July 17th Weekly Word

A Foggy Journey

"Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers — all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:15-17).

The view was sublime from the rock at the look out point on the mountain. Madalyn (our oldest daughter), Ginger and I had hiked a couple hours to get there. Then we just sat and took it all in. It was a foggy morning, so the valley below was obscured. But I didn't mind. The fog added a bit more adventure, mystique and its own beauty to the whole experience.

Sometimes that's how life feels, doesn't it? Whether it be navigating a new relationship or job or ministry, the unknown can be exhilarating. But we all know that not knowing can also lead to fear. After all, we can't see what's coming. We don't know what the next turn will reveal. And so anxiety can sometimes tempt us to stand still — to stay where we've always been and not venture forward.

But I believe God is always challenging us to move ahead in the midst of the fog. It's true that we don't know what's before us, but we can take comfort in the fact that God does.

Paul tells us in Colossians that through Christ all things were created, visible or invisible. So there's nothing hiding in the shadows or the fog that he's unaware of. He clearly sees it all since through him it was all made. What's more, Paul goes on to say that the very fabric of the created order is held together in Christ. That's quite a remarkable reality to consider, and one we should ponder as motivation to move forward when plagued with the fear of the unknown.

Yes, the fog is mysterious. But that's part of it's appeal — especially once we internalize the fact that Jesus is in the fog. May we follow him there.

Fr. Darin+

July 10th Weekly Word

Bearing Fruit

"You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God" (Colossians 1:6).

“The kingdom of God is like this,” [Jesus] said. “A man scatters seed on the ground; he sleeps and rises—night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows—he doesn’t know how. The soil produces a crop by itself—first the blade, then the head, and then the ripe grain on the head." (Mark 4:26-29).

Another church we attended a while back had a community garden where congregants and others in the area could make use of the plots to grow vegetables and herbs. When we started at the church and found out about the opportunity, we were eager to participate and delighted to get a spot ourselves. We put some time and effort into the endeavor and had a great time doing so. Just getting our hands in the soil and cooperating with nature's means of growth felt fulfilling. And eventually we saw the fruit of our labor in the form of peppers, tomatoes, cilantro and scallions.

In his prayer for the Colossian church from our epistle reading, Paul uses the metaphor of fruit bearing to describe the way in which the gospel message of Jesus' life, death and resurrection has entered the world and is now expanding and bringing transformation in the hearts and lives of believers.

But it's important to note that the growth of God's kingdom is not something we can generate. It's God's work. The gospel message penetrates our hearts like a seed in the soil and begins to sprout up and produce fruit in a way that is a mystery as Jesus makes clear in the Gospel of Mark.

Our job as believers, as those who have received this miraculous deposit, is to cultivate it – to cooperate with the One who has by his grace planted in our souls the seed that is growing into a tree that produces much fruit

Will you allow the Great Gardener to do his work in your heart during this Green Season? The result will mean the bearing of fruit in the form of character transformation and outreach to others.

Fr. Darin+

June 26th Weekly Word

Glimpses of Glory

"As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven" (2 Kings 2:11).

Ginger took the photo above when we were on the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina a number of years ago. The trees, as you can see, were ablaze with the beauty they display when their leaves turn. Just revisiting the photos from this trip the other day created in me an inner longing.

Sometimes it's hard to articulate, but I know we've all had this experience. Maybe for you, it was the sky lit up with the pastels of sunrise or sunset. Perhaps it involved an hour on the beach at night looking up at the stars and listening to the crash of the ocean waves. Maybe it was just a moment on your porch when you sat in silence, listening to the cicadas and crickets. Whatever your times of awe in nature might entail, I think they move us because creation itself points to its maker in a way that has us miss him.

Now, I know God is always close to his people because his Spirit resides in us. But there will come a day when we will see the Lord face to face, and the glory of his presence will light up our hearts and dispel all darkness.

In our upcoming Old Testament reading, that glory broke into the world in the form of a flaming chariot and horses, sweeping Elijah into heaven as it departed. But before he was taken, he told his student, Elisha, that he would receive his request (a double portion of Elijah's spirit) if he saw him as he was taken away. It's an amazing story that gives us a glimpse into the awesome realm of God's dwelling.

But I want to suggest (as I have before) that we also have access to glimpses of glory. Scripture says that creation declares the glory of God. But like Elisha, we must be intentional about setting our gaze on it. So much in this world distracts us from the beauty that God has placed all around us – beauty that points to the glory of the Lord. And it's only when we recognize and bask in his glory that we can be filled and inspired to share the truth of it with others.

So let's be intentional about taking time to revel in it. And may the blaze of trees with turning leaves sweep us up into God's presence where we experience the overwhelming wonder of his glory.

Fr. Darin+

June 19th Weekly Word

Beyond our Boundaries

Years ago, not long after moving into our house, Ginger went out several yards past our backyard to clear out some brush in the woods. While there, she uncovered a stone Celtic cross under the scrub. She dug it up, cleaned it off, and set it up in our garden (photo above).

Reflecting on that experience recently had me thinking about the Church and its mission. Jesus called us to share the good news of his life, death and resurrection with those who don't know him — those who are beyond the boundaries of the church walls. It's an exciting mission that the Lord gave us if you think about it. We are called to participate in God's advancing kingdom all around us. There is no greater call than this because it involves matters eternal, connected to reconciliation between God and humanity and the eventual restoration of all things.

But I understand that this call can also be uncomfortable, intimidating and even messy. We have to be honest about this truth because as the Church we are in the midst of a spiritual battle where the Lord is using us to push back the darkness with his light and love. And the darkness doesn't retreat easily. We need not look further than our own hearts and habits to understand this.

But the comforting thing about this mission is that it's primarily a call of introduction and invitation. We're not the ones who extract people from their godless patterns or practices. Nor are we the ones who bring about healing. Rather we're to introduce them to the One who does the extracting and the healing. The One who has dug us up out of the scrub, cleansed us from our sin with his own blood, and is in the process of bringing inner healing in our hearts.

Along with the introduction, we're to invite them into the "garden" to experience the fellowship of others who have been dug up and cleansed too. It doesn't really matter what order we do this in: introduction then invite or invite then introduction. Either way, we serve simply as channels of God's love, which is operating in our own hearts and in our faith community.

Friends, as we enter this Green Season (also known as Ordinary Time), may God inspire us as a church to go beyond our boundaries to introduce and invite a broken world to experience the healing hand of Christ and the fellowship of his people.

Fr. Darin+

June 12th Weekly Word

Wisdom and Waters

"Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice?... At the entrance of the portals she cries out ... 'when [the LORD] made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race" (from Proverbs 8).

I love storms. I'm especially enamored with those that adorn the horizon on the beach. Don't get me wrong; I don't cheer on hurricanes. As a native Floridian, I've experienced my fair share of those. But seeing a "regular" storm rolling in shore does something for me. I think it's the display of raw power and beauty in the skies and sea that generates such awe in me. But this always pushes me to consider other things ... like the one who's behind it all.

Who is this God who made this awesome world of storms and shores? Clearly this a God of power, beauty and wisdom. And it is the last of those attributes that our Old Testament lesson from Proverbs highlights.

Wisdom is personified in this passage in feminine terms as one who was with God from the beginning during the creation of the world. God brought forth all that we see through this Lady Wisdom who was there with him as a "master worker."

I love this passage because it's a reminder that in wisdom God created all the intricacies of the world. And now this Wisdom calls out to us, God's people, offering her knowledge, insight and counsel.

I don't know about you, but I so need this. Life is challenging and complicated. We can't know what the right decision is in every circumstance because we don't know all things. But the wonderful reality is that God does. He established it all from the beginning, and in Christ (who is called the wisdom of God in the New Testament) all things consist (Col 1:17). And now this God who has all wisdom and knowledge at his disposal, offers it to us through the Scriptures and the personal guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Friends, we don't have to navigate the challenges and complexities of this life alone. So call out to God. Call out for Wisdom who calls out to you. God delights to grant this request.

Fr. Darin+

June 5th Weekly Word

Under the Tree of Life

"On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations" (Revelation 22:2).

When I was in Tanzania several years ago, I saw the Baobab tree everywhere. The one in the photo above grew right in the middle of a village and was one of the more impressive in terms of the girth of its trunk. Communities in some areas form around these trees since they provide shelter, food and water for people and livestock.

Endemic to Africa, the Baobab can live 5,000 years, reach up to 100 feet high, and grow to an enormous 165 feet in circumference. During the rainy season, these trees absorb and store water in their vast trunks, allowing them to produce a nutrient-dense fruit in the dry season — thereby earning the nickname, "the tree of life."

In Revelation, John also speaks of a tree of life when he writes about his vision of the New Jerusalem,

He says its leaves are for the "healing of the nations," which points to the fact that in the new heavens and earth, people from all nations will be present, at peace and aligned in their worship of the Lord. John elsewhere in Revelation confirms this when he writes that people from "every, tribe, tongue and nation" will be worshipping before the throne of God and the Lamb.

Friends, this is what Pentecost is about — the gospel message of Jesus's life, death and resurrection going out to the ends of the earth, bringing restoration, forgiveness and healing to every ethnic group on earth.

As I mentioned in a previous Beacon, I had the privilege to participate in a Scripture celebration in Tanzania where Burunge speakers (a minority group of 30,000 people) praised God for the completion of the New Testament in their language.

The joy that emanated from that community felt like a foretaste of the day when we will be unified in our diversity — directing our praise to the One who will gather together all his children under the shade of the ultimate tree of life to experience the joy of his eternal kingdom.

May this vision unify, comfort and inspire us this Pentecost.

Fr. Darin+

May 29th Weekly Word

Amazement, Ascension and Authority

As we waited to board our flight back to Orlando last week, Haleth took an interest in the runway. She really enjoyed watching the comings and goings of the airplanes outside the window. I also find it fascinating (if not unnerving) to watch and consider how we can get tons of metal to soar through the air. I know it's all about physics and aeronautics and aerodynamics etc., but still ... it's amazing.

Today is Ascension Day, and I think about how amazed the disciples must have been when Jesus' ascended to heaven right before their eyes. Scripture confirms that they were amazed to the extent that they just stood staring into the sky after Jesus was gone. It must have been especially astonishing because nothing flew back then except the birds. But the flight of birds and airplanes are alike in that they are both attributable to the same laws of physics.

Jesus' ascension, on the other hand, went beyond the natural laws of the world. Even so, his ability to ascend is not the reason we commemorate this day. Rather his ascension marks other realities, especially his return to the Father's right hand and thereby his authority. He makes that point abundantly clear just before his ascension, saying: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."

Friends, for Christians there is no news better than the truth that our Lord and Savior has all authority in heaven and earth. It's such good news, in fact, that Jesus in the next verse makes it the mission of the Church to share it with everyone.

Would you take a few minutes today to consider Jesus’ ascension? Allow the truth of his all-encompassing authority to bring comfort to your heart in the midst of your trials and stresses. And as this truth settles in your spirit, pray that God would open the door for you to share the good news of Jesus’ lordship with someone else.

Fr. Darin+

May 15th Weekly Word

The Kingdom and Flycatchers

"And the one who was seated on the throne said, 'See, I am making all things new'" (Revelation 21:5a).

"Praise the Lord from the earth ... you creeping things and winged birds ... Let them praise the Name of the Lord, for his Name only is exalted." (Pslam 148:7a, 10b, 13).

We have a critter cam set up in the backyard on a tree by the birdbath. Since we can't always be outside to view all the birds that visit our yard, it's fun to check the cam periodically to see who shows up. The bath has its regulars: Tufted titmice (yes, that's a bird), Blue jays, Cardinals, Brown thrashers, Doves, varieties of Warblers, and, of course, the pesky squirrels. But recently I was excited to see that the cam captured the photo above, featuring my favorite bird, the Great crested flycatcher.

Birdwatchers all have their favorites for different reasons. For some it's the colors while for others it's the disposition or the rarity of the species that they find appealing. For most, it's probably a combination of a number of characteristics. But for me, it was an experience with the Flycatcher.

Years ago, I went for a hike on a trail in Split-Oak Forest in Southeast Orlando. It was a particularly difficult season in my life, and I frequented the trails as an opportunity to pray and decompress. As I walked, I came into an area with a dense canopy of branches and leaves above. Although it was midday, shade covered the ground except for one small section ahead where stood a gnarled oak bathed in light from a breach in the canopy above. As I moved closer, I heard a peculiar chirp and noticed a Great crested flycatcher perched on the old tree. I had never seen that species before, and I was taken by the beauty of this bird and the simple sublimity of the moment in the woods with it. My heart was lifted, and I felt something of God's presence with me.

Friends, as we all know, challenges and trials abound in this life. And at times we can become overwhelmed and even disheartened by all that we face. But in the midst of hardships, I believe that God offers us glimpses of his kingdom — the same kingdom that Jesus ushered into the world through his life, death and resurrection, which will culminate in the restoration of creation when he makes all things new. It is the King of that kingdom who elicits praise from his people, the host of heaven, and the whole created order – including Great crested flycatchers.

So be on the lookout for these kingdom glimpses, friends. God wants to meet you where you are and lift your spirit by his presence with windows into his restorative work.

Fr. Darin+

May 8th Weekly Word

Sheep and Sleep

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-30).

We don't see many sheep in Central Florida. Cattle is much more prevalent. But there's a sheep farm nearby on the route that we regularly drive to get our daughter down for a nap (the car is rather effective for lulling her to sleep).

When you think about it, sheep are quite defenseless. They're not fast or clever like a squirrel or a rabbit. They're not camouflaged like a chameleon nor armored like a porcupine. They're helpless on their own.

But that's where shepherds come in. Shepherds of ancient times would do what it took to guard the sheep from the many predators in the wild. To do this, they'd have to lead their sheep wisely and use their staff fiercely. The sheep in the fold of such a shepherd could rest easy, knowing that all would be well.

In our upcoming Gospel reading, Jesus compares his people to sheep, making clear that they are secure with him as their shepherd for a few of reasons: 1) the Father gave them to him 2) the Father is greater than all 3) Jesus and the Father are one.

Friends, whatever fears plague you right now, remember that Jesus is the Great Shepherd. Despite all the anxieties of the world, Jesus would have you rest, knowing that you are secure in his arms. Nothing can snatch you from him. Meditate on that truth this week, and may you know the peace of a child lulled to sleep on drive past a sheep farm.

Fr. Darin+

May 2nd Weekly Word

Going Fishing?

“Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing” (John 21:2-3).

Fishing has been a favorite pastime of mine for a while. When I was young, my dad would take my brother and me out to the intercoastal to fish under the bridges that connect the barrier islands to the mainland. Old photos (like the one above) prove that we were often quite successful. Nowadays, I’m more of a backyard fisherman, angling at nearby ponds and canals not far from home.

I’ve been on big fishing trips before, and it’s usually a lot of fun. But it’s nice to be able just to walk out the door with rod and reel in hand and minutes later be casting without a lot of preparation. To me it feels therapeutic to be regularly out in nature, driven by the trivial purpose of landing a fish.

And maybe that was what motivated Peter to go fishing in the Gospel reading excerpt above. Maybe he just needed a day to be out there on the water. But context reveals that it may have been more than that. It may have been lingering guilt and feelings of inadequacy that drove Peter back to the livelihood he had before Jesus called him.

After all, only days earlier, Peter had denied that he even knew Jesus. Yes, the resurrected Lord had returned and shown himself to the disciples, which brought amazement, relief and rejoicing. But it seems Peter still struggled with his vocation to be a fisher of men and a shepherd of God’s people in light of his failures. So he returned to that which he knew before.

Friends, do your failures and feelings of inadequacy ever have you wondering if God would be better off using someone else? Mine sometimes do.

But how wonderful that this passage doesn’t end with Peter's self doubts and misgivings! As we’ll see on Sunday, Jesus meets Peter where he’s at, restores him and calls him back to the work that he had for him to do – kingdom work that impacted countless lives.

God hasn’t given up on you, so don’t give up on yourself. Turn to Jesus and let him restore, inspire and empower you to experience and showcase his light and love to a world that so desperately needs it.

Fr. Darin+

April 24th Weekly Word

The Resurrection Bird

My mother-in-law visited Christ Church for Easter. We picked her up on the way to the service, and as we were leaving her development, we heard squawking. She said the peacocks, which had settled in their neighborhood a number of years ago, were out early that day.

I told her that was appropriate because peacocks were a symbol for immortality and the resurrection in early Christian artwork. The ancient Greeks believed that a peacock's flesh didn't decay after death, so Christians adopted the image of the peacock to represent Christ's victory over death and the promise of eternal life. The peacock's ever-renewing, beautiful plumage also symbolized the resurrection and the Christian's transformation into a new and glorious life.

After church, we dropped my mother-in-law off, and on our way out of the development, lo and behold, we saw a peacock strolling along the street! (See photo above.)

God is good, friends. He is ever reminding us that new life is here in the hearts of his people because of what Jesus has done. And that new life will one day see its fulfillment in his glorious return and the resurrection of his people. May we hold tight to that hope, and may God use us to share that message with those around us.

Grace and peace,

Fr. Darin+

April 17th Weekly Word

Sprouting Up

A couple weeks ago, I referenced here the dry spell we've had over the last few months. During that time, some of the grass in our backyard withered, leaving unseemly patches of dirt here and there. A couple showers did make their way to our area during that stretch, and I was determined not to waste the opportunity. So I rushed out before the rain arrived to throw down some grass seed.

Each morning thereafter I would inspect the yard, hoping to see the grass pushing through the soil – but nothing came. After about the third week, I figured the seed had all died, and there was no reason to hope anymore that anything would sprout. So I decided to wait until rainy season to sow more seed.

Several weeks passed, and the rain came a few more times. Then one day I got a text from Ginger: "YOUR GRASS SEED IS SPROUTING!" When I got home, I rushed into the backyard, and sure enough, we had seedlings coming up in several places – and this after nearly two months of remaining fallow.

We were probably more excited than the event warranted; I mean after all it's only grass. But I think it was the unexpected nature of it. We thought it was dead. And dead always stays dead.

Or does it? This question comes to the fore as we move through Holy Week. Does death have the final word? As Christians, we know that it doesn't. But sometimes it feels otherwise. Sometimes death, sorrow and darkness seem to have won the day – even as it must have seemed to the disciples during Jesus' arrest, trial and crucifixion.

But as we walk through various valleys and seasons of dryness, there are at least two things we must remember as God's people:

1) The Lord walks with us through our hardships.

2) Sunday is coming and with it, new life.

Blessings

Fr. Darin+

April 10th Weekly Word

Walking Apostle

Over a year ago, Ginger planted an Iris in the backyard by the house, and the other day it finally bloomed. I’ve never seen a flower quite like it. As she rushed outside to get some photos, she told me it’s a called a Walking Iris or otherwise known as an Apostle Plant. It was dubbed the former because as its stems mature, they bend to the ground and take root, appearing to "walk" across the land. Even more interesting to me was the origin of the second name, which it acquired because of the belief that the plant wouldn’t flower until it had 12 or more leaves – corresponding to the 12 apostles.

Put these names together and we have the Walking Apostle. I kind of like that because it’s an appropriate descriptor of those who followed Christ. During his three-year ministry, Jesus and his disciples are estimated to have walked 3,125 miles! Now that’s a lot of steps. In fact, it’s roughly the distance from Orlando to Vancouver, British Columbia.

When reading the Gospels, it’s easy to miss the long distances that Jesus and company covered. For the most part, the Gospel writers don’t tell us the time it took because they assumed their readers understood what travel was like in the area. For instance, the narration of Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem from Capernaum doesn't explicitly state that this was a 125 mile trek over winding paths through Samaria, Jericho, and Bethany.

We're also left to assume (if we know anything about long distance hikes) that a journey like this would inevitably include sore and blistered feet, hot dusty days, chilly nights sleeping on the hard ground among many other challenges.

But what it also meant for the disciples was fellowship – long stretches of uninterrupted fellowship with each other and, of course, with Jesus. Yes, they had the opportunity to hear Jesus’ teaching and witness his miracles, but during these long journeys together, they also got to know him and each other very well. Fellowship, you see, was key when it came to following Jesus – it still is.

John, the beloved disciple - one of the 12 who walked the roads with Jesus, said: “That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ."

To put it another way, fellowship with Jesus also entails fellowship with the Father and with each other.

The book of Hebrews exhorts us toward this when it says: “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Friends, as we get closer to Jerusalem on our journey with Jesus toward the cross in this last week of Lent, may our fellowship draw us closer to him and to one another.

Blessings

Fr. Darin+

April 3rd Weekly Word

Racoons and Rainbows

We had quite the downpour the other day.

Afterwards, as we looked out the sliding glass door, Ginger noticed a rainbow on the horizon. Then her eyes zeroed in on two silhouettes sitting at the top of a tree in the woods just past our backyard. Upon closer inspection, we realized they were raccoons.

It's nothing new for a racoon to frequent that tree (much to our hound's chagrin). But to see two sitting in the glow of a rainbow seemed quite special. So Ginger grabbed the camera and started snapping.

I'm not sure why they were up there together. They both appeared to be juveniles, so maybe it was a couple of cubs from the same litter just reveling in the freshly fallen rain.

If so, I can relate. I often revel myself when the rain comes, especially when it ends the dominion of a long dry spell in dramatic fashion like it did that afternoon. It rained so hard that puddles formed in the grass – and this, after weeks of a dusty brown backyard that had only just hours earlier crunched under our feet.

That storm really lifted my spirit. Now that might sound strange, but I think it makes sense because dry spells can be rough – on every level. Beyond physical droughts, we’ve all experienced other kinds of dry spells too. Maybe in the areas of relationships, creativity or work, we've struggled without feeling any inspiration or life. Harder still, perhaps, are the periods of spiritual dryness when we don't feel the Lord's presence and wonder where he is.

I’ve been there, with a soul that’s felt wilted, crackly and parched. It’s a challenging road to walk, but life’s adversities, trials and sorrows sometimes force us down that dusty road.

But the purpose of Lent teaches us something about these times of dryness. Lent, after all, is a season when we intentionally step into a desert of sorts. And why do we do this? Probably for a number of reasons, but I think one of the most important is so that our desires can be directed more fully toward God.

In John's Gospel, Jesus beckons those who are spiritually thirsty to come to him so that he can provide a living water that always satisfies.

Friends, we don't often know the purpose of the deserts in our lives as they happen. But through them, I believe God wants to increase our thirst for him.

Would you take a few minutes this week to meditate on the excerpt below from this Sunday's Old Testament reading? As you do, allow God to remind you that he'll meet you in your desert with the living water of his very presence.

Fr. Darin+

I will make a way in the wilderness

and rivers in the desert.

The wild animals will honor me,

the jackals and the ostriches;

for I give water in the wilderness,

rivers in the desert,

to give drink to my chosen people,

the people whom I formed for myself

so that they might declare my praise.

(Isaiah 43:19-21)

March 27th Weekly Word

Past Places

There’s a historical park not far from where we live called Fort Christmas. The site includes a full-scale replica of the military fort that was established there in the 1830s. It also features a number of restored houses and farm areas that showcase rural Florida life in the decades between the1870s and 1930s. It was a fun little excursion for our family, and I especially enjoyed exploring the houses and imagining what life was like more than a century ago.

Our daughter, on the other hand, was not so keen on entering the old structures. Perhaps it was because they were dim inside. Maybe it was the fact that they were unfamiliar to her. They certainly don’t have the look of the buildings that she’s used to entering. But in any case, it made me think that pushing into the past can be an unnerving thing – especially when it’s our own past.

As we’ve discovered the last few weeks, Lent is about walking with Jesus in the desert. That experience is intended to lead to repentance, which draws us into a closer relationship with the Lord. But repentance always means self-reflection because in order to repent, we need to recognize those areas in our lives that stifle fellowship with God. And during this kind of contemplation, the Lord will often lead us into our own past.

He does so because he might want to address the dim places or patterns of unconfessed sin in our hearts. Or perhaps it’s the old clutter of unforgiveness toward someone who hurt us. Maybe it’s a wound or sorrow in our souls for which we need healing.

Whatever it might be, Jesus wants to take us there so that he can do what only he can do – bring restoration.

The truth is that it might be scary to enter those places. But friends, we can trust that the Lord will be with us as we invite him in to renovate our hearts.

Would you take some time to do that this week? Maybe start with a prayer like the one below. Then take a few minutes to wait quietly in God's presence. He’s eager to meet you where you are.

O blessed Father, you are the one who leads us to true repentance. Look with compassion on me and reveal the areas in my life that I need to turn over to you. May you surface whatever I’ve experienced in the past that’s stifling my relationship with you in the present. If needed, guide me to a brother or sister in Christ who can walk with me through this process. And in your great mercy, soften my heart that I may turn to you and receive whatever I need to foster unobstructed fellowship with you – whether it be forgiveness, reconciliation or inner healing. All this we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Fr. Darin+

March 20th Weekly Word

Falling Down

At almost two-years-old, our daughter, Haleth, is already playing soccer. Okay, she’s kicking the ball, but she has quite a kick for her age. Last week she and I were outside passing the ball back and forth in a grassy area just down the street. On the way back, I decided to try some fancy footwork ahead of Haleth and Ginger on the sidewalk. As I did, I accidentally stepped on the ball and fell pretty hard onto the concrete.

Although a bit scuffed up, I was fine. But as I lay there, I turned to my left and noticed that my neighbor was outside watching me. The whole thing felt so absurd that I started laughing. Then my daughter said, “Dada fall down,” which only served to amplify the humor of the moment.

We’re almost halfway through Lent, and I want you to know that I take this season seriously. It’s a time to turn our hearts toward the Lord in repentance and fasting, allowing him to bring to our attention those areas in our life where our faltering might be stifling our relationship with him.

But not all faltering is like this. Sometimes it's just part of what it means to be human. Maybe we tried something new, and it flopped. Maybe we fudged on our Lenten fast. Or perhaps we made a mistake, and it caused a mess of things. In these cases (and others), I’d like to imagine God picking us up, dusting us off, and laughing with us at some of the absurdities in life.

Friends, God delights in us to the degree that he sent his Son to die on our behalf. With that in mind, be kind to yourself. And maybe take a few minutes to listen to this song with the same exhortation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYiM-sOC6nE

Fr. Darin+

March 14th Weekly Word

Boundaries of Beauty

Hound dogs can really get you with their sad, pitiful eyes. That’s how Sofi, our American FoxHound, looked at me this morning. So, I decided to take her for a longer walk than usual. As we hiked the grass trails near our house, I noticed the sunlight brightening the blooms on my right side – and to the left, the dark water of the canal that runs through our neighborhood (see photo). As Sofi and I strolled between water and flowers, these three words popped into my mind: boundaries of beauty.

All paths have boundaries. If there were nothing to mark our path, we would be lost.

God’s path is like this as well. His righteousness, as expounded in Scripture, guides us for our own safety so that we won’t wander in lostness and ways that could put us in peril. Some view these boundaries as stifling, but that’s not how Scripture presents them.

In Psalm 119, David writes: “I delight in the way of your decrees as much as in all riches.”

David recognized the value of God’s way, and he delighted in it. And in Psalm 19 he says: “The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the command of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up.”

That does not sound stifling to me but beautiful. And part of the beauty of God’s Word is that it helps keep us on his path, which leads to a deeper relationship with him. As we traverse these first weeks of Lent, may we walk closer with Christ along the path that he has marked out for us with beautiful boundaries.

Fr. Darin+

March 7th Weekly Word

For Valentine's Day I bought Ginger orchids – her favorite flower. After displaying them, she put them in a container and set them on the windowsill in the kitchen. Since then, a caterpillar took up residence and spun itself into a cocoon on one of the leaves (see photo). Not sure where this little guy came from, but we’re thinking it moved to the orchids from an herb she bought recently which she also had placed on the sill.

Of course, caterpillars, cocoons and butterflies are often used as a metaphor for transformation. But I had never heard of it applied to Lent before until my wife mentioned the parallel this morning. Thinking about it for a bit, I realized what a great point that is.

In our readings for Lent, we walk with our Lord through the desert and eventually in Holy Week to the cross where he died. All of this happened according to the Father’s plan so as to triumph over Satan, sin and death. And the pinnacle of Jesus’ passion was the resurrection – the greatest transformation the world has ever known – one that took him from death to life.

As we reflect on this, I think it’s helpful to remember that our Lenten efforts are not arbitrary simply in terms of what we decide to fast or the disciplines we decide to enact. Rather they are meant to be tied to Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. And we prepare not for the sake of self-discipline or to earn anything, but rather our fasting is meant as a means of connection to the Lord through the Spirit whereby we experience his presence as we take up our cross and follow him.

If we allow him, I believe the Holy Spirit will take what we offer regarding our Lenten devotion and use it to weave our hearts into a cocoon of sorts. The point, of course, is not to stay there but rather through his Spirit to experience the transforming resurrection power of our Lord. In the desert (and in the cocoon) then, there is purpose and a destination that is more glorious than we can imagine, both in this life, in terms of what God is working out in us, and in the one to come where we will be transformed into the glorious likeness of Christ.

May that be an encouraging thought as we begin this journey of Lent together.

Blessings,

Fr. Darin+

Priest-in-charge

Feb 28th Weekly Word

In a busy world it’s easy to take nature for granted, isn’t it? But I think it’s good to sometimes stop and remind ourselves of the wonder of it all. Take for instance the sun. The sun is a star that generates energy through nuclear fusion in its core. This process creates heat and light that travels to Earth. And as such, it is the source of heat and light rather than a reflection of the light (as we see in the moon).

Having said that, in a more ultimate sense even the sun is a reflection. Why? Because it reflects God’s glory. He created it and designed it to provide for us what we need to sustain life. But not just as functionality. Rather he uses it to delight us with a beauty that points back to him.

I’m thinking specifically of sunrises and sunsets. Not much compares to the beauty of the sun lighting up the horizon with its illuminating display of color, beams and brilliance. It’s as if the sky were God’s own canvas, the place where he demonstrates his creativity and presence every morning and evening simply to delight those who slow down long enough to enjoy it and recognize it for what it is.

As you read the first part of Psalm 19 below, allow it to remind you of the glory of the created world and how it points back to the Creator. With this in mind, maybe even take a few minutes to step outside this evening, enjoy God’s handiwork in the sky, and give him thanks.

The heavens are telling the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
yet their voice[b] goes out through all the earth
and their words to the end of the world.

In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens
and its circuit to the end of them,
and nothing is hid from its heat.

Blessings,

Fr. Darin+

Priest-in-charge

Feb. 21st Weekly Word

Throughout the years, I’ve had spells where I’ve been on and off the wagon when it comes to running as an exercise. Recovering from illness took me out of it for a bit in January, but I’ve been back on more consistently in February. The thing is, getting back on is never easy; in fact, it takes a few weeks to start getting used to it again.

The other day I was out running and really struggling to do just that — get used to it. I was huffing and puffing, my legs hurt and I’m sure my face was beet red. At that moment, I looked over, and on the other side of the street, a little girl, maybe seven-years-old, was passing me on her electric scooter, glaring at me as she went with a stare that seemed to say: “you’re pathetic.”

I found it quite humbling and humorous at the same time. But it got me thinking about how we sometimes compare ourselves to others.

As you all know better than me, Christ Church has been around for a while and has had its fair share of struggles, as we still do. In the midst of that, it might be easy to look around and see a newer church zoom by with higher numbers, better facilities, more programs and more money.

But something hit me as I was reading the Old Testament lesson from the lectionary for this Sunday. The reading covers part of Joseph's story, which is so much about the providence of God. How God gave Joseph dreams and a vision of what he had for his life. But first he led him through all kinds of trials and challenges to prepare him for the ultimate role of being Pharaoh’s right hand man.

I think that’s what God does for us as well, either individually or as a church. He brings us through challenges, trials and difficulties to prepare us for what he has for us. Maybe we’re struggling in that race, but it’s helpful to remember that it's in the struggle that God forms and shapes us.

And let me be clear, I think God has good things for us. He wants to continue to use us to have an impact on this community, and maybe even in new ways that are beyond what we've imagined.

Our part is to stay faithful, stay the course, and stay on our knees — listening for his direction.

Blessings,

Fr. Darin+

Priest-in-charge