Rev. Andrew's Adventures

This Lent has been a wondrous time of slowing down, reflecting, fasting, and praying, a new adventure in going deeper spiritually and mentally.  The Daniel Fast has been a mental test considering I love food, but am finding meaning in it in focusing my mind towards God and imagining the Hebrew people in the desert in the exodus from Egypt while being provided with just enough.  I think of those who don't have enough to eat, knowing that many would love to have just the basics of fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds, nuts.  And while giving up coffee and any other drink than just water, I think of those who may not have clean water to drink.  It really gets me thinking more about what I have as opposed to what I don't have, given how easy it is to take things for granted.  Although it's also easy to get caught up in what you do have as well.  Even some conversations I've had this week have been humbling too. While doing something renewing in visiting a couple...

Although we are still at the edge of the wilderness and still relatively fresh into our Lenten journey, it has already been filled with challenges and things to think about.  But it has also been full of some surprises too.  Adopting spiritual and life practices during Lent are an important part of the journey, especially when facing temptations and such while in the wilderness.  That's what can make giving something up all the more difficult.  This year, I decided to give up Facebook and social media, but at the last minute decided to also give up meat and dairy (except fish) by doing a Daniel Fast with one of my friends.  While it sounds extreme to give up both, it gives me more time to contemplate, to feel what those who may not have enough to eat go through, but also cleanse myself and re-fill myself with wholeness and new vitality.  But shopping is such a challenge, meaning avoid the snack aisle and the seasonal aisle!!  Talk about temptation righ...

Luke 4:1-13 (NRSV) The Temptation of Jesus 4  Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,  2  where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished.  3  The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.”  4  Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’” 5  Then the devil [ a ]  led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.  6  And the devil [ b ]  said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please.  7  If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”  8  Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God,     and serve only him.’” 9  Then t...

Whenever I fly back to CA from Washington, DC or from anywhere for that matter, I LOVE taking pictures from the plane.  I'm sure I get a few puzzled looks, but I love looking at the landscape and the clouds outside while seated (not always so comfortably) inside the plane.  As we begin the journey of Lent this Wednesday, looking at our own lives from the inside out is essential as part of our faith journey.  It is a time of examining who we are, reaching deep into our core then working our way back out as we die to our old selves as we reach towards the hope and promise of resurrection on Easter.  While Lent can be seen as a time of repentance, it is a time of going deeper spiritually and a time of seeing where we can improve and grow closer to God, even if it means walking that lonesome valley with Jesus. Lent is also typically a time of giving something up, or adding something.  As I have been contemplating what I want to give up to help me become closer t...

Earlier this month at UMC of Rancho Cordova where I am a member, our new Pastor, Jo Ann challenged the congregation to press on, not looking behind at what 2015 was and to press forward in 2016.  Pressing on is something we must do, through the good times and the bad times.  In Philippians 3: 12-16, the Apostle Paul writes 12  Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; [ g ]  but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13  Beloved, [ h ]  I do not consider that I have made it my own; [ i ]  but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,  14  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly [ j ]  call of God in Christ Jesus.  15  Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you.  16  Only let us hold fast to what we ...

Happy New Year, or at least while it's still relatively fresh in our minds!!  Here we stand three days on the other side of the threshold of a new year as we have said our farewell to 2015 and hello to 2016.  I always view the world in artistic terms and see each new day, each new week, and each new year like that of a fresh canvas.  Just like each episode of the late Bob Ross's The Joy of Painting, the artist would always begin with a blank canvas and so too can we start anew as this year unfolds. It was also a new day at The United Methodist Church of Rancho Cordova this morning, as Pastor Tina has moved onto retirement and we welcomed Pastor Jo Ann to our congregation.  It has been a strange feeling leading into this, as I have had to say farewell to two other beloved colleagues this past year, but as Pastor Jo Ann reminded us this morning, we need to press on and keep looking ahead.  Change is a constant in life, whether we like it or not.  But tha...

A couple of weeks ago, I received some encouragement from my mentor to start blogging again.  Seems like some of my more positive, devotional, or more useful posts on Facebook and social media carry an encouraging message for others.  I'm known for posting a lot of random stuff, but have made an intentional effort over the last year have become more selective in what I post.  I still get here and there from family members "well, you gonna put that on Facebook?" and admit while it can be a little amusing or annoying, find myself challenged to post things that will make a positive difference among my friends and family.  It seems like today that we are finding ourselves more polarized as a society and social media is definitely not exempt.  I guess in some ways, some of my more inspirational posts are mini sermons in themselves, as well as small snippets of what my original blog was meant to do.  We need a word of hope, and need to see the light in this world...