Note and News – 06/26/21

Why Is Reading the Bible Important?

At first glance this might seem to be a strange question, especially coming from a pastor. I can almost hear the most obvious answer - because it is the Word of God. Of course, that is true, but it also is too obvious and easy an answer, and in fact, really begs the question. It is like responding to the question, why is it important to obey the speed limit? With because it is the law. There is more to the matter than a simple pat answer that doesn’t really require any thought or reflection.

There’s yet another even more practical reason. While it is certainly true the Bible is the Word of God, that alone is not enough reason to motivate someone to read the Bible. Please hear me out. Why in the world would I say such a thing? Because when couched in these terms it often leads to a sense of guilt and frustration. Reading the Bible becomes something we “should” or “ought to” do. While guilt can be a powerful motivator it is only so for a short time. When the sense of guilt passes, typically the motivation wanes. It is then easy to get caught on a yo-yo of guilt and relief, both of which are temporary and feed each other. Reading the Bible often gets lost in the cycle.

One of the consistent messages of the Bible is God wants us to desire or want a relationship with God.  That is the way grace and love work. They, unlike guilt, unleash a desire in our hearts. Instead of coming to God because we should, we seek God because that is the desire of our hearts. This is not only a much stronger source of motivation, it in fact, can become compelling and irresistible from within our own hearts.

With the above in mind, here are some reasons why reading the Bible is important:

1.      It gives us tremendous wisdom and insight into human nature and why we often do the things we do.

2.      It can reveal to us the keys to living a fulfilling, significant and satisfying life.

3.      It offers comfort and hope that far exceed our capacity to generate.

4.      Its wisdom is a refreshing alternative to the “conventional wisdom” of our culture.

5.      The values we encounter when reading the Bible are eternal and authentic and reflect the deepest longings of our hearts and spirits.

6.      The Holy Spirit has a way of making passages we may have read over and over come alive in new and life-giving ways.

7.      We can be encountered by God as we read, ponder or study a word, verse, story, passage, book or theme of the Bible.

Over the past 45 plus years I have fallen deeply in love with reading, studying and listening to the Bible and the Lord who meets me in the process. I am a different person because of it. Make no mistake I have plenty of rough edges left and God is far from finished with me. But my journey with the Bible is a source of wonder filled joy. My prayer is that it may it be so for you as well.

Grace and Peace, John

Notes and News – 06/19/21

Understanding Difficult Passages of the Bible (Part 2)

A contractor friend shared the importance of a good foundation saying, getting the foundation right was the most critical part of anything he ever built. He put the matter this way: “if you don’t get the foundation right, you’ll be fighting every part of the build, the rest of the way.”

When it comes to understanding difficult passages in the Bible a good, sound foundation is also extremely important. The first part of a good foundation is understanding the difference between reading for information and reading for transformation. The former is the way we have been taught to read. It is helpful in many areas of life. But when it comes to reading the Bible, not so much. In fact, it can be a major hindrance, especially when it comes to difficult passages.

When it comes to reading the Bible, the objective is not so much to be informed, but to be transformed. Reading for transformation is significantly different from reading for information. It requires a different approach. Transformational reading is more concerned with what we receive from a passage than what we get from it. It requires listening, reflection, paying attention to details, mulling over, pondering, and thinking. Transformational reading takes time and is typically thought provoking. It touches our hearts and spirits at a deeper and different level than the intellectual process of gaining information.

The second element of a good foundation is having a source of Biblical “gold” to draw upon to help you better understand the difficult passage you are reading. These are the kind of passages to read repeatedly until they become a part of you and begin to shape your attitude and spirit.

A practical way to do this is to take a single passage and read it 3 times a day – when you get up, before you go to bed and one other time. If you are bold, do this before watching the nightly news and observe the disconnects between what you hear on the news and the passage of the week. Read the same passage daily for a week and then begin the new week with a new passage.

Follow this practice each week for 13 weeks. Then repeat the process with the same 13 passages for the next quarter and the next and the next. The objective is not for you to get through the passages but for the passages to get through to you! At the end of the year these 13 passages will have taken root in your heart. You will have a treasure of biblical “gold” shaping your heart and spirit. You will also discover these will often help you better understand passages that once left you confused. 

Here are passages I would recommend for the first thirteen. Of course, the Bible cannot be reduced to 13 passages. Likewise, they do not cover every major theme of the Bible, but they do offer a good foundation to build upon.

Old Testament: Genesis 1:26; Exodus 20:2,3; Joshua 1:9; Psalm 8: 3-5;

Psalm 46: 1,2 &10; Jeremiah 29:11; Micah 6:8

New Testament: Matthew 12:28-31; Mathew 28:16-20; Mark 1:14,15;

Luke 24:1-11; John 15:12; Romans 12:1,2.

Enjoy!

Grace and Peace, John

Notes and News – 06/12/21

Understanding Difficult Passages of the Bible (Part 1)

When it comes to understanding the Bible, many find it challenging. The problem is compounded when a person has been part of a church for a while and is expected (at least in their own mind) to know or understand more. Some of common and representative statements I have heard many times over the years include: I read this but it just didn’t seem to make sense or I don’t understand our bible study passage today or perhaps the most common, I wish I understood more of the Bible.

A major part of the problem is reading the Bible calls for a different approach than we have learned in school, and which has been reinforced as the way to read throughout our culture. Simply put we are taught to read for information. We read to capture some bit or bits of information and then move on to get the next bit of information. In a very real way, we are taught to read to conquer the information and make it a part of us, often for future use.

This approach has a place and can be of value. Two quick examples come to mind. When I see my doctor, I expect him or her to be well informed by the latest studies and articles in the appropriate health journals. Likewise, when taking a course, I expect the teacher, professor, leader to be knowledgeable (i.e., informed) regarding the subject matter. The list could go on but I’m sure you get the point. Simply put, it also has limitations.

When it comes to reading the Bible, the objective is not so much to be informed but to be transformed. Reading for transformation is significantly different from reading for information. It requires a different approach. Transformational reading is more concerned with what we receive from a passage than what we get from it. It requires listening, reflection, mulling over, pondering and thinking. Transformational reading takes time and is typically thought provoking. It touches our hearts and spirits at a deeper and different level than the intellectual process of gaining information.

Perhaps you have heard the catchy acronym that the word Bible stands for Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth. As you might already guess, I find this to be grossly oversimplified and not really helpful. In large part because the underlying assumption is the Bible contains information we need to know. The Bible indeed does contain lots we need to know, but at a far deeper and more profound level than intellectual comprehension. When all is said and done the purpose of the Bible is not to educate us but to change us, not to inform us but to transform us.

Next week I will look at how this works with difficult and challenging passages.

Grace and Peace, John 

Notes and News – 06/05/21

The Joy of Numbering Our Days

In verse 12 of Psalm 90 we are reminded to “number our days, that we might gain a heart of wisdom.” I thought of these words as we were in Austin Texas last week to celebrate two graduations – 1 from high school and 1 from college – and to spend time with our youngest son, Kyle and his family outside Houston.

I found myself reflecting on time over and over again. I'm not saying anything you haven't already experienced when I say I was semi shocked by how quickly our granddaughters had grown up. It almost seems like just yesterday when Cinda and I were spending time with our first granddaughter as a six-week-old watching her while her parents went out for a date. And now she is a young college graduate filled with potential and I suspect a very bright future. And then there was our other granddaughter’s graduation from high school, it seems as though she has somehow gone from 3 to 18 overnight. She is most certainly a young woman with definite plans for her future.

These are not new revelations for me, and I am certain there not for you either. We all understand how quickly time goes by. The Greeks had a word for this kind of time, Chronos. This is where we get our word chronology from. It is the kind of time that just keeps on ticking going by and it seems, ever more quickly as we age.

Chronos time has another quality, and that is, it can drag seemingly forever. Have you ever been in a hurry and stuck at a traffic light that seems to take forever to turn green? Chronos time seems to be able to speed up when we would like it to slow down and slow down when we would like it to speed up. It typically leaves us feeling helpless or frustrated.

The Greeks also had another word for time, Kairos. This is the kind of time that is filled with meaning and significance. Kairos is God's time. It is the kind of time that gives our lives meaning, significance, joy, gratitude, wisdom, and purpose. I believe it is this Kairos time that the psalmist is referring to when he instructs us to number our days.

There were many Kairos moments in our week in Texas as well from having a special brunch with Grace our oldest granddaughter, to watching another granddaughter, Ellie, on her riding lesson and seeing the impact of this experience as it shapes her life, to a good-natured game of Domino's with our family in Houston marked by lots of laughter, and many, many, more moments which I will cherish forever.

I think the psalmist is telling us to number our days, not to check them off as we do on a calendar, but to realize that our days are filled with Kairos moments for us to experience. We simply need to be open to their possibility and recognize them in our reflection. We always have this choice available to us.

My prayer for every one of us is that we will each choose to look for the Kairos moments that are a part of every day, that we will recognize them and the gifts and joys they bring.

Grace and Peace, John

Notes and News – 05/15/21

Masks Now Optional in Worship!!

From the outset of the CoVID-19 Pandemic, our Session has chosen to listen to scientists and doctor for guidance and information with regard to decision-making. This past week the CDC has significantly relaxed the need for wearing a mask and remaining safe. For those who have been fully vaccinated there is no longer a need to wear a mask outdoors nor indoors. From my reading of several different articles is certainly appears many doctors and epidemiologists concur with this new step.

 The overwhelming majority of people joining us in worship have been fully vaccinated. With this in mind our Session has indicated the following for our in-person worship:

1.     Wearing of masks is optional.

2.     Anyone who would like to continue to wear a mask is welcome to do so.

3.     We would recommend and encourage anyone who is not fully vaccinated, to do so, but recognize this is a personal choice. Our recommendation and encouragement is rooted in our concern you’re your safety and well-being, nothing more, nothing less.

4.     Safe social distancing is recommended and encouraged.

5.     We will continue to “err” on the side of safety.

Grace and Peace, John

Notes and News – 05/09/21

Tomorrow We Celebrate Mother’s Day in Worship!!

Mother’s Day is much more than a Hallmark occasion. Like Thanksgiving, it is a time set aside to remember the person to whom each of us owes a special debt of gratitude. My late friend and colleague, Dr. Arthur Harvey preached for me on a Mother’s Day Sunday several years ago when Cinda and I were gone. His sermon title was 10 Things I Learned from My Mother.  In it he shared 10 passages from scripture that were his mother’s favorites and shaped both her life, Arthur’s and his siblings. I am certain everyone who was in church was blessed and suspect several people still remember one or more of the 10 passages he shared.

The impact of our mothers on all of us is far reaching. Social scientists are continually learning just how powerful and vital a mother’s love is for the healthy development and adjustment of each of us. It is certainly not the only factor but it is a very important one.

There is perhaps no more difficult and challenging role than that of a mother. And none of us had a “perfect” mother. All of them have their flaws and shortcomings. In other words, every mother is human. (Although some have been graced by such extraordinary mothers, they might argue the point.)

I confess it took me nearly 50 years to recognize my own mother’s specialness. She was tough in many ways, some just part of her inherited “German Genes” and a great deal because of the trauma of growing up as a teenage girl in WWII Germany. I think of her now with a mixture of awe, wonder, and appreciation. I am thankful I was able to share some of that with her in her later years.

My grandfather “smuggled” her to a convent in Belgium during the war to protect her from the SS troops who typically had they way with teenage girls. (He was sent to the Russian front at age 45 as punishment for being a good father). There she saved 2 little babies during an air-raid by covering them with her body during the bombing. She carried shrapnel in her hip for the rest of her life as a reminder of her life-saving deed.

She turned a sleepy, annual Saturday afternoon plant sale to raise funds for the Gladwyne Public Library into a major 3-day community event and all as a volunteer!  Over the course of her 27-year leadership and involvement she raised hundreds of thousands of dollars that benefited the community and especially children.

Among the gifts my mother passed on to me were focus and determination, passion for a goal, a commitment to serving the community, and a resilience to never give up or quit. Thank you, mom!

For most of us, our mothers have entered life eternal. Don’t let that stop you. My hope and prayer for each of us this Mother’s Day, 2021, is you will have some quiet time to express your appreciation to your mother, as you remember and reflect on the impact she has had on your life.  

Grace and Peace, John

Notes and News – 05/01/21

Tomorrow We Return to In-Person Worship!!

After over a year, we are returning for our first in-person worship celebration in our sanctuary tomorrow, May 2nd , beginning at our “old” time - 10:25am.

As we return to in-person worship, we will continue to follow the lead of doctors and scientists stressing safety, with the wearing of masks and social distancing being required. We are committed to doing all we can do to ensure, to the best of our ability, a safe experience for all. We are also committed to “returning to normal” when it is safe to do so.

The schedule for each Sunday’s worship celebration is: 

10:05am EST – Sanctuary doors opened. Zoom link will be activated. If you join at this time, you see a live picture of our sanctuary. Although your device microphone and camera will be turned off, this will not impact you hearing and viewing the service.

10:10am EST – “Live” Zoom service link activated and music begins to play, allowing you to "join audio" and adjust volume prior to the service beginning. Again, even though your device camera and microphone will be off, this will not prevent you from hearing or seeing the service.

10:25am EST – Worship Celebration in Sanctuary and on Zoom recording begins.

As part of this service, we will be celebrating The Lord’s Supper. All you need if you are on Zoom is your own bread and juice.

There will be a Fellowship time on Zoom for all who would like to participate later on Sunday afternoon. This will begin at 1pm EST, typically lasting between 15 and 30 minutes.

I would like to thank Steve Braginton, Joan and Jeff Bryden, Cathy and Don Dekker, Barbara Harrell, and our son, Kevin, for all the many things they have done behind the scenes to get ready for tomorrow and make it possible for our return to in-person worship and zoom recording to happen.  I deeply appreciate all they and done and the joyous spirit in which they have done so much. I am awed and humbled to serve with them.  Thank you all!

I feel much like I did as a young boy on the day before my birthday – filled with anticipation and excitement.

Grace and Peace, John

Notes and News – 04/24/21

Just 8 Days from Today We Return to In-Person Worship!!

After over a year we are on the verge of returning to worship in-person in our sanctuary at 10:25am. In some ways this time apart has seemed more like a decade than 14 months. In other ways this year has flown by. But I suspect I speak for all of us when I say it has been a trying, painful time that has reminded us just how important human connection and community is.

When we return it won’t be quite the same as before ,but it will be meaningful, safe, and important. Here is what our website says:

Be Our Guest on Sunday

WE STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE EVERY SUNDAY

Beginning Sunday, May 2nd, we return to our in-person worship celebrations in our sanctuary. These services will also be offered “live” on Zoom or can be viewed later on our YouTube channel.

Our Sunday morning worship celebrations are traditional and reflect the informal atmosphere of the mid-western, Tampa Bay area of Florida’s west coast. 

As we return to in-person worship we will continue to follow the lead of doctors and scientists stressing safety, with the wearing of masks and social distancing being required. We are committed to doing all we can do to ensure to the best of our ability a safe experience for all. We are also committed to “returning to normal” when it is safe to do so.

The schedule for each Sunday’s worship celebration is: 

10:05am EST – Sanctuary doors opened. will be activated. If you join at this time, you will be in our waiting room.

10:10am EST – “Live” Zoom service link activated and music begins to play, allowing you to "join audio" and adjust volume prior to the service beginning. Although your device microphone and camera will be turned off, this will not impact you hearing and viewing the service.

10:25am EST – Worship Celebration in Sanctuary and on Zoom begins.

There will be a Fellowship time on Zoom for all who would like to participate later on Sunday afternoon. This will begin at 1pm EST and typically last for 15 to 30 minutes.

I hope you and visitors to our website find this helpful. I look forward to being able to say, “See you in church”.

Grace and Peace, John

In Person Worship Will Continue to Be Shown on ZOOM

We will continue to record and show our worship services on Zoom with our in-person worship. The only difference is that all of the service will be recorded “live” instead our present method. Nothing else will change. We have been working to get all the necessary technology and equipment in place to do this. A major portion of the cost will be offset by a special Peace River Presbytery “Virtual Church Grant”. This outreach is one of the blessings of this past year.

Notes and News – 04/18/21

Questions You May Have Returning to in-Person Worship:

What it will be like when we return to in-person worship. I will address question that have been shared with me or that I think you may have. If you have any additional questions or thoughts - please feel free to send them to: pastor@ppcfl.org or office@ppcfl.org.

1.      What time will our worship celebration start?

At 10:25am.

2.      Will there be the chance to see the service on Zoom?

Absolutely YES. You can follow the directions in the invitation which will be emailed out or go to our website (www.ppcfl.org) to view it at another time.

3.      Can I invite friends?

YES. All will be welcome.

4.      What is being done to make it as safe as possible?

Masks are required, temperatures will be taken, only the sanctuary entrance will be open, the seating in the pews will reflect social distancing, all door knobs and pews will be wiped down prior to the Sunday service, bibles and hymnals have been removed from the pews.

5.      What about the air conditioning?

We are looking at ways to “clean” the air before it recirculates in the sanctuary and hope to have something in place by May 2nd.

6.      What about singing?

We will be singing with masks on.

7.      What if someone has a temperature of 100 or greater?

They will be lovingly and firmly invited to return on a Sunday when they no longer have a temperature.

8.      What if I forgot my face mask or it breaks?

We will have masks available for any who need them.

9.      What time can I arrive?

Sometime between 10:10 and 10:25 should work well for most people.

10.  What if someone refuses to wear a mask?

They will be lovingly but firmly invited to return on a Sunday when masks are no longer required. We will welcome them at that time.

11.  Will there be a Sunday morning Bible Study?

No. We will continue with the Wednesday afternoon Bible study instead.

12.  How will we greet one another?

With an intentional and planned wave.

13.  Will we have Communion?

Yes. Pre-packaged cups and wafers will be available in the pews. We will celebrate Communion on May 2nd.

14.  Will there be an offering?

No. Offering plates will be at the entrance or you can continue to mail in your offering.

15.  Will there be a bulletin?

We will use the projector and screen in the sanctuary. This will also allow our virtual congregation to follow along during the service as well as remove the safety risk of bulletins and paper.

16.  Will there be a fellowship time?

Yes. The actual time has not yet been determined. It will be on Zoom and an invitation will be sent. Probably the most likely times will be between 1 and 2 on Sunday afternoons. The likely duration will be between 20 and 30 minutes.

17.  What if I am not yet vaccinated?

We would hope as many people as possible will be vaccinated because those will be the people who are the safest. However, it IS NOT at this point, a requirement for worshipping in-person. We will continue to listen to the doctors and scientists about this.

Grace and Peace, John

Notes and News – 04/10/21

Session Votes to Return to in-Person Worship: May 2, 2021

Our Session with unanimous consensus voted to return to in-person worship at 10:25am on Sunday May 2nd.  This decision to return to in-person worship is coupled with a firm commitment to do it a manner that provides, as best as we possibly can, for the health and safety of every person joining us for worship. This means we will be listening to the doctors and scientists, including the CDC, for guidance throughout the remainder of this pandemic. It also means we support the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and people being vaccinated. With that in mind our Session has also adopted the following requirements for all who will be worshiping with us in person:

1.     Prior to each Sunday worship celebration, the sanctuary entrance hand railings and door handles will be wiped done with disinfectant wipes.

2.     The only usable entranced to the church will be the front sanctuary entrance.

3.     Temperatures will be taken upon entering the sanctuary.

4.     The appropriate wearing of a mask will be mandatory (until the CDC says otherwise)

5.     Pews will be wiped down prior to the service just like the outside railings.

6.     The pews will be marked to show what seating is available. Only designated pews will be used, and a person or a couple will “fill” the pew. This will allow for appropriate social distancing and safe singing and participating in worship.

7.     Hand sanitizer will be available in every pew and by the front door.

8.     Restrooms will be available with social distancing and hand washing expected.

9.     Social distancing markings will be on the sanctuary entrance sidewalk and on the sanctuary carpet.

10.  Hymnals and Bibles will be removed from the pews until it is once again safe to use them. You are encouraged to bring your own Bible to church.

11.  We will use the sanctuary overhead projector and screen for our bulletin and hymns. This will give our in-home virtual worshipping family a better opportunity to follow along and participate.

12.  Until it is safe, we will use a “wave” to greet one another in lieu of or customary time of greeting and welcome.

13.   Offering plates will be available as you enter the sanctuary (or you may simply wish to mail in your offerings as you have been).

14.  When we celebrate The Lords Supper (as we will on May 2nd) we will have self-contained, pre-sealed communion cups and wafers in the appropriately designated pews.

I realize this list may at first seem a bit overwhelming. It really is not. I wanted to spell out as much as I could to give you the most accurate picture possible. Next week I will address some of the situations and questions that may arise when we return to in-person worship. If you have any  questions or thoughts - please feel free to send them to: pastor@ppcfl.org or office@ppcfl.org.

Grace and Peace, John