Resurrection UMC Hastings

Some think this game of chance may lead to love. Anyone who’s played it knows better. Real love is best demonstrated by God in his daily love for us, courtesy of Jesus.

This game only works when played together as a group. It’s no fun with just two players and almost impossible alone. So, too, the Christian faith—it is made to do together with each other and together with the risen Jesus.

This game is simple: The green light means “Go!” and the red light means “Stop!” In practical terms, move it when Jesus says “go” and stop what you’re doing when he says “stop”.

Jesus’ sermon on the mount (turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, love your enemy, etc.) hits us hard where it counts most: how we treat others. Be honest…do you even want to do this?

In this game, you run to try and break through the linked arms of opposing players. Jesus’ resurrection broke the barrier of sin & death. For us now, nothing more to fear; in its place: peace.

To win this game, avoid the floor (hot lava) while navigating between objects above the ground. Because one slip and you fall to your destruction. Kind of like avoiding temptation, isn’t it?

This game is all about giving an item to others as quickly as possible, because if you get stuck with it, you lose. For believers, the same principle holds true: it’s wiser to give than to get.

This game is based upon responding to what is heard, i.e. “listen up” if you want to win. And when Jesus says “listen up” he means for us to pay attention and do what he says.

The game of Sardines is over when everyone ends up gathered together in the same place. Coincidentally, it mirrors Jesus’ vision for the church: everyone together in the same place.

In this game, saying “Duck, Duck, Goose” will leave a Minnesota kid just sitting there, clueless. Only using all “Ducks” makes it work. Using the right words is important.

We’re told to seek the things of God, just as a child seeks out the hidden children in “Hide and Seek.” Jesus says, “Make the things of God a priority. Seek them first.” Okay…let’s go do it!

Social worker…miracle worker…magician…blasphemer…prophet…revolutionary…future king…the list kept going. So, who was/is Jesus? Perception versus reality: the real Jesus is more than meets the eye.

Worried about the future? Many do, but God’s already seen it with perfect clarity and lets us know that the future will turn out well for his followers. While we can’t see into the future, can we trust the one who can?

Our eyes are often blind to our true situations when we think it’s “us against the world” and God is nowhere to be seen. What peace would come to us if we looked at our situation from God’s perspective?

What do people see as the greatest thing they could ever have? Wealth…Wisdom…Health…Reputation…? Admirable, but nothing really that great about them contrasted with God’s ultimate GOAT: Love.

Mistakes happen. But ever feel like every day seems like a clone of the one before, where you are doomed to repeat the same old mistakes? Here’s some good news: The past doesn’t define us in God’s eyes.

We often view prayer as an impersonal, cosmic Amazon order –“Give us what we want, when we want it, with free shipping.” But the Lord’s prayer is quite the opposite. It’s a relationship-based talk with God. Big difference.

Our view of what’s fair is often a strict “tit for tat”…an “eye for an eye” kind of justice, usually colored with a lot of self-interest. God looks at fairness through the lenses of mercy, a much healthier perspective. See why.

We often make choices based on outward appearances and superficial characteristics. God looks at the inside – at the heart –and judges by those things that really matter.

After visiting the baby Jesus, the wise men were warned to go home by another way…a new road trip. Now that we’ve taken the journey to Christmas, do we follow our same old pathways or listen to God for some new routes?

God works for good in all things, but that doesn’t mean everything is good. For example, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, i.e. good news for mankind. But also bad news since King Herod wants him dead, no matter what the cost.

It was baby-birthing time as Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem. No cushy room was to be had, though; instead, a lowly manger. And the Savior of the world was born. When there is no room, God finds a way.

The plain, ordinary town of Nazareth. We trek here and take note of the surprising places and people God uses to bring about the miracle of Christmas.

God is on the move as joy breaks in at a place not mentioned in the Bible to accompany our long, wayward journey to Christmas and the birth of Jesus.

Part of living is to trust that God is at work, even in the waiting, and that, when we might least expect it, God shows up in our lives.