Do you enjoy reading summaries of Sunday's sermons?  Are they useful to you as a supplement to hearing the teaching in person or recorded later?

Preaching pastors design Sunday teachings to be spoken and heard, which is a special and most ancient way of communicating...well anything.  Including the Word of God.  

But some people find it helpful to have a written summary of those messages, for study on their own or in families, groups, etc.  

Years ago, I began using this blog as the venue for those summaries, and I've been glad folks have used it as a resource.  But the time has come to share the opportunity of writing sermon summaries for others' edification.  

If you fancy yourself a good note-taker and writer, I'd like to invite you to write to me at mmoffitt@uppc.org and start a conversation about what it would look like for YOU to help others learn from the sermons by writing summaries for this blog.

Until then, I'd encourage you to worship with us live in person or online to learn God's Word alongside others.  If there are teachings you've missed, you can always catch up at UPPC.org/media.  

Blessings,
Mike

According to the latest research, the death rate in Pierce County is alarming -- 100%!
In fact, the death rate worldwide continues to shock us: despite medical advances and scientific what-not, mortality remains at a steady 100%.

On Bible Jazz this week, hospice chaplain Fred Grewe highlighted that the majority of the world's population is far better acquainted with death than we in the developed western world.  Most people do not go to sleep at night feeling like tomorrow is a guarantee.  But the Covid-19 pandemic brought our mortality to the front and center of everyone's mind.

And we cannot appreciate the good news of Jesus' resurrection without facing our mortality.  Moreover, we must face our need for forgiveness, despite even our best efforts.  For no one is without sin; all have fallen short of God's glory.

This is why Jesus' prayer on the cross is still so radical: "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing."  Jesus is willing to forgive even those causing his unjust death.  And worse, shaming him in the process.

Death terrifies us at the most fundamental level.  We simply do not know how to conceive of the idea of "not existing."  The good news is that your non-existence has never been God's will.  Rather, in Christ there will never be a day when you do not exist!

Death is a doorway to new life.  But not on my terms.  Not on your terms.  

In Luke 23:32-43, the first man on the cross tells Jesus to "save us."  But on whose terms?  Surely what that man envisioned was a "heaven" of his own making.  A "heaven" that fit his expectations.  The second man on the cross knew better, and instead asked Jesus: "Remember me when you come into YOUR kingdom."   

If heaven were to match each of our individual kingdoms, we'd be right back where we are now!  Disunified, separate, and alone.  What we call "paradise" is God's gift to us, not our gift to ourselves based on our imaginations.  God is the one who gives beyond what we can ask or even imagine (see Ephesians 3).  And the good news is that if Jesus is willing to forgive his persecutors, and he is willing to forgive a criminal who has done nothing to deserve mercy, then Jesus is also willing to forgive you. 

But God will never force his kingdom upon you, or anyone.  Love is only love when it is freely received.  So Easter is an invitation to each of us: Will you receive God's love and forgiveness in Christ, and his promise of eternal life?  If your answer is yes, and you need some guidance, here is what you can do.

PRAY
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Living God, I have heard that Jesus rose from the dead and lives today
in your kingdom.  
I have heard that you are willing to forgive me.
God, I am sorry for what I have thought, said, or done
By choice, or by chance,
That has held me back from you, or been destructive in my life and the world.
Please forgive me in Jesus' name.
And having been forgiven, I invite your Holy Spirit into my mind, heart, and life,
So that I can live a new life, not for my own glory but for yours.
Thank you for this gift in Jesus, and for saving me.
In His name, Amen.

SHARE
If you have prayed this prayer, for the first time or again afresh,
it is important that you share that news with someone.
Pastors Aaron and Mike are eager to hear from you and walk with you  in your next steps of faith and life with Jesus.  Please don't hesitate to be in touch:
astewart@uppc.org
mmoffitt@uppc.org

May you know God's forgiveness and new life this Resurrection Day!

It is an incredible privilege to have Todd Deatherage, Executive Director and Co-founder of Telos Group, join us March 6 to open our series on forgiveness in a time of radical division.
Listen to Todd's teaching at UPPC.org/Media.  Even better, use the UPPC App for iPhone/iPad, or the UPPC app from Google Play!

The mission of Telos Group is to form communities of American peacemakers across lines of difference, and equip them to help reconcile seemingly intractable conflicts at home and abroad. The Telos Group has become a leading organization of America’s emerging pro-Israeli, pro-Palestinian, pro-American, pro-peace movement. Historically, Telos Group’s primary focus has been America’s relationship to Israel/Palestine. In recent years, they’ve begun to replicate their model in other conflict and post-conflict areas, which they believe are connected.

Todd spent sixteen years in senior positions in the legislative and executive branches of the U.S. government before co-founding the Telos Group. From 2005 to 2009, he was Chief of Staff in the Secretary of State’s Office of Policy Planning at the U.S. State Department. He also spent two years as Senior Advisor in the Department’s Office of International Religious Freedom, where he specialized in religious freedom in the Middle East. Todd worked for a decade in the U.S. Congress, including six years as Chief of Staff to Senator Tim Hutchinson. He is a native Arkansan and a graduate of the University of Arkansas. He began his career as an educator. He and his family live in Fairfax County, Virginia.

Raise your hand if you've read the book of Habakkuk...
Or know how to pronounce Habakkuk...

Habakkuk was a prophet whose brief book in the Old Testament is a wonderful example of holy waiting, and of holy dreaming.  Habakkuk waited on God to do the kind of work God had promised to do, but wasn't doing in a way we can easily recognize.  

Later, recorded in Acts 2:42-45, we read about the early Church gathering together daily to break bread, worship, learn God's word, and enact the ministry of the Kingdom of God.  We are still called to do this today.  Is it "working?"  Are we still waiting on God?  Are we waiting while still dreaming, still remaining confident in God?

Spirituality in our time is like no other in human history.  In our time, spirituality has been reduced to individuals' journeys -- "Jesus and me."  Or, "I believe in God, but I don't do church because it's a personal relationship."  Not entirely bad.  But not complete without community.

There is no way that every aspect of the ministry of Christ's Church can be embodied by or inspirational to an individual within the Church.  It is only possible in Christian community.  That may seem strange because the cultural waters in which we swim really is all about "me."  But the work of Jesus is to crack that habit open and make us see that we are part of a larger, more purposeful and capable whole, with King Jesus at the head.  

Luke Skywalker.  Harry Potter.  Bilbo Baggins.  Indiana Jones.  Tom Brady.  A US President.  A church pastor.  What do all of these have in common?  They are all part of a seductive narrative that one person can be the answer to whatever problem.  Social media amplifies this exponentially as people magnify themselves in order to get "likes" and "follows" and even monetize those followers into a career -- all based on self-videos about being the "best" at applying makeup or repairing drywall, etc.  

But no individual part of the Trinity -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- is saying "look at me!"  The Father gives the Son, the Son obeys the Father, the Holy Spirit points us back to the Son.  

When the Seahawks won the Super Bowl, the parade in Seattle drew around a million locals to celebrate with the team.  It was a special moment in our local history when people truly came together.  We know what it looks like.  We know it's possible.  And while football is fun, its victory doesn't last.  How can the Church be the agent of creating like community in an ongoing way?  How is God calling you to use your gifts -- your TIME, TALENT, and TREASURE -- to be part of creating that community, which can dream God's dreams together, and celebrate the presence of God in our neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, streets, and beyond?  

(For a more complete treatment of this subject, it's important to listen to the Sunday teaching at UPPC.org/media.)

Dreams have the power to animate us, capture our imagination, and lead us toward transformation.  Each of most likely has some buried dreams and need support in order to hope.  

Throughout the Torah, that is, the first five books of the Bible, the overall message is that the people of God must remember God and make it their mission to love and follow God.

But the people of God are not the only ones who "dream big dreams."  The book of Deuteronomy, chapter 13 verses 1-4, addresses how to respond when someone presents their own dreams when they are contradictory to the mind of God.  

Who are the schemers today who purport to be the dreamers in our community?  What is our common experience of "false prophecy?"  If your dream for your life leads you to love and glorify God more, then lean into those dreams!  But beware of dreams that fuel your vanity or merely your own comfort and pleasure.  Some (not all) aspects of the "American dream" put forth these false promises.  Listen to Pastor Aaron's message from Feb. 20, 2022, to hear the long quote from Brad Pitt about the futility of worldly success.

We might hear words like Pitt's, but we remain caught in the machinery of worldly dreams.  

Here are some temptations we all must guard against:

1) Misplaced energy.  We are not the "Energizer Bunny."  We cannot just keep going.  We must rest.  It's a commandment for a reason.  Do you ignore it?  Do you seek rest in the form of entertaining activity, which is often not actually restful?  Do you make time each week to stop being productive so you can realize that you...are...enough...?

2) Debt.  Debt limits dreams, and ultimately our freedom.  Not all debt is bad.  But debt in principle keeps us from dreaming bigger because we are under an obligation, sometimes one that cripples us financially.  We must strive as a church and as individuals to get free of debt and thus free to dream bigger about our futures as God's kingdom citizens in the world. 

3) Self-glorifying visions.  In other words, this is the idol of "Me" instead of "We."  A couple of weeks ago, the UPPC sanctuary was packed full of regional representatives from YoungLife, worshiping God and working together for the future of our young people.  Someone reached out to Pastor Aaron and said of our recent remodel: "You did such a good job!"  It is a kind and thoughtful gesture, indeed.  But the hope is that we would all be able to celebrate whatever we accomplish together as a church and say "We did such a good job!" and know that it is because of the Holy Spirit operating with and within us.  

4)  Petty idols.  Human beings have been attracted to petty things since the beginning of history.  We over-value things of little worth and undervalue things of great worth.

5) Isolation from community.  Covid exacerbated this greatly, of course.  But so does pride, bitterness, magnification of "personal preferences" in worship, and the like.  

This five things, among others to be sure, are destroyers of dreams.  Each of us must have the courage to ask ourselves if we have fallen prey to temptations like these, which have the power to stifle, dampen, or even destroy the dreams God has for us as the Body of Christ, the Church.

In response to these temptations, we must find a cause other than ourselves to give our lives for.  What cause is God calling you to give yourself for?
 

Ever wonder why God created certain things?  
Like mosquitos...cockroaches...hiccups...

And how about dreams?  What is their purpose?  
In the Bible, there are 21 narratives which involve someone's dreams (and many, many more allusions and references to dreams and visions).  And in those stories of God interacting with people through dreams, people's dreams are made to change -- or even break -- so that God's BIGGER dream can come through.  

When the apostles gathered on Pentecost, God's bigger dream for the world broke through in a way that was so powerful the world has never been the same since.  You can read about it in Acts 2, especially Acts 2:14-21.  

Peter tells the people that in the "last days" God would pour our God's own Holy Spirit into all people -- men, women, young people -- so they would begin to dream God's own dreams.  Those "last days" do not mean here what many have come to associate that phrase with (the end-times). Rather, the last days refers to the fulfillment of God's will in such a way that would end one era and begin another (see the many references to the last days in the OT prophets).  So the question is: when are those last days?  

The answer: we are living in them now.

This has profound implications for how we think about our "dreams."  How do we tend to dream?  individualistically, defined by consumption, and even competitively.  (If you disagree, ask any 10-year-old to define a successful and happy life.  Most will talk about job, money, security, and creature comforts with themselves at the center of their own story.  Why wouldn't they -- it's natural.  But it's not what God's dreams look like.)

If God were to offer you two plans for your dreams, which would you be more inclined to follow?

Plan A) God promises to fulfill your most cherished dreams -- healthy, happy family, financial security, comfortable lifestyle, etc.  But that's it.  Nothing bigger.  Nothing more profound.  Nothing outside of your own imagination.

Plan B) God promises to fulfill his own dreams through your life -- healing for the nations, blessing for your community, unity where there is now division, healing of sickness, and salvation from sin and death.  But the catch is, your personal dreams may have to change -- or even be broken -- to make room for God's dreams to come true.  

Which plan would you take? 

Reflect:
- When you were a young child, what did you want to "be when you grew up?"  How did that work out for you?
- If you had one wish (and couldn't wish for more wishes, wink) what would it be?  Why?
- What dream of yours are you really hoping God will NOT disappoint?
- What vision of God's, as revealed in the Bible, would you be willing to make personal sacrifices for?

Many blessings as you dream bigger this week! 

The love of money is sometimes thought to be reserved for the wealthy.  The ol' Scrooge trope.  But in fact, every human being is faced with temptations to greed, for a number of reasons.  Everyone seems to know that money can't buy happiness, but then most people live as though it does!  That contradiction is an excellent example of the spiritual nature of this struggle.  

So our BATTLE PLAN is to talk back to greed with scripture!  This week's scripture is 1 Timothy 6:6-16.  

Studies have shown that Americans are exposed to thousands of advertisements per day!  That sounds unlikely but the study includes not only the obvious, like TV commercials, but any kind of branding, signage, etc. that presents people with options to "have" something that they might consider would make their life better than it is at present.  For example, have you ever been driving and seen a nicer car and thought "I'd love to test drive that."  Or seen a billboard and thought, "That might do the trick."  These aren't evil!  But when "stuff" becomes a "love" (1 Tim. 6:10) and not just a means of survival and contentment, then we are walking the tempting line of greed.

A great thought experiment is to ask yourself (or in a group): What would you do with $10 million? But don't just talk about purchases or investments.  Let the thought experiment work itself out in real-life scenarios.  How quickly would that money be spent, and that which was acquired start to require more money for maintenance?

Howard Hughes is a tragic example of how the acquisition of wealth does not have the power to redeem.  When Hughes died in 1976, no one noticeably grieved.  In fact, a Time magazine article recounted that the only recognition he received was in his casinos, which gave one minute of silence.  When the silence was over, the article quoted a casino employee: "Okay, roll the dice; he's had his minute."

The fact is that there are things more valuable than money, like time.  Hughes was the richest man in America at the time, but he ended up having only one minute.  

The good news is that we can talk back by the power of the Holy Spirit.  We can not only resist the temptation to greed, but we can pursue greater things.  Don't stop your reading of today's scripture at verse 10 -- continue from verse 11-16!  "Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.  Fight the food fight of the faith.  Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called..."

Reflect (honestly, not with self-judgment.  This is not a moral lesson, but rather an opportunity to be real with God):
- What financial concerns do you have at present?  

- What are you hoping money will do for you?

- How does the idea of scarcity create fear in you?


Bring these concerns to the Lord, for whom money is not a challenge.  Ask the living God to reset your mind and heart on his all-sufficiency.  Ask God to provide your daily bread and cultivate in your heart contentment in all things.  God loves you and is faithful.

On Dec. 23, 1783, Commander-in-Chief General George Washington resigned his commission to public service in the colonial army, having led the colonies to victory over the most powerful military force on earth.  

This is groundbreaking and revolutionary in a way that we, who have not lived in a world defined by monarchy, cannot understand without using our imaginations.  People in America and Europe assumed that having won the war, Washington would do what military victors had done for centuries -- assume primary power; even as king.  His resignation must be celebrated as a victory of humility over pride as he retained focus on the purpose of the revolution as well as his limitations as only one human being.  

Evagrius faced temptations he called Pride and Vainglory, which I combined into the one heading of Pride.  It took many forms, including:

• My thoughts are important and must be shared with others
• People should care what I do

He was also tempted to:

• compare himself to others
• to gossip, and envy

And all this, 17 centuries before social media.
He also had thoughts like:

• I don’t deserve to suffer
• I don’t need to listen to advice
• I don’t need people to pray for me

Pride is tricky because oftentimes we don't even recognize it as "bad."  It comes in the form of self-respect, for example.  There is such a thing as "healthy pride," as human beings are special in God's eyes (see Psalm 8, Rev. 5). But God's enemy will warp that into an insistence that we become our own gods.  Pride tempts us to displace God and enthrone the Self.

So our BATTLE PLAN is to talk back to Pride with scripture and what Paul called the breastplate of righteousness.  Scripture today is Matthew 20:20-28.

Talk back to pride by NEEDING COMMUNITY.  James and John (and their mother) forgot that Jesus had called them into a integrated community, not to be strong on their own, without their brothers and sisters in Christ.  C.S. Lewis wrote “Other vices may sometimes bring people together: you may find good fellowship...among drunken people…But pride always means enmity — it IS enmity" (Mere Christianity).
Take an inventory of people in your community who fulfill your needs.  Reach out and let those people know.  Pride will run and hide.

Talk back to pride by HONORING COMMUNITY.  The other ten felt dishonored at James and John's request.  How could they not?  In the world's economy, when we lift ourselves up, others must be put down.  But in God's economy, when we lift others up, we are lifted up as well, by God.  It's a win-win.  One of the most powerful ways to honor another person is by listening to them.  Listening is about paying full attention to that person, offering your valuable time to them because they are worth it.  When we truly spend time dignifying others, pride runs and hides.

Talk back to pride by SERVING COMMUNITY.  Jesus is clear: “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”  It might seem like an abstract question, "What does righteousness look like?"  But the entire Bible illustrates God's righteousness from start to finish -- it is sacrificial service.  Jesus was given all power over everything on earth, and yet he chose to use that power to wash his followers' feet (John 13).  The most powerful way to serve your community, before any actions (but not instead of action) is in PRAYER.  Begin by praying with your loved ones.  Then extend to your wider community.  And then the challenge is to obey Jesus and love our enemies -- pray for those who oppose you, who annoy you, who offend you.  Do you dare?

Pride is a powerful force, which tempts us in many ways.  
Easily confused with our God-given DIGNITY, Pride inflates that dignity and fools us into thinking we don’t need God at all. The end of that story is destruction.
But we have a BATTLE PLAN:
To talk back to Pride by NEEDING each other
By HONORING each other
By SERVING each other
Just as Jesus served us on the cross, and the Holy Spirit advocates for us every day.  
Amen.

In 2001, I was sleeping soundly in my room in Belfast, N. Ireland, when my whole house (and neighborhood) were awakened by two loud "bangs"!  Turns out someone had thrown them toward our house, one going off just feet from my head, which was at the bedroom window.  Quickly, my surprise gave way to real fear that this was a personal attack, which led to discouragement, and eventually to the temptation to give up and go home.  

Evagrius named eight tempting demons, including two that surprised me: Sadness and Listlessness.  I summed these two up in the word, Despair.

If you are struggling with despair and hopelessness, and you don't know where to turn, dial 211 from any phone.  Your call will be confidential and the receptionist will guide you toward help.  

Despair can tempt us to abandon God because it seems that God has abandoned us.  Despair can come in the form of sadness, fear, hopelessness, worthlessness, and much more.  

This week, our BATTLE PLAN is to talk back to Despair using scripture and what Paul called the shield of faith.  Our scripture is Psalm 27:1-3.

Talk back to despair by proclaiming.   Despair can make us feel like we're in the "doldrums."  That word comes from sailing and refers specifically to being stuck in the water because of a lack of wind.  It is literally the experience of POWERLESSNESS.  But we are not powerless.  We have the Word of almighty God at our disposal, and we can always access it.  When we feel powerless, we can proclaim God's word.  But we must remember:
Proclamation precedes feelings.  If we wait to feel like proclaiming, we may never do so.  But the feeling of God's power, protection, and peace usually follows the proclamation we make in faith.

Talk back to despair also by dwelling.  In Psalm 27, David makes the bold proclamation of God's protection, but then doesn't get to work right away.  He basks in the glory of God and dreams of simply dwelling in God's presence.  The Holy Spirit is so powerful that it often does not take very long in his presence to completely shift how we feel and reset our day.  

Talk back to despair by asking.  David does not shy away from asking for what he needs:
- Hear my voice
- Be merciful and answer
- Teach me
- Lead me
Asking God for what we need can be daunting.  Author Chris Tiegreen wrote: “We feel instinctively impoverished when we pray and nothing happens…a downward cycle of unbelief can begin, weakening our expectations and undermining our faith until our prayers become little more than faint hopes...Beware of limiting your prayers to whatever seems realistic.  The size of the mountain is never an issue.”

Let’s pray…
Come, Holy Spirit... (dwell with God for a minute in silence)
Our experience of life can leave us downcast, afraid, listless, sad.  We are tempted to despair.
So we make time to proclaim the truth of your goodness, using your word in Psalm 27…
We make time to dwell with you in this moment, without hurry or agenda…
And though it can feel risky to ask for things that seem as unlikely as mountains moving, we strive to have the faith of Jesus.  So in this moment, we take that risk in faith, betting not on our own wisdom but on your power and grace.  In this quiet moment, hear our prayers as expressions of our faith in You...
In your almighty name, Amen.

"Too much of a good thing is wonderful."  Have you ever heard that quote?  It's funny because it's a paradox.  The fact is that no matter what the "good thing" is, too much of anything is, by definition, not good.  So the wiser and well-known quote is "Everything in moderation."

Moderation can be challenging, but especially in things that offer particular pleasure.  This week's spiritual attack comes in a cunning camouflage of GOOD things God has given: food and sexual intimacy.  But in the hands of God's enemy, these are warped into temptations known as Gluttony and Lust.

So this week we talked back to these temptations using Scripture and what Paul called the "belt of truth."  Our scripture is John 3:16-21.

1) The light of Jesus overcomes the destructiveness of gluttony.
Gluttony is excess, especially in food and drink, but also in many other things.  Temptations toward gluttony come in forms besides physical hunger.  Gluttony says things like:
- A simple lifestyle is weird.
- Your friends are enjoying pleasures you should also enjoy"
- If you don't have this now, someone else will get it.
- You deserve this.

Gluttony is the non-rational amplification of good pleasures to have the appearance of things that can ultimately fulfill us.  Gluttony promises satisfaction, and then steals that very thing and makes God look like the thief.

2) The light of Jesus overcomes the destructiveness of lust.
The monk Evagrius faced a life crisis when he fell in love with a married woman.  He had a distinct experience of lust, and it ruined the life he was trying to build.  Lust also takes many forms:
- Your sexual hunger is natural; why resist it?
- You're a bad person if you can't control your sexual urges.
- You can resist, but you don't really want the feelings to go.
- What kind of God would subject you to this kind of struggle?

We can see the pervasiveness of lust in the startling statistics about pornography use in the US.  I also told a story of a huge sticker I saw across the back of a truck window that was so sexually explicit I can't repeat it.  But the "normalization" of pornography is a red flag that the demon of lust -- which DESTROYS sex while claiming to celebrate it -- has a strong foothold in our culture.

So the BATTLE PLAN against Over-Indulgence of gluttony and lust is to live in the LIGHT.  That is, to live above reproach.  Two ways of doing that are by ACCOUNTABILITY and AFFIRMATION.

Accountability basically means refusing to hide.  Who has access to your credit card statements?  Who is able to see your internet history?  Do you have any hidden food or magazines in your home that need to come out into the light?  

But along with accountability there is affirmation.  When we are held accountable by people we trust, we are also affirmed that we are not alone.  The greatest power these temptations have is to make us feel isolated.  But we're not.  We're in good company.  

There are many techniques for living in the light in these areas.  One that we use at UPPC is called Covenant Eyes.  It is accountability software for internet use, and it is for men and women to use.  Contact us if you're interested.

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us.  The world is full of temptations, and those which feel pleasurable are especially challenging.  Replace fleeting pleasures with eternal joy, in your holy name.  Amen.

Last Fall we learned about two contrasting paradigms for salvation -- the world's and God's.  The former revolves around ourselves, the latter around the throne of heaven.  The former ends in chaos and confusion, the latter in life eternal.  

The world's salvation plan fails.  But there are real forces that continue to draw people away from the life to be found in Jesus.  What are they?  And more important -- do we have a plan to battle them?

Evagrius of Pontus was a 4th century monk who identified eight powerful forces, also known as spirits or ideas, that consistently tempt people away from God.  But rather than be a passive victim or pious blowhard, Evagrius chose to respond with God's Word in scripture.  His written record of temptations and responses is called "Talking Back," and is influential in the new book by John Mark Comer, Live No Lies.   Over the next five weeks, we are going to look at all eight of them, and some of the weapons we can plan to use in battle against them.  

Ed Stetzer calls the era we're living in "The Age of Outrage."  To be sure, the emotional experience we call "anger" was once seen as a vice; an uncivilized and irrational response to life's problems.  But today, I would venture to say that many people consider anger not only acceptable, but even virtuous.  And there is a righteous place for anger.  It's a signal that something is wrong.  Sometimes it is justified and gives us the adrenaline we need to escape an abusive situation.  

But unprocessed, misunderstood anger becomes acidic and eats away at people...in the worse cases, anger eats away at whole nations in the form of war.    

Was Jesus ever angry?  Of course!  But the difference between his and ours is that his anger led to self-sacrifice for the sake of the very people he was angry with.  Is that what people do on social media?  

So, the Enemy of God loves unbounded, self-righteous, seemingly justified anger for one central reason: it disables us from loving our neighbor, the most important command in all scripture second only to loving and serving God alone.  

BATTLE PLAN:  Matthew 5:38-42

The plan is simple -- instead of responding to injustice or insult visited against us, Jesus calls us to respond with self-sacrifice and grace.   (NOTE: this is not the case when a person is the victim of abuse.  If you believe you are the victim of abuse, please tell someone right away who can help you get safe and find help.)

Turn the other cheek does not mean "ignore."  Rather, it means let your attacker attack you again.
Offer your jacket as well as your shirt.  If someone steals from you, give them extra.
Go the second mile.  If someone forces you to serve them, serve them more than they expected.

Does Jesus command these radical behaviors so we can be miserable?  Of course not.  He commands them because they disable the anger in our hearts, in the hearts of our assailants, and finally -- and most important -- it reveals the shame of the attack.  In the face of injustice, victory is found not through anger, but through the kind of scandalous self-giving that Jesus demonstrated supremely on the cross.  Rome sought to shame him, but his death became their shame, his victory, and our salvation.

The next time you are tempted to indulge in your anger, consider our Lord and his response.  What can you give of yourself that disables the anger and disarms the Enemy?

Luke 2:25-40 records the story of a man and woman late in their years, who waited their whole lives (as many generations before them had done, it should be noted) for the arrival of God's Messiah.  

Even non-religious people or nominal Christians are familiar with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph at Christmas.  Maybe also shepherds, angels, and magi.  But -- Simeon and Anna?  Would your next door neighbor know they are part of the Christmas story?

To fully appreciate the power of the moment when Simeon and Anna see the baby Messiah, we might need to imagine people in our own communities whom might be described as "geriatric."  Elderly, perhaps in questionable or failing help, struggling to cope with daily tasks as they once did in their younger and more capable years.  Can you picture someone in your community or family like that?

Simeon and Anna were like that.  They were long in years but had remained faithful Jews, honoring their covenant with God as God's people, including maintaining faith in a promise that none of their known ancestors had been blessed to see in this earthly life.  As you imagine the elderly people in your community, do you know any who have maintained faith in God like that?

Simeon and Anna were like that.  They knew that God is for life; God's love is for life; God's promises are for life; God's mission for the salvation of the world is for life.  

As we begin 2022, think about the kind of person you would like to be in your elderly years, God willing you live that long.  Do you want to be active participants in God's work in the world, putting your intellectual belief into action, as an example of faithfulness to your peers and the younger generations?  If you do, then look to Anna and Simeon as your examples.

Reflect:
- If you are over 65 years old, what challenges do you face in life that you didn't face 20 years ago?
- If you are over 65 years old, what ministry opportunities do you have that you couldn't have participated in 20 years ago?
- If you believe that Jesus is the savior of the world, are you actively sharing that good news in some way in your daily, weekly, or monthly routine?  Have life's challenges overwhelmed you, so that actively embodying God's love in your life just seems like too much to handle?

Pray:
Living God, in Christ you save the world every day, including me.  In Christ, I live.  In Christ, I am called to live and share your love as long as you sustain my earthly life.  Will you show me, by the power of your Holy Spirit, how I should be your minister today, this week, and in this new year?  
In the holy and powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

There was once a young girl who survived a tornado.  Her name is a pun: Dorothy GALE.  After the storm ended, she emerged from her house in a new and fantastic land called Oz.  Her words have become the symbol for being in a new place: "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

Leaving home can be exciting, but it's also risky.  This was especially true in the ancient world.  So what would have given a handful of religious sages (i.e. "magi" or "wise men") incentive to take a 3-month journey far from home to see a baby in a small Jewish town?

The magi we read about in Matthew 2:1-12 could have certainly been aware of the Jews, since the Jews had lived in the "east" since the Babylonian exile 500 years earlier.  They appear to have given some credence to Jewish teaching as well, since the star signified to them not just the arrival of any king, but of a Jewish king, whom they believed to be important enough to visit, far from their home.  They bear witness to the fact that Jesus takes God's mission beyond "home" and calls us to follow him.

1) God's mission is already beyond our home.  In other words, God goes before us.  Into our personal timelines, for example, God goes ahead of us and prepares things we will need long before we have "arrived" there in time.  God also goes ahead of us physically, being present with people who live far from us, and whom we have not yet met.  This was certainly the case for the magi.  God's action in advance of us reminds us that God is in charge, and we are not.  At the same time, God is in charge and calls us to join in.  When we have arrived where God already is, we must be ready to join God's work.

2) God's mission comes to our home.  The entire biblical narrative is one of God drawing near to humankind, and humans pushing God away.  Consider Genesis 3:8-13.  The first three things God says in response to the people's sin were NOT accusations.  They were questions: Where are you?  Who told you?  What have you done?  At Christmas, God finally drew near in a way people could no longer deny or avoid -- as one of us.  Pippa Gumbel tells the story of Penny and Anna: Penny was praying for Anna at an Alpha weekend and began praying in another language.  "Your speaking Russian!" Anna exclaimed.  Penny didn't know Russian, so she asked, "Well what am I saying?"  
"You're saying, 'My dear child, my dear child.'"  Pippa remarked that that was exactly what Anna needed to hear.  But to hear it in a language she spoke and loved gave it the personal impact that God wants us all to experience.  

3) God's mission may call us beyond our home.  Some people may be called to physically move away from their home.  Some are called overseas, while others are called across the state, or even across town.  I heard recently of a family who, after a great deal of prayer and discernment, moved to the glistening metropolis of ... Forsythe, Missouri.  Okay.  Bethlehem wasn't much to write home about, either, but that is the place to which God called the magi to go.  But sometimes, God's call away from "home" is more about calling us to venture into unfamiliar contexts, without having to physically move where we live.  In any case, those who follow Christ should be prepared to expect the unexpected, and get comfortable being uncomfortable, if we are to be ready to answer whatever call he may give.  This is what it means to call Jesus "Lord."

Reflect:
- Have you ever traveled far from home?
- Have you ever lived far from home?
- Have you ever lived far from home in a way that was difficult for you?
- Have you ever said "yes" to what you believe was a prompting from God, which compelled you to embrace a new, unfamiliar, and perhaps even challenging context, i.e. "far from home"?

 

"Familiarity breeds unfamiliarity."

Many people who grew up hearing the Christmas story might be at risk of letting the story grow stale in their hearts and minds.  We might think we "know" the Child in the manger...but do we?  When is the last time you asked yourself, honestly: "What child is this, who lay in a feeding trough, upon whom the hope of the world is said to rely.  Really...who IS this kid?"

Indeed, the season of hope, peace, joy and love is called CHRISTmas for a reason.  No, we don't have to write in to our local representatives to protest society's change of language to "holiday" for everything from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day.  But we who follow Christ must maintain the centrality of Christ at this time.  Otherwise, we could just call it "Giftmas."

Around seven centuries before Mary got the shocking news that she would bear the Messiah, the prophet Isaiah spoke into a terrifying situation.  The people of God were about to be invaded by hostile nations, and God made a promise that a child would be born to rescue them.  Read Isaiah 9:1-7.  Who would this child be?

1) Wonderful Counselor.  This child would be one whose counsel would be "wonderful," for which the Hebrew word means "supernatural."  His guidance and wisdom would be so profound that people would "wonder" at it, and where he could have possibly come from.

2) Mighty God.  The language here is of a warrior hero, who rescues his people.  Not only would he be "mighty" but also "God," that is, not merely a prophet, priest, or king, but the real deal.  God's own self, come to fight not human enemies but God's ultimate enemy.  And win.

3) Eternal Father.  Many people have painful associations with the image of God as our "Father," and they have good reason for those associations.  Many others do not.  The point is not to decide if the image is good or bad, but to focus on what the image of God as Father is meant to convey.  When you think of the ideal Parent, what do you imagine?  Now try to imagine a Parent who surpasses your greatest expectations.

4) Prince of Peace.  Wait -- the Christ-child would be a "warrior" (see above) and also the prince of "peace"?  How does that work?  This peace can refer to the absence of conflict, but it is also much more comprehensive.  This is all-encompassing peace, which transcends and outlasts our earthly circumstances and conflicts.  This is the peace that surpasses our understanding and points us in the direction of heaven, the Kingdom of God.  

All of these --

• Wonderful Counselor
• Mighty God
• Eternal Father
• Prince of Peace

lay in the manger on that Christmas day.  That is who this Child is.

Reflect:
- Has the story of Christmas become UNfamiliar to you over the years?  How can you keep it alive and fresh in your mind and heart?
- Which of the titles Isaiah gives the child resonate most with you, and why?

Pray:
O Christ, who lay so vulnerable in the manger that day,
Will you please meet me as though it were the first time,
And show me how to say "yes" to you as my
Counselor
God
Father
and Prince of Peace?
In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.  

The Christian faith is multifaceted and beautiful, spanning 20 centuries of history in addition to the history of Israel for centuries before Christ.  And in all that time, it might be summed up in one word:

PRESENCE.

The promise of Christmas is that the child to be born would fulfill the prophecy that God would be with us.  This is why he is called "Emmanuel," which means, "God with us."  After Jesus was resurrected, God gave his Holy Spirit to the Church to remain with us until Christ comes again.  Living in the presence of God, we can experience all-encompassing peace (Hebrew shalom).

Religion without the practiced presence of God becomes dogma, ritual, and rules.  But religion with the practiced presence of God becomes mature, strong enough to be tender, which Jean Vanier said is the most mature expression of spirituality.

Presence is central to the overarching story of the Bible, as God wanted to be present with man and women in Eden, and will eventually be with people again in the fulfilled Kingdom of God.  

It's not hard to understand our innate desire for presence, actually.  Consider completing this sentence: "This is good, but I wish ____________________ were here to share it with me."   Regardless of the activities we may do through Advent, Christmas, and the new year, what we really want is the presence of those we love.  This, the Bible tells us, is what God ultimately wants with us.  

Imagine God governing the cosmos and still saying "This is good, but I wish [Insert YOUR NAME here] were here with me."  

God desires to be present with you but in the name of love will not impose His presence upon you.  As Jesus said in John's vision "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me" (Rev. 3:20 NIV).

This week's scripture is Ephesians 3:16-17a:
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith."

There is deep significance in the phrase “coming home.”  Especially at Christmas.  The notion resounds so loudly within our souls that Jesus even uses the image of home to describe dwelling in God's heavenly presence forever.  But the good news of Jesus is much more than the promise of rescue out of the miry pit of the world, or of our own sinfulness.  The good news if Jesus is also that by God the Holy Spirit, God would dwell within our hearts -- our hearts can become God's home.  This is the unique claim of the gospel amongst all other world religions or philosophies.  Moreover, while our hearts can become God's home, the converse is also true -- God's heart can become our home.  Christ dwells within his people, just as we dwell within Christ (John 17:20-23; Ephesians 2:22; Philippians 1:21; Colossians 3:3).

Pastor Aaron spent significant time reflecting on the essay by Robert Munger, "My Heart, Christ's Home."  You can find that essay online in numerous places, including here:
https://www.usna.edu/Navigators/_files/documents/MHCH.pdf

Can you hear Jesus knocking at the door of your life (Rev. 3:20)?  
Do you realize today that God is real, knows you, and wants to come home to live with you?
Do you hear the Holy Spirit calling your name?  

If you do, then this Christmas you have an opportunity to let Jesus in, and experience the joy of salvation, starting in the here and now and forever.  

Many blessings to you and your household and community this Advent season!

Reflect:
- If your heart is Christ's home, when is the last time you told your story of letting him in?  Who in your life needs to hear it?
- If you're not ready to let Jesus move in to your heart, what is holding you back?
- Do you know anyone with whom you can discuss your questions about a life in Christ?  
UPPC encourages you to be in touch!  We would love to meet you and accompany you on your journey in life and faith.  
Email: info@uppc.org
Phone: 253-564-2522

This week we conclude our series on Philippians, and this text has challenging implications.  What is the secret that Paul is revealing in the last portion of this letter, in this final "thanksgiving" to the Christ-followers in Philippi?  

The secret is how to be content in any situation.  

But this secret is hidden.  When all is going well, we say to ourselves, "I'm so blessed," or in the secular world, "I'm so lucky."  Or worse, "I have achieved so much."  But when times are tough, we are inclined to say "I've done something wrong," or "God is punishing me," or in the secular view, "How can there be a God when things are this bad?"  The truth of "good times and bad times" is that we tend to learn and mature much more in the bad times.  Health struggles, death of loved ones, divorce, estranged children, job failures, and more...  The apostle Paul knew about deep loss and suffering.  And he knew that what we learn in the loss is the hidden secret --- the GOLD.

Please visit UPPC.org/media to listen to Pastor Martha's personal story of loss.

When God's call remains central in your life, you will receive the promises of God.  The goal of marriage for example can stand in for all of life -- the goal is not to be happy, but to be holy.  As Psalm 34:19 reminds us, even "the righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time."  Those of us who are called to live as citizens of the Kingdom of God are not called to a life merely of happiness, but a life of holiness in all its aspects.  Moreover, that life which is being made holy by God's Spirit is forever purposeful as a beacon of light to a world living in the darkness of lies, especially the lies that accompany self-centered aggrandizement.

If marriage is a matter of mere self-fulfillment and ending loneliness, it will disappoint us.  If singleness is not seen as an opportunity to increase one's relationship to God, it will also be lonely.  But if marriage and singleness are both understood as opportunities to grow in holy relationship to God, we will not be disappointed!  

This is the secret of being content in all circumstances: keeping God at the core of every aspect of our lives.  This is the way for us to be able to celebrate, alongside Paul, that we "can do all things through Christ, who strengthens" us.  

Reflect:
- What circumstances in your life can you celebrate right now?
- What circumstances are causing you suffering?
- Consider how to reframe all your circumstances with God at the center of each of them.  Make time to explicitly give your circumstances to God, as you would give any offering, and boldly ask God to redeem each of them according to God's will.

Living God, you are good.
You offer refuge, rescue, and provision
In all circumstances.  
Please take from me the following, because I can't carry their weight alone:
______________________(offer your circumstances...)
Lord, your Word promises that you are close to the brokenhearted;
In your grace and mercy, please rescue me, redeem me,
And shape my days and nights according to your will,
So my life is forever filled with purpose and goodness,
In every circumstance.
In the name of my Savior, my Lord Jesus Christ,
Amen. 

Rev. Shari Jackson Monson is the Transitional Executive Presbyter of Olympia Presbytery.  Among her many duties is the oversight of the well-being of the pastors in the presbytery (i.e. region of Presbyterian congregations).  Please visit UPPC.org/media to watch or listen to Rev. Monson's full message.

Rev. Monson taught today from Philippians 4:4-12.

"...and the peace of God will be with you."  Is this not what we each ultimately long for?  

God's peace surpasses understanding, to be sure.  But there is a crucial we all play in experiencing that peace, and it has something to do with focus.  For example, nature photographers must learn and be disciplined to use certain tools and timing to achieve focus on special moments in time.  Similarly, we can learn and be disciplined to use certain mental, spiritual, and even physical techniques to achieve focus on God's presence, God's love, and God's will.  And Paul says that the result is the "peace of God."  

We often want other things to give us peace.  Health, stability, vitality, loving relationships, financial wealth, etc., are all temporary and passing.  Even a marriage which lasts 70 years feels too brief when one spouse passes away.  Temporary comforts are not "wrong," but they cannot substitute for the eternal peace that can be found only in practiced relationship with the living God.  Rev. Monson highlighted two such practices.

1)  Practice receiving & giving support.  While we cannot experience God's peace ultimately through the support of our human community, our sisters and brothers in Christ God's chosen means of being present with us, that is, they are the "hands and feet of Jesus."  When we need support, we must practice receiving it from our faith family.  When we are able to give support, we must practice offering it within our faith family as an expression of Jesus' good news.

2) Practice embodied prayer.  Prayer is conversation with God, and it can be powerful to engage that prayer physically, not just mentally.  Try this exercise:  free up both of your hands.  

- Make a fist with each hand.  Squeeze your fists as hard as you think you should!  As you hold your hands in fists, let God know what is burdening you today.  We don't really "think" our burdens -- we feel our burdens.   God already knows the information; tell God what it's like for you to carry these burdens...make time, there's no hurry.

- Open your hands, palms down.  Release those burdens, inviting God to carry them with you.  God is capable of carrying far more than we're able to carry.  Why do we try to carry it all?  God offers to carry the weight of the world, and even burdens in our own lives we cannot carry.  Release the pride that tells this lie: "it's all up to you."  Speak truth into your life in the words of Christ: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened."

- Open your hands, palms up.  Receive from God the unconditional grace God longs to give.  The Bible is many things and tells many stories.  But the story above all the stories is somewhat simple: God wants to be with us, and wants us to be with God.  Receiving God's Holy Spirit into our minds and hearts begins with asking.  As Jesus insisted: "How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13).  

If only these things were automatic!  But God loves us too much to force our hands.  So we each have the opportunity to follow Paul's teaching, and make a practice of where we focus our minds and hearts, and how we engage with the Holy Spirit in such a way that we can experience God's everlasting peace...even today.  

Pastor Aaron's message on Nov. 7 gives an excellent review of the concepts we've covered this Fall.  Please visit his message at UPPC.org/media to hear that summary!

There is an end to the two contrasting "salvation schema" of secular humanism vs. the Gospel.  But the ends are not the same.  In the purely secular schema, only the self can get the glory.  But in the Gospel, Christ receives the glory.

Some have argued that we are selling humanism short, and that it does have good to offer.  To be sure, human beings are capable of much good!  But this series has focused on two specific things about secularism.  1) Its ultimate ends (not just its day-to-day, or even generation-to-generation good works.)  2) Its insistence that humanity has no need of any god.  Thus, secular humanism as we have been addressing it removes any god from the salvation schema, and necessitates the glorifying of the self (and not humanity as a whole, since only that which transcends humanity can give it glory.)

Today's scripture is Philippians 3:12-4:1.
What would you do if you got knocked out of the race of life?  Would you get up and try to finish anyway?  Would you believe you could still win?
It would be necessary to keep our perspective.  NOT on the fall, and NOT on the flesh.  But rather, on the FINISH.  In Paul's case, the finish is heaven itself.  

Glory is one of the most important concepts to understand in the Christian faith.  We believe that in the end, only God is worthy of glory.  Period.  Notice that Paul does not see the finish line as "his salvation."  But rather, eternal life "in Christ Jesus."

What do you picture when you imagine Heaven?

An atheist once asked Pastor Aaron, "Why would someone want to spend eternity living in the clouds?"  But that is not the image of heaven the Bible gives.  There is something ineffable about the glory of heaven, and the Bible doesn't give a step-by-step guide to heaven, perhaps for that reason.  But fundamentally, all reality has been altered in Jesus' resurrection, which is a foretaste of heaven, and whose glory illuminates our otherwise darkened lives as we share in his resurrection.  Heaven is life in Christ, imperishable, without fear or pain or death, forever.  Heaven is living in God's new world.  Heaven is living in a new body -- the Body of Christ.  It is a paradox, because it is entirely individual, for you and me, and communal at the same time.  The two are inseparable.  

The communal upward call for all of us is to glorify Jesus in this life and in the life to come.  If that's not enough good news, also consider this -- the power that redeems this life and creates us anew is not generated from within ourselves.  It is the power of Christ, offered freely to anyone and everyone who says "Yes" when he calls us to follow him.

Reflect on the way in which your life, and our church, faces challenges from "the world" all around us...

What would it mean for our community to really live as an "outpost of heaven?"...

Have you ever said yes to Jesus' call to follow him?
If you are ready to say yes to Jesus for the first time, or to renew your life in him, please be in touch.  Give us a call at 253-564-2522 and ask to speak with a pastor.  

Grace and peace be with you!

What have you accumulated in your life?  Belongings?  Skills?  Experiences?  All of the above?

If you’ve ever moved from one home to another, you know that there are some belongings that must be discarded, either to people who need it or into the garbage.  Other circumstances require throwing things away valuable cargo, too, as with a ship in danger.

In today’s scripture -- Philippians 3:4-11 -- Paul lists his “precious cargo,” that is, his "bragging rights" – upbringing, nationality, education, zeal, righteousness.  So why did he calculate everything as a “loss”?  (Or, more vividly, “excrement!”)

Well, let's be more specific -- Paul counts all of his bragging rights as garbage in comparison to something ... to knowing, experiencing, and sharing in the life of Christ.  (See the UPPC Focus Statement.)  

Part of what has been so challenging about this series, "Gold," is its exposure of the emptiness of a salvation paradigm offered by a secular humanist culture that dismisses any power or work of God.  In this self-centered paradigm, is there any way we can define ourselves outside of our "precious cargo," which includes the relatively positive impact we think we have had on the world?

What is your "precious cargo?"  Health?  Education?  Career?  Possessions?  Achievements?  Other?  How hard would it be to take all that we value most and metaphorically "throw it away" for the sake of living in Christ?  

Can we think of ourselves apart from our achievements?  Our possessions?  Who are we?  WHAT are we?

May you come to know who you are in the eyes of the One who made you.  In Grace and Peace!

In Christ, we are not only "saved."  We are also "formed."  As you live your life, ask yourself, "What is forming you?"  You will be formed by default or design.  You cannot escape powers that form you; you can choose which powers to allow.

The most insightful portrayal of the human condition can be found in Genesis 3.  The serpent approaches Eve, who with Adam was enjoying life as it should be (i.e. "Eden.")  And it tells a lie about FREEDOM: "Did God really say 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden?'"  He develops the idea that when she eats of that tree (of the knowledge of good and evil) you will be LIKE GOD.  

The deceiver came to her not with an obvious weapon, but with a subtle one.  A lie.  A lie about the character of God, suggesting that a life with God is not free, and a life without God is free.  Sound familiar?

The deception is twofold:
1) To be autonomous from God in the pursuit of "freedom."
2) You can't trust God, but you can trust yourself.  
That is, your intuition is the most accurate roadmap to your life.  Do you believe this?

In Philippians 2:19-30, Paul refers to this deception as "the flesh."  When he writes about "mutilators of the flesh" he's referring to people who are trying to "judaize" new Christians into believing they must do something to their physical body to be acceptable to God.  The wrongness of mutilating the "flesh" isn't the act itself, but rather the trust it places in the "flesh" instead of in the character of God and the saving work of Christ.

Misplaced desires are how St. Augustine referred to God-given desires that are not intrinsically wrong, but rather aimed in the wrong direction, at the wrong things.  It is right to want to be more "like God," in fact it is the end goal of Christianity to be Christ-like.  But it must be on God's terms, not our own.  Being entirely governed by the self is like giving $1,000,000 to a ten-year-old.  Historically, humanity does not do well with unbounded freedom.  Thus Adam's and Eve's desire became "misplaced" at the tree in Genesis 3.  Indeed, our "strongest" desires are often in contrast to our "deepest" desires.  

Having boundaries on our strong desires (typically called "self control") does not just apply to traditional "vices" like smoking, drinking, gambling, and lust.  What about gossip?  What about over-indulgent shopping?  What about overwork ("workaholism")?  What about binging TV?  These desires feel irresistible.  They are "strong."  But the reason they end up feeling empty is because they are not "deep."  No one ever wrote on their gravestone, "So glad I bought another pair of shoes."  

There is an ancient practice for putting our misplaced desires back where they belong -- Fasting.  When is the last time you deliberately skipped a meal in order to focus on the health of your spirit?  Or skipped all of your meals for a day?  

Another practice is accountability.  Have you ever had an accountability partner in any area of your life?  In what area do you most need it?  

Could you make a list of your "strong" desires and your "deep" desires?  Where do they overlap?  Where do they contrast?

Last week we learned about two contrasting paradigms for SALVATION.  The secular humanist paradigm focuses on the human self with no need for God.  The biblical paradigm focuses on God, with the self finding fulfillment and flourishing in Christ.

This week, we're looking at Paul's words in Philippians 2:12-18.  

This section immediately follows the great Christological hymn which declares that Jesus poured himself out ("emptied himself") so that people would know full life in him.  In the context of this letter, it was this act of self sacrifice which makes Jesus "Lord."  And:

Because Jesus is Lord, we must live out our salvation together.

1) We must live out our salvation with thrill and awe.
Paul's phrase "fear and trembling" may not sit well with all readers.  But Paul isn't suggesting we feel dread or terror of God, which evokes reactions like anger and confusion.  Rather, Paul is suggesting we feel the kind of thrill that comes from being aligned with God -- a real, living being with a mind and a will, who is far more powerful than we.

2) We must live out our salvation for others' benefit.
When we have a transformational experience, it's natural for us to share it with others.  So why can it be so difficult to share our lives in Christ with the world who needs it so desperately?  Paul writes that as we work out our salvation, our efforts to be "blameless and pure" lead us to shine like lights among the world.  

3) We must live out our salvation with joy.
Paul enjoined his readers to be glad and rejoice with him -- even though he was writing from prison and probably believed this imprisonment might be the end of his earthly life.  Living out our salvation is not meant to be dreary or dire, or hasty or self-righteous.  Instead, we have the opportunity to shine among the world by the joy we experience in our lives with Christ.

Reflect:
- Have you ever had an experience of thrill or awe that you would say was also "scary?"
- Whom do you know that would benefit from seeing the light of the gospel shining in your life?
- Do you experience joy in your daily life?  Why or why not?  What power do you have to choose a life that includes joy?  What prayer can you bring to the living God, who saves you, to lead you into a new season of joy?

Let today's blog summary be a mere augmentation to Pastor Aaron's entire message, which you can hear at UPPC.org/media and the UPPC app.

Read Philippians 2:1-11. 

What does salvation look like in the secular worldview?

CREATION: Self Made
Yes, there was an accidental intersection of matter that led to life on earth, but when it comes to the question "Who am I?" the answer lies entirely within the self.  When one is born, one is, in essence, perfect.  The "Eden" of the inner child.  

SIN: Hinders the Self
Anything that hinders you from being your real self is "bad," or "wrong."  This can include any "identity" that an outside influence puts upon you (gender, politics, economy, family, sexuality, etc.)  This means that even binding commitments are seen as "wrong," because they impose upon you being your true self.

REDEMPTION: Self Actualization
To overcome the sin of imposition, "be true to yourself."  Sounds good on a coffee mug, but the truth is that this puts an unbearable weight on an individual.  It implies that you are alone in this world and your redemption is completely up to you alone.  

SANCTIFICATION: Progressive Humanism
Once "saved," the human being's purpose is to progress ever forward in this schema of self-actualization saving one from the hindrance of imposition from being one's true self.  
Consider what this does to the human family and broader community.  Do the math.

This secular salvation schema does not work.  It leads us to attempt escape from life-giving long-term relationships, into fits of pleasure, addiction to entertainment, and medications that are ultimately destructive.  The enemy's temptation of Adam and Eve was a simple idea -- "Make yourself equal to God."

What does salvation look like from the Biblical worldview?

CREATION: God made
No one would look at an iPhone and think it was just an accidental intersection of matter.  The design implies a designer.  The Bible is clear--the world around us is made by God, including ourselves.  

SIN: Hinders God
Thus, any force that hinders the created goodness of the world according to God is bad or wrong.  Contrasting the secular worldview, the truth is that our inflated and distorted view of ourselves is actually what is hindering us from the abundant life Christ promises in himself (John 10:10).  

REDEMPTION: Dying to Self
Christ set the example, as the hymn in today's scripture illustrates.  The Christian, therefore, is to follow that example, albeit with our own mortal limitations, and empty ourselves for the sake of others.  This is the path to abundant life.  

SANCTIFICATION: Fruits of the Spirit
When we die with Christ and are raised in Christ, symbolized in baptism, what begins to grow and flourish in our lives is not a new-and-improved version of ourselves.  It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  

This Christian salvation schema does work.  Twenty centuries of history and millions of testimonials tell the tale.  

REFLECT:
- Which of these salvation schema is your reality?
- In which schema have you placed your hope?
- If you are believing the secular schema, is it bearing good fruit in your life?  In your community, nation, or world?
- If your eyes have been opened to see the emptiness of the secular schema, but you don't know what to do about it, call or email us at UPPC.org.  We'd love to hear you and walk through your next steps together.  

At the end of Philippians 1, Paul emphasizes that the Church must:
1) Stand firm
2) Strive together
3) Avoid being afraid of opposition.

Why is it that in our general context, we have what we need (food, shelter, clothing) and yet we feel so tired, listless, and the numbers of people suffering from anxiety and depression are higher than ever?  Why does it feel like there's a war being waged for our souls?

Because there is.

Here are the main points from Pastor Aaron's sermon on 10/3/21.  Find it at UPPC.org/media, or use the listen-only feature on the UPPC app.

Christians today are experiencing three fundamental and troubling changes:
1) We are being moved from the majority in culture to the (cognitive) minority.
2) We are being moved from a place of honor in culture to a place of shame.
3) We are experiencing a noticeable rise in hostility toward the Church, and even God and Jesus.

What if this cultural moment is good for us?

We're not the first ones to experience this -- Paul and the Christians in Philippi did, too.  What can we learn from this?  What characteristics of the early Church made it resilient and even flourishing under these conditions?

Blessings...

"To live is __________."  How would you fill in the blank?

This week we look at Paul's letter to the Philippians, chapter 1 verses 12-21, and explore the meaning of life.  

Catch the message at UPPC.org/media

You can also choose the "listen only" option if you use the UPPC app!  Listen during your commute, while you do the dishes, or whenever you have 20 minutes.  

Main points from today:
1) To live is CHRIST.

2) When our lives are in Christ, our limits become liberating.

3) When our lives are in Christ, our competitors become collaborators.

Prayer:
God in heaven, I'm ready to die to myself, because living for myself is killing me.  I am ready to say yes to Jesus, who saves me from sin, death, and even from myself.  I am ready to say yes to Jesus and give him lordship over my life.  I want to be like Paul and live for Christ.

If you are ready to pray this prayer, please get in touch with Pastor Mike, so he talk walk with you through the next steps of your life in Christ.

Grace and Peace!