Dear Members and Friends,
“We’re all Bozos on this bus!” Anyone who listened to the comedy group Fireside Theatre may remember this brief schtick about getting on a bus only to be met by an entire group of people with big red noses who regularly squeezed out a “beep-beep”. A pop-culture self help book written years ago was entitled, “I’m OK, You’re OK!” But when you believe we’re all bozos on this bus, you realize that “I’m not OK and You’re not OK… but that’s OK” says it better. What the Gospel means to me is that we are all sinners (thanks John Calvin), but that in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven, period, yes you too! Yes, even those things we won’t even talk about. Absolutely forgiven!
Many of you who know me well know that I don’t take myself too seriously. I enjoy being alive and one of my live by principles is, are we having fun? BUT… I take my role as a Pastor or as a leader very seriously. Once in a while, given a particular context or crisis, God expects us to step up and play a part in the Beloved Community (MLK). For me, being responsible means being ready to respond when called to do so. Over the long haul… in the larger scheme of things… we are all penciled in to these roles. Someone soon will come along and fill the role if I do not.
God’s got this... the whole world in God’s hands, remember? Fear not! (365 X in the Bible!)
Twenty five years ago, when Annie was gravely ill with breast cancer and I was a young(er) dad of four girls ages 2-12 and a fairly new pastor… many church members and friends asked, “What can we do to help?” There were a multitude of very kind acts of care and support given in those days… babysitters, meal providers, ride-givers, prayer warriors… all of them greatly appreciated. I remember preaching in those days was demanding and difficult. I guess my less mature faith was being tried and tested. One sermon I will remember in particular is trying to explain what our family needed during that crisis… what every family needs during crisis.
“Be the CHURCH!” That’s what families in crisis really need. We need to know somebody really cares, even if we are just Bozos on this bus! Others lift us up! We are not meant to go it on our own as individuals or families. We are social beings meant to live in community. Be the church, RISE UP! Listen, God is calling. “Take up your cross and follow me!” It's been said a lot of ways.
Please join us LIVE on Sunday Mornings at 8:00 AM and/or 10:00 AM for singing, and 10:15 AM for worship. Use this link www.facebook.com/brigchurch.org. If you haven’t joined us for “virtual worship”, give me a call - you need to join us! The CHURCH WEBSITE is www.brigchurch.org. My email is jrscotland@aol.com. My cell phone is (609) 457-2999.
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