Finding Purpose in Life: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-12

* This lesson can also be found at: http://www.faithandliferesources.org/curriculum/abs/abs100711.html


God has a purpose for your life. I often heard that phrase repeated in the Southern Baptist church of my youth. I suspect Rick Warren, who was one of my fellow college students at California Baptist University, heard that same message in his own Southern Baptist church. He amplified that message in the most popular Christian book ever written; The Purpose-Driven Life. God has a specific purpose for our life. It is predetermined. Even traumatic events are “father-filtered” or planned by God for our growth. We may be tested as to our fidelity to God’s purpose.

Paul commends the Thessalonians for their perseverance and faith in the midst of persecutions and trials. He does not say that the tribulations they faced were God’s testing for a higher purpose. If there was any purpose through these difficulties, it would be the larger purpose of justice that God would finally enact in the end. Still, this is not to say that God instigates or even allows tribulations in order to show his ultimate purpose of justice. What gives purpose and meaning to life in the present is living faithfully for God’s glory, whatever trials may come.

If we get too specific about “finding our purpose in life,” we may miss God’s bigger picture or get frustrated when life and its difficulties thwart our expectations concerning our perceived purpose. I know this firsthand. I like what my friend Bruce Epperly, professor at Lancaster Theological Seminary, has to say in response to Rick Warren’s views on God’s purpose for our life: 1) God is adventurous and wants us to be adventurous as well; 2) The future is open for God and us; 3) In partnership with God, we create the future. God doesn't decide the future but creates the future along with us; 4) God is constantly inspiring us in every situation. This view makes life into a “holy adventure.”

If we recognize that God’s ultimate purpose is justice and peace for all humanity and for us to live fully and faithfully in the present time, we have found enough purpose and adventure for a lifetime.

Resolution on Supporting Brothers and Sisters in Christ Most Impacted by the Arizona Immigration Law

*This resolution, which I wrote with some committee revisions, was presented by the Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference Peace and Justice Committee at their conference's annual meeting in Anchorage, Alaska this month. Congregations will be studying the resolution and it will be acted upon later.













The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God (Leviticus 19:34)



Whereas, our Biblical ancestors often lived as “undocumented” aliens and strangers in foreign lands (Acts 7:6);
Whereas, God’s law commanded Israel to care for strangers and sojourners in their land, since they were once slaves and foreigners in Egypt (Exodus 22:21);
Whereas, Jesus’ parents fled as immigrants to Egypt without legal documents (Matthew 2:13-15);
Whereas, Jesus taught us that as we do to the “least of these,” we do to the Son of Humanity (Matthew 25:40);
Whereas, Jesus was sent to stand in solidarity with the poor and marginalized (Luke 4:18-19);
Whereas, the church as the body of Christ is not defined by race, national origin, or legal status (Galations 3:27-28);
Whereas, our Anabaptist faith prioritizes church over state, mutual support and accountability to our brothers and sisters in Christ over economics, and issues of faith over issues of law;

And whereas, we are all immigrants and “illegal aliens” in this land of the Native Americans;
Whereas, enforcement of Arizona’s immigration law seems likely to target people for scrutiny based upon appearance (i.e., race) and suspicions, rather than actual knowledge of their legal status;
Whereas, attending an assembly in Arizona could put “undocumented” Hispanic brothers and sisters and their families at risk personally, financially and legally;
Whereas, the church---as Christ’s body--- should be in solidarity with those most likely to be impacted negatively by Arizona’s immigration law;
Whereas, MCUSA has committed “to act with and on behalf of our immigrants brothers and sisters, regardless of their legal status”;
Whereas, none of us are truly welcome where even one of us is unwelcome;

Be it therefore resolved that Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference supports moving Mennonite Church USA’s Convention 2013 to a location that is more welcoming than Phoenix, Arizona.

Finding Hope: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

* This lesson can also be found at: http://www.faithandliferesources.org/curriculum/abs/abs100704.html


Jesus is coming soon! That was the mindset of many of the members of the fundamentalist congregation in which I grew up. Our youth and college age group even put on an elaborate musical called “It’s Getting Late!” about the End Times and Jesus’ Second Coming. I painted a huge mural of Christ returning in the clouds that was dropped down at a “rapture” point in the musical. As a young adult I got caught up in the apocalyptic fervor. At that time I had all the End Times charts and tried to figure out just when the Lord was coming. I got all tied up in worrying about the future.

Like some present day Christians the early Thessalonian believers thought Jesus was coming soon. But this belief soon began to cause questions among the early Thessalonian Christians who lived within decades of Jesus death and resurrection. It was getting late for them. Jesus had not returned. When would he return? Some Christians had died and others would soon enough. Would they miss Christ’s return? They got all tied up worrying about the future.

Since there were so many conflicting ideas about when Christ would return, I soon gave up on trying to figure it out and worrying about the future. The apostle Paul assured the Thessalonian believers that they need not worry about those who had died and did not discuss when Christ would return. After almost waiting 2,000 years the question of “when” seems irrelevant to many today. Paul did go on to describe the parousia, the coming of Christ.

But, knowing the details about Christ’s return is not what is most important in the text for this lesson. It is rather how to live in watchful readiness and hope in the “mean time.” As a soldier in basic training the Army I had to stay awake into the wee hours of the night and keep watch over those who were sleeping, though as a conscientious objector I carried no weapon for any kind of defense! Christians, like unarmed soldiers, bear the weapons of faith, hope, and love in the “mean time” in which we live watchfully waiting for the Christ who comes to us, not just a second time, not just in mean times, but at any time. So, keep watch!

• Does the delay of Christ’s return raise any questions for you?
• Are you fretful or hopeful about the future?
• How are you “keeping watch”?

'49 Mercury by Leo Hartshorn

37th Wedding Anniversary today!

My wife, Iris, and I are celebrating 37 years of marriage today! She is my best friend, companion, love, and inspiration.

Motivation for Action: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

Do our actions always call for pure motives? Is pleasing God always the best motivation for action? Now, the apostle Paul sought to appeal to the Thessalonians from pure motives and was more into pleasing God than people (2:4). And in this scripture lesson Paul seeks to provide practical instruction on how to please God through holy living. My hope is that my questions-at-an-odd-angle lead us to more subtle thinking about motives and actions as maturing Christians.

Obviously impure motives for our actions can muddy our ethical waters. When British Petroleum gives lower levels of oil leakage than less biased sources, shifts the blame for the oil spill to contractors, defends its safety record, and promises to clean up this big mess, their ulterior motives seem obvious. Saving face and maintaining profitable business-as-usual are not the best of motives. And BP should be held accountable.

But, are our own motives always as pure as the driven snow? My wife and I adopted two older special needs children over 20 years ago. My main motive? To provide a home for some children at great risk. My lesser motives? To provide companions for our natural born daughter. To have a son who would carry on the family name. To please my wife, who wanted more children. To be seen as a person with a justice-seeking lifestyle. My motives were not completely selfless. If I only acted from pure motives, I would most likely get nowhere in life.

What about pleasing God as the purest of motives? There may be times when rote acting to please God reflects an unreflective, immature faith. Hear me out. Many people relate to God as an overbearing, judgmental parent or with unhealthy dependency issues. “Pleasing God” becomes just a repetition of the same old kind of fretful acting that’s done to please parents, boss, spouse, or teacher…. which doesn’t please God! And sometimes our best motives may be to do something simply because it is the right thing to do and that is what ends up pleasing God. Capeesh?

Pleasing God as a motivation for action is generally a good moral principle, as Paul teaches us. But be careful not to limit your moral actions by scrupulously calculating the purity of your motives or the extent to which you are pleasing God. God knows our hearts and our humanity.

•Do you always have a full grasp of your motives when you act?
•Are there times when our actions simply call for doing the right thing and leaving the rest up to God?
•When does our desire to “please God” become unhealthy?

First Anniversary of Michael Jackson's death

My scratchboard drawing in honor of MJ.

Encourage One Another: 1 Thessaloninas 3:1-13

The work of peace and justice can be slow, tough, and lonely work, even within a so-called “historic peace church.” As Minister of Peace and Justice for Mennonite Church USA for 7 years I found that encouragement was desperately needed among those “in the trenches” as well as those of us who were leading the struggle. Many of those working for peace and justice in the churches felt isolated and with little support. And when the broader social and political climate continued to support war, violence, and injustice, it became very discouraging. Whenever we gathered with people engaged peace and justice or met them in our travels everyone was encouraged just by being with like-minded believers who shared in a common work.

We were often encouraged by the letters that came with donations that supported our peace and justice work. “Your work is favored by the Lord”. “Thank you for grounding and prodding us to honor Christ through a peace and justice witness in Mennonite congregations.” “We appreciate your efforts to keep us “awake” to peace and justice issues.” ”Thank you for your attention to peace and justice and keeping it at the forefront of our churches’ mission.” These letters lifted our spirits and gave us needed encouragement to keep on keeping on.

In our biblical text Timothy returned from a visit to Thessalonica with encouraging words for Paul and Silas. The believers continued steadfast in their faith despite their suffering. Paul further encouraged the Thessalonians in his letter to the churches. There was mutual encouragement among the leaders and disciples. They were strengthened together to carry on their work.

Everyone needs an encouraging word every now and then, particularly those who are swimming upstream or going against the grain. The Thessalonian believers were part of a misunderstood, persecuted, minority faith within a pagan empire living against the flow of their culture, which is becoming more the case for faithful Christians in our increasingly secularized, postmodern Western culture today. Mutual encouragement is essential for survival in our world.

Who has been an encouragement to your faith recently? How have you encouraged others to “keep the faith”? Have you thought about writing a letter of encouragement to a struggling believer or congregation?