Homelessness is a real issue in Venango County

At last month's zoning board meeting in Oil City, which ended in the decision being tabled until this month, a claim was made by one official who was called to testify that there isn't a homelessness problem in Oil City.  This assertion was met with gasps by many of the clergy present because of our ample experience with those who are either homeless or in danger of soon being homeless.  Whatever is decided at this month's meeting about this particular location in Oil City, the need for a shelter (whether one sizable one, or several smaller locations) will remain.  How do I know this?  In the past two years, the Bridge House Transitional Housing Program (that is, Emmaus Haven) here in Franklin has had 47 people stay at their facility, out of a total of 88 people who were referred to the program (which means 41 people were unable to stay, and need accommodations elsewhere).  During the past two years, a three apartment house in Franklin that was renovated by Mustard Seed Missions, in cooperation with Venango County's Human Services Department, has had 50 families in residence as a transitional home until more permanent housing could be found.  In addition, the Human Services Department is currently averaging 97 calls per month from families or individuals who are either currently homeless or in need of financial assistance to prevent being made homeless.
Urban communities and counties are not the only places where homelessness occurs in America.  Venango County is a rural community, with two small towns and no major urban area within an hour's drive, let alone within its boundaries.  And yet, homelessness is here, just as is poverty, drug abuse, and violence.  The problems of fallen humanity are not limited to certain areas, or certain kinds of people (because "kinds of people" don't actually exist; just human beings), they exist everywhere.  To pretend that some of the ills of our society are not present here, that we don't need to respond to them, is to do a disservice to those in need, our fellow human beings, and fellow Americans.
Homelessness is a real issue in Venango County, not wanting to believe it doesn't make it go away.  Whatever happens with this particular site in Oil City, the churches of Venango County will continue to work toward solutions to the problems of the people of this community, for it is our calling, our mission, our response to the grace of God given to us.

** Update ** As of 2/19, the Oil City zoning board has approved the use of the building in Siverly as the group home for Emmaus Haven.  The next step is to purchase the building from the Diocese of Erie, finalize plans for the renovations, gather the necessary funds, and begin work.  No timeline is yet available for when the facility will be up and running.

Good habits, running, and going to church

As a pastor, I have spoken with people more times than I can possibly remember about their need to regularly be a part of the services (on whatever day they are able to attend) of a local church where they can worship, pray, and hear from the Word of God along with fellow disciples of Jesus Christ.  I am, unabashedly, willing to encourage people to attend a church that is not my own church, nor even of my denomination, if it means they'll actually do it.  Long story short, I'm a fan of people being in church as often as possible (recognizing the difficulty of work schedules, family obligations, health, and mobility constraints).

Let me share an analogy that has been on my mind of late.  This past December I went for a short, 4 mile run prior to our Christmas Eve service.  During the course of 2018 I had completed my third Oil Creek 100 50k, had logged about 700 miles, and had achieved multiple PR's (personal records) since moving to PA in 2012 {in other words, ones that ignore my times as a runner in HS and college} in both the 10k and half-marathon distance.  It was a great year of running, my best since my early 20's, and it came to a close on Christmas Eve with sharp hip pain.  I had been experiencing hip discomfort for some time, but such things are a part of the runner's experience; this was different.  On Christmas day walking up and down the stairs of our home was rather painful.  I waited a week, tried to run about three miles, only to have the pain flair up again.  Another week resting the injury, another easy attempt to run, and the pain persisted.  January, from a training perspective, was a complete bust.  It ended with a trip to the doctor and a pair of shots (one in each hip, the left was the worst but the right was problematic too).  Now, as mid-February approaches, more than six weeks after having to bring my running to an abrupt halt, there may be light at the end of the tunnel, or I may be in for a longer period on the sidelines if the pain returns as I slowly bring running back into my routine.

What has this to do with attending church?  Running is good for my mental health.  It certainly boosts my physical health, no doubt about that, but when I don't get a chance to get outdoors (especially on our amazing local trails in Oil Creek State Park) and spend one to three hours (sometimes as many as five or six), two to three times per week, running, things start to get out of whack.  And while you might think the idea of spending a couple hours in the woods running 10-20 miles is crazy, to me it is awesome.  Not running, day after day, and now week after week, wears on me.

Here's the thing, as much as I love running (or basketball or hockey), they are nothing compared to the benefits to being among the people of God on a regular basis.  As much as I enjoy and need to exercise, I need to worship, pray, and study the Word of God among the people of God far more; and so do you.  We all need to be a part of the community of believers, we all need a chance to serve others, and a chance to receive the help of others in turn.  Christianity is not a solo pursuit, it is not the ER to be visited only in times of crisis.  Healthy habits are imperative, in the spiritual realm as much as the mental and physical.  "I spend time with God by myself" and "I pray" or "I read the Bible", while good and necessary things for those who would be called a disciple of Jesus, are not and cannot be the same as doing those same thing among a community of believers bond together by a common purpose and a common service to the Lord.

I have a 30k on the books for May, and a half-marathon the week after that.  I don't know how my training will go between now and then, but I do know that choosing to not run, if/when I can, is not an option.  Lord willing, I'll be back running the trails soon.


Hebrews 10:23-25 New International Version (NIV)
23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Sermon Video: "Persuade me to be a Christian"? - Acts 26:17-32

As his defense before Agrippa continues, Paul explains that God gave him the mission of leading people from the darkness of rebellion and sin, to the light of forgiveness and sanctification by faith.  Paul was opposed for this effort, because it included the Gentiles, even though it was a continuation of what God had previously spoken through the prophets and Moses.  Having said this, Paul confronts Agrippa with the key question, "do you believe the prophets?"  While Festus think that Paul is out of his mind, Agrippa knows the validity of the words of the prophets and interprets Paul's question as an invitation to become a Christian, which he declines.  Agrippa's response raises important questions.  How does someone become a Christian?  Is it an intellectual, emotional, or spiritual pursuit, or some of all three?  Can a person be persuaded, making it partly a matter of human freewill, or is it solely a matter of the will of God?  In the end, Paul proclaims that he will continue to hold out hope, and pray, that not only Agrippa, but everyone listening to his words will accept the gift of God's grace in Christ Jesus.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

If God "chose" Donald Trump to be President

Beliefs not firmly connected to a Christian foundation, or the implications of which have not been fully examined, can be extremely dangerous.  Recently White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders said during an interview on CBN, "I think God calls all of us to fill different roles at different times and I think that he wanted Donald Trump to become president, and that's why he's there and I think he has done a tremendous job in supporting a lot of the things that people of faith really care about."  There are several significant objections to the theology of such a statement.  (1)  God does indeed call those who serve him, i.e. disciples of Jesus Christ, to serve his Church as apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists (Ephesians 4:11).  The call of God to such people is a call to service, not self-advancement, to sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not fame, power, and wealth in service of a political agenda.  What is the Biblical basis for the belief that God chooses, and then puts in power, secular political leaders?  If the answer to that question is Nebuchadnezzar, or Cyrus of Persia, both of whom God used with respect to Israel (the first to punish and the second to bless), the objection would be simple: (2) America is not Israel.  We are not a nation being directed by God according to a Covenant of blessings and curses awaiting a promised Messiah.  In the New Covenant, God works primarily through his Church, not through national politics.  When God works "all things" (Romans 8:28-29) he is working for the people he has called to accept the Gospel, to transform them into Christ-like disciples, not for the benefit of particular ethnic groups, kingdoms, or nations.  The Church transcends any grouping of humanity, and the goal of God's will in the New Covenant is clearly stated: to increase the number of redeemed saints worshiping the Lamb at the end of time.  (3)  If God wanted Donald Trump to be president, on what basis was that decision made?  His politics or his character?  On what basis are the politics of Donald Trump, or any politician, judged to be aligned with those of God?  Are there some issues God cares about more than others, and how would we know?  Is God choosing the most Christ-like candidate to support, or the least, or somewhere in between?  (4)  If God chose Donald Trump, did he also choose Barrack Obama, George Bush, Bill Clinton, George Bush Sr., etc...?  If God chose one, then why not all?  If your answer to that is, "because I like this President's politics, but I didn't like the last one."  Let me simply say that assuming that the will of God, maker of the universe, whose loving-kindness extends to all generations of all of humanity, is aligned with your exact political preferences is an expression of ego worthy of fear.  (5)  If God chose Donald Trump, was it to bless America or punish it?  This one bears thought.  Those who cheer Donald Trump, like Sarah Sanders, assume that the "choosing" they believe in was a blessing, not a curse, but on what basis is that judgment being made?  Is it God's intention, at this point in history, to bless America for its righteousness or to curse America for its wickedness?  There is plenty of righteousness and wickedness to be found in America if you want to support your conclusion, but concluding that this moment is a time of blessing, or a time of punishment, is an arbitrary decision that says more about your perspective than anything else.  (6)  The assumption that the things that "people of faith really care about", are in alignment with the things that God cares about.  Church history, and that of Israel before us, is replete with examples of the people of God focusing upon the wrong things, ignoring things of tremendous importance, and generally being foolish in all manner of areas.  Perhaps "people of faith" know exactly what God would desire for a republic in the 21st century, or maybe they don't, either way, their priorities are not necessarily God's priorities, to assume so is arrogant.  It is the Word of God which declares the will of God, NOT the priorities of "people of faith".  {There is an unspoken word in the sentence from Sanders, one that goes without saying during an interview on CBN, that is "what Republican people of faith really care about."  God, and his Church, are not now, nor have they ever been, limited to one political party.  What of the priorities of Christians who support Democrats, Independents, or none of the above?  God is not a Republican, nor a Democrat, both parties support policies consistent with, and both parties support policies contrary to, the Word of God, neither represent God, it is impossible for a political party to do so.}

Lest you think this is personal, the same objection would have been raised about such a claim regarding any American president, member of Congress, governor, mayor, etc. {Evidently, President is the only office important enough for God to choose who inhabits it, or else objection #4 is much larger}.  I don't pretend to know what God's will is for the United States of America.  I have no idea if God is pleased with our charity and attempts at justice, or infuriated at our greed, immorality, and pride.  To claim to know the mind of God regarding a nation, any nation not named Ancient Israel about whom his Word is specific, is presumptuous and dangerous.  I do, however, know the will of God concerning his Church.  Why?  Because the Word of God has made the mission of the Church, the quality required of its people, and its status as an organization, "in the world but not of the world" clear.  We know because God has spoken through the inspired Scriptures.  We, the Church, have been called of God, to repent and turn to righteousness, and to serve the Gospel.  To speculate what God is, or is not, doing beyond the Church, is just that, speculation, foolish at the least, dangerous at worst.  In the end, the Word of God is our standard for Truth, not what "people of faith really care about."

Sermon Video: "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting" - Acts 26:1-16

Imagine spending your life, all of your passion and effort, on behalf of God, only to learn at the end that your entire attempt was not simply ineffective, but actually entirely counter-productive and detrimental to the very cause you thought you were serving.  Such was the mind-blowing revelation that occurred to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus when he discovered that the voice from Heaven was that of Jesus.  Up until that moment, Saul had been firmly convinced that he was doing the right thing, that his violent response to the followers of Jesus was justified by zeal for the Law of God.  Saul was, catastrophically wrong, and but for the amazing grace of God he would have gone to face his Maker with their blood upon his hands.
Certainty without wisdom is folly.  As Christians, there are a limited number of core Truths regarding the Scriptures, the nature of God, and the person and work of Jesus about which we must be certain, and for which we ought to be willing to lay down our lives (although not be willing, ever, to kill for them).  Upon these central Truths we must stand and not be moved, but beyond them we claim absolute certainty at our own peril, and would better be served by confident belief that allows for others to disagree.

To watch the video, click on the link below: