Knowing God

by | Mar 18, 2023 | Blog, Life Between Sundays, Random Thoughts, Sermons

Knowing God

by Karl Ingersoll

We get to know some people quickly and deeply.  Other relationship are paced more slowly. Generally if we are to truly understand another person it requires two essential ingredients.  Time and proximity. Jesus built a relationship with hsi disciples in this way.  For 3 1/2 years they were together, 24/7. At the end he told them he was leaving “for their good”. And then their relationship with Christ took on a new trajectory.  They knew the heart of God.  The Holy Spirit revealed Jesus to them as they never knew him in flesh and blood.  The sermon is a look at the difference between a casual relatioship with Christ and an intimate one.

Contentment

by | Mar 11, 2023 | Blog, Life Between Sundays, Sermons, Uncategorized, Weekly Bulletin

Finding Contentment

by Artist Name

Mark Sumner installed some cupboards for us this week, along with a counter top over our washer and dryer. I was the unskilled labor, an extra set of hands. Two of the most elusive aspects of carpentry, to me, seem to be the idea of square and level. To ignore these is to guarantee that at some point you will have problems. It will catch up to you. Contentment is just as important to a life.  In its own way, it is “square and level”.

As I edited my sermon from last week, I reevaluated what needed to be said and what didn’t, what really contributed to the overall idea and what was superfluous or unrelated. I reminded myself that there are times when I feel as though I hit the nail on the head, in preaching and other times when I miss it all together. I am content however that God uses our best attempts and our weakest.  What He holds, He uses as He sees fit.  My prayer … as always is that you could hear the message beyond the sermon.

Laws of the Harvest

by | Feb 24, 2023 | Blog, Life Between Sundays, News, Random Thoughts, Sermons, Uncategorized, Weekly Bulletin

Laws of the Harvest

by Artist Name

I used to think, almost exclusively, in terms of right and wrong, I based my spiritual well-being on my performance and in many areas, I did well but in others, I was a dismal failure … that’s the way I saw it at least. R&W were the measuring sticks by which I sized up others as well. The recipe for righteousness was one that I adhered to as much as I could. In the back of my mind I expected that God would reward me accordingly with good things that I wanted in this life. I am 67 years old and very much aware that things don’t work this way when it comes to the spiritual life.

Every good thing comes from a good God who blesses because it is His nature to do so. It is not a performance reward or incentive.

And God uses all the rest, the good, the bad and the ugly … somehow He does!

The Law of the Harvest is simply an observation that we are better off when we cooperate with natural laws rather than ignore or try to control them.  Even when we cooperate there are many variables that come into play.  This morning’s message borrows from John W. Lawarence’s book, “The Saeveln Laws of the Harvest”.  I am using my own obesrvations but found these points to be very helpful at a personal level.

Escapism

by | Feb 17, 2023 | Blog, Life Between Sundays, News, Sermons, Uncategorized

Escapism

by Karl Ingersoll | Sermons

Christianity, as most of us have heard it preached and consequently experienced it, is presented as a way out.  It is a way out when it comes to hell.  It is a way out of the negative consequences of our bad choices.  A way to avoid unnecessary pain or the evil that exists in the world around us.

Is that all that there is to it?

We make a decision, a profession and then wait for Jesus to return or death to come.  What if it is more a way in than a way out?  It is clear that Jesus never saw “follower-ship” as a way to esacape anything.  It was a way to engage life, head on.

This message from last Sunday at CLC discusses the difference between escapism and engagement …

Becoming An Encourager

by | Feb 9, 2023 | Blog, Life Between Sundays, Sermons, Weekly Bulletin

I did my first 9-hour trip to the bank this week. The people in the branch were wonderful. I needed to do some banking re: a compromised client card and other miscellaneous items on my mother’s behalf. For an hour and 15 minutes I stood at the counter. One of my tasks was a stop payment on my mother’s rent payment. I was told that this could not be done at the branch and directed to a phone number on the back of my client card.

The next morning I called the number and explained the reason for my call. I was told that this had to be done tin person at the branch. After taking a deep breath, I explained to the person on the phone that I was in the branch the previous day and told that it couldn’t be done there. This gentleman was sympathetic and helpful. The short story is that things were worked out so that another 9-hour excursion was not required.

On the way home a good friend sat next to me. The conversation drifted into a verbal lament regarding the erosion of society, the fact that were were on a slippery slope headed for destruction. I shared with my friend that I just could not allow myself to see the world that way. it’s no wonder people are desperate, despairing and depressed with such a dismal outlook. I have been accused of having my head in the sand. My response is that others believing they have a realistic out look, have their heads in the sewer. I’d rather have my head in the sand.

To believe God is in control is surely an exercise in faith. The storm panicked disciples saw the storm and could not believe that Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat while they all were in peril. This is forever the challenge of faith … are we influenced more by the storm or the presence of the Saviour in our lives. Hope requires a clear reliance on our relationship with Christ rather than a cynical perspective on the world around us.

And as the people of God we are to traffic in Hope.

2020 Advent Week 2

by | Dec 5, 2020 | Blog, Christmas, Life Between Sundays, Sermons

It’s Tuesday evening.  We’ve had a wind and rain event today.  The ferry has been out of service all day.  The email just came through and it won’t return to the island until tomorrow morning to make the first trip.  I have lived on Grand Manan for a total of 24 years.  The other forty-two of my sixty-five have been spent elsewhere.  I am glad to be home.  If there ever was a group of people who understand that things don’t always go as planned, it would be someone who lives right here.

Whether it is a ferry trip that is canceled due to high winds or vacation plans postponed because the catch was down.  None of these things are in our control.  Still we love our beautiful island home.  Right now things are out of our control.  I just circulated a request for input re: Sunday services.  The concensus is that orange is not a color that we can work with.  So we’ll move one single event online rather than meet in person on Sunday.  We are talking about an hour and a half gathering.  For me it leaves a huge gaping hole but my faith is not built on a 90 minute Sunday event. 

My Hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.

I insert this video because I ran to it tonight.  I have never known anxiety in my life but a perfect storm has converged on my life in the last three plus years.  It is absolutely nothing compared ot what some of you have faced but it has been too much for me, enough so that I have been driven to connect as deeply as I can with my spiritual resources.  This song has a particular relevance to me these days.

If one of you has a music video or some other material that you have connected with and you’d like to share it, email me at karl.ingersoll@gmail.com and I’ll include it in our online material.

Here is some scripture that I have used this week.  Take a few minutes and look up the passages and think about them.

I have been thinking about the idea of peace.  When Jesus showed up, he brought peace to every conflict or calamity.  He deescalated things except for the religious folk.  Stiil they were unable to argue with his perspective.  I watched a Netflx documentary which was both good and disturbing.  It had to do with misinformation on the internet and how people can be manipulated to believe lies.  Our peace is shattered unless we can get on solid ground.  Facebook, although a wonderful utility for certain purposes, only facilitates confusion a lack of peace.  I have yet to fully process this documentrary but it will make a difference in my own social media presence.

So peace is eliminating the noise, confusion, misinformation.  The favor of God brings peace.  Read the scripture below:

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.””

(Luke 2:8–14, NIV84)

“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.””

(John 4:39–42, NIV84)

 “Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

(John 20:24–31, NIV84)

The other scriptures as well have to do with knowledge and belief.  The woman at the well shared her testimony which impacted her community but there cam a point when the townspeople believed for themselves.  They made whatever step of faith necessary, from the knowledge that they had to personal trust in Christ.  Knowledge never takes us the distance.  In the end we all must trust for ourselves.

The scripture re: Thomas illustrates the rfusal to take someone else’s words for anything.  Thomas insisted on seeing for himself.  That’s not doubt at work, in my opinion but discernment.  Look at the following scripture:

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.” (1 John 4:1–6, NIV84)

As you watch the video today, note what is required beyond knowledge, to take us the distance.  I have mentioned a few thinsg.  You may think of more.  Remember belief is more a matter of the heart than the head. If we are to know the peace of God, it will begin in our hearts.  Paul tells us that we can know the “peace of God that passes all understanding“.