The Pain of Purity

This weeks beatitude; Matthew 5:8 is a real pain. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God."

We live in an age that seems to applaud the naughty side of behavior. I remember when I lived in LaCrosse there was even a store named "Naughty But Nice." Yes, you might agree, naughty is the new nice and purity and cleanliness are the new pain.

Talk about a challenge; purity of thoughts and deeds and a morally clean existence. We might want to skip this verse and move on to easier claims on our lives. BUT God does not work that way. In fact, if we want to "see" God we know what we need to do..."Blessed are the pure in heart....."

"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world." (The Message)

"God blesses those people whose hearts are pure.They will see him!" (Contemporary English Version)

"They are blessed whose thoughts are pure, for they will see God." (New Century Version)

Our beatitude this week calls us clearly to live as cleanly and with as much purity as humanly possible. Having a pure heart first of all means living by the rules of God that bring moral purity. The initial use of the word “pure” in the Bible was in the sense of “clean” as opposed to “unclean” – clean or unclean animals, clean or unclean foods, the clean or unclean condition of a person.

What do you think the basis was for determining what (or who) was “clean” or “unclean”? It was God’s decision. Since God is the Creator and the Source of everything good and loving, God gets to decide. The Good News is, right standards for behavior are not kept a secret by God. Thus the writings of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.

Check Out This 5 Minute Audio Bible Study on Matthew 5:8

There are ways we can maintain the purity of our heart, and one of the most primary is our time in the Word of God. As the psalmist said, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word” (Psalm 119:9), and, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).

A second way to maintain the purity of our heart is through fellowship with the people of God. It helps to be accountable to one another. Solomon said:

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up! (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

We have two ways to fulfill our beatitude this week:

1. Fellowship with God


2. Fellowship with each other

Matthew 5:1-10 Stunning slides of the Beatitudes 2':27"

May you get as close to God as you can this week. Look for God and you will see God.

Blessings,

Rev. Bill McBride

The Law of Like Return

Our beatitude for this week is Matthew 5:7 "Blessed are the merciful for they will receive mercy." I'd venture to say that no one will debate the value of this beatitude. Mercy appears at leat 208 times in the Bible. God is merciful and God wants us to show mercy. No questions here.

What I'd like to share with you is a more general and larger understanding that this scripture prompts. I call it The Law Of Like Return. This law goes by many assorted names; perhaps you have heard some variations or even said them.

• What goes around comes around,
• Life is a cricle,
• Like attracts like;
• The Law of Attraction
  
  Here is how I understand this law that governs everything we do: "You will always get back into your life what you fist give away to others through your life." Pretty simple and pretty basic. BUT do we forget it a lot and then wonder why our lives get so messed up and "under enjoyed."
  
  

The prblem is we think that to get something or enjoy something we have to work really hard to acquire it and hold onto it and never let it go. Here is another really important point; the Universe is not a finite sum game. We wrongly think there is a finite amount of that which we want and need. So therefore, when we get some we had better not give any of it away or we will lose it for sure and never get it back. WRONG!

God, the source of all that is good, gracious and enjoyable has an infinite suply of good things and wonderful experiences for you and me to enjoy. And the only way to get them and keep them is to be willing to first give them away. It is not grab and hold on tight, it is give and share and receive in return. This is how The Law of Like Return Works. Guaranteed!

"Blessed are the merciful for they will obtain mercy."

Blessings

Reverend Bill McBride

Are You Hungry Yet?

We have a problem.

We are never really hungry enough to understand this beatitude that deals with hungering and thirsting for God. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." (Matthew 5:6)

We have come to understand that in order to achieve all the things we really crave and dream about and perhaps even pray about, we have to stop chasing them so hard and continue really chasing God.

By chasing God we mean that God is not running away from us so we must run fast to try to catch God, but rather our chase and pursuit demonstrate our devotion. We hunger for God in order to get as close to God as is humanly possible. This beatitude about hungering and thirsting is all about "chasing after" the one who is the source of all our goodness, the cause of all our greatness, and the real provider of all our joys, peace in life, success and fulfillment.

Again the telling and challenging question for you to figure out-How hungry are you really?

"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat." (The Message)

"God blesses those people who want to obey him more than to eat or drink. They will be given what they want!"(Contemporary English Version)

God's blessing,

Reverend Bill

Why It Is a Good Thing to Be MEEK.

We are studying the Beatitudes, Matthew 5:1-16 at church this Lent, Feb 17th -March 4th. Today, I want to share with you a very important insight in the concept of MEEKNESS.

Most of the time we really get it all wrong. And if you read one portion of the Bible and you think it makes no sense at all, you may be tempted to throw it all out as irrelevant or unimportant. That would be a BIG mistake.

But in realty most of the time, we are the ones who approach the sacred texts with wrong presuppositions. So, in an effort to get our heads on straight about Matthew 5:5, here are some of my thoughts on MEEKNESS.

“Blessed, or O How happy are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

“We tend to think of the meek as the casualties, not as the winners.” Miserable are the meek, because they get trampled upon." We live in a world of assertiveness training. We live in a world which values getting what you want and then wanting more for yourself. There are countless courses, books, and television shows about getting what is "due" to you and that for which you are “entitled”. And a good part of the growth in our national debt is from folks insisting on getting what they consider to be their entitlements.” -John A. Terry

At the time the Greek word "praeis" was first translated into English, the word "meek" had a different meaning than it does today. The Greek word in the Bible that we translate into the English -Meek- means: Humble, Obedient, God-controlled, Bridled-able to be led by God and Disciplined.

Try the following description of MEEK - “Living humbly toward God and kindly toward others.” Do you find this description of meekness helpful? Now that makes a whole lot of sense in terms of our faith and our relationships with each other.

The word we render as "meek" is difficult to translate from the original Greek into English. We tend to link the works "meek" and "little," as in "he is a meek, little man." Or “she is a meek and submissive woman.” There are unfortunate implications with the word "meek" which imply a meek person is without courage, or self-respect, a broken-spirited person. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. The truth of the matter is that the MEEK are the real winners in this world. In fact, if you want to be meek you had better be strong.

If Jesus Christ is our model and example, which he is, consider how he described himself in Matthew 11:29? “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” And, we must remember it is the meek who will one day inherit it all, from God.

Blessings,

Reverend Bill Mcbride

Making Your Connections

It seems that making a connection is at the top of every ones list these days. Valentines Day is the day to make your romantic connection. If you turn on your TV, no matter what channel or go to your homepage online, everyone is asking you to make a connection with the winter Olympics. These are just two of the many connections we talk about, think about and seek to make in our lives almost everyday. I am sure you can add your list of connections.

As far as I am concerned, making connections is really what going to church is all about. Some folks go to church to connect with their neighbors and friends. Some folks go to church to connect with important local and worldwide missions and needs; connect with giving to Haiti or connect with the local food pantry. Some folks go to church to grow in their relationship with God, making a connection with the divine. All of these are great ways to make and stay connected. In fact, making connections is a fitting theme for the church, wouldn't you agree?

The local congregation, our local congregation is a great place for you to make your connections. Over the next 40 days, Ash Wednesday until Easter we will focus on our connections here at church. We will dig into the section of the Bible called the "Beatitudes" which in my mind help us to get and stay connected with God, with each other and with the world.
Take a few minutes tonight and read Matthew 5:1-16 and see what God is telling you about your connections. And, I'll see you in church.

Blessings,

Reverend Bill

WEATHER OR NOT

All across the country the WEATHER has been the key topic of news, conversations and altered travel plans this Christmas season. If you made it to where you wanted to be on time and without incident, consider yourself lucky or gifted or some of both.

As for me, being a pastor means you stick around and stay put. I do like this, because I dislike traveling very far during the winter and especially during Christmas.

At church, we completed our Advent/Christmas theme of messages entitled "The Colors of Christmas" in great shape.

On Christmas Eve we finalized the theme, by exploring the color "white" for Christ. I presented to everyone, my collection of sermons and studies in a special booklet called by the same name. (If you have not picked up a book, please do so the next time you are in church.)

The church was full at our Christmas Eve service, as folks told me it would be. 325 worshippers showed up in the midst of a cold rainstorm. But as has been true of late, no matter what the WEATHER outside, it was warm, cozy and the atmosphere of love and good cheer filled the building spaces.

The mood in church was lovely, the music was superb, with great thanks to everyone who gave in song and instrument and shared their musical talents with us, the festive Luminaries lit our way along the walk in; thanks Sharon and Jeff and all the youth, and the colorful red and white Poinsettia plants added that special touch in the chancel area. All in all, I was pleased and proud to be the pastor and lead my congregation in this wonderful Christmas Eve service of worship.

I give personal witness to the truth of the matter around Lake Mills Church. WEATHER OR NOT, no matter what it is like on the outside, you will always find the warm and loving acceptance of God on the inside of this church and family.

Blessings to you in this Christmas season,

Reverend Bill, Pastor

From Where I Stand

Lake Mills UMC website slogan-G.R.O.W.
Gather To Worship.
Remember To Study.
Open Ourselves To Service.
Witness As Disciples of Christ.

Standing in the pulpit is a humbling and honorable experience. If you have every served as a liturgist, lay reader or preached in a church, from the pulpit, then perhaps you understand what I share with you today.

Last Sunday, July 12th was my first Sunday in the pulpit at Lake Mills United Methodist Church. Now I must confess, I have stood in that pulpit a time or two in transition visits to the church and the sanctuary since May. But this past Sunday, July 12th was my first actual time in the pulpit with a congregation present in front of me.

I was humbled and honored to be standing in the pulpit and to experience worship with the congregation at Lake Mills. I take my work of preacher and worship leader very seriously; always have and I always will. I keenly sense the ancient Old Testament role of the priest, bringing the people into the real presence of God when I am leading worship and preaching from the pulpit.

I enjoy a good biblical sermon when I am on occasions part of the crowd in the pews and I suspect my congregations have always felt the same of their pastor in his/her role as preacher when they have attended church.

A colleague of mine has helped me to understand and reinforced for me the enormity of the mantle I wear as the preacher at Lake Mills United Methodist Church. She has been consistently strong about telling her congregation that their church is the house of God. She says, “This is God’s house. It is not about you or me, it is always about God and how God is seeking to interact with us and live within us through God’s Spirit. God is present here in the church and in our lives.” I like how she brings the presence of God into the midst of her member’s lives and worship. Good News does come to the congregation from the pulpit, if the pastor-preacher is seriously humbled by the presence and power of the Creator.

While I have stood in the Lake Mills UMC pulpit a few times prior to last Sunday, July 12th, it was indeed a most honorable and wonderful moment to be there with my congregation worshipping our God and Creator together. I had a great day last Sunday and I hope my congregation did too.

Blessings


Rev. Bill