Compartmentalizing Christ

 

The term could just as easily be said as compartmentalizing “Faith.”

To compartmentalize is to place certain things in one place and other things elsewhere. You are keeping things separated from one another. To relieve anxiety when one faces a struggle in their values or faith they seek to separate those from the issues they face so as to allow themselves the freedom to work counter to their faith or values.

With respect to the Christian faith, to say if one is compartmentalizing Christ, you would first have to determine if they actually believe in the God of the Bible. Some people have rewritten the Bible, at least in their minds and hearts so that they tell God what He means rather than letting Scripture speak to them and guide their belief. For them, the Bible may condemn or allow something where their beliefs run contrary. In such a case they no longer believe in the God of Scripture, but a god created in their own image. (See the back of the Jethro Tull, Aqualung album for a good illustration of this.)

Other Christians genuinely struggle with the differences in what they want to be reality, verses what God has said. In this instance one seeks to explain away sin or accept it on some level, believing God will look the other way, or saying “but God is loving” or God is forgiving” or “God… this or that.” This falls under the idea of James 2:17, with the perspective that one says they believe, but their actions are contrary to that belief. James notes that this is no belief at all. Jesus said (Jn. 8:31) “If you really believe, then hold to my teachings.”

You can’t compartmentalize your faith and be living it. While this does not preclude forgiveness when this is being done, it does call to question the sincerity of the faith if nothing changes. Behind the broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17) is the spirit that wants to change, and leave their sin behind. (Rom. 6:1-2, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”)

The Bible is a book of Law and Gospel. The Law holds us accountable for our sins and show us the need for a Savior. “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins” (Heb. 10:26). The Gospel shows us the Savior, when we confess our sin before God.

There are more Facebook Christians (folks who hardly darken the steps of the church or who spend more time on FB than in The Book) than Sunday morning Christians. Sadly, there are more Sunday morning Christians than living and serving week day Christians. The faith is so easy for people to spout off or post, but next to non-existent when it comes to exercising that faith in worship of God. There are many locked in various sexual sins; people who neglect the Word and the preaching of the Word, selfishness abounds, failure to support the work of the church, jealousy, gossip,

We have to walk while we have the light (see Jn 12:35 and 1 John 1:6). These all begin as a 1^st Commandment issue, placing something or someone above your relationship with God in compartmentalizing Christ. Faith has to be important enough to go with people when they leave the church on Sunday morning, if they come at all. Christ has to rule our lives. Instead of taking Christ out of certain areas of our life, we should be placing Him into every area of our life. Don’t compartmentalize you faith, unless you are purposely placing Christ in every compartment.

Pastor Bill

“Male and Female He Created Them”

In the Mental Health world a term for someone who thinks they are someone or something else than what they truly are is Delusional Schizophrenia. According to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) one in 17 adults, or about 13.6 million people in the U.S. live with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder. While I can’t say, per the recent workings of our government that we have any answers to major depression or bipolar disorder, we do indeed have new guidance for many under the classification of schizophrenia.

Right now, every person who is being held in mental health facilities because of some false diagnosis that they have Delusional Schizophrenia, where doctors or courts say they are not who they claim to be, should immediately be released.

Those claims of people who tell us that they are a dead president, who are the doctors to tell them they are not? Those who claim to be long dead Physicists or British Monarchs need to be let loose.

If men can claim to be women, and women can claim to be men, then there is no reason to disbelieve the man who is in the State Hospital for claiming to be George Washington, Howard Hughes, or the Queen of England.

This goes back to the “Miracle on 34^th Street” plot. A man claimed to be Santa Clause. If he says (or even if some women says) that he (she) is Santa Clause, accept it! Give them a new birth certificate, a driver’s license and whatever else necessary to show your support that they are what/who they say that they are.

This also goes hand in hand with the woman (Rachel Dolezal) who was born white, but self-identifies as being black. She was the leader for the Spokane, Washington, NAACP. Why not?

I think this will greatly benefit many folks with regard to discrimination, or reverse discrimination for that matter. If someone can identify as being American Indian, they can start a tribe, get government student grants for college, attain special admission privileges, open a casino, and legally use Peyote!

Consider the poor woman, Nano in Norway who claims to be a cat. She said “I was born in the wrong species.” She realized this when she was 16. She came to realize there was a genetic defect in her birth.

Now, I realize this may cause some struggles for some when we wake up tomorrow and have 50 to 200 people claiming to be the president of the United States. But, looking at the options for the near future in the office of president, or the way things have gone lately, do you think anyone of these people will be worse that those currently running for the position?

And it really doesn’t matter. Don’t let biology, DNA, physical appearance or anything mislead you. You are and can be who you say you are! Anyone who disagrees is close-minded.

Now, I have to admit, the place where this affects me the greatest is with various people who claim to be Jesus. You see Jesus himself said, “False christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand (Mark 13:22-23). And again, “If anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect” (Matt. 24:23-24).

It comes down to accepting what the government tells us, and then holding them to that in every way, demanding consistency in their actions and decisions. Or, perhaps it would be best to stick with God’s Word and follow such wisdom and eternal truths as…“God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27).  And, Jesus affirmation of that truth repeated in Matthew 19:24.

It’s God’s way, which was once called “The Way,” or it’s the government’ way, which by its decisions have shown itself in opposition to the Word of God. You can’t have both or you fall into the realm of being as James 1:8 notes, “a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

So which is it for you, do you side with people, sinful people, sinful people in charge of other sinful people, making decisions for the same, or God, a Holy God, a righteous, loving and just God?

A Philosophy of Worship

A couple of months ago I shared words concerning the importance of worship. Here, I want to look at what worship “is”.

Worship is central to Holy Cross Lutheran Church. It is not one program among many. Worship is the life of the church. Through the preaching of the Word of God and the celebration of the Sacraments, Christ Himself is in the midst of His people, communicating His grace, love and power to us. In worship, the Lord initiates as He gives Himself to us (this is the proper understanding of the “service”). He speaks to us in His Word.  He is present in Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Worship also involves our response. It is the expression of our faith in the one true God, Father, Son and Spirit. Worship is not restricted to religious services. The entire faith-life of the Christian is worship; all that the Christian says, does, and thinks in true faith is the worship of God (see Romans 12:1-2). Worship services are our special opportunities to praise God for His goodness, and to come to Him in prayer.

With these presuppositions guiding us, a more specific philosophy of worship can be defined. At times worship practices need clarification and renewal to avoid ceremonialism and distortion. Our philosophy of worship should include the following:

• Worship is not designed to provide entertainment to a passive group of spectators. It is the activity of the people.
• Worship has structure, flow and intentionality. It is not simply an unorganized compilation of unrelated elements.
• Worship is rooted in and includes the means of grace, God’s Word and Sacraments. God speaks to us in the Word read and proclaimed. He is present with us in Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. This is a proper meaning of the worship “service”. We praise and worship, while God renders His “service” to us through Word and Sacrament.
• Worship includes the response of God’s people. The people are active participants in worship. We may confess our sin and receive forgiveness. We praise God with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. We pray to the Lord for ourselves and others according to their needs. We have the chance to rededicate ourselves to the Lord’s service.
• Worship in our Lutheran congregations is confessional in nature. We confess and affirm our Christian faith by using the creeds of the church. Worship styles reflect our confessional position as members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Hymns and songs are consistent with our confessional beliefs, as the maxim says, “Lex orandi, lex credendi.” (the rule of prayer is the rule of faith.) In other words, what happens in worship helps to shape the faith of those who worship. Therefore, the content of worship is important.

Our worship grows from the relationship we have from God and reinforces that relationship, established through Jesus Christ our Lord. In worship the Lord calls and sustains us; we respond in faith – with prayer and praise and service to Him. These are the basic patterns of Christian worship in any age and so they must remain.

Come Let us Worship Him. (Psalm 34:3)

Pastor Bill

“Come, Now is the Time to Worship”

“Come, Now is the Time to Worship”…Those are the opening words of a contemporary praise song by the same name.

What is it that causes some folks to respond in faithfulness to the Holy Spirit’s call to worship and others to disregard it so frequently? What is it that is in the heart or mind of the person who is regularly in the pew on Sunday morning that is seemingly absent from those who show up only once in a while, if at all? Yes, these are “Law” oriented questions, but/and necessary to address. More and more people nowadays claim a commitment to Christ, but not to His church. Can the two be separated? I have written and spoken about this many times, but I’m so very troubled by the many Christians I have known throughout my life who have made no true allegiance to the Lord’s church. I have to wonder what they think heaven will be like. The Scriptures describe it as a continual time of worship (e.g. Rev. 4). Our limited opportunities to worship in a given week should spur us on all the more to make the effort (and that is really the wrong word, because in love it would not be any effort) to come and worship Jesus with the Body of Christ, the Christian family.

Too many people want to live under the false premise that “I can be a good Christian and not go to church” or ideas such as “I can be a better Christian without the church since there are so many hypocrites there.” I know people who make a concerted effort to attend weekly meetings in groups such as the Lions, Rotary, Kiwanis, Optimists, etc… People will make certain not to miss a certain program on T.V. each week, but  they don’t think twice about missing Sunday morning worship. Along with these, I’ve know people to place $100 down for lottery tickets or drop $50 for a night of alcohol, or even much more to eat out several times a week or movies and popcorn. Those same folks will drop $20 in the offering plate and feel good about how much they contribute to the work of the Lord. Whatever pastor taught them the meaning of 2 Cor. 9:7 failed miserably because they haven’t understood the context and the verses before and after it about sowing sparingly and reaping sparingly.

We are clearly told “not to give up meeting together” (Heb. 10:25) and the context there should bring a life changing response as it says “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God” (Heb. 10:26-27).

Jesus said that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15). Of great importance is the 3^rd Commandment that we must “Remember the Sabbath day BY KEEPING IT Holy” (Deut. 5:12).

The church (as in the local congregation) is where the Word is proclaimed, the Sacraments are administered and the Body of Christ is nurtured, supported and strengthened. There are some who are unable to come to Sunday worship because they have a job that simply will not allow the time off. But those are few compared to the many who “choose” not to set the time aside for God.

Our attention, time, energy and even monies go in the direction of our passions and heart. If it is for the world, that is where we will be (Psalm 81:12) and remain. If our heart and love are truly with the Lord, we also know where we should/will be (Luke 11:28).

“Come, NOW is the time to worship.”

Pastor Bill

“Let’s Disagree to Agree?”

The old saying “let’s agree to disagree” is a thing of the past. More and more people can’t accept when you disagree with them. This is clear in many areas of life, but perhaps none as prominent as in the political realm during an election year for a new POTUS. We are such a radically divided country in our politics. It’s not enough to know that when we are not talking politics, we usually find ourselves quite amiable to our neighbor. Even among faithful Christians, it’s not enough to know that we hold to and agree in the saving grace of Christ. No, when people get their hackles up the most, it’s because they cannot rationally discuss politics without turning to backhanded comments, innuendos, or ad hominem statements.

There is no one political party that God supports. Perhaps as Christians we would do well to remember that God loves Libertarians, Democrats, Republicans, Conservatives, and even Green party folk 🙂 .  The polarization of people’s politics interferes with the rationalization of their feelings, which in turn blocks the relational interaction of their spiritual beings. Why can’t we disagree without taking such great offence and labeling the other not only as wrong, but as perhaps even sinfully so?

Instead of saying we’ll “agree to disagree” and parting in peace, it’s become “Let’s disagree to agree” and we are left with a negative stance and attitude about those who disagree with us. This happens at every level of Christendom from the casual member in the pew to the clergy. (If anyone seems apt at disagreeing, it almost manifests itself as a spiritual gift among pastors.) The arguments abound.

The Bible says both, that we should obey those in authority (Romans 13:1) over us and that we should obey God (Acts 5:29) rather than man. So which is it? Do we bow down to any governing authority? I would pray that is never the case. Can you imagine if Daniel had catered to the edicts of Nebuchadnezzar? Or, what answer would we give to those in places of truly unrestrained evil as has been in the past and present under dictators, warlords and religious radicals? In fact, the USA would not exist if it had obeyed the authority of the government. We would also still have slavery and women’s suffrage would have failed.

If you support the politicians in office then you want everyone to obey them and be subject to them. If you oppose them, then you want people to be able to speak out and criticize them. (I would note that criticizing and disagreeing with someone does not mean that you are no longer subject to them, it means you disagree and have a right to criticize those who hold differing views than you which do not pertain to salvation or God’s Word.)

What we MUST do is continue to be a people of faith and subject ourselves to the Body of Christ. We should continue to be able to disagree with each other on those things not pertaining to salvation. You may support the candidate of your choice and I mine and hopefully we can have civil discussions without resorting to childish actions or comments.

Perhaps the best Biblical verse regarding all of this would be “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ² for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. ³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Always pray for those who are over us, they need it! (As a pastor, I need it!) Pray that they would be godly and Christian! The reason we are praying is primarily that they would be saved.

Go ahead and talk about the politician of your liking, and I’ll talk about mine, it’s O.K. Go ahead and agree with or disagree with the POTUS, the Congress, the Senate, the Supreme Court and the many candidates running for office right now. Still, remember that our fellowship is not based on politics or a government. We are the Body of Christ. There are varying ideas and ideals held by the folks in the pews around you when it comes to the world and how it should be run. Hopefully, we are united still by the Blood of Jesus.

Now, we can either agree about this, or…well, there will always be curmudgeons who disagree.

Pastor Bill

“Another New Year, But The Same Old Distractions” …Or… “If God Seems Distant, Who Created That Distance?”

For many, the New Year is a time of reflecting on ways they may improve their life. Resolutions are made to lose weight, exercise, quit smoking, eat healthier, and so forth. Some folks may plan to dedicate more time to their work, to further their career. Others may see family as more important and so they cut their time at work to be more with their loved ones.

The intent of the resolutions is most always for a positive change in one’s life. But, then the struggles that we have faced before come back around and the good intentions are laid to waste by the difficulties and distractions of everyday life. Stresses and problems, conflict and tension, anxiety and frustrations, the same old distractions that have interfered for years with our thoughts, hopes, plans, dreams or resolutions.

I would love it if everyone who pledged to make these positive changes would be able to fulfill them. It’s just not going to happen. As a pastor I see all the time how people, myself included, fall far short of the promises we make. There is an old says that “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.”

I remember every time we receive New Members the words I ask members to pledge saying: “As a member of this church, I intend to continue in the confession of this Church, regularly attend corporate worship make diligent use of the means of grace, and lead a righteous and godly life. I will support the work our gracious Lord has given this congregation with my prayers, time, treasure and talent.”

That’s a lot of promises; regularly attend worship, lead a godly life, support the work of the church. Then the distractions; of company in town, a party that gets planned, a host of worldly events, and multiple excuses that interfere with our prayers, devotions and Sunday Morning worship. I don’t think we need to make any new pledges to serve the Lord, perhaps we just need a reminder of how much we need Jesus and need to live for Him as He gave His life for us and keep/return to the promises we have already made

I hear and see how things go so wrong in folk’s lives who are apart from the church. The loneliness of a soldier’s spouse, a parent’s struggle with a child not living up to Christian values, problems in a relationship, a tragedy that has hit a family hard. Certainly these things happen among the church’s faithful as well, but not with the same frequency as those who are constantly connected to the Body of Christ. Besides, those who are faithful among the family find themselves better prepared though a relationship with the church to deal with problems as they arise. They also have more support in coping with issues that life presents. When people are prone to ask, “Where’s God in this?” my thought would be “where did you see Him, worship Him, praise Him, and sing His glories last?” If God seems distant, who created that distance?

“’Return to me,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty.” Zechariah 1:3. If there is anywhere you plan to improve your life and make a positive change, if you start with the Lord, you’ll have Him on your side to do/be more. You wont ever wonder, “where is God.” You’ll be able to say, “I know this too will pass,” because God is with me. Steer clear of the distractions and stay true to your word to God. Rejoice that He is always true to us, through His Word, Christ Jesus.

Father God, Help Us To Be Faithful!

The Lord reminds us in Matthew 6, Yet as I look at our children, ‘worry’ is still the best word that comes to mind for me. I see the problems and exposure to risky behavior our children face; children in sexual relationships, teen pregnancies, drug and alcohol addictions, and so much more.Father God, Help Us To Be Faithful!

The Lord reminds us in Matthew 6, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Yet as I look at our children, ‘worry’ is still the best word that comes to mind for me. I see the problems and exposure to risky behavior our children face; children in sexual relationships, teen pregnancies, drug and alcohol addictions, and so much more.

I cherish the years we have with our kids in Confirmation classes. That is a time when we can sit down with our youth and talk about the Lord and His love for us. Also, we learn about the responsibilities we have, to live as children of the Light. The temporary influence a DCE or Pastor can have on our church’s children can be a very positive experience. Children grow in their faith and understanding, they move to maturity and away from an infant faith. Hebrews 5:13,14, “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

Sadly, those Confirmation years can also be as in James 1:23,24, “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” Some children and their parents basically disappear after Confirmation. You shake your head and wonder what happened to the faith they professed before you, the congregation and God? Maybe they never truly possessed what they professed.

The worse-case scenario of course is when Confirmation becomes a negative experience, and yes, this can and has happened for various reasons in churches. I personally have lived through such an event where things were out of my control. You have to persevere through a tragedy being played out. The best you can do is to pray through it and stay faithful as a leader and pray all the harder for the children that they will be able to endure. 2 Timothy 3:12, “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” The damage some people bring upon the church can be devastating. The devil is good at his job as he incites people to leave and rebel in the church. We have to remember the words of Christ, John 15:18, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”

We have to get “IT” right in our homes. We need to rededicate ourselves to Jesus if we expect our children to have any faith at all. A few years of Confirmation or attending an occasional Sunday school class is not going to do it.

Look at the slow disintegration of relationships in families. That carries over into a crumbling relationship with God and the church. If our kids are to be the good and Godly adults we desire them to be, it begins in the home. The first sentence in Luther’s Small Catechism under the words “The Ten Commandments” is “As the head of the family should teach them in a simple was to his household.” Faith and faithfulness starts in the home. If the parent is weak in their observance of their faith, how much weaker still will the children be? If the parents are faithful to the Lord, worship regularly, encourage prayer and devotions and Bible study, how much greater is the probability that our children with be faithful too? God leaves it to you… Now what will you do?

You’re not alone, Jesus is with you and the church can be too. Our doors are open, come on in, and bring the family.

Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” In our congregation, the 8^th grade Confirmation class meets with me in my office on Wednesday nights. The 6^th and 7^th graders meet with our DCE in the Jr. High room. I’ve been teaching Confirmation now for over 20 years. I wish I could say I’ve heard or seen it all. Yet though I’ve been shocked at times, there is always something new that comes along to remind me the problems, the sin, the devil never go away.

I look at how some parents allow or worse yet, encouraging their children to wear provocative clothing. I’ve had young teenage girls come to classes wearing tight hot pants and skin tight half t-shirts. I’ve had young men come to class ‘sagging.’ I remember one conversation clearly, saying “pull up your pants!” The response, “Why should I? My parents let me wear them like this.” “You’re not coming into my office, the Pastor’s office, with your pants down and your butt hanging out!” I said. “But I wear them like this at school,” he said. I replied, “Either pull them up or go call your parents to pick you up.” “Why do I have to call my parents?” My response, “To tell them you aren’t going to stay in Confirmation class, because you refuse to pull up your pants.” He finally pulled them up. James 1:21, “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”

Some parents teach materialism, not a ‘profitable’ education, by spending more time shopping with their kids than talking about/helping with homework. Some make their children grow up too fast and limit their imagination. Sports can be placed over and above a relationship with God and His church. Many parents are more concerned with their children’s social lives than their spiritual lives and encourage extracurricular activities, but not participation and fellowship in the house of God with the family of God. Our children are a gift from God, a trust for us to have, hold and rear in His ways. Psalm 127:3-5, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.”

It’s time we examine ourselves for the sake of our children and their future:

• What kind of role model am I for my children?
• Do I teach them the ways of the world, but neglect the ways of God?
• Do you put more emphasis on social events, sports or other things than on Bible study and praising God?
• Do I BRING them AND attend worship and Sunday school WITH them regularly (read: weekly, except for very unique circumstances)?
• Do I pray daily WITH my children?
• Do I place the Word of God into their hands?
• Do I talk about my faith and theirs with them?
• Do I make certain the boy/girl they are dating is a Christian?
• Do I remind them again in their relationships, of God’s Commandments and limit the opportunity for promiscuity?
• Do I remind them of the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus?
• Do I model what it is like to have a personal relationship with Jesus? (How? I can’t give them what I don’t have. So, I need to have a quality/faithful relationship with Christ.)
• Do I spend time on my knees before God praying for my children DAILY?

You can’t pass on what you don’t possess yourself. One of the best things you can do for your children is to keep your own spiritual reservoirs full. Be intentional about showing your children what it means to love God and respect His Word. Be the Christian God has called you to be, the Christian you professed before God and the church that you would be. And you will be the parent that your children need you to be for them. We’re all in this together, and God is always with us.

To God Be All Glory,

Pastor Bill

Seine Bight (Part 3) – The Work

 For some, the word “work” carries a negative connotation. For those old enough to remember the show “Dobie Gillis,” the character Maynard G. Krebs (Bob Denver) had a sort of allergy to the word “work.” Whenever the word was mentioned he would echo it in a sort of shocked high-pitched voice, “Work?” Hopefully we all see a need to work and don’t shudder at the idea. (2 Thess. 3:10)

When I was more able, I always enjoyed hard/physical work as it accomplished two tasks; the results of the job the work centered on and good healthy exercise. I’ve never been one to enjoy exercise for the sake of exercise, I find it boring. But with some good physical work, you get the exercise you need along with accomplishing a tangible task. Take that and add to it that you are blessing someone in the name of the Lord and now with a threefold benefit, you have what most will experience in mission “work.”

Mission work is rewarding. It blesses the person in mission, the missionary. It blesses the people who support the missions through prayer and offerings as they know they are a part of something bigger. It blesses the people who are the object of the mission. (Mark 16:15)

With a very diverse group of workers we were able to achieve many tasks in Seine Bight. There were folks who were witnessing in general among folks that we passed by or met. Some of our folks were doing construction, painting, leading Bible studies, providing childcare. Some were tending to medical needs, some in tutoring children at the school, another was ministering to children with emotional struggles, some were going from place to place checking on folks who were out and around the village just to be certain they were all o.k. We had folks taking pictures, making balloon animals for the kids, reading to children, speaking with youth about possible scholarships to attend school (everyone in school, no matter the age has to pay to attend). Financial support for scholarships is essential if we are to help these children have a brighter future. (Matt. 25:34-40)

During the V.B.S. week, most folks were divided into pairs to lead groups of kids. Again there were also Bible study leaders, caregivers, folks playing games or sports with kids, some did construction and some attended to medical needs, a few took care of serving the lunches to the masses, some swept-mopped-cleaned the facilities. There were so many children that were starved for attention or just to be held. (Matt. 19:14) Indeed no one had a Grinch’s heart, but like his, everyone’s heart had to grow three sizes to accommodate the need.

There truly is something for everyone to do. Every member of the body is valuable and essential for Christ’s mission to be complete. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside the great church families from both Immanuel Belvidere and St. John’s Ellisville. There were 15 year old youth, their parents and even a couple of grandparents who were all there for the same purpose, to join our part of the body of Christ to theirs.

Seine Bight is mostly the Garifuna people, but one area to the west is all Spanish folk mostly from Guatemala. There are also few Mayans in this area. These people truly reflect to flag of Belize in representing the mix of ethnicities working “alongside” each other. Sadly however, they are not often working “together” as prejudices and racism are as real there as here in North America. But, we were able to minister to all, even if we had to divide the times where we cared for one people group or another. (Heb. 8:11)

There are so many lessons for them to learn from God’s Holy Word. Many deal with issues of extra marital relationships, having children out of wedlock, drunkenness, splitting their devotion for God with “idols” in their midst, racist ideals, constant lying to get what they want, a lack of respect for others… wow, it actually sounds like I could be saying our mission trip took place right here where we live in the USA. No, we are not very different when it comes down to what matters most, we are as Martin Luther put it, “Simul justus et peccator” at the same time both Saint and Sinner.

There are so many hungry for the Word in Seine Bight, many wanting to talk of Jesus and open to receiving His Word and love. This is a place that is ripe for the harvest. Being a part of God’s work where people have such a great need helps us to return home and understand even better the needs around us and with our hearts being enlarged, can carry over when we come home to minister among and work with the people where we live. It’s as if we are going away to school to learn more about the work of God and then returning home and do even more of the work of Christ where we live. Being a missionary among other people, even for only short experiences once a year can be life changing to the point where we are better missionaries in our own neighborhoods and cities.

Join us Sunday, September 13^th at 6:30 to hear more about Belize and Seine Bight. Here about future plans and how you can be a part of this wonderful mission and ministry.

Pastor Bill

Seine Bight (Part 2) – Arriving

After a night in Belize City, you spend 3 ½ hours on the road down to the village of Seine Bight. It is on the Placencia Peninsula where you see the Belize that is outside the view of the tourists.

The Belizean population in approximate numbers are 50% Mestizos, 25% Creole, 10% Mayan and 6 % Garifuna. The populace of this area is different than other areas of Belize. The Garifuna people make up only 6% of the population of Belize, but they represent 70% of the people in the Stann Creek District, where Seine Bight is located. This is only area where the Garifuna (black Caribs, a blend of 3 peoples – the Caribs, South American Indians and West Africans) are in the majority of the population. Prevalent among the Garifuna is the practice of Animism as well as ancestor worship.

While many, if not most will profess a belief in Christianity, this infusion of the old beliefs and customs taint their faith and still has a strong hold on the older generation. There does seem to be a turning away from this by some of the younger ones.

Upon arrival in Seine Bight (a.k.a. the village) we stopped and spent an hour walking around and taking opportunities to invite folks to Bible studies and other events as well as praying for the people or town in general. Seine Bight is all of perhaps 3 full city blocks in length by 2 blocks in width. There are many living outside this main block of the village, but this is where most are. This is when I began to see God’s call to us for these people. Many from our group already had relationships with some of the people here. By the end of the first week and even more so by the end of my return week, these “brothers and sisters from another mother” were better understood as brothers and sisters of the same heavenly Father.

We were welcomed by many, ignored by some, looked at suspiciously by a few, but received with open arms by those whose hearts God was already working on and preparing to hear His Word and serve His people. The children in particular welcomed us with a love reminiscent of their coming to Jesus when he said in Matt. 19:14 “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” The kids came from everywhere. It would not make sense to most who have never seen this kind of environment. When a two year old, being watched by a 3 year old child are walking safely alone across town from their home, you wonder what we have become in the states where we hesitate to let kids ride down the street on their bikes alone anymore.

As with our life in the states, the children of Seine Bight are where the future lies. They wanted to be carried, given piggyback rides and held. They do not get a lot of personal physical attention once they can walk in their in their culture. Some of the young ladies in our groups spent most of the week just holding children. This was a classic example of “They’ll know we are Christians by our love.” While we did a good deal of painting houses (and a bus stop), building steps and verandas (basically a small porch) and various other physical tasks, the attention given to the children will be something that makes a vital impact on their lives that is strengthened every time we come down.

While there are many adults I will be praying for regularly from the village, these children hold an even more precious place in my heart. They are God’s plan for Seine Bight. We are very blessed to be a part of it.

Seine Bight (Part 1)

Donna helping at the school

In June, Sue Dorn, Donna Peck, Kathryn & Aaron Lowrey and myself, joined 18 folk from Immanuel Lutheran in Belvidere, Illinois on a Mission trip to Seine Bight, Belize. It was the first planned Adult Mission trip from Holy Cross. We’ve had Jr. and Sr. High trips for years. Several years ago it was mentioned that it would be great to begin having adult trips as well. The place and dates were chosen and when the deadlines came, we had only this small handful of folks from Holy Cross planning to go. I truly pray those numbers triple or more for next year as it was a truly blessed experience for each of us and something I wish every one of our members would experience. Yes, “would” is the word, because almost everyone “could” go, but it will take commitment.

I returned in July with a group of 35 from St. John’s in Ellisville, Missouri. They were leading a VBS for the some 300 to 400 or so children from the village. We were there during a time in which a Dugu ceremony was taking place at the opposite end of town. This is a ritual/ceremony that is tied to the Garifuna people involving sacrifices to their ancestors to appease them that they might not cause the living illness or injury.

Bringing the life giving and changing Gospel to people is something every Christian needs to be a part of. There is no more important task than sharing the Gospel. It is the Word of Life & the Word that brings Life! While it can be done in our daily lives where we live, it is also a call we are given to take the message to all parts of the world. Belize could be that place for Holy Cross for the foreseen future.

When most folks think of Belize, they picture snorkeling or beautiful diving spots like the famous Blue Hole, the exclusive and tropical island getaways or sailing, zip-lining and cave tubing. We didn’t see any of those things or places. What we saw was how the people of Belize live that are outside the eye of the tourists. These people scrape by and live in shacks or plywood huts. They only have a couple changes of clothes which have to be washed most every night. The children wear the rubber flip-flops 4 sizes too big, if any footwear at all. They live without plumbing at the house, except for some who may have a water spigot located either inside or outside their home. There is trash and runoff waste everywhere. Some live in a trash dump or in a house sitting on piers above a cesspool. These are people who have so much less than us, and yet many of them have hearts so much bigger than ours.

We did indeed witness to them, talked with them about Jesus, led Bible studies for women and men, tutored their children, painted and did repairs to their homes, tended their wounds, fed their children, clothed them and worked alongside of them. The little children hung on us, sat on us and climbed all over us. In all of these things we were also blessed by them in as many ways as we sought to be a blessing to them.

If you haven’t been a part of a foreign mission team, now is the time to start praying and planning. This area of Belize is ignored by the common mission trips planed by organizations. It is a harsh environment and too remote. Thus the need is greater and the people receptive with no one else venturing out to them.  I have much to share, many details about the trips that I will post in the days and weeks to come. Look for them at <https://blowrey.wordpress.com/>.