Thanksgiving Baskets for those in need in our church community! Thank you so much for your generosity! Together, by Jesus’ power, we can make a difference!
May you live life more abundantly.
May you live a life of calling.
-Pastor Tara VinCross
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