Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians4:6

From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’ The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’” And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. Jonah 2:1-10

Because preachers speak so often, most people would be surprised to hear that a preacher would be at a loss for words. However, after witnessing the proliferation of the Covi virus and its domino effect on our way of life, I honestly do not know how to respond. It is at these times we consult God through prayer and the scripture for guidance. Paul, in the letter to the Philippians passage listed above, admonishes the faithful to approach all situations with prayer so we are not overcome with anxiety.

The book of Jonah records the story of Jonah the reluctant prophet who did not wish to follow God’s directive for him to go to Nineveh and preach to a city of people who were living lawless lifestyles, so they might repent and avoid utter destruction. Because he did not like the Ninevites and couldn’t care less if they were destroyed, his response was to board a ship headed to Tarshish in the opposite direction. According to the story, God sent a storm that stopped the ship’s forward progress.

In order to move forward, Jonah had to be removed from the ship, and he was cast into the raging sea. Miraculously he survived drowning by being swallowed by a great fish and dwelling inside this great fish for three days. While being isolated in the depths he had time to reflect on his decisions. According to the story, he prayed to God.

In response to Jonah’s prayer of repentance, which is listed in the Jonah passage above, God allowed the fish to upchuck Jonah onto the beach near Nineveh. In keeping with his promise to God, Jonah walked through the city of Nineveh crying out to the wicked residents that they were facing impending doom within 40 days unless they repented. To Jonah's surprise they heeded the warning, expressed signs of repentance of their sins, and showed a reverence for God. The city was spared destruction.

To pray is to have a conversation with God. Why not hold conversations with God? After all, we talk to everyone else. To repent means to simply turn around or change direction and to go another way. There is nothing magical about refraining from or turning away from practices that will bring harm to you or others. In the story passage above, both the Ninevites and Jonah had to change direction and mindset.

During this time of pandemic, some people may feel as if they are in a great fish, isolated with plenty of time to reflect. During Jonah’s time of isolation, he decided that to follow God’s purpose for his life was the better choice. When he preached in Nineveh, those in the city who heard his words decided that to follow God’s directive was the better choice as well. In what ways do we as an individual, as a family, as a nation need to turn away from or make better choices in order to survive? Pray for our nation and our world because we are in a “big fish” situation. God delivered Jonah and the people of Nineveh because of their prayers of repentance, and I am confident that prayer will make a difference for us.

And the God of grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself, restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. -1 Peter 5:10

After a lengthy winter, we look forward to spring when the trees begin to bloom after their months of slumber. I love springtime because it births new life and is the preface to summer.

One Easter as my family and I returned from church, we noticed that the dogwood tree that sits in our front yard had seemingly blossomed overnight; bare limbs one day and in full bloom covered with white fluffy flowers the next. While it felt to us as if it occurred suddenly overnight, things were actually happening beneath the surface inside our tree and others plants. And what was working on the inside began to be displayed by bursting forth onto the outside. Just a few months previously, this same tree had lost its leaves as if it were dying and losing its vitality forever. However, we understand that trees go through this cycle as nature allows trees and plants to weather the seasons.

Fall, winter, spring and summer are reminders that God is always at work sustaining us. As we come to the end of winter, those of you who like to plant gardens will begin to gather seeds for a time of sowing with the expectation of reaping a harvest. In the 1 Peter passage above, the writer shares how God, through grace, restores and makes those who trust strong and steadfast.

God does not only continue this system of restoring what was lost for plants, but for the believers as well.

With God we are able to look forward to the new life and new growth that God is preparing for us through God’s Holy Spirit, a Holy Spirit that remains with us through all of the seasons.

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people.’ ”  Luke 2:10

Each year at Christmas time I am reminded of those Christmases of my past as a child when I couldn’t wait to get to sleep in order for Santa to arrive.  I enjoyed all of the accouterments of the Christmas experience such as decorations, the holiday songs, visits from friends and relatives, Christmas dinners, and most importantly the toys and gifts.

Sadly most of those relatives who were present then have gone on to their heavenly reward, and those days and precious moments are now only memories. However, I will treasure those times forever.

While Christmas is a time of great joy for many, it can also be a time of sadness for others depending on their circumstances. For some, Christmas may only be a reminder of what they don’t have, such as lack of funds, no family, or the loss of family members. It may bring about feelings of fear or despair.

In the Luke passage above the angels arrived suddenly and unexpectedly to give a message to shepherds that the messiah was born. Although they were fearful, God’s message was one of good news, joy, and hope.

Christ‘s entrance into the world is about more than a holiday and a time of gift giving. Rather it’s about sharing an everlasting relationship with a loving God who will never abandon us. Why not visit someone you know who may be alone or not near family during the Christmas season and brighten their day by your presence. As an ambassador for Christ, take the message of God's good news.

Have a blessed Christmas season.

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

A few days ago I was headed to Lancaster for a meeting, and the clock was working against me. I was running late. In reaction to the possibility of being late, it seemed to me that all of the cars in front of me in Lancaster city were driving too slowly, and every red traffic light I encountered was lasting too long. Suddenly it occurred to me that I needed to be at peace within, because I could not control these external circumstances. What could I use to distract me from these slow drivers and long traffic lights?

I began to pray for calmness, and I began to observe my surroundings and noticed things I had not seen before, such as new construction or a house I had never seen before that had clearly been in place many years. As I began to notice my surroundings after prayer, I began to be thankful for things, such as having an automobile with heat and a radio, being able to drive, and even having a job to go to. I was reminded through that situation that I should pray, be at peace and to be thankful.

In the passage above, Paul the Apostle invites the people in the church of Colossae to allow the peace of Christ to take control of their hearts and spirits so they as part of Christ might be unified and thankful.

As Christians and members of the church, sometimes we may miss all the positive and meaningful things that are occurring around us on our faith journey due to external circumstances such as busy schedules or personal concerns.

If you are not feeling overwhelmed that’s great. However  the upcoming holiday season may actually ramp up impatience and frustration as we encounter crowded parking lots, long lines to stand in, and gatherings with extended family members.

In the midst of it all of those things, please find peace, appreciate some things, and be thankful to God. Recently I found this sign posting that sums up this article perfectly, “Thanksgiving is Thanks Living.“

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. (Matthew 21:28-31)

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8)

When I was a teen I enjoyed watching my favorite television programs more than anything, and sometimes it got me into trouble with my parents. On one occasion I was engaged in a TV show when my Mother gave me a directive to either take out the garbage or clean up the kitchen. Whenever I was asked to complete a chore while watching an exciting program I would say, “Sure, I’ll get the chore immediately after the program goes off.” You guessed it. By the time the program ended, I had forgotten what I promised and went to bed. Although I had forgotten, it did not mean my mother had done so the next morning I would be awakened by a disappointed parent with a scowl on her face. “Why didn’t you clean up the kitchen or take out the garbage?” she would ask. I would give my famous line, “Mom, I forgot.” And then I would run to do what she had requested of me.

In the midst of busyness, it’s easy to forget something important. On Facebook I read a post from a lady who described how, in rushing somewhere, she accidentally put on two mismatched black shoes, and she posted the photo for all to see. Sometimes we overload our schedules, and in so doing forget something important to us or promised to someone else. It happens.

Recently I have received several new members into the Covenant family, and each time this occurs the congregation is reminded of its promise to God and the church family through the words we recite as part of the new members’ reception during worship. Specifically, we agree to support the mission of God through our church by offering our gifts, talents, prayers, presence, and witness.

In the Matthew passage above, Jesus provides a parable about two sons and their responses to their father’s request. One son when asked to do the chore said he would not do what was requested, but later he changed his mind and complied. The other son agreed to do the chore initially, but didn’t fulfill its promise. I believe the point of the story is that it’s okay to change your mind and follow the father’s request later.

Many of us today have such heavy schedules in our lives that it is difficult to find time to serve in the church, and, as a result, we have a Pareto Principle or the 80/20 Principle. This principle describes how 100 % of the work is done by 20% of the people. If you have been unable to be active in the church for reasons beyond your control but things have now changed, please let me or members of the Nominations Team know.

Over the years we have worn out some of our faithful members by asking them to wear so many hats continually. We simply need a few more people who feel led to say as Isaiah the prophet did in the passage above, “Here am I, send me.”

In closing, if you haven’t had time to work in the church in the past due to a hectic schedule, it’s okay to start now. God knows your heart, and your church family will appreciate anything you can do to assist in the work of the church and the building of God’s kingdom.

I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. (1 Cor. 3:6)

Recently I read a book entitled, Dying to Grow: Reclaiming the Heart for Evangelism in the Church by Nathan Lorick. I want to share this quote with you.

"We were spending our time planning to attract people, when we should have been out ministering to people. We were investing in programs and methods, when we should have been utilizing our resources to meet needs and share the gospel."

A few days ago I was thinking about how to pay off my home mortgage sooner, and the more I reflected on that I felt the solution was to earn more income. But while pondering this I ran across an article that suggested how focusing on money would never lead to earning more money. It then suggested that the solution is to focus on blessing and investing in more people and the rest would take care of itself.

As congregations seeks to survive, sometimes they feel as if its their job to bring in more members, not necessarily to lead them to salvation and discipleship, but for the purposes of sharing the workload and lessening the financial burden. While desiring to preserve the church is admirable, it has a flawed motive and may displace the congregation’s focus.

In the book Start With The Why, Simon Sinek discusses right motives for success using companies like Apple and Southwest Airlines as examples. Each became successful by focusing on the why more than the how or what when creating their businesses. Apple’s why was they wanted to improve information access for all people, and the why for Southwest was centered on affordable transportation for all. The why for followers of Christ must involve leading people to salvation, period.

Nathan Lorick in the book Dying to Grow used the above quote to describe how his congregation needed to change direction from seeking strategies and plans to grow the church to simply finding ways to bless more people.

To me this is synonymous with Paul’s explanation to the church of Corinth that God has a process, and He and other followers of Christ each contribute to the building of the kingdom. The Apostle Paul uses the analogy of planting seeds in a garden with the expectation of a harvest. As we plant by fasting, praying, and creating new venues to share our life changing faith with others, we do it trusting God will send the increase.

Have a great rest of your summer!

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.” (John 17:20)

Every now and again I will wear the attire of my two favorite teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens. I like the team colors more than anything else. However, when I don these team hats and or clothing, people respond in one of two ways, positively or negatively. Either they begin to talk about key players or the overall performance and/or stats of the team with enthusiasm OR they see me as a rival and become offended when they see me proudly displaying Ravens or Steelers paraphernalia. 

Because I am a nominal fan at best, I could not intelligently engage in the enthusiastic conversation or debate with those offended so I would simply nod in agreement or shrug my shoulders. Ultimately I had to consider how what I chose to wear made a difference in what people thought about me, or what message I may have been conveying.  

In the John passage above, after Jesus prayed for his disciples, he began to also pray for the people his followers would lead to Christ through their witness. Thinking futuristically, Jesus knew the power of a positive impact on non-believers through the messages of faithful followers. 

As we travel this summer and interact with others, we may want to consider what we might intentionally display to point others to Christ.  

Back to my story; in case you are wondering how it ended. Although I was wearing team paraphernalia primarily because I liked the colors, there was an expectation by other people that I was an avid fan when in fact I am not. Because I knew about this expectation, I began to watch the games and read the stats, so I might at least engage in a somewhat intelligent conversation around the teams for which I was wearing the team hats or t-shirts.

Taking a lesson from that we as believers should always be well versed in the Bible and prepared to share the message of Christ to whomever may inquire.  Have a great summer. 

When the Israelites were at Rephidim, they were attacked by the Amalekites. So Moses told Joshua, “Have some men ready to attack the Amalekites tomorrow. I will stand on a hilltop, holding this walking stick that has the power of God.” Joshua led the attack as Moses had commanded, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur stood on the hilltop. The Israelites outfought the Amalekites as long as Moses held up his arms, but they started losing whenever he had to lower them. Finally, Moses was so tired that Aaron and Hur got a rock for him to sit on. Then they stood beside him and supported his arms in the same position until sunset. That’s how Joshua defeated the Amalekites. (Exodus 17:8-13)

The evangelist Billy Graham would often go to the capitol of our nation to counsel and pray with and for our leaders. He understood that those who lead need God’s guidance in their decision making. An illustration of leadership support is emphasized in the Exodus passage above.
In the  account, Moses is informed by God that the Israelites are going into battle against the Amalekites, and God’s provision is that, as long as Moses’ arms are raised, God’s people will be victorious against their enemies. But should Moses’ arms fall, the enemy will win.  As long as the leader looks to God and lifts up the staff, and the people look to the leader, the people will win. On the other hand should the leader tire and lower his hands, the enemy will be victorious. We know from scripture that Moses was in constant conversation with God, and as leaders we must always keep our arms lifted in prayer and praise. But sometimes lengthy battles or difficult circumstances may zap our strength. It is in those times of limited strength when we need the support of others.  

In the Exodus passage above, the battle raged on for a lengthy period of time. As it continued, Moses legs began to weaken. So Aaron and Hur sat him on a stone to rest. After a while longer his arms began to tire, and under the weight of the staff his arms slowly began to lower. Subsequently the Israelite soldiers began to lose to their opponents.

As I reflect on this story, two things could have occurred. One is that Aaron or Hur could have simply stood by as Moses lowered his arms and accepted defeat as God's will. The second is that they could have assumed it was more important for the staff to be raised than for a weakened Moses to hold it and therefore lifted it themselves. 

Because Aaron and Hur understood that Moses had this pact with God,  they made no attempt to assume Moses’ role in holding the staff, but to instead assist Moses by lifting his arms for him. Their trust in God and their faith in Moses led to God’s people prevailing in battle. 

What I glean from this passage is that Godly leaders have a great responsibility, but they are not called to do it alone. and their decisions impact others and ultimately lead to success or failure. 

Prayer and encouragement are the greatest supports we can offer for those who lead us. Therefore let us "lift the arms" of our leaders with our support, and we will find that, with God, we will win the difficult battles that arise. Let us continue to pray for those who lead us; especially those in the church. 

Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

In the above passage God gave the law to the Israelites the second time just prior to them entering the Promised Land. On this occasion he gave them a choice with consequences for the choice they had to make. Choose life and its blessing or death and its curses. This past week the leaders of our congregation gathered to create a strategic plan to lengthen the life and vitality of Covenant Church. Our vision statement is “Being Christ’s light in the Community and Beyond.” This implies that our church will be intentional about sharing and spreading the love of Christ by modeling his behavior both within the walls of our edifice and outside into the world. To accomplish the vision, we have created a four-pronged mission statement to Invite, Welcome, Nurture, and Serve.

• To Invite: Inviting involves fostering relationships outside the church that will lead to bringing new persons to the church through word of mouth, events, and advertising.
• To Welcome: Once people have been invited, we will make sure they feel welcomed. And to accomplish this we will create a set of practices to assure people who visit our church feel welcome from the moment they enter until they exit.
• To Nurture: Nurture will focus on teachings to strengthen the spiritual growth of our members of all ages.
• To Serve: This involves creating new ways for all members to enthusiastically serve in the church based on their God given gifts and talents.

As the leadership team continues to map out the specific details, I ask each member to prayer for the spiritual, numerical, and relational growth of Covenant church. God continues to call his people to choose life. And we as a church embrace that choice and choose to live and thrive, and, as we grow, God gets the glory.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:43-45

April showers bring May flowers. What does that mean? It means that rain brings forth fruit.

In most movies, except for ones where the main theme is the desire for desperately needed rain to end a famine or drought, rain depictions exemplify enduring, trying, and troubling circumstances. Think of any movie or TV scene where a man, woman, or family find themselves standing outside in a drenching rain. It’s heartbreaking as we witness  these people, without shelter, either standing or sitting in the relentless downpour.

Some people view life as a fatalistic journey where we are born, live, and die without any control over what happens to us. We simply endure a soaking uncontrollable rain of events and circumstances. 

But if we borrow another illustration from nature, we find that there is hope after the rain. From the rain springs hope. Without the rain nothing would grow; there would be no water to drink and subsequently no life at all. 

I recall a rhyme we sang back in elementary school, “Rain, rain, go away-come again another day.” We sang about rain as a problem, a damper on our fun. As kids we only wanted the sunshine so we could play. However, we soon learned that we need the rain, and we need the showers of God’s blessings.

Rain produces crops and growth. Spiritually, what looks like the rain of despair and disappointment is merely the influence that brings forth a crop of growth and trust in God.

Jesus discusses, in the scripture passage from Mark,  a difficult task---loving one’s enemies. He further emphasizes how God blesses all, not only a chosen few, by providing rain and sunshine to everyone. As followers of Christ, we should desire what Christ wants, which is to show love to all of God’s creation including those who do not know God yet. Christ gave the ultimate sacrifice by dying to save sinners.

A part of our spiritual growth is understanding that  Christ's followers are encouraged by the Holy Spirit within to shower the blessing of God’s love onto others, even those we consider enemies. In fact, instead of considering those who oppose us as enemies let’s view them as future friends. Let’s rain the love of Jesus upon them not based on what they have done, but on how Jesus sacrificed his life for all.