The Sower's Chapel

Happy Spring! - Ready For New Church Day?

Pastor Ethan — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:42:02 +0000

Dear Friends:

With New Church Day around the corner and a period of transition in front of us as a congregation, I thought it would be good this month to talk about how we can invite the Lord into the challenges we face in our lives. When we’re in the midst of temptation is often the time we feel most distant from God, and yet its when He’s the closest. How do we connect to that sense of His presence, draw strength from it, and move forward?

In a portion of this sermon, I explore what it takes to have a truly intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ that we can reflect in the lives of those around us:

‘And repent [of the evil] against Your people’ means having mercy on them. This is clear from the meaning of ‘repenting,’ when it has reference to Jehovah, as having mercy. The reason why ‘repenting’ means having mercy is that Jehovah does not ever repent, since He foresees and makes provision for all things from eternity. Repentance is a reaction that can only take place in someone who has no knowledge of the future and who sees, as events unfold, that he has made a mistake. (AC 10441: 2)

If we are to be receptive of the mercy of God, we have to being with honest examination of our own lives - not in order to demonstrate how worthless and evil we are (since evil doesn’t come from us but from hell), but to recognize our mistakes, acknowledge them as sins - and ask God to inspire in our hearts a new beginning where we have sinned. We need to ask Him to allow our repentance and good decision making to redefine what we care about and move aside past mistakes, instead of allowing them to define our future. This is the beginning of true intimacy - the beginning of a true relationship to the Lord.

And we can apply these same behaviors wherever we’re facing a fear of intimacy in our lives. In our relationships with friends and family, or with our spouse for that matter - are we using our relationships as leverage, threatenting a lack of intimacy where there isn’t complete agreement? If God did that, we wouldn’t have anything left to lean on in life, would we? Where we’re willing to admit mistakes with our friends and neighbors (and most of all with our Lord), beginning again from a living acknowledgement of God, true intimacy becomes a deeper possibility. Not that we’ll achieve the same kind of intimacy with others that we do with God - but an intimacy that does seek to reflect His relationship to us from love.

The Israelitish church wasn’t, because they didn’t get that what builds a church isn’t rules and regulations, but relationships. Instead of our Lord - a God we can know and love - a God we can know and love - they had only the most remote and general presence of God to interact with on a daily basis. A God they didn’t know or love, but obeyed largely out of fear - a fear of intimacy based on their worldly perspective.

Rather than an intimate relationship with God, the Children of Israel chose an introspective and selfish life that distanced them from Jehovah. So Jehovah took on our struggles and overcame them as Jesus Christ. This is a lesson to us. How are we thinking of the Lord in everyday life? Are we asking Him to lift us up in our daily struggles? Are we inviting Him into our secret battles against sin that seem overwhelming? Are we believing that its really possible for Him to change our perspective, reorder our priorities, and change our lives?

May we, through a living approach to the Lord in His Word open our minds to His truth, our hearts to His love, and dedicate our steps to faith in Him and the life that leads to heaven.

Wishing you a peaceful and happy Spring!

Your Friend,
Pastor Ethan

Preparing for Easter

Pastor Ethan — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:24:27 +0000

In some ways, it might seem too early to start thinking about it. Here are some thoughts (from this February’s newsletter) on spiritual preparation that can lead us to the Easter Season -

Dear Friends:

Here we are at February, and soon our hosting of the Lenten Dinner Series will begin in Freeport. As I was thinking about what to write this morning, I found a sermon that I preached for that series during my second year here (which you�??ll recognize when you see the name �??Bill�?? �?? referring to Bill Heilman and his family). I was struck with how much of that same talk still applies today, and so I offer it as a way of �??focusing�?? our minds and hearts on the self examination necessary for us to be truly receptive of the Easter message. After all, any time we can be reminded of the need to focus on preparation for heaven through the choices we make in this life, it�??s a testament to our believe in the Lord�??s purpose for creation �?? that there be a heaven from the human race (DP 27).

We speak tonight about the whole purpose of Lent itself. In the beginning, it was three days of fasting signifying the three days of Jesus in the tomb before the resurrection. It was a simple reminder. Eventually, it became 40 days of fasting, mirroring not just this, but Jesus�?? temptation in the wilderness. And what is it now? In some respects, Lent�??s become pretty commercial hasn�??t it? I kid you not, but I drove by a billboard at Taco Bell the other day advertising bean burritos on sale for Lent. Is this what Jesus wants? I don�??t know. I�??m just asking the question. These days, people have trouble giving up a Snickers bar for Lent, don�??t they? And the point: is that what Lent�??s really all about? Or is it something deeper. Is it a time to pause and reflect on an internal level about the nature of our relationship with the Lord. About the ways in which He is leading us each day to know Him a little more and love Him a little better �?? if we would only open our minds and hearts to Him.

I think, friends, that this is the true message of Lent. Its about our spiritual rebirth as people. Its about our ability to see beyond the temporary wants and desires of the natural world, to let them die, for the eternity of heaven and the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. And that�??s what God taught me through my relationship with Bill and his family. That�??s where my focus needed to be �?? on the life of heaven. And that�??s what we can teach each other every day as followers of Him. That�??s the simple truth that Martha didn�??t get.
So, as we go out today to live our lives that are really just the preparation lap for eternity in the eyes of the Lord, what will we choose? Will we �??be still�?? and listen for God�??s voice in our daily decisions, or will we decide that the world�??s values �?? social and societal convention - are what matter. Yes, by the world�??s standard, Mary did the wrong thing on the surface. But we all must remember and cherish what Jesus said to Martha, and says equally to each of us:

And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.�?? (Luke 10: 41-42)

May you, through a love of what is true and a willingness to do what is good, gain a �??Mary�?? heart in a �??Martha�?? world.

Your Friend, Pastor Ethan

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Ethan — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:04:36 +0000

I wanted to share with you this month one of my favorites: a children�??s talk on the Christmas story by my grandfather, Rev. Fred Schnarr. In it, we�??re told about the greatest gift of all to focus on at Christmas time �?? the gift of our Lord Jesus Christ, God in His Divine Humanity. He was born into the world that we might be freed from the grips of the hells (a life of selfish and worldly thinking) to focus on the visible God and the life that leads to heaven.

“Have you ever looked up at the starry sky on a clear night? Doesn’t the great universe above us give us a strange feeling of wonder and delight at such a time?

There are so many stars we get dizzy trying to count them. And when we think how far away they are, we feel very little and insignificant. The space out there is so very large. We learn of a star being hundreds or thousands of light years away, and our minds cannot even imagine such a great distance. But still, we love to look at the stars. Especially at Christmas we think of the Lord and how stars have always been especially connected to His birth on earth.

Over a thousand years before the Lord was born, the prophet Balaam spoke of how there would come a Star out of Jacob and a Scepter would rise out of Israel (Numbers 24:17).

Only a few wise men knew that this was a prophecy that the Lord would someday be born into the world. And, as we know, it was such wise men who saw the star the night the Lord was born, and followed it.

One of the amazing things the Writings tell us about stars is that there are stars in heaven and that they are even brighter and more wonderful than here. Whole societies of angels, especially those who like to think about the Lord, are often seen in that world at a distance like a beautiful star. Sometimes an angel or a good spirit actually sparkles and shines like a bright star when he is in a special state of charity and faith.

And there are many more amazing things told us about stars in heaven. For example, sometimes the Word that is in a heavenly church, on the altar, will suddenly shine like a great star.

Or, sometimes angels, when they are writing or doing their work with newcomers to the spiritual world, will seem to have a band of little stars about their heads.

Angels love stars because they know that stars represent truths that are filled with love. They know, too, that the most important truths are about the Lord God. So, when they see a star, they think of Him. Some of the angels, for this reason, love to paint stars on the ceilings of their homes, and others embroider them even into their clothes.

In the last few verses of the Sacred Scriptures, the Lord calls Himself the bright and morning Star. He does this because He is speaking of how He will give to His New Church a new and wonderful idea of God - a new knowledge filled with light and wisdom. And the new knowledge is that there is one God, who is the Lord Jesus Christ, and that He reveals Himself to us as a God of love and mercy, In human form. The human form, the Divine Human, is the gift that the Lord gave to us by His birth and His life on earth.

This is the morning Star: the one great truth through which we can see all truth, the star that was promised from ancient times, and burst from heaven as a light to lead the wise men.

When we look at the starry sky this Christmas, or when we put a star on our Christmas tree, or hang a star in our window, or make a star for our representation to lead the wise men and to show where the baby Jesus is, let us pray that the starlight about us is matched by the starlight within us. And it is, whenever we invite the Lord into our minds and our hearts. This is the Lord�??s whole desire for us, when we remember His birthday, and why Christmas, and His Christmas star, will be with us forever to light the way to heaven.”

This is what we celebrate at Christmas time, that we might say even as the angels did to the shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night so long ago:

�??For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord..�?? (Luke 2: 11)

May His Love fill your hearts and homes this Christmas.

Your Friend,
Pastor Ethan

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pastor Ethan — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:54:51 +0000

Well, we�??ve officially concluded the “Journey” small groups campaign for 2007, with wonderful results. (Check back soon for survey results and testimonials from participants - and visit www.newchurch.org for more information on “The Journey” campaign).

As we approach Thanksgiving, during what has been in many ways a trying time for our congregation, I�??m reminded very much of a Thanksgiving sermon by Bishop Louis King given several years ago, where he ties that message to the importance of healthy relationships which grow the Church in our hearts.

The Lord has given us the Word, not just so we will know the truth, but so that we may do what is good. For the Lord knows something that we frequently forget: true happiness is found in making other people happy; no one who is really selfish can be happy; selfishness is unhappiness.

The Lord wants everyone to be happy. More than anything else He wants us to make use of the truths He has given us. This is the real harvest, the harvest that the Lord loves more than the things that grow in the field. For the Lord loves the spiritual harvest of the good things that people do for each other, and to live according to truth is to do what is good. This is what we should remember on Thanksgiving Day, for Thanksgiving is a day of remembrance, a day set aside to think of the Lord and all the good things that He has done for us and to thank Him. And let us, in turn, do good to others so that all people may be happy in the Lord’s harvest.

Let�??s remember to �??be the church�?? to each other this Thanksgiving, so that we celebrate the Lord�??s true harvest, peace and true happiness among His Children.

Your friend,
Pastor Ethan

This Month: A New Spiritual Growth Campaign for Sower’s Chapel

Pastor Ethan — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 21:44:05 +0000

LOOK FOR OUR ADS ON CORNERSTONE TELEVISION (PITTSBURGH CHANNEL 40) STARTING SEPTEMBER 15TH.

Services of Worship Offered Every Wednesday at 8pm (Devotional Service) and Sunday at 10 am (Combined Service)

Go To Our “Events” Page And See Our September Small Group Meetings.
[Tel: (724)-353-2220.]

We’re looking forward to participating in our second General Church spiritual growth campaign, called The Journey. We’ll be kicking off our campaign on September 23rd and will continue with the focus on the Exodus story through November 11th.

The campaign is an opportunity to come together as a congregation and reach out to our community. A campaign has three core elements: 1) Sunday worship centered on a theme; 2) small group participation and 3) daily reading.

People who have participated in other spiritual growth campaigns say the following:

“During the campaign I gained an increased awareness of who I am, what I do, and that I am here for.”

“I have more focus and more intention to involve God in my day to day relations and actions. I have renewed my feeling that the New Church is the right place for me.”

“I’ve thought a lot more on how to be good and how to best live my life.”

“I’m bringing God into my life more frequently–actually on a daily basis. I’ve downloaded a reading guide and am reading the Word on a daily basis.”

“I feel more love for those around me, especially the ones I got to know better in my small group. Each person is so special and unique and learning more about their experiences/thoughts, etc�?�. I could relate, understand and love them more.”

“My Small Group deepened my relationship with the church; I felt tremendously supported; I really felt the Lord’s presence with how freely we shared and understood.”

“I met a great group of people in my small group. I realized that there was a reason in my life for each one of us to come together. This group alone was the most valuable part of the campaign for me.”

This campaign utilizes the book The Journey of Life: A Personal Meaning to the Exodus Story with Special Application to Marriage, by Tom Kline. The Journey of Life follows the Exodus story of the Israelite Nation and uses the Heavenly Doctrines to examine the Exodus story’s application to the spiritual journey every individual undertakes in his lifetime.

During the campaign we have the opportunity to commit to strengthening our spiritual life. To commit to coming to church for the 8 weeks of the campaign, to commit to being involved in a weekly small group and to commit to daily readings of selections from the Word and reflections in The Journey workbook.

It is an exciting opportunity to experience the power of our whole community coming together to work our spiritual journey, on all levels, in our lives. Eighteen General Church congregations will be embarking on this campaign this Fall�??The New Church of Boulder Valley, The New Church at Boynton Beach, Bryn Athyn Church, The New Church Buccleuch, Washington New Church, Glendale New Church, Glenview New Church, Ivyland New Church, The Philadelphia (Korean) New Church, Los Angeles New Church, Oak Arbor Church, Palo Alto New Church, New Church of Phoenix, Pittsburgh New Church, San Diego New Church, The Sowers Chapel, Sunrise Chapel, New Church Westville. Each of these communities (together with ours!) will be advertising this program to the community and personally inviting friends to join us in this effort.

Please join us starting September 23rd and spend the next eight weeks (until November 11th) working on our spiritual lives together.

See our contact page to get in touch, or for more information!

Happy New Church Day! (June 19th)

Pastor Ethan — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 21:14:10 +0000

This month (on the 19th) we mark the “Birthday of the Church” as the the Lord God Jesus Christ sent His disciples throughout the spiritual world to preach the good news that He alone reigns in heaven and on earth. The following article from the Vineyard site (found on www.newchurch.org) gives an outline of New Church Day and its meaning for our spiritual lives.

Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars…. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads (Revelation 12:1,3).

“And a great sign was seen in heaven” means a revelation by the Lord concerning His New Church in the heavens and on earth…. [B]y “a great sign seen in heaven” is understood revelation concerning the New Church (Apocalypse Revealed 532).

The apostle John saw many visions in heaven while he was on the island of Patmos. The Lord showed him these visions or signs so that he could write them down in the book of Revelation - the last book of the New Testament. One of the signs in heaven was a beautiful woman clothed with the sun, adorned with a crown of stars, and standing on the moon. John also saw a seven-headed dragon waiting nearby, threatening the woman and her unborn child. When the baby boy was born, he was lifted up to God and His throne to protect him. Then Michael and his angels fought the dragon and defeated him.

Centuries later, the Lord revealed that the visions described in the book of Revelation are prophecies about a New Church. These prophecies were fulfilled when the Lord gave a new revelation through Emanuel Swedenborg, which is called the Heavenly Doctrine for the New Church or simply the Writings. Swedenborg also revealed that the Lord started the New Church on June 19th, 1770, when He sent His twelve disciples throughout the spiritual world to preach the good news that the Lord Jesus Christ reigns. For this reason June 19th is celebrated as the birthday of the New Church - New Church Day - a time to reflect on the wondrous prophecies in the book of Revelation and their message for our lives.

Happy June 19th - and may God richly bless your summer.

Your friend,
Pastor Ethan

Virginia Tech

Pastor Ethan — Fri, 11 May 2007 14:07:01 +0000

This month, in recognition of the tragedy on Virginia Tech�??s campus, we turn our attention to how the Lord works with us through the challenges of our life, that in responding to Him we might find peace. Honoring our freedom and never forcing our hand, He knows we will grieve, and that�??s why we choose the theme for this issue to be: �??Our Comforter.�??

God Remembers�?�

Just as God remembered the covenant He made with Noah (which is the promise of new life when we are born again spiritually, and have overcome the influence of hell), we are told that He remembers all of our hopes and dreams, and all that we are doing to reach out to Him in a life of faith and love. He remembers the promise He makes with each of us, that we will always be His children and the sheep of His pasture, if we will only follow the Good Shepherd. The Lord Jesus Christ remembers us; as we are told, �??the Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.�??

And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.” (Gen 9:12-17)

“The day will come,” says the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the LORD. “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the LORD. “I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their family, saying, ‘You should know the LORD.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will already know me,” says the LORD. “And I will forgive their wickedness and will never again remember their sins.” (Jeremiah 31:31-33)

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:32-43)

‘And God remembered’ means the end of temptation and the start of renewal is clear from what comes before and after this. ‘God remembered’ in particular means His being merciful. His remembering is mercy, and this is attributed to Him especially when temptation is past because at that time new light is shining. As long as temptation lasts, a person assumes that the Lord is not present, for he is being harassed by evil spirits, so harassed in fact that sometimes he has so great a feeling of hopelessness as scarcely to believe in the existence of any God at all. Yet at such times the Lord is more present than that person can possibly believe. But once temptation subsides he receives comfort, and for the first time believes that the Lord is present. Consequently, because He appears to do so, ‘God’s remembering’ mentioned here means the end of temptation and the start of renewal. (AC 840)

God Comforts�?�

We know that God offers comfort to all who are seeking the path of life, because He is the fountain of mercy, peace, and goodness. He offers that comfort continually, allows us to find balance and renew our strength in Him, whether or not we always feel it working.

LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will listen to their cries and comfort them. (Psalm 10:17)

4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and your staff - they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

1 “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. 2 “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone and that her sins are pardoned. (Isaiah 40:1-2)

All praise be to God. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. (2 Co. 1:3-6)

In the Heavenly Doctrine

The Lord wills to have everyone near to Himself, so that they do not stand outside, that is, in the first heaven. His will is that they should dwell in the third heaven. and if possible not merely with Him but abiding in Him. Such is the nature of… the Lord’s love. (AC 1799)

May you find peace and hope in His love.

Your friend,
Pastor Ethan

The Path of Life

Pastor Ethan — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 20:50:48 +0000

Dear Friends:
As we prepare for Easter season, I wanted to share with you a sermon written by our Bishop, Rt. Rev. Thomas Kline, on the message of the Easter story �?? and the path to new life for all of us as we do the work to order our steps toward our own resurrection into eternal life. As we pause to reflect on our own journey, may we rejoice in the knowledge that the Good Fridays of our lives always lead to Easter Sundays.

With love �??
Pastor Ethan

The Path Of Life
by Rev. Thomas L. Kline
Lesson: Luke 24: 1-12

What is the first thing that comes into your mind when you think of Easter? You might think of the story of Palm Sunday, when the Lord rode into Jerusalem and the people placed palm branches on the ground before Him. Or you might think of that part of the Easter story when the Lord met with His disciples for the last time and told them how He would soon leave them and go up to heaven. Still another part of this story was when Jesus was crucified, and His body was put into the grave. But the most important part of Easter was when the Lord rose on the third day and showed Himself to His disciples.

You remember that Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, came to the sepulcher on Easter Sunday. They were very sad, because they thought that the Lord would no longer be with them. But what happened when they came to the place where the Lord’s body had been laid? Do you remember how the great stone in front of the sepulcher had been rolled away, and an angel was sitting there? The angel said to the women, “He is not here, but is risen.” The disciples were very happy then, because they knew that our Lord Jesus Christ was not dead, but that He had risen, and they would see Him again. This is the happiest part of the Easter story.

Now have you ever wondered why the Lord allowed all the things in the Easter story to happen? Why did the Lord have to be crucified and why did His body have to be put into the grave? Certainly, the Lord was powerful enough to stop anyone from hurting Him. There must have been some very good reason why the Lord allowed all these things to happen. And the Word tells us what this reason was. The Word tells us that the Lord allowed all these things to happen so He could bring people to heaven.
Did you know that before the Lord God came on earth, people had forgotten the way to heaven? In fact, before He came on earth, people had even forgotten that there was such a thing as heaven. The Lord had prepared a beautiful place for all people to live, but people on earth had forgotten how to get there. The path that went to heaven had been lost.
The path that leads to heaven is just like a path through a forest or a jungle. If someone has cut a path through a thick forest, people can get through the forest very easily-there are no branches or vines to get in their way. As long as people keep walking over this path, it remains clear. But what happens if a path is left alone and no one walks over it for many months? Have you ever seen how quickly a path can get covered? Vines and branches grow over the path, and soon it becomes so blocked that people cannot get through, even if they want to. Sometimes a path is even lost, and people forget that it was ever there.

The same thing had happened with the path that leads to heaven, just before the Lord came on earth. He had made a beautiful path, leading right up to heaven. He told people about this path in His Word. But, as people turned away from the Lord, fewer and fewer of them walked on the path. Slowly, the path became overgrown with evils and falsities, just as the path in a forest can become overgrown with vines and branches. The Lord feared that people would soon lose the path that went to heaven completely. He feared that those people who wanted to go to heaven would not be able to find their way.

The Lord knew that someone would have to clear the path. Someone would have to come down and go over each step of the path leading to heaven, cutting away all the evils and falsities which stood in the way. Of course, this person would have to be very powerful, someone very strong, with a large sword to cut his way through. Who do you think this person was? It would have to be the Lord, for no human being would be strong enough to fight against all those evils and falsities which stood in the way of heaven. This was the reason why the Lord came on earth.

Now where is the path that leads to heaven? It is not an ordinary path. It is a person’s life that leads to heaven. Your whole life, from the time you are born to the time you die and go to the other world, must follow this path which the Lord has given. Every person must go over this same path. The Lord Jesus Christ, in order to clear this path and free it from evils and falsities, had to go over each step of the path Himself. It is for this reason that the Lord had to be born on earth as a tiny baby, why He had to grow up and live as an adult, and, finally, why He even had to die and rise up to heaven. The Lord had to walk each step of the path leading to heaven. There was nothing He could leave out of the path of life, for He knew that people would soon follow Him. For this reason the Lord had to die, just like all human beings do, so He could finish clearing the last steps of the path that leads to heaven.

So, when you hear the Easter story, the first thing that comes into your mind should be the three words spoken by the angel, “He is risen.” These three words tell us the whole reason why the Easter story took place. The Lord came on earth to free humankind from the evils of the hells and to clear the path that leads to heaven. The Lord came on earth so that all people can rise and go to heaven to be with Him.

Amen.

Sharing What You Know

Pastor Ethan — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 19:59:15 +0000

SowerCast�?� podcast of the weekly message for March 18th, 2007 about the meaning of sacrificing animals “without blemish.” This week we’ll talk about the internal sense of this command. Many times in the Old Testament the Lord commanded the Children of Israel to sacrifice an animal that was “without blemish.” For us, this means sharing the truth from the Word that we’ve actually applied, and has actually made a difference in our lives.

Balance

Pastor Ethan — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:54:14 +0000

Balance
By: Rev. Ethan McCardell

Those who acknowledge the Lord and love to lead a life in keeping with His commandments are the ones who are enlightened when they read the Word and who have an understanding of it, not those who say they believe and do not lead such a life.
(AC 10659:3)

When you look at the history of the churches that have existed on the earth, you can notice a pattern of �??pendulum swings�??. The same exists today when we look at the world. There are those advocating all faith and no love, or all love no faith (all truth no good, etc). One of the things this is pointing to is a very real part of our wiring as human beings. Depending on our state, we focus on whatever will bring us the greatest short-term satisfaction.

If we are having trouble living the life of faith, but know that we believe in God, we can (if we�??re not careful) end up focusing on truths by themselves, (which the Heavenly Doctrines tell us aren�??t living). If we�??re okay with doing good things, but feeling uninspired to check out the doctrines, we tend to let whatever uses we�??re performing take over.

The point: the Lord advocates �??balance.�?? There was a tee-shirt I friend of mine used to wear in college that had this one word �?? BALANCE - printed in cursive across the center. I have to remind myself of this often as a minister, because sometimes in getting absorbed with study, I can �??lose the forest through the trees.�?? Yet, the Lord is very clear: we can�??t have one to the exclusion of the other if we are living the life that leads to heaven.

We�??re told, �??Those who acknowledge (one part faith) the Lord and love to lead a life (one part charity) in keeping with His commandments are the ones who are enlightened when they read the Word�?��??
So, if we wish to have any enlightenment at all, if we wish to see clearly the path to the kingdom of heaven-WE NEED BOTH. And the Lord told us the same when He said: �??He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.�?? (John 14:21)
This month, lets work together as a community to keep the God�??s Word, in faith AND life!