“…ought we respect all the opinions of men? … if he disobeys the one, and disregards his opinion and praise, but respects that of the multitude and of those who know nothing, will he not suffer some evil? … And does this hold good or not—that to live well and honorable and justly are the same thing?” Peter put it more succinctly: “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Paul unfolded the same truth in practical terms: “…obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:22–23). Socrates continues: “…that to live well and honorable and justly are the same thing… that we should on no account deliberately commit injustice… injustice is, on every account, both evil and disgraceful to him who commits it.” James echoes this: “…whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (James 4:17). Socrates presses further: “Neither ought one who is injured to return the injury, as the multitude think … To do evil in return when one has been evil-entreated — is that right, or not? … For to do evil to men differs in no respect from committing injustice.” Peter: “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9). And finally, Paul gives the fullest expression: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them… Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all… Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ … Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:14–21). These are hard words. Harder still to live. Yet another philosopher I admire once asked:
–Paul David Hewson (Bono of U2) Let us, then, be that light in the darkness — for a frightened and weary world, whether they notice or not. In His Name, Mika
7 Comments
other. In such a world, where do I run to stop the pain when everyone seems to be hurting? I could ask dumb questions like: “Which side is right?” or “Who deserves my care?” I say these are dumb questions because if we look at Jesus’ life and His teachings, we see these questions have already been asked and answered. “Should we pay taxes to God or Caesar?” Matthew 22 “Who is my neighbor?” Luke 10 With all of the media outlets clamoring for my emotions, I can’t help but be drawn to Matthew 23. This chapter is one of those times when Jesus is direct with humanity. He is calling out hypocrisy in detail, and He echoes the Old Testament prophets by calling woe on some groups. It is easy for us modern Christians to read this chapter and distance ourselves from the first-century religious leaders of a temple long destroyed. I think this may be one of those times that I need to be honest with myself and ask one of those Matthew 23 questions. Do I put burdens on my fellow humans that I am not willing to carry myself? “Be a good citizen, follow my political party!” “Love the neighbor who thinks like you!” Jesus lived in a world divided. All around him, people were screaming against Rome and, at the same time, getting rich off of Rome. Jews, Greeks, Romans, Samaritans, and all other nations believed they were on the right side. Despite all of their differences, the one thing humanity agreed on was that Jesus was dangerous. This wandering preacher who healed the sick, preached salvation and forgiveness of sin, challenged the powerful, and showed us that there was a King who wanted all of us in His kingdom. And Jesus died for all of us.
At the end of Matthew 23, Jesus gives this feel-deeply cry of longing to gather us to Him. It is this tender image of a mama hen gathering her little babies under her for warmth and protection. Yet, how often are we not willing to gather together with our brothers and sisters because we would rather fight? In two weeks, the women of 1st Pres will gather together and focus on the Art of Gathering. It may be a little easy to assume we already know how to gather. May I offer a challenge? Do we really know how to gather? There are people around the world, gathering together to protest, march, filibuster, and engage in war. We seem to love to celebrate death and grieve death at the same time. Is this the gathering image that Jesus depicted? My challenge is to take some time to explore how to gather together well. The image Jesus depicted was of a parent gathering all of their children under their protection. 1st Pres is a unique congregation in that we have practiced laying aside our political differences at the door so we could worship together. We practice this often, and because of that, it has become part of our culture. What else could we be practicing together to strengthen our 1st Pres family so we could bless our neighbor? Exploring how to gather together as siblings feels more critical than ever. If we agree to let Jesus gather us together under Him, we may find the warmth we need to soothe our souls and then be that much stronger to offer healing to our hurting neighbor. It might seem like a small step in light of the divided world we live in, but it’s a start. If you have not already registered for Courage to Connect: The Art of Gathering, you can still join us. Register here or call the church office. In His Name, Bonnie
He told of being his son’s father, his protector. DO NOT, he insisted, approach my son with intentions of harm. Imagine if you were God, who watched His son being born. Watched him grow to be the light He so intended him to be. Watched as he was scorned and tortured. And then in the act of ultimate love and grace, sacrificed His son so that we could be set free. God loves us. ALL of us. As we are. Try looking in a mirror and saying out loud, “God loves me — just as I am”. Say it again. Then realize that each of us is loved by God — just as we are. God doesn’t love us for the if onlys;
Adding to the knowledge that God loves you, let’s consider that Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world”. It is with great dignity, love, and kindness, we can all be examples of God’s love and pour light into an often-darkening world.
Gregory Boyle in “Tattoos On The Heart” tells us, “You are the light. It is the truth of who you are, waiting only for you to discover it.” So, let’s get back to the mirror where we state I am loved, I am light, JUST as I am. Jeremiah 31:3 tells us that the Lord appeared and said, “I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with loving kindness”. It remains for us to absorb the concept that because we are truly loved by God, we can begin to love others and spread light in a place of acceptance and grace. In His Name, Craig
countless summer activities to fill my days, and I cherish these moments, but I often feel worn out as autumn approaches.
To me, autumn feels like a big hug. This cozy season is filled with simple joys. I can still enjoy being outside, bundled up in comfortable sweaters while sipping pumpkin lattes. It’s the perfect time to visit orchards, indulge in fresh, hot pumpkin donuts, and savor spiced apple cider. Autumn also reminds me to pause, take a deep breath, and reflect. Summer tends to rush by, but in the fall, I find comfort in returning to familiar routines and slowing down. I want to take the time to appreciate the beauty of my surroundings and the blessings that God has given me. Whether it’s a warm breeze, a comforting meal, or time spent with loved ones, I seek joy in the everyday gifts that God provides. This fall, take a moment to notice the simple blessings that fill our lives with joy. When we focus on the small things, we are reminded that God is present in every moment. It’s not always about the grand events; rather, it’s about appreciating the everyday blessings God gives us that enrich our lives. In His Name, Stephanie
That image has stayed with me as we turn the corner into the back-to-school season. This time of year, our calendars fill quickly. School schedules, sports practices, music lessons, and all the other “shoulds” and “musts” seem to take over. Families scramble to find a new rhythm, and sometimes church can feel like just one more thing to fit in. But I believe it’s exactly in these seasons of busyness that the church can offer something beautiful: a rhythm of play, connection, and love that crosses generations.
Our mission is simple — Love 1st. And one of the most powerful, yet often overlooked, ways we live out that mission is through play. When we play together, barriers come down. Children don’t worry about grades or who is fastest in line. Adults set aside the seriousness of to-do lists and work demands. Seniors aren’t just spectators; they’re participants in the fun. In these moments, love feels tangible, lived out through laughter, teamwork, and the sheer delight of being together. I think of the times I’ve watched a teenager patiently teach a younger child the rules of a game. Or the way kids light up when an adult joins in a silly relay or sits down to build a block tower with them. These moments remind our youngest that they belong — not just to their parents, not just to their age group, but to an entire community of people who care about them. They remind our adults that joy is not reserved for childhood; it’s a gift God invites us to carry throughout our lives. And for all of us, these moments of play help us breathe again. They interrupt the grind of routines and remind us that love doesn’t always look like serious acts of service — it sometimes looks like a shared laugh, a high five, or a goofy round of musical chairs. As we step into the back-to-school season, maybe one of the most important rhythms we can establish as a church family is a rhythm of play. It doesn’t have to be complicated. It could be a simple game after worship, a potluck, or even just taking a few minutes to sit down and color with a child during coffee hour. In these small but meaningful acts, we practice Love 1st. We teach each other that God’s love is not only patient and kind — it’s also playful, joy-filled, and deeply uniting. And perhaps that’s exactly the kind of steady rhythm we all need in this season: one that keeps us grounded in joy, connected to each other, and reminded that we are never too old — or too busy — to play. So here’s your invitation: Join us this Sunday, September 7, for our single service and all-church potluck. We’ll celebrate the back-to-school season with our backpack blessing, the gifting of 3rd-grade Bibles, and more! It’s a beautiful chance to gather across generations, to share food, laughter, and encouragement, and to begin this new season rooted in love. In His Name, Kierstie |
