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Wednesday, 31 March 2010
Friends,
Holy Week....Maundy Thursday...Good Friday....Easter...make the story of faith in Christ...real. Each part of the story adds to the depth and description of why Jesus did what he did.
Take a look at this clip:
This week is about...real. A real God for you and for me...to be real in our stories...real in our celebrations...real in our tough times...real with salvation...real with hope.
Real with his love.
Lord, thank you for not being plastic. Amen
Still in One Peace,
ps
Pastor Steve Biegner
Monday, 29 March 2010
Friends,
It's the Monday of Holy Week. In some church traditions, there is a whole bunch of significance to each day of Holy Week. Not so much in the Lutheran Church (or at least the one I serve in).
Monday, much like we like to do in our "regular" work week, is sort of a throw away day. We're just trying to get through it. And I imagine, on some level, so was Jesus.
"Palm Sunday" was yesterday. Jesus entered Jerusalem. People cheered. Crowds roared. They threw palm branches out in front of him to pave the way. It was a time of rejoicing. Their new Messiah, the one that they thought would restore them to power, was here! Wahoo for the Jews, eh? (That's what the Jews from the Great White North would have said)
But by the next day already, that changed.
So "Monday" is the time period that we might equate with the party hangover (not that I've ever experienced such a time period, but I'll go on what people tell me). Jesus knew what he was rolling into town to do and now, after all the hoopla was over, the plot began to unfold...the lying started...the deception began...the traitor spoke out...the powers that were threatened started to recoil quickly...and the mood went back to...normal.
Has that ever happened in your spiritual life? Your "regular" life? The highs and lows of following Christ or figuring out Christ go back and forth, high and low, peace and turmoil, right and wrong?
And sometimes that high and low switch as fast as two consecutive days? Or even hours?
Some good news for us as Holy Week begins, as our flouting faith and consistency flip flops and spins around, is that Jesus doesn't. Monday does not stop Jesus from going to the cross for us. Neither will our Tuesdays. Or our Wednesdays. He just keep going because the love he has for us is bigger than our imperfections and doubts, our highs and lows. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8
Jesus is the same, whether we celebrate it or not.
Jesus is the same, whether we comprehend the love or not.
Jesus is the same, whether the world gets the full story or not.
Jesus is the same, for you, whether you believe it or not!
The highs of Sundays will come. And so will the changes of Mondays. But in all of it, all of our mood swings of faith, Jesus will remain...yesterday, today and forever!
Lord, thanks for continuing! Amen
Still in One Peace,
ps
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Friends,
Good listeners are hard to find! So if you can find one, cherish that relationship.
In my couple years walking around this crazy place called Life, I've found that there are a lot more "good talkers" than "good listeners." Sometimes the good talkers even dress up in good listener disguises to make you think they want to listen, but actually they just want to talk some more and hear their own voice. Very annoying actually.
We all have a need to be heard...and listened to...and if we can't find those good listeners to fill that need, bad things happen. We isolate. We shut down. We become an easier target for depression and emotional pain. And sometimes even the Devil (evil, darkness, bad choices...insert your favorite word/image here).
God knew we had this need (remember, he's got this Creator thing going on). So many times in the Bible we hear the Lord, the prophets, the writers, Jesus, and a whole bunch of other Bible dudes tell us to turn to God...that God WILL listen. And they don't say, "Be perfect first" or "Make sure you have a great relationship with me first." No, they say if ANYONE wants to be heard, and wants to hear about God's amazing love and grace for us, his will for us...he will hear you!
"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." 1 John 5:14 (NKJV)
We ALWAYS have a God who listens...and hears...our hearts, our hopes, our screw-ups, our mistakes, our needs, and our pains. There are good listeners around you! They are there. Sometimes we need to put some work into finding/building/celebrating those relationships in the real world, at school, work and home. But they are there!
If you feel like there is no one to listen to you, please talk to me and I will help you find someone! If you have a good listener already, thank them. And also, reach out around you to those who need to be heard as well! You might just be a better listener than you think!
But in the meantime, in between and during those conversations with the good listeners that God has placed in your life...go to the Source...the One who died for us so that we would know forever that he is listening!
Lord, thanks for listening. Amen
Still in One Peace,
ps
Pastor Steve Biegner
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
Friends,
Pressing on...
"Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13,14
Are you pressing on today?
And what goal are you moving toward?
The writer of Philippians is talking about a pretty big goal. Maybe you read that and say, "I don't have the energy for that huge goal!" Or, "I don't have the faith life to focus on that!" Or, "I'm too imperfect and messed up to achieve that one!"
I've said all those things. So here's what I did/do...
put one foot in front of the other! (Anyone remember that song from the old animated Christmas show "Santa Claus is coming to town?" Love that show!)
Sometimes faith gets a much more complex wrap than it deserves...like we've got to believe and understand 47 things before we're given God's love and forgiveness in return. That's junk!
Our invitation today is to simply do this: keep your eyes on the prize. It's simple. You can boil it down to getting through the week, the day...maybe even the hour. And to do that, just put one step in front of the other.
Sometimes life can overwhelm you and make bad choices look good. Sometimes hurts and fears and darkness can make more hurts and fears and darkness seem like good choices.
But I think the advice from this writer is solid: forget what lies behind. Forget.
And then focus on God's love for you. Focus on how much you are loved by many. Focus on the fresh start that God is ready to offer you. Focus on the hope, however clouded it may seem, that is still there because of this thing we celebrate called Easter.
That's the prize.
So move toward it, as slowly or as swiftly as you are currently able.
Pressing on....
Lord, give me the strength and energy to press on. Amen
Still in One Peace,
ps
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
Friends,
Happy St. Patty's Day!
I own only one green shirt...it's a sweater actually. So, I'm a bit Irish today, me laddy. (That's an Irish saying, right?)
I actually have a small percentage of Irish in me. Biegner's are a bit of European mutts. Back in the day, we seem to have gotten around in the Old Country and have about 10% of most every nationality in us. Works out well for St. Patty's, Dingus Day, Italian Festival, French Fry Parties (I actually have no idea what French People's Day is) and several other fun parties...to allow us to "reconnect with our heritage" and represent!
So at each celebration, you put on the clothes...the colors...the costumes...and try to fit in.
What about the other days? What are you wearing then?
Sometimes in life, we actually end up putting on clothes for awhile...an event...a mistake...an attempt to fit in...that don't represent who we are or who we are supposed to be. I know I have! And do. What about you? It's time to change out of those clothes.
The Bible is full of those stories of people who have mis-stepped, mis-represented and mistaked (Biegnerism). But in each of those stories, there is one God connected to them, yearning for their return. "Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he the child I delight in? As often as I speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore I am deeply moved for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says the Lord." Jeremiah 31:20
This is just one of those stories. Jesus interacts with person after person, calling for their repentance, telling them they are loved and celebrating their return. He wants them to celebrate Child of God-dy's Day! And wear the colors that represent the God who loves and forgives, shows mercy and compassion.
It's truly a day to celebrate. Truly a day to dance like the Irish girls jumping up and down. Truly a day to drink green colored Communion wine. Truly a day to dress in colors, actions, thoughts...that celebrate your heritage. A child of God. Loved. Forgiven. Cared for by the Holy Spirit. Held in the palm of God's hand.
So, Happy Child of God-dy's Day!
Lord, help me put the right clothes on today. Amen
Still in One Peace,
ps
Register your own name and account, then join the private group "Zioncrazies" with the password "Luther" and then be prepared to be in 2nd place, at best! Only one bracket per person. Tourney for bragging rights only, not that anyone around this church talks trash about sports!
Also, a big shout out to Bob Fogelsonger who turns 92 today. He'll be out in his yard splitting wood today if you want to say Hi)
Pastor Steve Biegner
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Friends,
"The Lord God will take away the disgrace of his people from all the earth." Isaiah 25:8
That's a big load! God must be pretty strong!
I know that my load of disgrace alone is enough for God to struggle with. Can you imagine if we added yours to the mix? And then the whole world's load? Yikes.
Dealing with our disgrace and shame is a difficult thing to do. Carrying it around on a daily basis is tough enough. What is strange for me though, is that it almost seems harder to let it go....as if we should want to keep carrying it or something...like it's more comfortable or easier to just "keep on keepin' on" with the same junk on our back weighing us down.
In worship yesterday (I was not leading, just attending...which means I got to sit on the padded seats in the back row...wahoo!) we heard the story of the prodigal son who turns around from his ridiculous behavior and bad choices and goes back to his father to beg for forgiveness (Luke 15). His father then welcomes him and celebrates the return. So I would imagine the goof ball son was pretty psyched.
We read Psalm 32 which starts: "Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is put away! Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, and in whose spirit there is no guile!"
Happy.
But yesterday, even as I heard the words of forgiveness in worship, happiness was not the feeling that came to mind. It was more like confusion or bewilderment.
I sat there and in my head said: "Why for me? Why my disgrace? What did I do to deserve this love from God?"
Randy then summed it up in one word: grace. God's amazing grace. It's Gods undeserved love and favor...for me...not because of anything I could possibly do...but because of what God had already done.
Forgiveness is an amazing thing. Forgiving others. Forgiving yourself. Asking others for their forgiveness. Asking to forgive yourself. And the only way that I can figure that any of those options even work is that first...God forgives us...welcomes us home...and celebrates.
It's confusing I know. So simple and basic that it seems so hard to believe. The intent is happiness and peace, but the process is a struggle and usually more difficult because we make it so complex.
But to God, it's simple. He loves you. He loves me. He wants us home to be loved...to celebrate...and to experience that happiness.
If you need to wrestle with that today...hold it off...keep... carry more crap around, I can't stop you...I'll probably wrestle right along side of you. Just know that in the midst of all our struggles, God already wrestled with and conquered the fear of death and the power of sin. Simply. Through the cross.
So "Come home."
Lord, thank you...even when I don't get it. Amen
Still in One Peace,
ps
Pastor Steve Biegner
Thursday, 11 March 2010
Friends,
Guess what? Happy First Day of Biegner Spring and it's 65 degrees and sunny in WNY! Wahoo! My dad and I follow Biegner Winter as many of you know. It goes from December 1st (where we received a few inches of snow right on time) and ends yesterday, March 10th, when it was 50-something degrees.
(Sorry....can't...type...right now....patting...myself...on the back!)
We were dead on this year...although we've missed terribly in years past, like the year we received 20 inches of snow in mid-October and the year we got 12 inches of lake effect snow on the third weekend of May. Those years...not so accurate.
So Biegner Winter isn't exactly something to "count on." It's more of something to keep you busy during the long days of winter. In fact, the regular weather forecast isn't all that accurate either.
So what can we count on?
"The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken." Isaiah 40:5
This promise of God's glory is spoken of all through the Scriptures...from beginning to ending...from garden to rapture. The Bible is an entire story book about revealing that promise, giving us something to count on, something to set our "hope schedules" to.
There will be things happening in life we didn't count on, didn't want, and that don't make sense...the May snowstorms of life. But throughout them all, there will still be that promise of God's glory...to carry us through it all.
That glory is something to count on!
Lord, thanks for being way more accurate than the weather forecast! Amen
Still in One Peace,
ps
(Don't forget to do the clock thing this weekend if you're in one of those time zones!)
Pastor Steve Biegner
Monday, 08 March 2010
Friends,
If you're reading this in Western New York...Happy Day full O' Sunshine!
I woke up this morning and watched the sun begin to scream through my window and realized that, despite all its Monday-ness, this had a better than average chance to be a good day. (And I hadn't even had my Dunkin Donuts coffee yet!!)
I don't know about you, but sunshine affects my attitude. I try to choose my attitude every day, but it's a boatload easier when the sun warms my face. I have more energy, more enthusiasm and more joy. For me, there's even a physical and emotional response from that round globe way off in the distance. So doing a job which involves speaking words of hope and promise will be easier today!
My scripture reading for today said this to me: "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:7 (NIV)
Those people must have been struck by sunshine as well! (Or maybe God himself??) It changed them and now they are affecting others.
But here's what was interesting about all this to me...it's where they went with those good tidings...to Zion! Not Zion in Clarence Center NY where I'm typing from, but the OT Zion that some equated with Jerusalem itself. Whether it was Jerusalem or another city on a hill that was supposed to understand God's promise and be light for the world, be God's people and share God's good news, it was a place that was on the inside track of the good news and hope. They should have known how impressive and real God was. They should have been acting like chosen people. They should have been good tidings givers themselves.
But whether they were or not, maybe they needed a boost...a good news boost...a sunshine boost...a boost o' God...so someone went...and shared those good tidings...that hope...and what a blessing it was for all who heard it.
So it sounds like today that you and I can go just about anywhere! And when we arrive, we will be with people who need to hear good news...who will be blessed by hope...who need to be reminded of the promise. So often the Scriptures and the call of Jesus sends us into the darkness of the world with the light of Christ.
But today we are reminded that the destination could even be Zion itself.
So take advantage of the sunshine that changes and brightens your heart...take advantage of the hope that you have found...take advantage of the promise of God that you have experienced...take advantage of the new life...new start...new forgiveness...new dialogs...and be a blessing to the place that you arrive!
Lord, help me realize I have something to celebrate and that celebration will bless others. Amen
Still in One Peace,
ps
Pastor Steve Biegner
Wednesday, 03 March 2010
Friends,
If you are an NHL fan (that's hockey my Southern friends), you know today is the trading deadline. That means that by 3pm today NHL teams have the chance to trade players around the league to get ready to make a run for the playoffs.
I had a conversation with someone in the Buffalo Sabres organization yesterday and told him that if he could find a Top 10 goal scorer somewhere in the league, that I was OK with being traded to get that guy. He said, "You're worth more than that Steve." (obviously he's never seen me skate backwards). I said, "Well, if they throw in a case of good beer too, take the deal!!"
What if God had a trading deadline?
What if once a year God looked around from his war room with all our names on dry erase boards, looked at our stories, reflected on our gifts and how much had been invested in us already...and then started making trades!!!
Yikes! Would I still be on the team? Would you? Would we get shipped off to some last place team in South Dakota (no offense to South Dakota...I love South Dakota...some of my best friends are South Dakotans). Or would God want us and more like us still on the board at the end of the day so we could make that final push?
Well, from what I understand from the Bible about our Eternal and Almighty GM, it doesn't quite work like that...which is probably good for me...and maybe for you too.
Instead, we get signed to a long term contract through the gift of baptism and during our play in the league, we get the benefits of that promise... no matter what. He said, 'My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.' Exodus 33:14
God's been trying to tell us that from the beginning, but we do forget it every so often. He sealed the deal with the gift of his Son on the cross...and yet we still question and doubt that "we're worth more than that."
You are...worth it all to God. Worth the risk. Worth the sacrifice. Worth the gift. Worth the presence.
So skate on today with that in mind. Let that good news help you skate stronger and faster, forward and even backward sometimes. Let that good news help you see an opportunity to score for the Lord today. And be at peace, you've made the team.
You're worth more than that!
Lord, thanks for signing me to the long term deal. Amen
Still in One Peace,
ps
Pastor Steve Biegner
Monday, 01 March 2010
Friends,
90% of Biegner Winter is over....Wahoo! But we should enjoy it while we're in it!
Yesterday was Sunday...some would call it Sabbath...a time for rest, play and overall goofiness. I don't get a lot of Sabbath time on Sundays when I'm preaching at the four weekend services, but this weekend I caught a few hours on Sunday afternoon to play with the kids and watch an awesome (despite the ending) hockey game (which ended at 5:56pm and my 6pm service started at ....6pm...luckily I live 1/4 mile from church, eh?)
So this is what the kids and I did with a few minutes of our Sabbath this Sunday afternoon:
General silliness!
I finally (after 4+ years of the kids using a Notre Dame colored can) replaced the toilet in the kid's bathroom. So Michelle thought this would be a great idea...which Drew, Lauren and I took all of 1.2 seconds to agree with!
It took us all of 6 minutes to create this little work of art and we laughed the whole time.
It might have been the best thing I did with my kids all day. Maybe all week.
"The Sabbath was made for humankind." Mark 2:27
It really was/is...made for us! To enjoy one another. To laugh. To relax. To be goof balls. To make borderline offensive to some snow creations.
And through all the silliness, I took in a deep breath of God and worshipped...in a snow bank...soaking wet...with snow balls...two laughing kids...and a 60's yellow toilet.
It was a Sabbath moment.
For me and the kids, it landed on a Sunday. But they can be anywhere...anytime...with anyone. Here's what they look like: letting down your guard, releasing your worries to God, and recognizing that the Lord is bigger than any style or shape and wants to connect to us in many different ways. And in my little community of two kids and toilet at the end of my driveway, I worshipped.
Take your Sabbath time! It is there for you. It's a gift from God. Play! Enjoy! Make something ridiculous out of snow! Do something silly! And laugh. Knowing it's all a gift from God...made for you!
Lord, thanks...help me play. Amen
Still in One Peace,
ps
Pastor Steve Biegner
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