The one that the Son sets Free
I just recently accepted the Call to pastor Our Savior's Rocky River Lutheran Church, and was officially installed on March 1, 2009. I had been serving them as a supply pastor since November 2008 and we did seem to be a marriage made in heaven, pretty much right of the bat. One of the things that started going around the church was "He laughs, and you can actually talk to him." and "he is so down to earth, and so approachable." Needless to say I was blessed by these vicious roomers floating around the church.
We just this past Sunday received 10 new members into our congregation (the first time since 2004 that Our Savior’s has taken in new members and worship attendance is up from 70 to 90 and it seems to be steadily increasing (alleluia!). I have had numerous people tell me that they have been challenged by the Word that they are receiving and that they particularly love the “little tricks you give us that help us make the Word become flesh in us.”
This brings me to (I will call her) Janet a young mother in our congregation who has been dealing with some unresolved hurt and anger in her life. I have been teaching a series “The Secret of Peace” the past few Sundays, and Janet call me on the Monday morning after the second part of the series and shared the story with me. I perceived that she really felt the need to bare her soul. There was a sacredness about the way she presented her feelings, a spirit of penitence. “I don’t like having these feelings, I know it’s not right” she said to me. After she told me her story, I began to ask her some questions to establish the foundation of her faith and her beliefs. Then I asked her if she wanted to be done with these feelings and emotions that she had described as undesirable and that certainly did not honor God. She said, “YES! That is why I called.”
At this point I began to lead her in the “Bitter Root to Jesus Pattern.” I had her get a clear picture of Jesus in front of her and when she had it I asked her to point to where He was and to tell me how close He was to her and I asked her to see Him approaching closer and I asked her what she felt as He drew closer. A sense of peace and calm came over her; I could even hear it in her voice. I asked her to just bask in Jesus’ light and love for a few moments and drink in all of the feelings of being in His presence. Then I asked her to hold her hands out in front of her and gather all of the “negative” feelings that she had described earlier into a ball and to feel the weight of those unresourceful feelings. “Now Janet the Bible tells us to cast all of our cares upon Him because He cares for us, do you believe that?” “Yes” she said. Then give that heavy ball and all the unresourceful feeling associated with it to Jesus.” She told me that she did feel the heaviness of the ball and when she gave it to Jesus she felt the weight of it leave as Jesus took the ball from her hands. Then I had her (with Jesus still before her) see her mother and point to where she is, and with your finger just move her over to be with Jesus.
Well, to make a long story short when we were finished and I had her break state. I had her try to find those old feelings, bless God she tried and just could not find them anywhere. I saw her at church the following Sunday and she ran up to me with this huge smile on her face and she said, “Pastor, I still can’t find those old feelings, I feel free.” I said to her, “The one that the Son sets free is free indeed!”
I hope this little testimonial encourages someone, as Uncle Bob Bodenhamer (my teacher and beloved friend) says, Let’s Getter done!!!”
Starting Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 7:00pm we will begin a teaching series titled “Escape the Matrix.” The focus of this training is on “how” to apply the Word of God to your life “experientially”.
Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. Romans 12:2 AMP
The location is Our Savior’s Rocky River Lutheran Church 20300 Hilliard Boulevard - Rocky River, OH 44116 for more information call the church at 440-331-1773.
Til next time…
Blessings,
Charles
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Download | Duration: 00:03:07
Every day is filled with opportunities to respond to someone's behavior, to make decisions, to offer advice, to be of help to others and to give the world the best of who we are. Yet in today's microwave society there's a certain amount of pressure to be able to have the instant answer, to 'know' what to do, to be the expert and to appear omniscient at high-speed. We race to impress and respond swiftly out of what is usually our limited view of the circumstances.
Rarely do we take the time to even consider that we may not have enough information. We rush to judgment rather than ask simple questions, or seek alternative and wiser perceptions. We all can remember a recent situation when we felt compelled to respond in haste only to discover later a different response may have been more resourceful.
It's sometimes easy to forget that taking a few moments to step back and reflect on the situation might bring about a better outcome, more clarity, more ecological balance and sense to the issue at hand. Or that maybe we don't need to have the answer at all. Maybe our role is to coach and empower others to find the answers for themselves. If only we took the time.
Part of the power of the “Escape the Matrix – Life Transformation Program” is that it helps you slow down and respond with a wiser intelligence, not a knee jerk reaction to something we haven't allowed ourselves to reflect on more carefully. Next time you’re swamped with information, take the extra minute and see what a difference it can make. If you think you don’t have time to get thoughtfully perceptive, you certainly won’t have the time to fix the situation later. Taking the time first can save time and demonstrate that you care. Others will appreciate it.
Until next time… Blessings,
Charles
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