First United Methodist Church

The Pastor’s Corner

“To Fear, or Not to Fear”

Ps 147:11  “11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.”  NRSV

Dear members and friends,

I hope you have been enjoying watching the winter Olympics as much as I have.   One of the sins I had to confess on Ash Wednesday was that I would have much rather been home watching Lindsey Vonn from our own Buck Hill of Minnesota win her Olympic gold metal in the down hill than being at church leading worship.   Fortunately God is good, my sins have been forgiven, and I was able to watch the whole thing on NBC when we got home.

Isn’t it something how fast those athletes go in extreme conditions, and the risks they take in going for the gold?   Barb and I attended a World Cup race at Lake Louise in the fall of 1999.   The race course (a blue run) was like glass and when the racers went by it was a total blur.   You don’t have the perspective that you do on TV.    When the snow melts and freezes like it did at Whistler and the course is full of ruts and bumps I couldn’t imagine skiing down it going wide open at over 100 kilometers per hour.

In order to compete at the highest level Olympic athletes must not only be talented but they must be confident and courageous as they go for the gold.   They need to trust their coach, trust their skills, put aside their fears, the pain,  past failed attempts, and give it their best shot.

The faith that God expects of us as we seek to live for Christ is nothing less than that of the Olympic athlete.    The Bible describes this kind of faith as “the fear of the Lord.”   This kind of faith is a reverential awe wrapped in the love and mercy of God.   It is not a watered down, mushy faith with no teeth. It is a not a panicky faith that cowers and hides, trying to cover up one’s sins.  It is audacious and bold faith.  It is a faith that confidently steps out, taking risks that need to be taken, to be the kind of person that God is calling us to be.

                                    Because the Christ of Lent is Risen,

 

                                    Pastor Kevin R. Dunn