December 11, 2025
Child Endangerment!
“The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child will put his hand into the viper’s nest.”
Isaiah 11:8
The above verse if from our first reading for Sunday morning’s service. This is part of a larger description of the coming of the Messiah. Isaiah describes this coming deliverer as being the “shoot of the stump of Jesse.” (Isa. 11:1a) This is a reference to Jesse, the father of King David. Because of this prophetic message, it was tradition that when the Messiah did arrive, they would be a descendent of King David. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke take great care to share a genealogy that links Jesus to David for this reason.
What I would like to discuss today is the above quoted verse 8. Here we are told that when the Messiah comes things will be so peaceful that children will be able to cavort with poisonous snakes without any fear of tragedy occurring. What? How does that work? This sounds like an easy way to get locked up for child endangerment, does it not?
In fact, there was a time in the early and mid-20th century when snake handling was part of Christian religious practice for quite a few churches in the US. One would prove they were endowed with the Holy Spirit be handling various venomous snakes. If someone happened to be bitten and died from this practice, it was believed that it was, “their time.” This practice led to laws in many states that banned owning dangerous breeds of snakes.
We do not condone dangerous activities as being a benchmark for faith. Although eating the Pastor’s chili can sometimes be considered a bit dicey. Instead, we consider activities such as prayer, fellowship, and service as being marks of a person’s faith. While we await a time when Isaiah’s vision of a world that is ruled by peace and consideration, we must continue to worship the Lord and demonstrate our faith by loving the Lord, and the Lord’s creation, including all humanity. May it be so for us today.
Peace,
Pastor Chuck
December 10, 2025
Really?
“There is deceit in the heart of those who plot evil, but joy for those who promote peace.”
Proverbs 12:20
This morning’s verse for Proverbs Wednesday is another one of those verses from this book of wisdom that has me scratching my head. The first part of the sentence, “There is deceit in the heart of those who plot evil,” causes me to think, “Yeah, Duh!” That seems like a fairly obvious conclusion. Folks who plot evil usually are not to gifted in the empathy department. But what about the second part of the verse, is the promotion of peace a source of joy?
The important factor in this verse is what resides in the heart. The heart of an evil person drives them to seek to fulfill their own desires without regard for how this affects others. However, those who seek peace will be filled with joy. That joy is the engine that drives them to promote peace even in chaotic times. Their joy is inwardly driven, it may be affected by the situations of the world around them, but their joy can help them endure those challenges.
As we approach the celebration of Christmas it is important to recognize that the world continues to turn on its axis in this season. Life, both the good and the ill aspects of it, continues unabated. Children are born, people die, wars continue, the good and the evil continue their efforts. However, if we are among those who seek peace, we must not let our joy be lessened by the events around us. In the face of all that may seek to steal our delight in this season, we must remain faithful, strong, and committed to resist the greedy, evil, and deceitful of the world. May our efforts to be purveyors of peace, hope, joy, and love continue until we are able to overcome the evil we find in the world. May it be so for us today!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck
December 9, 2025
A Strange Greeting
“The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.”
Luke 1:28-29
Imagine being Mary in this encounter with the angel Gabriel. Our first consideration might be Mary’s age. While we do not know her exact age, history tells us that the average Jewish girl would have been in her mid-teens when she was betrothed. Also, in most encounters with angels in the Gospels, there is an attendant amount of fear on the part of the person the angel visits. The appearance of Gabriel to the priest Zechariah causes Zechariah to be, “… gripped with fear.” (Luke 1:12b) So, one can imagine that there was a certain amount of trepidation in Mary’s mind.
The words of the angel also may have been a bit confusing. How and why was she highly favored? What had she done to earn honor in the eyes of the Lord? How is the Lord with her in any special way? If we were to read further, we would find that Gabriel explains that Mary is going to be with child. Not just any child, but the Son of the Most High, who will be given the throne of King David. These words are confusing to Mary considering she is still a virgin.
If we were to put ourselves in Mary’s shoes, this would be both scary and inconceivable. (see what I did there) For her to become pregnant during her betrothal time would be scandalous. How could she explain this occurrence to her family and friends, never mind what Joseph’s reaction might be. Gabriel explains what will occur to Mary and she makes an enormous leap of faith stating. “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38) The rest, as they say, is history.
Chances are that you have never encountered an angel, at least not one that self identifies as an angel. Even if you did, you probably not disclose that interaction openly. That disclosure might bring you much unwanted attention. However, you may have had moments in your life where the Lord has touched in some way. Perhaps through a chance meeting, the quiet words of a friend when you needed them most. Those instants are not always recognized for their significance until when seen in the rear-view mirror, but they do occur. May we, in the days that form the balance of our Advent journey, keep our eyes open and our senses attuned so that we may glimpse the work of angels in our midst. Or, better yet, may we seek to do the work of angels in the life of another!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck
December 8, 2025
One Way?
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
Some people may find this concerning, but I have always struggled with the above passage from the Gospel of John. Many folks understand these words to mean that the only way to connect to the Lord is through belief in Jesus. For me that path feels too exclusive. Yes, I believe in Christ, but what about those people who believe in a different way to relate to the Lord. What about the Jewish faith? What about all the other faiths? What about people who live in remote lands that had not heard of Christ, are they excluded due to geography? Would the Lord restrict access to belief so that only Christians have a true connection?
So, you see my struggle, I have an enormously difficult time believing that the God of my understanding would exclude a huge portion of humanity. If God expects us to welcome all who come to our door seeking belief, the Lord must also have room for those adrift in faith. If we build our faith around the concept that ours is the only way to the Lord, are we being arrogant? What if we are wrong, or are misinterpreting what we read here?
The Good News here is that it is not for us to decide who is right and who is wrong, if indeed there is a right or wrong answer to this debate. What matters most is our faith journey. If we believe, and we follow Christ’s teaching about loving the Lord and each other, we cannot be too far from the correct path. If we do not scorn or exclude people, if we do not discriminate against others whose beliefs are not in lockstep with ours, we will be true to ourselves and the Lord. May it be so for us today!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck
December 4, 2025
Not Route 6!
“And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it.”
Isaiah 35:8
The above verse from Isaiah is not, repeat not, a reference to Route 6. While some may consider the main highway to the Cape the road to a place that is special to them. However, it cannot be the Way of Holiness because we can often see wicked fools driving on it. The words from Isaiah are not about any part of our country’s interstate highway system. Instead, it describes the pathway for the remnant of Israel to return home from exile. Isaiah references the road leading home often, usually emphasizing how it is smooth, safe, and created by the Lord for the Lord’s people.
I do not pretend to know what it is like to live in exile, separated from your homeland, living in a society that is different from what you are accustomed to. It must be difficult beyond imagination. Yet, even in the time that many of the Jewish people were living in a foreign land, they found ways to stay focused to their beliefs. While it is true that a significant part of the exiles became assimilated into the Assyrian society, enough remained true to their beliefs to be able to rebuild Jerusalem and Judah upon their return home.
The feeling of disconnection that is the central malady of exile, can happen to us even when we are in our homeland. When difficult times befall us, as individuals, families, or as a society, we can feel isolated. We long for the connections we remember. That ability to offer a place where people feel they belong is one of the foundations of a healthy church body. It is our duty to make room for everyone, to find a place where they feel welcomed, valued, and can carve out a stronger relationship with the Lord and the Lord’s people. May we always strive to be that place where all are truly welcomed and valued!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck