eDevotions

August 12, 2008

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Welcome to my weekly "e-Devo." Most of you know that Pat and I were on vacation last week so this is my first devotional in a couple of weeks. It's good to be back after a very relaxing and restful week off!

This week's devotional comes from a scripture God gave me from Luke 6:37. It's part of Jesus' teaching from the "Sermon on the Mount."

"Do not judge and you will not be judged; do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven."

It wasn't all that long ago that my niece in Salisbury was helping her son, Briar, learn to walk. As Briar took his first steps, we as a family would encourage him and quickly pick him up when he fell down. Of course, we would never consider yelling at him or think he was stupid for not getting it right on the very first try. Briar, like all toddlers, was simply doing the best he could. (Now he's all over the place. My niece has all she can do to keep up with him!!) Isn't it interesting that we're so forgiving and patient with children as toddlers, but become impatient and demanding as they grow older. They are still only doing the best they can.

But no matter how old we are, we're all really just doing the best we can. Of course, all of us sometimes act foolishly, do stupid things, and make some bad choices. Even doing the best we can sometimes is wrong.

Last week on vacation, Pat and I went to a Phillies baseball game. We had great seats and perfect weather. There I was with my Philly cheese steak in one hand and a cold drink in the other. I was a very happy man! It was going to be a great day...until a bunch of raucous, beer drinking men sat down directly behind us. It didn't take long to hear them start yelling and screaming at the players (on both sides I might add) and let out a few F-bombs in the process. I could tell that Pat and several others around us were getting a bit annoyed at them, including myself. I was just about to turn around and ask them to please refrain from such language around women and children when they suddenly got up and left! (There is a God in heaven!) Before I said anything to them, this group of guys got up and were never seen again. Thank God for small favors! (The last thing your pastor wanted to do was get into a confrontation with a bunch of inebriated roughnecks from South Philly!)

I thought about this incident on the way home that day. Maybe, just maybe, these guys were doing the best they could, even though it was wrong. What were they thinking? What was their motivation? Maybe they just didn't know any better. Maybe they didn't have the moral understanding or emotional stamina to do any differently. And then I thought, Who was I to condemn them? Who was I to judge them? Yes, we were somewhat offended by their language and behavior, but maybe they were just doing the best they could.

When I think about it, maybe that's the way it is will all of us--we're just doing the best we can. Rather than judging or condemning one another, we ought to instead affirm the goodness of everyone--especially those who offend us. After all, we're all still learning, like little Briar, to walk this path called LIFE.

NOT A SERMON...JUST A THOUGHT FOR TODAY! HAVE A BLESSED DAY IN THE LORD!

Pastor Fred Duncan

July 29, 2008

Grace and Peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Pastor Fred here with my weekly eDevo. I've chosen Psalm 46:1-3 as the basis of my thoughts and reflections:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult."

The psalmist reminds us today through images of nature that when life gets crazy, when trouble comes, when our world is turned upside down, God is still God--our refuge, our strength, our hope, our peace--a very present help in time of need.

As a pastor, I'm privileged to be with people in their best of times and their worst of times. The best of times include such events as baptisms, confirmations, weddings, etc. But then there are the worst of times--the death of loved ones, Emergency Room visits in the middle of the night, news from the doctor that the tests came back positive for cancer or some other disease. It's often hard to know what to say or do in situations like these. Sometimes it's best to just say nothing and be a presence instead. Pastors represent the church and, moreover, God's presence in the midst of life's "storms." I can tell you this is an awesome task that never gets any easier.

But I'm also reminded by Psalms like Psalm 46, that faith in the God of all creation is in fact our strength when the storms of life come. The images of creation--the mountains, the sea, the vast expanse of the sky--speak to us of enormous strength, resilience, and size. And when you really think about it, creation is nothing compared to its Creator! God's been around a long time--forever in fact. God is omnipresent (everywhere at once), omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing). And yet, this same Creator reaches out to you and me! Yes, even you and me, and call us, get this, friend! Children! Beloved!

So what storms, faith-quakes, tumults, or other personal catastrophes are you facing right now in your life? Let this word from God be a reminder to you today that the God who created heaven and earth also created you and loves you--more than you'll ever know! And this same God IS your refuge and your strength! So, do NOT be afraid!

Not a sermon....just a thought for today. Have a blessed day in the Lord!

Pastor Fred Duncan

July 22, 2008

Greetings! Pastor Fred here with this week's eDevotion. I hope you'll take the time to consider these thoughts today on your spiritual journey. Today's eDevo comes from Genesis 3:11-12.

[God] said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate."

Sure Adam! Go ahead! Blame the wife!

Clearly, Adam and Eve didn't make a very wise choice. We're still feeling the effects of that choice even today (Original Sin).

Choices. We make them every day, good and bad. From choosing what to have for breakfast to how we'll respond to that obnoxious person at work, we're constantly making choices. (You even chose to open this email to see what your pastor has to say this week!) Sometimes when things are outside our control, we still must choose how we'll respond to them, either positively or negatively. We'll either choose to complain or concentrate on the good.

One area I've noticed as a pastor is how people respond to the death of a loved one. Most people choose to fall apart and grieve the loss and focus on the tragedy of the death. This is certainly understandable. However, there is another choice. You COULD choose to respond differently. How? Well, you could choose to focus instead on the life of the deceased person; the significance and the contributions the person made to their family, the community or even the world in some cases. You could celebrate the person's life and the time you shared with them. You might even choose to focus on resurrection and eternal life. Instead of becoming angry or bitter for the emptiness and loneliness you're feeling, which helps no one, you could give your love and support to others who are grieving with you. And yes, you could even praise God for being with you and for receiving your loved one into God' s loving arms. The bottom line is this: how you respond to death is a choice, just like everything else in life!

Here's a little advice I've found helpful over the years. When you have a choice to make, especially those involving difficult people in your life, take some time to think about how you'll respond to them or to the situation. Ask yourself, "I wonder what's going on in their life that caused them to do this thing that's offended me?" In other words, put yourself in their shoes and imagine their thoughts, feelings, etc. It's called empathy. Then, respond. This helps us all be more understanding and possibly may help avoid any kind of conflict or confrontation.

So, I guess what God's saying to us today is this: SLOW DOWN! Take some time to think about the circumstances, the person, the consequences of your choices BEFORE you choose. Consider all your options. Then choose what would give honor and praise to God. Think WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) Whatever you do, choose to do the loving thing today!

Not a sermon...just a thought for today! CHOOSE to have a blessed day today!!

Pastor Fred Duncan

July 17, 2008

Today's eDevotion comes from Genesis 22:1-7--God's call to Abraham to sacrifice his only beloved son, Isaac, as a test of his faith.

Grace and peace to you in the name of God our Father, and our blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to ready my weekly eDevotion each week (well, almost each week!) I try to share my morning meditations and reflections through these devotions with you. I only hope they offer you some spiritual insight and encouragement as we journey together on our walk of faith.

Today I'd like to focus on a particular truth about God: God owns everything! Although there are numerous passages that affirm this, Psalm 95:3-4 says it best: "For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also."

This psalmist (David?) must have understood this profound truth and that God is Creator, Sustainer, and Provider. Sure, we know this intellectually too, but do we fully appreciate the significance of it? You see, God holds the earth, moon, stars, and well, all the universe in God's hands--every minute detail. There is nothing that isn't God's. We don't own a thing! It all belongs to God! What a profound truth!

As I sit on my back porch this morning pondering this, before my busy day begins, I take this time to stop, look, listen, and even smell my surroundings to try and appreciate this truth for myself. As I look around me, what do I see? My cat, Cody, asleep on the chaise lounge; my bible, several chairs, a potted hanging plant, a burning candle, trees, tomato plants, a bar-b-cue grill, a lamp. And I say to myself, "All these things belong to God."

I close my eyes and listen. What do I hear? A cacophony of birds singing at this early hour (5:30 am): grackles, cardinals, chickadees, robins, woodpeckers, finches, and others I'm sure. I hear my neighbor's wind chimes gently singing in the light breeze. In the distance, I hear a car out on Rt. 1 in need of a muffler; my neighbor's lawn sprinkler head watering his lawn. Again, I say to myself, "All these things belong to God."

Then I take a deep breath through my nose and smell the smells around me. I smell the vanilla candle on the table next to me; freshly brewed coffee; the morning air filled with the scent of the woods around me; aftershave lotion. And I say to myself again, "All this belongs to God."

Today, I invite you to take a moment to stop and "smell the roses" (or coffee, or whatever). Take some time to be mindful of the world around you--the sights, the sounds, the smells--and remember that you don't own a thing. Everything belongs to God.

Not a sermon...just a thought for today! Have a blessed day in the Lord!

Pastor Fred Duncan

**June 23, 2008**

Today's eDevotion comes from Genesis 22:1-7--God's call to Abraham to sacrifice his only beloved son, Isaac, as a test of his faith. Imagine, if you can, being told by God that you must kill your only child! That's exactly what happened to Abraham. "Take your son...and go to the land of Moreh, and offer him there as a burnt offering..." And so, being a faithful servant trusting that God knew what God was doing, Abraham obediently sets out to go to the special place. As they approach the place, carrying the wood on his back that he would be bar-b-qued on, Isaac begins to get a little worried. "Where is the lamb for the burnt offering," he asks his dad. Abraham replies, perhaps with a bead of sweat running down his forehead, "God will provide." What faith! What trust! What hope! But then again, Abraham had trusted God before. You see, even at the ripe old age of nearly 100, God provided Abraham and Sarah their son, Isaac! Surely God could come up with a simple lamb! And for his faithfulness, Abraham is forever recorded in the faithful "Hall of Fame" recorded in the book of Hebrews 12. (Check it out!) So what's God saying to us today as we begin a new week, a new day, a new season of ministry together? Well, for me, it reminds me that as Christians we are called. Jesus invites each of us to take up our crosses every day and follow him. Of course, we have the free will to say, "Thanks, but no thanks," and walk away, but if we accept Christ as Lord, we essentially have signed a blank check. We are saying to God, "Whatever you ask, I will do. I am no longer my own but yours. Put me to doing your will, not mine." As I think about this, I'm reminded that over the coming months, the Staff Parish Relations Committee at Bethel will be addressing the issue of replacing Pastor Kevin. This will not be easy since it will most likely be a staff hire and not an appointment by the bishop. We as a committee must do the hard work ourselves of interviewing and discerning just the right person to lead our youth group and small group ministries. Now, I'm not going to pretend that I understand all the circumstances that have led us to this point here at Bethel. But I DO understand and truly DO believe with all my heart that God is in control. God has a plan, a vision, a mission, and a purpose for each of us, and for Bethel Church. We must remain diligent, and more importantly, remain faithful, trusting in "Jehovah Jirah," which is the Hebrew name for God, meaning "God, our Provider." So if God can provide a lamb for Abraham, and if God can save the world through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of his only beloved Son, Jesus Christ, then God can surely provide the right person for our church. Won't you join me is praying to Jehovah Jirah, that in God's time and in God's own way, God will provide for our need? Remember, God is faithful, loves us, and will provide and meet our deepest need. Let us not give up hope and trust in God's providence. Not a sermon...just a thought for today! Have a blessed day in the Lord! Pastor Fred Duncan

**June 4, 2008**

Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him. From there he moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and invoked the name of the Lord. And Abram journeyed by stages toward the Negeb. Genesis 12:7-8(NRSV) God calls Abram to go to a land God has promised to make a community of faith. (we know it as the Promised Land, Israel, Palestine, etc.) Abram had no idea where God was sending him or how he'd know it when he got there. All we know is that God spoke to Abram at some point in the journey and Abram knew he'd arrived. Not only that, Abram continued to journey throughout that land in stages, until he reached the outer limits of it--the Negeb desert far to the south. Out of all the people in the world at the time, God called Abram to go not knowing where God would lead him. And Abram went. God told Abram when he had arrived and Abram marked the occasion whenever he encountered God along the way by setting up an altar or memorial (probably just a pile of rocks.) We go through life in "stages" too on our faith journey, but do we ever mark or record God's work in our lives along the way? I remember as a child having a "close encounter of the God-kind" in church one Sunday. God touched my heart deeply , but as I grew older I didn't recognize the significance of that encounter. So, when I didn't have to go to church, I didn't. I drifted away from what little faith I had in God and decided that I didn't need God in my life, thank you very much. As a young adult, I was so wrapped up in worldly living (drinking, partying, sleeping around, spending all my money on material things) I didn't have time for God (I was having too much fun!) But at some point I met a lovely lady who changed my life. I realize now that God had put Pat in the path of my journey to help me see life was about more than I could ever imagine. We "marked" that occasion by getting married and settling down. We eventually joined a local UM church and "marked" that occasion by reaffirming our baptisms and professed our faith through the vows of church membership. Later, in that same church, I heard God's call again, but this time it was to full time ministry as a career--the ordained ministry. I marked each stage of my required education with diplomas from each of the schools (I had no college at the time and needed a bachelor's to go to seminary....at 40 years old!) and eventually marked the end of my preparation by receiving my orders as an ordained elder in the UM church. ( I have a certificate of ordination hanging on my office wall to prove it too--another marker) My question to you today is this: Do you ever "mark" or record God's working in your life in any way along your spiritual journey? Abram and Sarai built altars, reminding them of God's presence and action. I have a few pieces of paper hanging on the wall and lots of pictures in our photo albums. What moments in your life have you had a "close encounter of the God-kind"? When have you been touched by God's grace in a significant way? And how might those "memorials" help you on your next step of your faith journey to remind you of where you've been, and maybe even where you're going? It might be as simple as a prayer journal or a picture of the place where you heard God's "still small voice" to you. The important thing is that we acknowledge that God has indeed spoken to us and that we respond to God's call daily in deliberate ways. NOT A SERMON...JUST A THOUGHT FOR TODAY!! God bless! Pastor Fred Duncan

May 29, 2008