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Cross of Christ Pastor Lane Zaffke

507-896-3102

Cell: 507-273-3385 

pslane@acegroup.cc

Pastor Lane speaking….

Hymn #881

Let All Things Now Living’ is one of my favorite hymns. It assures us that God is with us throughout our days. God leads us through our lives and into eternal life. The last phrase of the first verse goes ‘as forward we travel from light into light.’ What great comfort.

November 1st I am attending a workshop called Excelling in Mission. Some church council people will be joining me at supper time. We will be discussing ways for Cross of Christ and other churches to become better at mission work. As Christians we are called into mission by Jesus. In Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

This is what we are called to do as people of faith. We can give thanks because we have the opportunities and abilities to proclaim the Gospel here and abroad through various programs and missions.

Pastor Lane speaking….

When Moses was before the burning bush after God had given him his commission, Moses asked, “Who shall I say sent me?” God answered “Yahweh” which is a Hebrew word for ‘cause to happen’ or ‘will be’. It implies change and creation.
The Hebrews had a hard time leaving Egypt. They not only struggled against Pharaoh, they struggled against themselves. Though they had the promise of a better life from ‘Yahweh’, they weren’t sure what that would be like and they knew what life was like in Egypt, hard as it was. Many wanted to stay. A sort of, if it works even badly don’t fix it.
In our world today creation is happening. Our lives are constantly in flux because of weather, schedules, health and other events. These can often make us feel helpless because we have limited control or choice and we may have a hard time accepting the creation.
Our faith is hope and promise. We look to the hills from where our hope and help is to come. Through all of our life, Jesus walks with us.

Pastor Lane speaking….

 ‘Called to be Saints’ Romans 1:7b; Paul wrote this to the believers in Rome. He writes it to us today as well. We are called to be saints. Some days I think this is great. Other days, well, I don’t want to be a saint or even saintly.

In Bible study on Wednesday morning we mentioned how the world often judges Christians as being ‘Holier than Thou’. Unfortunately, we may fit this description at times. But there are many times when the church has been holy and called by Christ. It seems in our society now we often want to dig up dirt on people and institutions such as the church. It is a desire to delegitimize them. That way if they have been brought down to size so to speak we don’t need to take their message seriously. We don’t need to be saints. It is easy to tear things apart and down. But what is left?

We, at Cross of Christ, are called to be saints! We are called to build and bring in the kingdom of God. I am currently reading devotion called “Jesus Calling”. Every day it starts by Jesus calling me to be faithful and following his ways. Jesus calling me to be faithful in my life even when I don’t want to be or when it seems inconvenient. Jesus calls all of us to be faithful, even people who have little or no faith. We should begin to be faithful.

Pastor Lane speaking….

Proverbs 30:5

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

I remember the coffee commercials that talked about starting each day with a good cup of coffee. Most coffee drinkers start the day brewing coffee. Some put all sorts of stuff like sugar, cream, cinnamon etc in their coffee. Other like it black, ‘pure the way God intended it to be!’ coffee seems to get the day going.

As people of faith, we need to start the day with the word of God as well. We hold the Bible in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. What a great way to begin the day. Say, here is an idea! Let’s start a day each week with the Bible in one hand, a cup of coffee in the other and good fellowship! We could meet at Barista’s Coffee shop at 7am Wednesday mornings. Let’s start July 6th. Everyone is welcome although everyone has to buy their own coffee and stick whatever they like in it. We can begin reading the book of Romans. We can discuss it one chapter at a time. I know I can put in my two cents worth unless someone fills my mouth with a cinnamon roll. Although for those of you who are trying to avoid a lot of carbohydrates I will see if they will hard boil some eggs for us. Be there or be square as they say.

Pastor Lane speaking….

Proverbs 17:22

A cheerful heart is a good medicine,
but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.

Some people phrase this from the Readers Digest funnies called ‘Laughter is the Best Medicine.’ Sometimes when we are in the midst of a deep funk the last thing we want is someone telling a joke. And yet that is what we need as much as an aspirin.

One of the phrases from ‘How to Talk Minnesotan’, is ‘it could be worse.’ When something bad happens to us we seem to find solace in knowing that it could have been worse. The car won’t start in the morning? Could be worse, It could have broken down on the freeway. Were you late for a movie? Could be worse the popcorn could have been sold out (popcorn is the only reason to go to a movie).

One time, someone used that phrase on me as we were staring at a disaster. “I know it could be worse, but isn’t this bad enough?” I said. It sounds funny now but at the time I was a little ticked.

Life has a way of happening where we weave in and out of ‘could be worse’ situations mixed with ‘it doesn’t get any better than this.’