“Baptize them… and teach them.” Matthew 28:19,20

And that’s the last command of Jesus in the gospels, AND, this is the last GMU for the school year! It’s been a good run and I pray that my journey through the commands of Jesus was as helpful to you as it was for me. Jesus wraps His life on this earth up with our “great commission,” to:
1. Go into all nations
2. Make disciples
3. Baptizing them
4. And teaching them

And THAT is my calling as a Christian because I desire to follow my Savior.
1. That could be by being an SM or it could be by serving my neighbor
2. Disciples are followers, so my calling is to help others become followers of Jesus
3. Baptism is the outward sign of an inward commitment. I need to decide what I’m going to do with Jesus and then help others do the same
4. Teaching implies learning; an ongoing experience of discovering more and more about the Man I am choosing to follow.

I hope you have a great summer and that before you know it we’ll be back for another year. In the meantime my prayers go with you every day as you continue to discover the joy of fulfilling Jesus’ final command in your life.

Have a great summer,
Pastor Rich

Quote for the day: “And surely I will be with you always, even to the very end of the age.” Jesus

“Go… and make disciples.” Matthew 28:19

And now, almost like I planned it this way (but I didn’t!) the last “command of Jesus” divided into two parts for the last two days of school!

1. Go into all the world…

2. Make disciple…

3. Baptizing them…

4. Teaching them…

The last thing Jesus tells His disciples is to go make more disciples. Go wherever you can go, do whatever you can do; but go and do with one purpose in mind—making disciples! Disciples are followers of Jesus so my final “command” from Jesus is to live my life showing others how to follow Him. I do this by words if necessary but mostly, I believe, by the way I live my life, the responses I give to others, the decisions I make, especially those that affect others. I make disciples by loving someone enough to hold them accountable to live like they say they believe; FIRST by holding myself accountable for living what I say I believe.

I see this so often on our campus and I am so blessed to be a part of this school family that DOES intentionally focus on being like Jesus, living like Jesus, trusting in Jesus, and pointing others to Jesus. Now, try and imagine what our campus would look like if we made this even more of a priority in EVERY decision we made for our school! This is already an amazing place; but I want it to be even more amazing as we ALL commit ourselves to living like Jesus and encouraging others to do the same. I want to start thinking and praying now about how I can make next school year at Union College the closest to living for and leading other to Jesus. Are you with me?

Have a great day being disciple and discipling for Jesus,

Pastor Rich

Hope tests go well today

Here is a little known fact for those who may need this information to help you pass your A&P test! DID YOU KNOW that if you took all your blood vessels and stretched them out in a straight line—you would die?!

“Feed My sheep.” John 21:17

To the Peter who denied Jesus a few “commands” ago, and then swam to meet him in yesterday’s GMU, Jesus offers my next indicator of WDJS. “Peter do you love me?”

“Oh yes Lord, I love you.”

“Feed my lambs.”

Then a little later in the meal, “Peter are you sure you love me?”

“Absolutely Lord.”

“Take care of my sheep.”

And a little later still, “Peter, are you really sure you love me?”

Peter was hurt after the third rendition of the same questions. “Yes Lord, I REALLY do love you.”

“Feed my lambs.”

Maybe because Peter denied him three times, Jesus gave him three times to correct it. Maybe just to make a point that the greatest indicator of my love for Jesus is my willingness to take care of His family (aka Sheep). That’s what Jesus did while He was on this earth, and now He asks Peter, and I believe all the rest of us, to “follow Him,” by doing the same thing. “Follow Me, by loving my ‘sheep.’” That’s was His “command” to Peter and I think it’s His command to me too.

Have a great day illustrating your love for Jesus by caring for His children,
Pastor Rich

Success on your tests!
Pastor Rich

“Bring some of your catch…and come and have breakfast.” John 21: 10, 12

153 fish in their nets and when they finally get to shore Jesus has breakfast on the BBQ ready and waiting. BUT He STILL said, “Bring some of YOUR catch and let’s eat.” I like that about Jesus. He didn’t need a boat or a net (apparently!) yet He could provide for all their needs. However, He still offered them the opportunity to participate in the celebration.

I wonder if He’s still the same today. He CAN provide for all my needs, but He still lets me participate in the process. He provided the 153 fish for the disciples, yet He called it “their catch.” He provides all the direction I need in my life if I will listen and obey Him and then He calls it “my life.” Peter got it when he looked up and said, “It’s the Lord,” and took off as fast as he could to get to him. I want my response to be just as complete.

I know what’s coming in the story because I read ahead and know what I’ll probably be writing on next Monday! Peter was the one who Jesus picked out to mix His metaphors between fishing and shepherding, but that will have to wait till Monday! Until then, I’m just grateful for what Jesus is willing to do for me, AND for His kindness and making me feel like I can be a part of His great plan.

Have a great day delighting in what He has provided for you,
Pastor Rich

Quote for the day: “I have learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, rather than attempting to satisfy them.” John Stuart Mill

PS Help prepare supper @ the City Mission. Sign up in Campus Ministries and meet in Rees Hall lobby @ 4. Questions contact Steven Shafer @ 307 220 3438

PPS Vespers @ 8:00 will be presented by Tash and Union for Christ. It will feature the building of our UC mosaic, our own Buell Fogg and the introduction of next year’s UFC director. C U in the church @ 8

PPPS Did you know that you can watch vespers on line live streamed or archived. Check it out www.ucollege.edu/uclive

PPPPS Afterglow will be presented by CABL (Collegiate Adventists for Better Living!) and it will be a part of Renevatue in the Young Adult room, basement of the church.

PPPPPS Friday night- 9:30- Rees Hall Worship Room- Sanctuary study

“Throw your net on the right side of the boat….” John 21:6

Yesterday I remember talking about doing things differently as I REACH OUT to share Jesus with different people. Today, conveniently, the message is turned inwardly- am I willing to do things differently in the way I RESPOND to Jesus?

Many of the disciples were fishermen—Jesus was NOT! Fishermen are not notorious for listening to nonfishermen telling them how to fish. I’m guessing the disciples were no exceptions to this rule. So when some stranger on the shore started telling them how to fish (especially when they were no doubt just a little tired and frustrated after fishing all night and catching nothing!) if I had been in the boat I’m not sure I would have responded as well as they did. Maybe because I’m not at a point of discouragement or giving up; maybe because I didn’t just go through the loss of my Master at the hands of the religious leaders; maybe because I am not confused by all the contradictory messages they had been receiving in the last little while; maybe because I have not quite so blatantly betrayed my Master the way they had.

“Throw your net on the right side of the boat.” And for some reason they did! The result was so many fish (153 to be exact!) they couldn’t haul the net in. Right side versus left side, or right side versus wrong side? I don’t know. I’ve heard “real fishermen,” of which I am NOT, say that you fish the shallow side, which is probably where their net was, and Jesus told them to throw it on the other side, the deep side. Maybe Jesus is telling me from that application that I should not do my job on the “safe” and predicable side but be willing to take a risk and cast out into the deep.

Or maybe I’ve been doing my work for Him all “wrong” and there is a “right” way to do it. If so, am I willing to listen to Him when I reach a place of discouragement or defeat, after trying all night with the wrong approach, to try listening to HIM rather than doing things my way. Am I willing to allow HIM to help me learn where to “cast my net” rather than doing it the way I want to and then expecting Him to bless me?

Impetuous Peter (who was apparently fishing in his shorts!) saw the fish, looked at the man on the shore, and a light came on in his spiritual head. “It’s the Lord!!” he exclaimed. And then put ON his clothes (that probably wasn’t the most efficient way to swim to shore, but then who cares about efficiency when I have a chance to see Jesus!) and jumped in the lake swimming to Jesus, leaving the others behind to drag the net to shore!

I wonder if I’m that willing to listen to that Voice when I’m told to do things I “know” how to do differently? I wonder if I would recognize that Voice and be willing to follow it even if, or especially if, it asks me to change how I’m doing things? I wonder if I would respond to that Voice and be as excited to be with that Voice as Peter was when he figured it all out? I wonder if that same Voice is speaking to me today, maybe to “cast my net” on the other side? No I don’t; I think I know! I just hope and pray that I hear it, listen to it, obey it, and rejoice in the results!

Have a great day hearing the Voice,
Pastor Rich

Quote for the day: “Without the functioning outreach of mission, spirituality is only so much ‘hot air’, and it becomes an exercise in introspective self-preoccupation that has unsafe cultish features.” Jan Paulsen

PS “9 O’clock” will be meeting at 9pm in Rees Hall. Join them for 30 minutes of singing and praising God.

“Put your finger here… Stop doubting and believe.” John 20:27

Most believed, but not “doubting Thomas!” He needed more proof. He needed a personal invitation to dispel his doubts. And the nice thing about Jesus- He gave it to him! I like that about Jesus. It would be a whole lot easier if He could just say something once, to the whole group, and everyone would get it. But people aren’t that corporately congenial and life does not normally offer that luxury. People learn differently, we’ve bought into that idea already; some learn by hearing, some by seeing and some by doing. Some learn from others and some learn from books (and some have to learn the hard way!)

So why not be comfortable with the idea that some believe, or develop trust differently? Cookie cutter Christianity is not consistent with the “different strokes for different folks” approach. I think Jesus got it! He came to the whole group and told them to touch His wounds if they needed to so they could have evidence that this was not a dream and they were really seeing Jesus- raised from the dead. It doesn’t say whether any of them took Him up on the offer or not.

But with Thomas He offered the same thing to him individually- and Thomas DID take Him up on the offer! And when He did, he believed. Some learn by hearing; some learn by seeing; and some learn by doing. Thomas might have been labeled as a doubter. I choose to look at Thomas as a kinesthetic learner! And I am reminded today that one approach to introducing Jesus to others may not work and I need to be open and flexible, as I move into this next phase of Jesus’ ministry calling to me, that I accept people from different places in life and with different issues they are dealing with and be open to different approaches for introducing them to Jesus. Paul said he would be different or do differently, or speak differently as needed to reach different people for Jesus. I think Paul understood Thomas too!

Have a great day doing things differently for Jesus,
Pastor Rich

Quote for the day: ‎”When it comes to your marriage, if the grass looks greener somewhere else, it’s time to water your own yard!” Craig Groeschel

PS Prayer meeting in the church with Pastor Ron Halvorsen Jr. Heritage Room in the basement of the church @ 7.

PPS Needed- a couple college students to help me clean the weeds and grass out from around my organic berry bushes. The work requires some flexibility but is not physically demanding, although you will be out in the sun for hours. Contact my daughter Laura Selivanoff if interested 402-314-4106.

PPPS Summer Task Force Worker: Child Care Provider for Jessie Clark Christian School in Pocatello, Idaho. Pocatello is located 150 miles southwest of Yellowstone National Park, 150 miles north of Salt Lake City, and 250 miles east of Boise. Applicant must fulfill the following requirements: be at least 18 years of age, pass background check (fingerprinting), provide safe and reliable supervision for children ages 2-12, lead daily worship, prepare craft activities and lead out in games and other activities. Applicant must have or obtain a current child CPR certification as well as have up-to-date first aid training. In order to fulfill state requirements the candidate must have had at least 12 hours of Early Childhood Education classes, previous childcare experience is beneficial. Must be self-motivated and able to work independently. Understanding of age appropriate discipline strategies a plus. Room, board, and a limited medical/accident insurance will be provided along with a $500/month stipend. We will have an opening to be filled from May 23 to August 17, 2012. Applicants unavailable to work either beginning that early or ending that late will be accommodated as necessary. If you have any further questions feel free to call: 208-237-3338. Please send resumes to: jessieclarkschool@gmail.com. Resume’s due: April 30, 2012.

“Stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:49

This command was clearly accepted and abided by as seen in the first chapter of the book of Acts. When they were all in the upper room, in one accord, praying, and waiting for the promised Holy Spirit, it came—and boy did it come! Like flames of fire, and with clear evidence in their lives, they went out and changed the world!!

Sometimes it’s hard to wait, but waiting is the evidence that I am trusting God for HIS timing and HIS way and not mine. Availability is my responsibility SO THAT when the waiting is over I’ll be ready and waiting, with eager anticipation for God to use me in HIS way and in HIS time.

I am reminded this morning, by looking ahead in the book of Acts that “waiting” is not passive; it is VERY active! It’s coming together with others who are focused on the same goals I am; and it’s praying and seeking the connection with Jesus that I need SO THAT I will in fact hear His voice when He calls. THEN while I am actively listening and daily committing my ways to Him, I pray that I will recognize the moving of His Spirit in my life and through practiced surrender I will allow Him to do what He wants with me in His service. THAT is what I believe waiting for the Holy Spirit is all about!

Have a great day actively waiting for Him,
Pastor Rich

Quote for the day: “The greatest hypocrisy is saying that we love God with our mouths while secretly loving the world with our hearts.”

PS Chapel today is our final one of the year. We’ll be honoring and dedicating the volunteers who will be out serving as student missionaries or task force workers. We’ll also be showing a 5 minute video called “ALIVE” (Africans Living In View of Eternity) with a chance to learn how you can get involved. Come out and support our family members who will be away next year! See you in the church @ 10:30.

“Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:22

Once they “believed,” He challenged them to “receive.”

“Here, put your fingers in My side so you know it’s really Me! Now believe!” Once Jesus had their attention He was ready to start preparing them for the next step. He was going to have to leave soon and go back to heaven. They were going to be in charge of the work of leading anyone, and everyone who desired to be led, to accepting what Jesus had done for them. I think that’s why He wanted them to touch the nail prints in His hands and to put their fingers in the wound in His side. He needed them to be SURE they knew that what they had experienced that weekend was indeed REAL.

Once they knew it was real it became their responsibility, as His followers and disciples, to help others understand not only the reality of Jesus’ death and resurrection, but the power of that death and resurrection in their lives. They knew they couldn’t do that by themselves; they had shown their weakness multiple times over the last few days. And I know that I can’t do that by myself either. Jesus knew that about all of us and so He did not tell me or them to “just do it.” He promised us the Holy Spirit, another part of God that was going to come when He went, SO THAT if I would accept that new part of God’s presence in my life I WOULD be able to effectively share the happenings of that weekend with others.

“Receive the Holy Spirit when I send Him to you and you WILL be my witness,” said Jesus. You will have great power and be able to do great things, BUT I’ll have to “receive it” if I want it to help me accomplish this “next step” in His great plan for the world. He promised to provide it; now I have to decide if I’m going to receive it!

Have a great day seeing the evidence of receiving His Spirit in your life today,
Pastor Rich

Quote for the day: “The thing about quotes on the internet is you cannot confirm their validity.”
- Abraham Lincoln

PS Prayer meeting with the Ministries Club @ 7. It is now in Engel Hall and we are studying the radical prayer by Derek Morris

“Look at My hands and feet…. Touch Me.” Luke 24:39

“Ghosts don’t have flesh and bones!” Those were the words of Jesus to His startled disciples! I think I would still have been on the emotional side with those frightened followers of the Savior. They had been through quite a weekend (not at ALL comparing it with the weekend Jesus had endured, but trying to understand the human emotions of sinful humanity) and now in hiding “for fear of the Jews,” they thought they had seen a ghost! I never cease to be amazed at the flexibility of Jesus in working with what He has in His fledgling followers and their feeble and often failing faith! In response to, “It’s a ghost!” Jesus did not reprimand them for inaccurate conclusions. Instead He used their “conclusion” as a means of confirming the truth. “Here, touch My hands and Me feet,” Jesus replied. “Ghosts don’t have flesh and bones!”

Actually, as I read on this morning, I found that Luke described the emotions of the disciples as a blend of joy and amazement. They literally could not believe their eyes! He told them before that this would happen and now that it actually came true there was probably a flood of emotions- the fear of the Jews that they might do something similar to them as followers as they had done to Jesus; joy over having their Master back; amazement over how something this miraculous could actually happen; and on and on!

But while they were being wowed by this shocking confrontation with the reality of God’s power and Jesus’ presence, almost nonchalantly, while they are examining the evidence of His presence, He says, like nothing really out of the ordinary was happening, “Do you have anything to eat?” Maybe to confirm in another way that He was not a ghost (ghosts don’t need to eat, do they!?) OR maybe because the power of God was such an understood reality in the life of Jesus that it was really no big deal that it just happened to be illustrated today with a resurrection from the dead, a quick trip to heaven and back, and an entrance into a locked room. No big deal, or to quote the good book, “With God NOTHING is impossible!” (for those who believe!) And THAT, I believe, was at least one of the lessons Jesus wanted to teach the disciples that Easter Sunday, and to remind me of today.

Have a great day being wowed by the obvious from God,
Pastor Rich

Quote for the day: “Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” – G.K. Chesterson

PS City Mission- help prepare supper. Sign up in Campus Ministries and meet in Rees Hall lobby @ 4. Questions contact Steven Shafer @ 307 220 3438

PPS Vespers @ 8:00 (for the rest of the semester) will be Union College Unionaires and the UC Octet, under the direction of Dr. Daniel Lynn, presenting their Spring Vespers Concert. The sounds of contemporary composers Rene Clausen, Eric Whitacre, and Morten Lauridsen will be featured as well as works by Antonio Lotti and Maurice Durufle; beautiful music for the end of a beautiful year. Join us in the church @ 8

PPPS Did you know that you can watch vespers on line live streamed or archived. Check it out www.ucollege.edu/uclive

PPPPS Afterglow- Bobby and company with “Footprints!” Under the Clock Tower right after vespers.

PPPPPS 9:30pm- Rees Hall Worship Room- Sanctuary study

And one bonus to plan for:
On Sunday, April 22nd the Physician Assistant students will be serving breakfast in the Union College cafeteria (Union Market) from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30a.m. Students can use their ID card. All tips and a portion of the profit made from the food will go toward their medical mission trip to Peru this summer. Please spread the word!

“Peace be with you.” Luke 24:36

Now come a series of commands that I think Jesus used to sort of tie up loose ends and get His followers ready for the change that would come in their lives in this next phase of the story. If I have my time line correct, Jesus rose from the grave, waited to say hi to Mary, rushed off to heaven to clarify things with His Father, AND makes it back to earth to see His disciples, ALL IN ONE DAY!! He “appears” (literally!) in the room where they were all hiding behind locked doors “for fear of the Jews,” and they thought they had seen a ghost!

Poor disciples, in the last few days they had been frightened away by the Roman guards in the garden, had their dreams shattered as they saw their Lord die on the cross, spent what I would imagine as a LONG and not so worshipful Sabbath, had their emotions toyed with by Mary when she came and said He’s alive, and NOW they see a ghost!! No wonder Jesus needed to “command them” to have peace! If Jesus was willing to offer them peace after all the ways they had misunderstood and misrepresented Him, then I think He’s willing to do the same for me, and for you!

Have a great day being assured of Jesus’ peace in your life,
Pastor Rich

Quote for the day: “Those who walk with God always reach their destination.”

PS “9 O’clock” will be meeting at the normal 9pm in Rees Hall. Join them for 30 minutes of singing and praising God.

PPS Today and tomorrow Lon Gresbek from the Washington Conference will be here recruiting students who would like to work in Korea. See him at his table in the Ad building or Ortner Center.

A bonus to plan for:
On Sunday, April 22nd the Physician Assistant students will be serving breakfast in the Union College cafeteria (Union Market) from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30a.m. Students can use their ID card. All tips and a portion of the profit made from the food will go toward the Peru medical mission trip to Peru. Please spread the word!