Recently I went on a short trip for a commission meeting for the Reformed Church. I love these meetings. They give me chances to do good work for the Reformed Church in America as well as catch up with old friends who are also on the same commission. We work hard, and have time to relax and catch up with one another. That, however, is not the story I wish to tell about. What I would like to discuss is the lack of consistency that I observed from the Transportation Safety Administration.

I prepared to fly to my destination and was going through the safety check point. We all know how annoying that can be. We all have to take out our electronics, remove our shoes, and prepared to be scanned. These are all necessary precautions in the world that we live in. Inside my suitcase was my CPAP machine. My case went through without any problem and soon I was on my plane awaiting take off.

Upon my return trip, my suitcase was flagged because of the CPAP machine. My bag was opened and the CPAP was taken out and examined. My bag was then re-scanned. I was given a stern lecture about leaving my machine inside the bag. I explained that this was not a problem on my last plane trip. The TSA agent contradicted me. He explained that no airport allows CPAP’s to go through without being taken out and scanned separately. I again explained that this is what happened and was told that this could not have happened, even though it had.

I guess that there is less consistency with TSA protocols than we are told. Security is relatively large or relatively small, depending on the airport that is being used. This gives me cause for concern. I would feel more secure if every security post had, and followed, the same level of security. 

During this time of Lent, I do hope that we are consistent with our Lenten disciplines. Is our prayer life consistent or haphazard? Is our participation at worship an occasional activity or a constant discipline? Is our scripture study consistent or irregular? In short, are we consistent Christians or irregular ones? Can you imagine if God was as consistent, or inconsistent as we can be? We would not be pleased with that!

This is a challenge to all of us who seek to be faithful disciples of Christ. Let us be more consistent than we have been. May our prayers and study be daily and constant. May our worship be constant. During this Lent, let us be as consistent toward God as we wish God to be to us.

#ReformedChurchInAmerica                                 #ClintonAvenueReformedChurch

#PastorMarkAuthordotcom                                     #BergenfieldNJ

#BergenCountyNJ                                                    #Lent

#Consistency                                                             #ChristLike

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

The Circle of Seven

“What are you giving up for Lent?” That was a question that I remember people asking me since grammar school. Usually the answers were very similiar, “candy, sweets, desserts.” I remember in high school religion a priest asked each of us what we were giving up for Lent. One classmate was given several major detentions for giving a rather smart-aleck remark. He said that he was giving up church for Lent. The class was more amused by this comment than was the priest.

The question is still relevant for those of us who strive to be good disciples of Christ. Do we need to give something up for Lent? Recently I am hearing from friends who are deciding to “take on” something for Lent rather than “give something up.” I’m wondering if they have the right idea. Should Lent be taking on more of the Spiritual Disciplines rather than give up something physical and tangible.

A friend of mine recently posted on Facebook a chart of spiritual things to take on and to give up habits and actions that get in our way rather than giving up foods or other physical items. Perhaps we all might gain from using this chart. It might make us more spiritual beings and be focused less on the worldly.

This chart is posted below. May it be a guide to you during this sacred Lenten season.

#ReformedChurchInAmerica                                 #ClintonAvenueReformedChurch

#PastorMarkAuthordotcom                                     #BergenfieldNJ

#BergenCountyNJ                                                    #Lent

#AshWednesday                                                       #ChristLike

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

The Circle of Seven

I realize that it is unusual to have a cocoon as a church deacon. Cocoons are usually not baptized, much less made into deacons. In this case a church member was ordained as a deacon and only later became a cocoon. Maybe this needs a bit more of an explanation.

One of our premier deacons has had significant health issues in her life. Many have been orthopedic problems. Several months ago, she had the first of two knee replacements. More recently she has had her second knee replaced. For this, she is still in rehabilitation. On one of my visits with her I asked how she was doing. Usually the answer to such a question is a very simple and short answer. This woman, however, is to bright and articulate to answer so quickly. Her answer was a bit more elaborate. 

“I am in pain,” she explained, “but the pain is good. I’m in a cocoon and the pain means I am breaking free of it. Soon I will be emerging as something better. Then the pain will be over.”

I wish that I could construct words as well as she can. She described the hope that we live in as Christians in a fallen world as well as the varied emotions of Lent. During Lent we feel the pains of knowing that we have not lived up to the standards that Christ has for us, and we lament this. Yet, we know, we are in the process of being redeemed, sanctified, made more Christ-like each and every day.  We are in pain from our sin, but that will not last forever.

God’s deacon that I know is a cocoon. I guess all Christians are. Have a blessed Lent. 

#ReformedChurchInAmerica                                 #ClintonAvenueReformedChurch

#PastorMarkAuthordotcom                                     #BergenfieldNJ

#BergenCountyNJ                                                    #Lent

#AshWednesday                                                       #ChristLike

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

The Circle of Seven

It was a joy to celebrate the wedding of my daughter and son-in-law yesterday. Months of planning and preparation ended in a wonderful celebration. It was perfect. A few things did not go as planned but it was a spectacular celebration. In truth, this was their second wedding. The first was a small, private one, set before my son-in-law was deployed by the US army. We knew then that we would be holding a larger one and that time came to be yesterday.

I remember weddings that I attended as a child. Everyone was white and spoke English and most went to Protestant churches. If there was someone not fitting that description, those people stood out as being different. Most of us back then grew up in homogenous areas. Times have changed.

My son-in-law and his family came to this country from Ecuador. Many have good English skills but not all of them do. This wedding was bi-lingual. We relied heavily on Spanish speaking friends to do this well. A number of our friends are Asian and African American. Most don’t identify as “Protestant” or attend church even if they would refer to themselves as Protestant. They honored us by their attendance. The “village” who joined us to bless and honor this new couple was composed looked and sounded very differently than the ones that I remember from my childhood.

The village that we live in has changed yet it is just as important as it ever was. Couples, individuals and children all depend on the support of the broader community. The village is different looking but just as important. At times, we in churches that thrived in homogenous villages forget that the villages have changed. It hurts us when we fail to remember this. I pray that we will really learn this and remember to let this truth guide us.

#ReformedChurchInAmerica                                 #ClintonAvenueReformedChurch

#PastorMarkAuthordotcom                                    #BergenfieldNJ

#BergenCountyNJ                                                    #MultiCultural

#Wedding                                                                   #BiLingual

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

The Circle of Seven

Monday Ministerial Musings

By Rev. Mark William Ennis

Blog Number 06

February 10, 2020

Princes

This past week it seems that all I heard about was the Senatorial Impeachment trial of president Trump. Friends of mine on Facebook are both de-crying and celebrating the acquittal. Likewise, I am reading some who applaud Senator Mitt Romney for his stance in crossing party lines and voting for the President’s conviction. Even off social media, wherever I go, I hear people with opposite opinions of the impeachment and it’s outcome. What worries me is that I hear devotion to politicians that almost seems to approach veneration. I cringe when I hear such things. The Bible clearly warns us against trusting politicians.

The psalmist who wrote Psalm 146 says it best:

 
³ Do not put your trust in princes,
    in mortals, in whom there is no help.
⁴ When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
    on that very day their plans perish.

⁵ Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God,
⁶ who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
⁷     who executes justice for the oppressed;
    who gives food to the hungry.

No matter who is in elected office, the job of the church is to push for justice and righteousness. Our job as Christ’s body on earth will be to care for those who have less and to encourage those with more to be more open-hearted to those with less. We all called to ministries of reconciliation and to be peacemakers. Our jobs in obeying Jesus do not change no maker who holds what office. 

Many of my friends have asked me what I think of the “impeachment thing.” I told them the truth and I tell you the truth. I ignored the whole thing. My obeying Jesus is not dependent on the actions or inactions of politicians. I had the work of Jesus to do this past week and did not have time to worry about politics.

Let us never put our trust in worldly princes. There is only one prince we need to pay attention to and follow, Jesus the Prince of Peace. Jesus, God on Earth. Jesus, the one who decides who enters heaven and who does not. Let us all do what he tells us to do and not worry about the princes of this world.

#ReformedChurchInAmerica                                 #ClintonAvenueReformedChurch

#PastorMarkAuthordotcom                                     #BergenfieldNJ

#BergenCountyNJ                                                    #Impeachment

#DonaldTrump                                                          #MittRomney

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

The Circle of Seven

Coby Bryant and eight others died a week ago. Among the deceased is Coby’s 13-year old daughter. This is an absolute tragedy. It should not have happened. We should not be having to grieve the loss of people so young. I don’t follow basketball but there are thousands, if not millions, of fans who looked up to Coby and are really feeling that loss. I grieve for all those who feel a loss for these untimely deaths.

I am concerned that Coby’s death overshadowed what I consider even greater tragedies. Tuesday was the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, and Wednesday was the anniversary of the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger. I did hear these stories carried on the news but they were not covered to the same extent that the Coby Bryant tragedy was covered. In our culture have we reached the point where celebrities have become more important than anyone or anything else?

Auschwitz was the largest of the Nazi camps. It is estimated that 1.1 million people were killed in that camp. Certainly, this story needs more attention. It must be a warning to all of us. Hate potentially leads to abuse, violence, and often death. I wish that I had heard more about this, even if the coverage of Coby would have to be shortened. The Challenger was the first shuttle that had civilians on board. We had become naïve to the risks of space travel and that tragedy was a wake-up call than no such adventure is without risk. This is an important lesson.

Yes, we need to mourn Coby and the other victims of the helicopter crash. Yet, compared to other historic tragedies, I believe that it pales. I hope that we will stop elevating celebrities and their activities above more important matters. History teaches us deep lessons that we need to remember lest we make the same mistakes, and allow the same evil that we have allowed in the past.

Coby’s death is sad. Auschwitz and the Challenger are tragedies that we must learn from. 

#ReformedChurchInAmerica                                 #ClintonAvenueReformedChurch

#PastorMarkAuthordotcom                                     #BergenfieldNJ

#BergenCountyNJ                                                    #CobyBryant

#Auschwitz                                                                #SpaceShuttleChallenger

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

Monday Ministerial Musings

By Rev. Mark William Ennis

Blog Number 04

January 27, 2020

God and Money!

I was struggling for a blog topic when I asked two hostesses at Applebee’s in the Fashion plaza what they would like to read a blog about. I wish I had remembered to write down their names to give them proper credit. But this will have to do. They wanted to read about “business and wall street.” I don’t know a huge amount about those topics but know a bit about what the Bible says about money. I hope that this blog is close enough to what they asked for. 

What the Bible tells us about money:

1. The Bible tells us that how we manage money is important. If we don’t manage a little bit of money well, God we never entrust us with a lot of money.
2. The first tenth of our money earned belongs to God. Give the first tenth of your money to the church, or whatever faith community that you belong to. If you don’t belong to a faith community, find one and join it.
3. We don’t want to test God by being irresponsible. The second tenth of our income needs to go into the bank to be saved for a difficult time. I realize that it is easier for some people than others to save money but we all could do some. If you tell me that it is “impossible” I will ask if you have tried. We all could spend less than we do.
4. When we have gained prosperity, we have an obligation to help those who have been less blessed than we have been. We must never fall in love with our money. Our money is a tool to do good things to others.

The stock market:

I am a small investor. Here is my own advice on the stock market.

1. Never invest money that you need.
2. Never buy stock to sell it. Buy stock that pays a dividend and buy to receive dividends.
3. If you want to get rich quickly, you will go broke. True wealth takes a long time to accumulate. There are no shortcuts to long-term investments.

God wants us to take money seriously without getting greedy about it. How we manage the money that God gives us is a barometer of how close we are with God. Do it well for God’s glory!

Again, I thank the hostesses at Applebee’s for this blog idea. I hope that they, and everyone who is reading this, will find prosperity in life.

#ReformedChurchInAmerica                                 #ClintonAvenueReformedChurch

#PastorMarkAuthordotcom                                     #BergenfieldNJ

#BergenCountyNJ                                                    #Money

#Stewardship                                                             #Investments

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

The Circle of Seven

• 

It was a joy to participate in my grandson’s baptism this past Sunday. I remembered the joy that I felt more than thirty years ago when I baptized my daughters. Now, I participated and watched my daughter baptize her son. 

I don’t know how many baptisms I have done in thirty-five years of ministry. It is the entrance into the church of Jesus. Parents, in our tradition, must be members of the congregation in order to have their children baptized. They make promises to God that they will participate in church activities and bring their baptized children also. All too often I have seen parents and children disappear after baptism, never to be seen again. Their promises to God, to the congregation, and to their children become dishonored. Do I dare to say that they are lying to God when they make such promises and do not keep them?

Ministerial colleagues tell me that I take the disappearance of such families too personally. They tell me that every congregation faces these same issues. Yet, I can’t help but take these broken promises personally.  When parents assure me that they will be there, and don’t, it seems a bit personal to me.

I don’t know, in twenty years, if my grandson will be part of the church or not. I rejoiced that he was baptized and will do everything I can to mentor him in the faith. Yet, I don’t know what his Christian future will be. Some things I can’t control. I will pray that he will, indeed, become a disciple of Jesus. While I am praying for him I will be praying for the families whose children I have baptized and who then disappeared. I will continue to pray that they will see baptism as an entrance, not an exit, and keep the vows that they made to God. 

May God make disciples of him and those I have baptized in the name of the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. 

#ReformedChurchInAmerica

#ClintonAvenueReformedChurch

#PastorMarkAuthordotcom                                    

#BergenfieldNJ

#BergenCountyNJ                                                   

#Baptism

#ChristianDisciples                                                 

#PromisesToGod

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

The Circle of Seven

The news is hot with worries of war again. Seriously, during most of my lifetime I can think of very few years when our nation was not at war. Even when we were not at war, I remember our nation involved in smaller military actions. 

I was young during Vietnam. When that was over, it was not very long until we invaded Grenada, operated covert wars in Central America, sent troops to Lebanon, participated in airstrikes against Libya, fought Operation Desert Storm, invaded Afghanistan, and invaded Iraq. We also were militarily active in Somalia. I think that I left out our cruise missile attack in Kosovo. 

Perhaps I am leaving something out but it seems that we are always at war. Now there are new threats of war after our military forces killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, retaliated by firing cruise missiles at our bases in Iraq. Will our military involvement in the middle east never end? Are there no other ways to bring peace and justice? War seems only to cause as many problems as it solves. Often “winning” one war only sets up the next one.

The Commission on Christian Action of our denomination is requesting that we all have a day of prayer and fasting for world peace and justice. The requested date for this is Sunday, January 9^th. Will you join in? The whole text of this pleas is posted on the website of the Reformed Church in America. Please join your brother and sisters in our denomination in this day of fasting, prayer, and focus for world peace.

https://www.rca.org/news/rca’s-commission-christian-action-calls-prayer-and-fasting

#ReformedChurchInAmerica                                 #ClintonAvenueReformedChurch

#PastorMarkAuthordotcom                                     #BergenfieldNJ

#BergenCountyNJ                                                    #War

#Prayer                                                                       #Fasting

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

The Circle of Seven