He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.     (Mark 4:39) NIV

From the desk of pastor Ben

My wife loves storms. She loves to sit on the porch in the summer when a storm is happening and watch the wind blow & see the rain pelting down. She says it is comforting for her. I think she’s crazy! When I see a storm coming, I like to be inside where it’s safe. I don’t want to watch the wind blow and see the rain pelting down. To me, it’s scary!
That reminds me of the terror the disciples experienced as they struggled to stay afloat during a storm. All the while Jesus, in perfect peace, slept. Upon waking, He spoke but 3 words — “Quiet! Be still!” — to calm the waters, the very same waters He had created. Settling the seas was no challenge for Him. But like those men, how many times have we forgotten Jesus, in His limitless power, is right beside us?
So, as the storm outside rages, I look out my window. And as I watch the turbulence outside, I sense His peace. Though storms rage all around me, I am safe and warm and dry. Secure. I know Jesus could calm these storms if He chose to, just as He did long ago.
Jesus can calm the daily chaos that fills our lives as well. And He’s there to quiet our souls when tempests brew inside us. When troubles overwhelm, He stills our thoughts and calms our fears. We need simply remember we aren’t sailing alone.

Faith Step:     Next time a rain or snow storm approaches, grab a cup of coffee or tea and watch. Think of the storms of life Jesus has calmed for you and thank Him.

From the desk of pastor Ben

Let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.        (Romans 14:13-14) NIV

When I became a Christian, I stopped listening to certain music to avoid unhelpful temptations. I stopped wearing certain clothes to avoid attention I no longer wanted. I stopped going to certain places and hanging around certain kinds of people. My new behavior was partly a new believer’s zeal, partly wisdom, and partly genuine spiritual conviction. My early religious zeal also led me to judge others who didn’t behave as I did.
Thankfully, I have grown up from those early convictions and now, 50 years later, I am continually learning about intimacy with Christ and the conviction of the Holy Spirit, which Paul alludes to in today’s Scripture passage and elsewhere. As I’ve matured spiritually, I’ve become more relaxed about certain things and stricter about others. All this aligns nicely (and relies heavily) on our personal, ongoing, and growing relationship with Jesus.
Thee are some clear guidelines in Scripture about how I’m to live, but ultimately I’m called to respond to the Holy Spirit’s conviction as I’m transformed from the inside out. This process of sanctification is as unique as I am. Jesus knows my personal vulnerabilities, my level of spiritual understanding, and the forces working against me. Drawing close to Christ enables me to tune into what He’s doing in me, which also keeps me humble even as I grow.

Faith Step:     Are you letting others be your Holy Spirit or are you casting yourself in that role? Return to Jesus, who knows just what you need.

From The Desk Of Pastor Ben
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. . . . Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit,
to sustain me.     (Psalm 51:10, 12) NIV

I went to college in central Florida. I had never spent any significant time there before so I didn’t know how damp it would be. My first clue was when the bedding in our dorm room began to smell musty. We stripped the sheets and pulled up the mattress and I scarcely could believe my eyes.
Mildew spotted the mattress, and water — enough to soak up with a sponge — covered the wooden base on which it rested. Thankfully, we discovered this on a sunny day, so we pulled the mattress outside where we cleaned and dries it. We scrubbed the base and then the maintenance people gave us some chemicals for us to treat the wood to prevent mildew from growing. Then they gave us some special fabric designed to allow airflow between the mattress and the base.
Then we checked the cupboards for mildew and sure enough — there it was. So we scrubbed and treated the cupboards with the same chemicals to prevent mildew from growing. But that wasn’t enough. We also had to run a dehumidifier every day to keep the mildew in check. It was a lot of work!
I wonder, do we, as believers, work as intentionally or as hard to ensure our hearts are clean from sin? We might be tempted to deny what’s hidden in our hearts or we might be too embarrassed or proud to uncover it, but that won’t work well for us.
Rather than letting sin exist and grow to our detriment, let’s invite the Holy Spirit to inspect us. When He exposes sin, let’s ask Jesus to wash us clean. Then let’s take preventive measures to ensure we don’t fall into the same trap again.
The effort is worth it, for a clean heart is a joyful heart.

Faith Step:     Read Psalm 51:10 and make this your prayer every day.

From The Desk Of Pastor Ben
Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when
 my strength is spent.     (Psalm 71:9) ESV

Before my mom & dad passed away, they were living in a nursing home in my home town. One time when I was visiting them, I had the opportunity to go with them to the event room for a church service held by a local church. The room filled up quickly and since this service was voluntary and not mandatory, I am guessing that the majority of the people there were Christians or at the very least church-going people.
There were a lot of distractions, as you might imagine, and there was even someone playing show tunes on a piano down the hall somewhere. The local church was a Catholic Church so the service was a mass led by the priest. At first, I felt a little restless and distracted as the priest led the mass and “Moon River” was being played from down the hall.
But before long, my eyes filled with tears as I saw this room for what it was, despite all the distractions — a holy place where Jesus was meeting with His beloved children. All of these people in this room had lived long lives of service to Jesus and probably;y had endless stories of His faithfulness and a deep love for Him. Each person also knew that, within a relatively short period of time, years, months, weeks, maybe even days, they would meet Jesus face to face. But their expressions reflected no fear, only joy and faith.
Their example strengthened my heart. Witnessing a room full of people about to hear Jesus tell them, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” took my breath away. My petty problems faded into the background. I prayed He would help me prepare for the day when I would be near my eternal home, as these seniors were, and I also rejoiced that Jesus walks with us at any age.

Faith Step:     Spend some time with someone older than you and ask them about their experiences of following Jesus.

From The Desk Of Pastor Ben
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.     (Philippians 4:8) NIV

A while back, I enrolled in an online leadership class. It was based on a leadership book written by some Christian neuroscientists about developing habits for increasing trust, joy, and engagement in the people you lead. We met online every week, and every week we would walk away with “aha” moments and habits to employ in our lives.
One habit I learned is to return my thoughts to something joyful when I feel conflict brewing. Science shows this helps my brain stay in a relational mode rather than jumping to an enemy mode. In marriage, we all experience conflict — sometimes it’s a tiny thing and other times it’s a big blowup. The practice of pausing when I sense conflict and returning my thoughts to a joyful experience, such as remembering the fun times we had shared, helps me to stay relational.
If I’m having difficulty thinking of a positive mutual experience because I’m angry, then I can turn my mind toward my relationship with Jesus. I remind myself who He says I am and His unwavering love for me. When I remember to value the relationship with my wife — more than my desire to be right — then I know the conflict will have a healthier outcome. When I train my mind to stay relational, then I can experience joy even in the midst of conflict.
Paul encourages us in Philippians to think on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy. This helps us stay in a constant relational mode, which ultimately results in life-giving relationships. Isn’t that what we all want?

Faith Step:     Meditate daily on Philippians 4:8. Joy will follow.

From The Desk Of Pastor Ben
I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,
 says the Lord Almighty.    (2 Corinthians 6:18) NIV

Love is a beautiful thing. But yesterday’s mystery of Henry & Bertha’s love letters wasn’t just a love story; it was a family story. When you marry love with family, it is powerful. That high school class could not wait to reunite those letters with Bertha & Henry’s family. They spent hours researching several possible leads. They hit dead end after dead end, until one of the students used her own mother’s genealogy account to access a much larger database. In a great moment of excitement, she shouted, “We found them!” The whole class cheered. Their joy grew as the class mapped out Bertha & Henry’s entire family tree; generation after generation, layer upon layer of love and history. Weeks later, coming full circle, they connected with Adam, Bertha & Henry’s great-grandson, via video call. The students couldn’t wait to share all they knew about his family. Adam couldn’t believe they found him, and he was excited too. With a huge grin, he said, “I cannot wait to share this with the rest of my family.” The students felt like they were a part of his family reunion, getting in on the love.
Family is a powerful thing. Connected by blood and spirit, we all want to know our history and where we came from. When we follow Jesus, we are adopted by our Heavenly Father. His story of grace becomes a part of our history. Connected by the blood of Jesus and His Holy Spirit, we are grafted into a new family tree, rich in mercy and rooted in love. We are sons and daughters of the Most High!

Faith Step:     Map out your spiritual family tree. How did you become a part of Jesus’ family? Know that you are rooted and grounded in His love and care.

From The Desk Of Pastor Ben
You have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.         (1 Peter 1:23) NIV

This little story was shared with me by a high school teacher. Someone in their class had been cleaning out their attic and found an old suitcase. Inside was a large packet of early 1900s love letters with Norwegian and California postmarks between a couple whose names were Bertha & Henry. The family didn’t recognize the names so they tried to find something about them online, but they hit a wall. The letters had remained tucked away for safe keeping all this time. So, this high school class began to research the letters as treasured artifacts.
Who in the world were Bertha & Henry? Did they marry and have a family? Where was their family now? Each class was like a treasure hunt. The students archived the letters in chronological order. They researched ship manifests. They mapped the towns the letters hailed from. With their bright minds, they poured over the letters. There was a sense of excitement in the air. They were solving a mystery no one had ever solved before. Each letter was a treasure to be dug into. Henry & Bertha’s words were echoing through history.
Letters are powerful messages, connecting hearts across miles, sharing truth, hopes and dreams. Jesus’ words in Scripture are just that — powerful messages to our hearts. Each time we read the Bible, we are unraveling the great mystery of His love for us. With our bright minds pouring over His words, our hearts are linked to His across eternity. His Living Word, a 66 book love letter to humanity, endures forever and is a treasure worth searching out.

Faith Step:     Read John 17:6-26. Jesus’ heart for us is revealed in His prayer to His Father. Hear His enduring words of love echoing through eternity.

(To be continued tomorrow . . .)

From The Desk Of Pastor Ben
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me.”     (Acts 9:3-4) NIV

Over the last several years, we have been given and purchased ourselves, rose bushes to plant in memory of loved ones we have lost. We planted the bushes and couldn’t wait to see the beautiful blooms. But they didn’t bloom. We nurtured them and fertilized them and watered them, bu no blooms. Each year, for 3 years we expected to see blooms, but none came. I got discouraged and wanted to dig them up & throw them away. But my wife said to be patient and just wait.
Then, after 3 years, for no reason I could understand, the plants began to blossom; not just one or two, but all 4 rose bushes began to bloom. I began to think, “What if I’d dug them up and thrown them out?”
A Pharisee named Saul had built his life around persecuting our Lord and His followers. Empathy for Christians and producing fruit for God’s Kingdom weren’t even on his radar. Spiritually, he was as barren as those rose bushes. But Jesus saw the potential and power hidden in Saul’s heart — the intense devotion that would grow inside him. He waited, and when the time was right, Jesus transformed this man into Paul, one of His strongest apostles. The faith that grew in this once cruel man was beautiful, even shocking, and it fuels believers’ needs to this day.
Jesus does the same for us, feeding and cultivating our souls. Whether we take a day or most of our lives to give our hearts to Him, He will never forsake us. He’s done His part. Now it’s time for us to bloom right where we are.

Faith Step:     Buy a slow-to-bloom flowering plant to remind you of those you know who are “slow to bloom.” Never give up on them. Jesus won’t.

From The Desk Of Pastor Ben
“… Trust steadily in god, Hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.”     (1 Corinthians 13:13) MSG

I really can’t remember when I first realized that Jesus expects us to love as He does — unconditionally, extravagantly, audaciously. It was probably a thought floating around somewhere within the pool of information I’d been introduced to in Sunday School and then further developed through Bible studies and sermons in my teens and early adult years. In my journey to understand Jesus better, I stopped imagining Him as simply really, really skilled at loving people and instead realized His brand of love was in a class all by itself.
Part of that dawning on the subject of Jesus’ love happened several years ago. My wife & I were at home alone, and I looked at her and I said, maybe for the millionth time “I love you.” She looked at me and said, “Thank you.” Her response startled me because she had never said that before. So, I said, “You don’t have to thank me for loving you.” She was silent for a moment, and then said, “There are some who wouldn’t.” The words came out as a whisper laced with experience.
I didn’t have to love her. But loving comes easily because of the way I’ve been loved by Jesus — lavishly, in spite of my failures. Reading about Jesus’ limitless love — for those who came to Him with nothing but their brokenness, their pain, and their unsavory past — has convinced me that defaulting to love is heaven’s expectation and my best option.

Faith Step:     Someone in your circle of friends and family or even a stranger needs to know he or she is loved outrageously and extravagantly. Are you the carrier Jesus wants to use to deliver that message?

From the desk of Pastor Ben
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.     (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) NIV

“Really, God?” I’ve wanted to ask . “Rejoice always?” Yet that’s what the verse says. Over 50 years of desperately seeking Jesus, I’ve learned to pray a lot, if not continually, and to find reasons to be grateful in even the most abysmal circumstances. Rejoicing was the last stronghold. How can I “feel joy or great delight” (as the dictionary puts it) in the face of the assorted mundane or massive trials we all face this side of heaven? Yet I continue to try — not in seeking joy but in seeking God. I think that’s the key to everything, really (Matthew 6:33).
I can hardly believe it myself, but as I’m writing this, I’m close to “rejoicing always,” something I was pretty sure was impossible. Right now, I’m in the middle a few different health issues — lung cancer and heart issues — and even though it’s a scary situation, I’m truly full of joy and peace.
Yes, my joy is fueled partly by the hope promised in Romans 8:28 and my own experience of Jesus making lemonade out of lemons. Mostly, I’m experiencing that inexplicable joy that defies explanation and is disconnected from circumstances. I wonder if this is a tiny taste of the joy we sense in Paul’s letters, which were written in prison or other hard places. Whatever it is, I really like it and pray that Jesus’ grace will let me linger here no matter what comes.

Faith Step:     Suspend your disbelief and set aside your resistance and praise Jesus for the very thing that’s bothering you, rejoicing intentionally rather than waiting for the elusive feeling.