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Published: 10 August 2019

It’s summer, this is a silly way to start this blog but here we go.  I’m not a “snow-mobile guy.”  I have never owned one, maintained one or actually even wanted one.  However, I have participated in several snow-mobile retreats.  Someone loans me a “machine,” or I rent a “sled” so I can join the fun.  The people I have joined on these events are in fact, snow-mobile people.  They do this for fun all winter, so they drive fast, and generally know what they are doing.  When travelling at night on a groomed trail, at 50-60 mph, one must keep a sharp eye on one thing—the tail lights of the machine ahead.  This is important for several reasons.  First, it’s very easy to get lost.  Second, if said machine stops in a hurry, there can be disaster.  As to the first reason; the person that one is following is following another person, who is following another person, who is following another person, who is following another person, who is following a leader that has a map.    As long as the first person is on the right trail, all is well.  However, if the person in the lead makes a wrong turn, all the followers…follow.  Getting twenty snow-mobiles turned around at the end of a dead end trail is NOT fun.  However, it is possible, and the ride continues.  Life is a little like that.  It matters who we follow.  When Paul wrote, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ,” he was making a clear statement about who has the map!  It’s Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the One who knows the way.  It’s best to take to the trails with Him.  He will not lead us astray.  If we get lost, He will come for us because He knows where we are—even when we don’t.  Friends, “let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”

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Published: 02 August 2019

Potluck is a funny term, “not funny, ha, ha, but funny peculiar.”  Here is a cobbled-up definition of potluck from a number of sources, “A communal gathering where each guest contributes a dish to be shared and people take a chance in attending that whatever is available will prove to be acceptable.”  Growing up in Baptist circles, I have attended more potlucks than I can count.  Most of them were very acceptable.  Our New Testament history reveals that potluck is as old as the church.  In the early days, potluck was known as the “love feast.”  The practice being; those who had food would bring it and share it with those who didn’t.  God’s love was experienced communally through His provision and as someone has said, “God’s love was made edible.”  Following the meal, the local church would then have Communion in remembrance of Christ the Lord.  Lord willing, we plan to study on Sunday what Paul wrote to the “First Dysfunctional Church of Corinth.”  According to the letter, some of the Corinthian believers decided they didn’t want to share their food so they came early and ate with their friends.  They drank the wine and ended up drunk by the time of Communion and, they had the audacity to shun those who didn’t have the means to bring food!  It was an evil potluck.  Imagine being a visitor at that church.  Apparently they were hoping for a commendation from Paul for their creativity but Paul was not about to praise their selfishness.  After all, whose table was it anyway?  The Lord’s Table!  And, since Paul was pointing them to Christ, he reminded them that the Lord’s people should reflect the Lord Jesus at the Lord’s Table…in remembrance of Him.  I hope you can join us Sunday “in remembrance of Him.”