Monday Ministerial Musings

By Rev. Mark William Ennis

2022 Blog #5

February 7, 2022

Following Regulations: Doing No Harm

A few weeks ago, I sat in my car and wasted ten minutes of my life. I wasn’t alone in this time-wasting activity. Several, if not dozens of other motorists shared my fate. We all were stuck on Main Street in Bergenfield. A bus was attempting to turn right but was precluded from doing so. A small truck was parked in the spot marked “no parking here to corner sign.”  This small truck made it impossible for the bus in front of me to make the right turn. Those of us behind the bus had no choice but to sit and wait while the bus driver beeped the horn and waited for the parked truck to be moved. The driver of the small truck had disobeyed a parking regulation and many of us were inconvenienced by it. This gives me one more example that our actions affect others and we need to live mindful of that.

I’m not claiming to be perfect. When the post office lot is full and the parking spaces are occupied I have at times been tempted to park in that “no parking here to corner” space. I have resisted that temptation and frequently wondered why such a marker is put in what looks like a great parking spot.

Laws and regulations are not perfect. Some make sense to us and others do not. Yet, in most cases, they are put in place to be a  blessing to us. Disobeying them can be harmful to others. I’m not speaking here of just human regulations, but also of God’s law. Many of us grew up memorizing the Ten Commandments. Memorizing them seemed boring to us as Sunday School students. The word “commandment” seemed oppressive when I was young but the older I get, the happier I am that I was required to memorize those commandments.

Living by law, both God’s law and human laws, keep us from doing harm to others. We may think that we are smarter than law but many smart people took years to develop the laws that we have. They are in place to protect us from others and others from us. If we don’t follow them, we risk doing harm to others.

I urge everyone who is a person of faith to obey the laws that we live under. It helps us do no harm and gives a good witness to those who lack faith who are watching us. 

#ReformedChurchInAmerica                                 #PastorMarkAuthor            

#BergenCounty                                                        #BergenfieldNJ

#Regulations                                                             #DoNoHarm

#TenCommandments                                             #FaithfulWitnesses

To read more of Pastor Mark’s writings, please order copy of his book: https://deepriverbooks.com/books/the-circle-of-seven/

Reflexiones ministeriales del lunes
por el reverendo Mark William Ennis
2022 Blog # 5
7 de febrero de 2022
Siguientes regulaciones: No hacer daño

Hace unas semanas, me senté en mi coche y desperdicié diez minutos de mi vida. No estaba solo en esta actividad que desperdiciaba tiempo. Varios, si no docenas de otros automovilistas compartieron mi destino. Todos estábamos atrapados en Main Street en Bergenfield. Un autobús estaba intentando girar a la derecha, pero no lo pudo hacer. Un pequeño camión estaba estacionado en el lugar marcado como “no hay aparcamiento aquí para la señal de la esquina”. Este pequeño camión hizo imposible que el autobús enfrente de mí gire a la derecha. Aquellos de nosotros que estábamos detrás del autobús no teníamos otra opción que sentarnos y esperar mientras el conductor del autobús beeped el claxon y esperamos que el camión aparcado fuera movido. El conductor del camión pequeño había desobedecido una regulación del aparcamiento y muchos de nosotros nos molestamos. Esto me da un ejemplo más de que nuestras acciones afectan a otros y necesitamos vivir conscientes de ello.

No estoy diciendo ser perfecto. Cuando la oficina de correos está llena y las plazas de aparcamiento están ocupadas, a veces me he sentido tentado a aparcar en ese espacio “sin aparcamiento aquí a la esquina”. Me he resistido a esa tentación y con frecuencia me preguntaba por qué tal marcador se pone en lo que parece un gran aparcamiento.

Las leyes y regulaciones no son perfectas. Algunos tienen sentido para nosotros y otros no. Sin embargo, en la mayoría de los casos, se ponen en marcha para ser una bendición para nosotros. Desobedecerlos puede ser perjudicial para otros. No estoy hablando aquí de regulaciones humanas, sino también de la ley de Dios. Muchos de nosotros crecimos memorizando los Diez Mandamientos. Memorizarlos nos parecía aburrido como estudiantes de la Escuela Dominical. La palabra “mandamiento” parecía opresiva cuando era joven, pero cuanto más viejo me consigues, más feliz estoy de que me requirieron memoria

Vivir por la ley, tanto la ley de Dios como las leyes humanas, nos hacen evitar dañar a los demás. Podemos pensar que somos más inteligentes que la ley, pero mucha gente inteligente tomó años para desarrollar las leyes que tenemos. Están en su lugar para protegernos de los demás y de los demás de nosotros. Si no las seguimos, corremos el riesgo de hacer daño a los demás.

Insto a todos los que son personas de fe a obedecer las leyes bajo las que vivimos. No nos ayuda a no hacer daño y da un buen testimonio a aquellos que carecen de fe que nos están observando.

#ReformedChurchInAmerica                                 #PastorMarkAuthor            

#BergenCounty                                                        #BergenfieldNJ

#Regulations                                                             #DoNoHarm

#TenCommandments                                             #FaithfulWitnesses

Para leer más de los escritos del pastor Mark, por favor pida una copia de su libro: https://deepriverbooks.com/books/the-circle-of-seven/

Monday Ministerial Musings

By Rev. Mark William Ennis

2022 Blog #5

January 31, 2022

Be Prepared!

“Be Prepared” is an old Boy Scout adage. It is good advice weather or not we are or were boy scouts. This past weekend, with a major snowstorm approaching our area, people scrambled to take this advice and prepare for it. Supermarket parking lots were full as we stocked up on milk, bread and eggs. There were lines at gas stations as people filled their car tanks and cans for snow blowers. Did I leave out shovel sales and rock salt? Yes, an approaching storm leads to preparation as we follow our desire to “be prepared.”

We prepare for other things as well. Vacations and trips take a great deal of preparation with reservations, shopping and packing. Retirement also is something that we plan. As we reach middle age we spend time looking at pensions, investments, and what amount our monthly Social Security checks we be and how to maximize that amount based on when we retire. Some people even plan on relocating to minimize their expenses after retirement. This is all good and necessary planning. I encourage this thinking ahead.

Do we do any planning or preparation for the afterlife? What will be our destiny when we die? Do we properly prepare to meet God? Someday we all will meet God. Will that be a happy gathering or one that will cause us grief and embarrassment or worse? What preparations do we make to meet God when we leave this world?

God has told us what is required of us. Do we listen and obey these instructions? God’s ancient prophet proclaimed that God requires that we “do justice, love righteousness, and walk humbly with God.” Do we do these things?

Do we seek justice for all? No, not just people we know or like, but all people? Are we willing to overlook the justice for others to put ourselves first? God requires that we seek justice for all. That is part of our preparation for the afterlife.

Do we love righteousness? Do we even know what God calls a “righteous” life? How will we know if we do not delve into God’s word to us. We cannot live “righteously” if we do not know what that means. Part of our preparation for leaving this world is to understand and live by righteousness.

Do we walk humbly with God? Do we even give God a thought? Do we put ourselves first over God or are we aware that we will answer to God for all of our actions; the good and the bad. Do we ask God what is required of us each day or can God become an afterthought? Humility is something that God requires and is an important part of preparedness for our inevitable deaths.

“Be prepared” is very good advice. I hope that we apply this adage to how we live in preparation for our inevitable meeting with God.

#ReformedChurchInAmerica                                 #PastorMarkAuthor            

#BergenCounty                                                        #BergenfieldNJ

#BePrepared                                                            #Death

#Justic                                                                        #Righteousness

To read more of Pastor Mark’s writings, please order copy of his book:https://deepriverbooks.com/books/the-circle-of-seven/

Reflexiones ministeriales del lunes
Por el reverendo Mark William Ennis
2022 Blog #5
31 de enero de 2022

¡Prepárate!

“Prepárese” es un viejo adagio de Boy Scout. Es un buen consejo el tiempo o no somos o éramos scouts chicos. Este fin de semana pasado, con una gran tormenta de nieve acercándose a nuestra zona, la gente se apresuró a tomar este consejo y prepararse para él. Los aparcamientos del supermercado estaban llenos ya que nos abastecimos de leche, pan y huevos. Había líneas en las gasolineras mientras la gente llenaba sus tanques de coches y latas para sopladores de nieve. ¿Dejé de lado las ventas de palas y sal de roca? Sí, una tormenta que se acerca conduce a la preparación a medida que seguimos nuestro deseo de “estar preparados”

Nos preparamos para otras cosas también. Las vacaciones y los viajes toman una gran cantidad de preparación con las reservas, las compras y el embalaje. La jubilación también es algo que planeamos. A medida que alcanzamos la edad media, pasamos tiempo mirando las pensiones, las inversiones, y la cantidad que nuestros cheques mensuales del Seguro Social somos y cómo maximizar esa cantidad basada en cuando nos jubilamos. Algunas personas incluso planean mudarse para minimizar sus gastos después de la jubilación. Todo esto es una planificación buena y necesaria. Animo a que esto se piense en el futuro.

¿Habremos alguna planificación o preparación para la vida posterior? ¿Cuál será nuestro destino cuando muramos? ¿Nos preparamos apropiadamente para conocer a Dios? Algún día todos nos encontraremos con Dios. ¿Será una reunión feliz o una que nos causará dolor y vergüenza o peor? ¿Qué preparativos hacemos para conocer a Dios cuando dejamos este mundo?

Dios nos ha dicho lo que se requiere de nosotros. ¿Escuchamos y obedecemos estas instrucciones? El antiguo profeta de Dios proclamó que Dios requiere que “hagamos justicia, amemos la justicia y caminemos humildemente con Dios”. ¿Habremos estas cosas?

¿Buscamos justicia para todos? No, no sólo la gente que conocemos o que nos gusta, pero todas las personas? ¿Estamos dispuestos a pasar por alto la justicia para que otros nos pongan primero? Dios requiere que busquemos justicia para todos. Eso es parte de nuestra preparación para la vida posterior.

¿Amamos la justicia? ¿Sabemos incluso lo que Dios llama una vida “justa”? ¿Cómo sabremos si no nos profundizamos en la palabra de Dios para nosotros? No podemos vivir “justamente” si no sabemos lo que eso significa. Parte de nuestra preparación para salir de este mundo es entender y vivir por la justicia.

¿Caminar humildemente con Dios? ¿Incluso le damos a Dios un pensamiento? ¿Nos ponemos primero sobre Dios o somos conscientes de que responderemos a Dios por todas nuestras acciones; el bien y el mal. ¿Le preguntamos a Dios lo que se requiere de nosotros cada día o puede Dios llegar a ser un pensamiento tardío? La humildad es algo que Dios requiere y es una parte importante de la preparación para nuestras muertes inevitables.

“Prepárate” es un muy buen consejo. Espero que apliquemos este adagio a cómo vivimos en preparación para nuestro inevitable encuentro con Dios.

#ReformedChurchInAmerica                                 #PastorMarkAuthor            

#BergenCounty                                                        #BergenfieldNJ

#BePrepared                                                            #Death

#Justic                                                                        #Righteousness

Para leer más de los escritos del pastor Mark, por favor pida una copia de su libro: https://deepriverbooks.com/books/the-circle-of-seven/

Monday Ministerial Musings

By Rev. Mark William Ennis

2022 Blog #4

January 24, 2022

Who Deserves What?

Last week the news media reported on a breakthrough in science, a heart transplant in which a human received a genetically altered pig’s heart. Most people that I know who heard about this were quite happy and excited by it. This procedure might well have positive impacts on many of us in the future.

Not everyone was happy, with this transplant. however. David Bennett Sr., the man who received this transplant, had been jailed in the 1980’s for stabbing another man seven times during a quarrel. The stabbing victim was left paralyzed by the attack. Several years later the victim suffered a stroke and died at the age of 40. The family of the stabbing victim does not believe that David Bennett Sr. deserved to have a second chance at life through this heart transplant. The family argues that the damage he did to his victim makes him unworthy to receive such a life-giving treatment.

Bennett is no longer in jail. He has served his time. How about current jail prisoners who are serving time for violent crimes? Should they be excluded from medical care?

Just this week in Harlem, NY, Lashawn Mc Neil shot and killed a New York City police officer and critically wounded the officer’s partner. Mc Neil himself was shot by a third officer and is himself in critical condition. Should he receive medical attention after killing a police officer or should he be allowed to simply die because of his actions?

The medical institutions in our nation operate on the premis that everyone is entitled to medical treatment, whether the patient is righteous or not, is kind or not, is a criminal or not. Our hospitals do not discriminate. All those in need of medical care are given it.

Is this just, fair and good?

Grace toward others that we deem unworthy is often a difficult concept to accept. Even in the Church of Christ, where we preach grace, we often find people who talk more about “worthiness” then “grace.” I know many Christians who struggle with this concept. Jesus told the crowds who followed him that “it rains on the just and the unjust.” God is gracious beyond our comprehension or, at times, our wishes. And yet, if we are honest with ourselves, most of us have received more grace that we deserve. We ourselves are alive because of God’s grace to us. Do we dare risk angering God by resisting his grace toward others?

#ReformedChurchInAmerica                                 #PastorMarkAuthor            

#BergenCounty                                                       

#BergenfieldNJ

#PigHeartTransplant                                               #PrisonMedicalCare

#Grace                                                                      

#Deserving

To read more of Pastor Mark’s writings, please order copy of his book:

The Circle of Seven

Reflexiones ministeriales del lunes
Por el reverendo Mark William Ennis
2022 Blog # 4
24 de enero de 2022
No merece atención médica!

La semana pasada, los medios de comunicación informaron sobre un avance en la ciencia, un trasplante de corazón en el que un humano recibió un corazón de cerdo genéticamente alterado. La mayoría de la gente que sé que oyó hablar de esto era bastante feliz y emocionado por él. Este procedimiento podría tener efectos positivos en muchos de nosotros en el futuro.

Sin embargo, no todos estaban contentos con este trasplante. David Bennett Sr., el hombre que recibió este trasplante, había sido encarcelado en los años 1980 por apuñalar a otro hombre siete veces durante una pelea. La víctima apestaba quedó paralizada por el ataque. Varios años más tarde la víctima sufrió un accidente cerebrovascular y murió a la edad de 40 años. La familia de la víctima apuñalada no cree que David Bennett Sr. mereciera tener una segunda oportunidad en la vida a través de este trasplante de corazón. La familia argumenta que el daño que le hizo a su víctima lo hace indigno de recibir un tratamiento tan vivificante.

Bennett ya no está en la cárcel. Ha cumplido su condena. ¿Qué hay de los presos actuales de la cárcel que están cumpliendo condena por delitos violentos? ¿Deberían ser excluidos de la atención médica?

Justo esta semana en Harlem, NY, Lashawn Mc Neil disparó y mató a un oficial de policía de la ciudad de Nueva York e hirió críticamente al compañero del oficial. Mc Neil mismo fue baleado por un tercer oficial y se encuentra en estado crítico. ¿Debería recibir atención médica después de matar a un oficial de policía o debería ser permitido simplemente morir debido a sus acciones?

Las instituciones médicas de nuestra nación operan con la premisa de que todo el mundo tiene derecho al tratamiento médico, ya sea que el paciente sea justo o no, sea amable o no, es un criminal o no. Nuestros hospitales no discriminan. A todos los que necesitan atención médica se les da.

¿Es esto justo, justo y bueno?

La gracia hacia otros que consideramos indignos es a menudo un concepto difícil de aceptar. Incluso en la Iglesia de Cristo, donde predicamos la gracia, a menudo encontramos personas que hablan más de “dignidad” que de “gracia”. Conozco a muchos cristianos que luchan con este concepto. Jesús les dijo a las multitudes que lo siguieron que “llueve sobre lo justo y lo injusto”. Dios es gentil más allá de nuestra comprensión o, a veces, de nuestros deseos. Y sin embargo, si somos honestos con nosotros mismos, la mayoría de nosotros hemos recibido más gracia que merecemos. Nosotros mismos estamos vivos debido a la gracia de Dios para nosotros. ¿Nos atrevemos a arriesgar a Dios resistiendo Su gracia hacia los demás?

#ReformedChurchInAmerica                                 #PastorMarkAuthor            

#BergenCounty                                                        #BergenfieldNJ

#PigHeartTransplant                                               #PrisonMedicalCare

#Grace                                                                       #Deserving

Para leer más de los escritos del pastor Mark, por favor pida una copia de su libro: https://deepriverbooks.com/books/the-circle-of-seven/

Monday Ministerial Musings

By Rev. Mark William Ennis

2022 Blog #3

January 17, 2022

De-Decorating Christmas

Last Friday I spent time de-decorating my home of Christmas decorations. Since I can remember I have always enjoyed Christmas decorations. Winter nights are lit with beautiful lights, Christmas music plays and there is a better spirit among people, waiting for the joy of Christmas. Even secular people who have no interest in Jesus somehow become a part of this “Christmas Spirit.”

Alas, the Christmas season leaves us and the decorations are stored away for another year. I always feel badly when that happens and wonder why we can’t keep Christmas all year long. If I did, however, I would be trying to keep Jesus as a little baby and missing out on the words of life that Jesus, the man, instructed us. The little baby gives us a feeling of joy but it is the man Jesus who tells us what we need to know. What did he tell us?

We are special. God knows us and watches out for us.

Be humble before God.

Treat others as you wish to be treated.

Pray for the blessings of our enemies.

We cannot be right with God if we are estranged from our brothers and sisters.

We need to share what we have with those who have less.

All of us are less than perfect and need to strive for improvement.

God will judge us by the same standard that we judge others.

I would not have heard these words if I only saw Jesus as a little baby. There is more to following Christ than Christmas. As much as we adore Christmas celebrations, each of us need to move on each year and hear what adult Jesus tells us. If not, can we ever know the joy and peace that Jesus can give?

#ReformedChurchInAmerica                                 #PastorMarkAuthor            

#BergenCounty                                                        #BergenfieldNJ

#Christmas                                                                #SayingsOfJesus

#AdultJesus                                                              #BabyJesus

To read more of Pastor Mark’s writings, please order copy of his book:https://deepriverbooks.com/books/the-circle-of-seven/

Reflexiones ministeriales del lunes
Por reverendo Mark William Ennis
2022 Blog #3
17 de enero de 2022
Decorando la Navidad

El viernes pasado pasé tiempo desdecorando mi hogar de decoraciones de Navidad. Desde que puedo recordar siempre he disfrutado de decoraciones de Navidad. Las noches de invierno están iluminadas con hermosas luces, obras de música navideña y hay un mejor espíritu entre las personas, esperando la alegría de la Navidad. Incluso las personas seculares que no tienen interés en Jesús de alguna manera se convierten en parte de este “Espíritu de Navidad”.

Desgraciadamente, la temporada de Navidad nos deja y las decoraciones se guardan lejos por otro año. Siempre me siento mal cuando eso sucede y me pregunto por qué no podemos mantener la Navidad todo el año. Sin embargo, si lo hiciera, estaría tratando de mantener a Jesús como un bebé pequeño y de perder las palabras de vida que Jesús, el hombre, nos instruyó. El pequeño bebé nos da una sensación de alegría, pero es el hombre Jesús quien nos dice lo que necesitamos saber. ¿Qué nos dijo?

Somos especiales. Dios nos conoce y cuida de nosotros.

Sabonen humildes ante Dios.

Trata a los demás como deseas que te traten.

Oren por las bendiciones de nuestros enemigos.

No podemos estar bien con Dios si estamos alejados de nuestros hermanos y hermanas.

Necesitamos compartir lo que tenemos con los que menos tienen.

Todos nosotros somos menos que perfectos y necesitamos esforzarnos por mejorar.

Dios nos juzgará por el mismo estándar que juzgamos a los demás.

Yo no habría escuchado estas palabras si sólo vi a Jesús como un bebé. Hay más que seguir a Cristo que la Navidad. Tanto como adoramos las celebraciones de Navidad, cada uno de nosotros necesita avanzar cada año y escuchar lo que Jesús adulto nos dice. Si no es así, ¿podemos saber alguna vez la alegría y la paz que Jesús puede dar?

#ReformedChurchInAmerica                                 #PastorMarkAuthor            

#BergenCounty                                                        #BergenfieldNJ

#Christmas                                                                #SayingsOfJesus

#AdultJesus                                                              #BabyJesus

Para leer más de los escritos del pastor Mark, por favor pida una copia de su libro: https://deepriverbooks.com/books/the-circle-of-seven/

Monday Ministerial Musings

By Rev. Mark William Ennis

2022 Blog #2

January 10, 2022

Ben Franklin, “The Way To Wealth”

I have a few quirky rituals. Some I do daily and others I do yearly. For my daily devotionals each morning I read sections of the Heidelberg Catechism. When I am finished, I start again. My yearly ritual happens on New Year’s Day. Each new year I re-read the United States Constitution and also “The Way To Wealth” by Benjamin Franklin. It is a short book, only thirty pages, and it is full of wisdom that I find useful.

The point that Mr. Franklin makes in this book is that we hurt ourselves by living lives that lack self-discipline.  He explains that in life there are certain things that we cannot control. Governmental forces, economic realities, even weather is out of our control. These we simply must cope with. Yet, he continues, the most harm we receive is self- imposed. We do more harm to ourselves by our lack of self-discipline, a poor work ethic, and poor habits. I find that these are lessons that I need to hear again and again.

In life there are many things that we cannot control but we are capable of controlling ourselves, our lifestyles, our habits if we choose to do so. At the time of year when people make resolutions maybe our one resolution simply ought to be to lead a disciplined life; to control ourselves in a world where many things are not in our control. According to Franklin, wealth and respect come to us when we lead such lives.

This sounds to me a bit like an echo of Jesus’ words. He taught us to seek God’s kingdom first and everything we need would be given to us. This year may we pay less attention to the alarms and troubles of the world and more attention to ourselves, making sure that we behave well and making sure that God and God’s will are our priorities.

I challenge everyone to try this challenge. I bet that we will live feeling less stress and we will live respectable and prosperous lives.

#ClintonAvenueReformedChurch                         #ReformedChurchInAmerica                    

#PastorMarkAuthor                                                 #BergenfieldNJ

#BenjaminFranklin                                                   #PoorRichard

#TheWayToWealth                                                  #Responsibility

To read more of Pastor Mark’s writings, please order copy of his book:https://deepriverbooks.com/books/the-circle-of-seven/

Monday Ministerial Musings

By Rev. Mark William Ennis

2022 Blog #1

January 3, 2022

Christmas Fear

I saw, and heard about, a lot of fear during this Christmas season. With the new virus variant tearing through the world there are long lines at the testing centers, rising hospitalizations, and an overall sense of anxiety and in some cases, outright fear.

I wish that my grandmother was here to talk to us all. She once told me about a Christmas season when everyone that she knew was fearful and/or panicked. She told me a few times about the Christmas of 1941. She was forty-one years old at the time, was nursing a sick husband, trying to raise a nine-year old daughter.

To top this off, just eighteen days before Christmas, military forces of Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. She told me that the whole country was scared that other attacks would come in the Western Part of the country even while German U-boats were attacking United States shipping bringing Lend Lease supplies to England and the Soviet Union. There was violence on both coasts, rumors abounding, and an overlay of fear. That is the mindset that she and other Americans had when they entered into church for Christmas Eve in December 1941.

I asked Granny how she, and others dealt with that fear. She smiled as she looked at me and told me her method. This many years later I could not possibly quote her but I’m sure that I can paraphrase her from my memory.

She told me that everyone she knew did the following:

Prayed daily

Vowed to never miss Church, both for mid-week services as well as Sunday. Prayers and hymn singing had a therapeutic effect on a person. Also, she told me, people were not sure how long they would live and church assured them that heaven awaited them if they died.

She told me that people were kind to one another. There was a real sense that with the fear of death so close by, a person did not want harsh words toward another to be their final words.

Finally, she told me that they listened to instructions from President Roosevelt and other governmental officials. She told me that sometimes instructions made sense and other times they did not, but President Roosevelt had more resources of facts than the average person did. Overall, federal advice was the best around.

Granny and her generation survived a difficult Christmas and lived with a lot of fear for almost four years before the war came to an end. If these techniques worked for her, maybe they will work for us. In this time of fear, I encourage us all to follow the Granny’s advice.

#ClintonAvenueReformedChurch                         #ReformedChurchInAmerica                    

#PastorMarkAuthor                                                 #BergenfieldNJ

#Covid                                                                        #Christmas

#Fear                                                                          #Anxiety

To read more of Pastor Mark’s writings, please order copy of his book: https://deepriverbooks.com/books/the-circle-of-seven/