Faith Unscripted with Pastor Rich Hasselbach: Recent Episodes
Clarkstown Reformed Church
Faith Unscripted is about faith, spirituality, and our inner life. There is so much hatred and misunderstanding in the world today. Faith reminds us that what unites us is far more profound than all that divides us. God has made each of us in His image. We are all brothers and sisters, all children of the creator and Father of us all. God has created each of us lovingly and given us a unique mission to accomplish in our lives. This podcast explores the connection we have to The Wisdom That Lies At The Heart of Things (God) and how that connection unites us to each other and our world.
We are constantly tempted to division - to being opposed to the other. Yet God is ONE, and all life is one in God. Therefore, our path is not to fragmentation but to unification and gratitude.
What should believers do as we approach the midterm elections in the US, celebrating Simchat Torah, and my meeting with Country Music star Tery Taylor, a most impressive young man. That and listener calls in this episode of Faith Unscripted.
In this special episoce for the Jewish High Holy Days we discuss the meaning and importance of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are important for all believers, and what we can learn from these beautiful commemorations of the New Year and the Day of Atonement respectively
Being present to life is easier said than done. We are often so twisted by the past or worried about the future that we forget that we only live in the moment; we only live NOW. This and other topics are addressed in this episode of Faith Unscripted
How Christians and other people of faith should engage in the debates and struggles of our times?. Believers must be involved in the world, but they must be engaged in a thoughtful and informed way. With so much spin and deception, how can we inform ourselves well enough to understand the issues? What do we need to know about the issues, and ourselves in order to be responsible in the public square? All this and more in today's episode of Faith Unscripted.
While teaching in the Synagogue on the Sabbath, Jesus encountered a disabled woman. He spoke to, touched, and healed her when he saw her. The people who witnessed this healing praised God. The synagogue leader, however, criticized Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. That leader, too, needed healing from his rigidity and legalistic thinking. He needed to reconnect with the Lord of the Sabbath and the meaning of Sabbath rest. (Luke 13:10-17)
"It is the Father's great pleasure," Jesus tells us, "to give us the Kingdom." God LOVES to give what is most important, and all we have to do is accept the gift, and value it more than the stuff we accumulate. We should sell that and give to the poor - we should, ourselves, in other words, be find great pleasure in being generous. Then we will treasure what is truly valuable, compassion. That is the treasure that lasts into eternity.
"I have come to bring fire," Jesus tells his disciples, "and how I wish it were kindled." "I have not come to bring peace but division." With this warning, we must be prepared, be ready, and don't be afraid. We are not used to Jesus speaking about the division His message will bring, but he warns us that discipleship will not be easy. We can't expect our faith to make us popular; quite the contrary. The call of Christ invites us to follow him, ultimately to the cross. While it is demanding and it can be daunting, it is the only path to life and joy.
On August 15th, Christians around the world celebrated the feast of the Assumption of Mary. What does that mean, and what is the significance of Mary for the Church and our spirituality? Today's episode explains the Assumption's meaning, a belief dating back to Apostolic times. But what does it mean for us? Why did Carl Jung, the great Swiss psychiatrist, write that Pius XII's declaration of the dogma of the Assumption was the most crucial religious teaching of the 20th Century? What does Mary teach us about being a faithful child of God? All this and more in today's episoce
Roxanne Watson received a lifesaving heart transplant 12 years ago. Since then, she has been a tireless advocate for organ donations, recruiting thousands of new donors. When Roxanne received her transplant, Roxanne received not only a new heart but a grateful one. She is thankful to Michael, her donor, and his family. She is grateful to God, the author of life, who gave her, through Michael, a second chance to live. Roxanne realizes that every day, every moment of life: is a gift.
Greed is a terrible thing - it destroys families and it destroys lives. Jesus' Parable of the Rich Fool is a cautionary tale for all who are simply good business people, but miss the bigger picture and the greater challenge of life. What makes a good business person a fool? Well, you can read the parable or listen to this podcast to hear what Jesus, and the entire Judeo-Christian tradition means by folly.
What is our relationship with God? Who are we as we stand before Him, and how do we come to know the One before whom we stand? The sacred texts of the Judeo-Christian tradition answer these questions - or at least they point to an answer. God is the creator, the Lord, and sovereign of the universe he created by speaking it into existence. So majestic is the Lord that his name is unutterable. Pious Jews will never pronounce YHWH, the word God gave Moses when he asked the name of the One who spoke from the burning bush. "I am who I am." the Lord told him. He is the great "I Am." Yet Jesus teaches that the One who created the universe, the One who liberates the enslaved, can be addressed as "Father." We are in a tender relationship with God, who prefers us to think of him as Abba, Father. Our Abba longs to hear our voice like a human father loves to listen to the prattle of his children. All this and more, plus listener phone calls on this episode of Faith Unscripted.
We hear, in Luke 11, that Jesus' disciples asked the Lord to teach them to pray. They did not ask for a prayer to say but for teaching about prayer. Jesus teaches them to pray to God as "our Father." We are the images and children of the God who creates, rescues, and redeems. The essence of this prayer is relationship. The God who created the universe loves us with a father's care. This episode reflects on the Lord's prayer as found in Luke's gospel.
Jesus grew up a pious Jew among faithful Jews, keeping the Law of Moses and following the traditions of His people. We are witnesses of our faith in Christ, which means we must stand apart from the world's values. As Jesus was a healer, so must we heal others by practicing generous forgiveness. I hope you will find this episode of Faith Unscripted, the Podcast, a blessing.
If we want to do what Jesus would have done in any situation in life that confronts us, we must first know how to live as Jesus lived. How did he live? The Gospels tell us clearly: Jesus was prayerful; he lived with kindness and compassion for the least, the vulnerable, and the marginalized. Jesus was generous: he gave his life to save us. This episode reflects on how Jesus lived in the hope that it will inspire us to be more like him,
Knowing what we should do at any moment requires us to understand who we are. Agere sequitur esse, the Latin saying goes: what we do flows from who we are. Discernment is critical to our self-knowledge, which, in turn, guides us in our life choices. In this episode, I hope to deepen our understanding of the tools of discernment available to us as believers and as disciples (students) of Jesus.
Christians are also frequently persecuted in places where they are in the minority. Two such places are Egypt and Nigeria. Recently, these countries have been deadly attacks on our Christian brothers and sisters. How are we to respond? We must respond both by raising our voices in protest and prayer.
What makes us who we are? How does our "hard work" contribute to our successes and failures? Do we make ourselves, or are we made by the circumstances of our lives? What is our God-given purpose? We reflect on all of this, plus some great callers and conversations in this episode of Faith Unscripted.
Martha was a doer. When Jesus came to her home, she wanted everything to be just so! She cleaned, swept, cooked a fine dinner, set a beautiful table, and prepared the guest list and the seating arrangements. It was a lot of work. Meanwhile, Mary, her sister, sat at Jesus' feet, drinking in every word the Master spoke. It didn't seem fair to Martha that Mary wasn't helping with all the work, so she complained - to Jesus! "Can't you tell her to help me!" Martha lost focus on her guest and on making things perfect for him; now, she was a victim. Jesus would have none of it, though. He told her that her sister had chosen the better part in his gentle rebuke. Of course, Martha could choose that too, but returning her focus on the One who came to her home not to be served but to serve by bringing light, peace, and salvation. What can we learn from all this about our focus on the One that is necessary?
A listener recently asked about the problem of evil: why does a good God allow good people to suffer, and conversely, why do evil people prosper.? One of the best answers to this set of questions is the one found in the Book of Job. Job is part of the Wisdom Literature found in the Hebrew Bible. In it, we see Job, a man we know to be just and godly because the author has told us this about him in the book's opening paragraphs. But Satan (the accuser) asks God if Job is good because he loves God or because of what God has given him. God believes in Job, and to prove a point, takes away Job's wealth, family, and health and leaves him with nothing but his question:: Why? The answer God ultimately gives Job is also essential to us as we struggle with the problem of evil in our own time.
NASA's new telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope, allows us to look deeper into the Universe than ever before. What does it teach us? We see more, but do we see more deeply. In Psalm 19, David, the Poet King of Israel, reflected on the heavens as he saw them thousands of years ago. His insight is still fresh and beautiful: "The heavens declare, "he wrote, "the glory of God." So they did in David's time, and so they do today. Before the mystery and the majesty of the "heavens," we can but stand back in wonder and awe. Today's show reflects on the Heavens declaring God's glory and more, plus our callers.
If you have questions you'd like to have addressed on the show, please leave a comment in the comments section of the blog, and I'll address them on the next broadcast.
Thanks and blessings,
Pastor Rich
What must I do to inherit eternal life; who is my neighbor, and how big is God? These are seemingly simple questions. To test Jesus, an expert in the law asked Jesus the first two questions. The great pastoral theologian Henri Nouwen was asked the third question by Megan, the four-year-old daughter of Nouwen's friends, the Christensens. In response to the lawyer's questions, Jesus gives us the parable of the "Good Samaritan," one of the most beautiful and challenging stories in the New Testament. Nouwen's response to Megan illustrates the parable, and all these questions, as well as the parable, challenge us to live into God's compassionate, boundless love.
The Declaration of Independence was 246 years old on July 4th, just a few days ago. The men who wrote it gave us not only a magnificent political document, they showed the courage of people desperate for liberty. We must never take their sacrifice for granted, nor forget that the fight against tyranny is never over; it requires the courage of each successive generation to preserve the liberty they won for us. They relied on the providence and guidance of God, and so must we. We must also understand how precious life is - from conception onward. And what is this liberty for which they risked so much? Far from being the license to do as we will, it is the freedom to follow the will of God. Finally, we will never find happiness if we pursue it for ourselves alone. Happiness is found only by losing ourselves in compassion for others.
Luke tells the story (10: 1-24) of how Jesus sent out 70 disciples as an "advance team" to every town and village he was about to visit on his journey to Jerusalem. His directions were as clear as they were unusual: they were to take nothing for their journey. They were to take no toothpaste, shampoo, shoes, or money; instead, they were to rely solely on God and the hospitality of the people they would meet on the way. Jesus warns that they were going among a world full of wolves as lambs. Lambs are gentle creatures, and they are defenseless. While Jesus is the Lion of the House of David, he was also the "Lamb" who, we hear in Revelation, has won the victory and sits on the throne. Jesus' disciples (and we are among them) will bring in the harvest of souls that Jesus told us is ready, not by being like the world, but by being like the Lord. Only then can we bring peace and healing, and only then can we proclaim with credibility that the Kingdom of God has drawn near.
Life is a gift, every moment of it, and we live life in moments - in the present. The past is history, and the future is not yet ours (and may never be), but we love NOW. How can we best appreciate and life this precious gift of life. How can we be "present" to the moment, and thus see the wonder in it. We discuss this and, in advance of US Independence Day, we also discuss the blessings of our liberty and the brave men and woman who risked all to create this one nation under God.
When Jesus "sets his face toward Jerusalem," he is focused unflinchingly on his mission. He is to go to Jerusalem and reveal God's amazing love by being lifted up - on the cross, at his resurrection, and in his ascension back to the Father. As Jesus' disciples, we too are asked to set our faces on our mission: to take up our cross daily and be living examples of the self-gift of God. There is a cost, though, as Deitrich Bonhoeffer warned. "When Christ calls a man," Bonhoeffer wrote, "he bids him come and die."That is our call - to die to ourselves daily as we take up our crosses to follow Jesus on the way.
This episode includes a discussion of a tragedy on the Palisades Parkway and what we can learn from it. We also discuss the importance and power of prayer.
In Luke's Gospel (8:26-39), Jesus makes his first incursion into gentile territory in the land of the Gerasenes. Immediately upon stepping ashore, he met a man so disfigured by his evil that the man was barely recognizable as human. Yet an encounter with Jesus transformed him into his right mind, his proper self, and a witness to God's love. What did Jesus do to bring about this amazing healing? What can we learn from this story of God's transforming love?
Today, we broadcast from Pella, IA, from the Reformed Church in America's General Synod. So today, we talked a bit about the General Synod about Pella (a beautiful Iowan City) and the question that the General Synod asked of itself and the RCA: What would God have us do? How do we discern, as individuals, the path God is calling us to travel. That and more on today's episode.,
What does it mean to be "human," and how do we best care for the human person that we are? Our bodies are temples of God's spirit, and that temple must be honored by tending to our mental acuity: by reading, thinking, reflecting, and exploring. In a world of spin, we need to "think for ourselves." Our spiritual health also needs care, which we accomplish through prayer, meditation, and reading sacred texts prayerfully. Finally our bodies need our attention. We have to think of food as nature's pharmacy and eat what is good for us, not what tastes good to us. We need to exercise, and that's more than just walking the dog. And we need to care for our social being by gathering with others in worship and other groups that form the network of our communities of friendship and association.
What does the story of Pentecost mean to us today?. First, we are temples of the Spirit. Through us, the spirit continues the work of Christ. God is at work in every moment of every day through the face of the earth,
In this episode we discuss the importance and solemnity of Memorial Day, a day when we remember those who "gave their last full measure of devotion" in the service of their country. We must never forget their sacrifice, nor the precious life that each of those heroes gave to preserve and protect our nation. But we must also be cautions of those who would rush the nation into wars, of adventure and nation building. This is also the feast of the Visitation, commemorating the visit of Mary to her older cousin Elizabeth when both were with child (Mary with Jesus and Elizabeth with the Baptist). What is the meaning of the visitation for us? Finally, we discussed the meaning of both the Jewish fest of Pentecost (Shavuot) and the Christian feast of Pentecost that we will celebrate this coming Sunday.
In the early church, the Ascension was an important day, a reminder that Jesus' mission was only complete when he returned to the Father and brought our humanity into the eternal presence of the Father. It is a reminder that the absent one is present to God and has sent us the gift of the Spirit, which IS the power of God within us. The message of the Ascension is to wait prayerfully for the action of the Spirit within us, to remain with expectation, for God will act in God's own time and in God's way. And then, empowered with the Spirit, OUR job is to witness Jesus and the Good News.
What does it mean to be a person of faith in the world? A faith-filled worldview sees God as the Creator and sustainer of all life. He is the author of truth; we are not. He establishes an immutable moral law that we must follow or break to our detriment. Learn more in this episode of Faith Unscripted.
Jesus promised that he would not leave us orphans. He promised to send "another paraclete" to teach us all things, remind us of everything Jesus taught, and give us the peace that only God can provide. What does this gift mean for us? How do we listen to the "other paraclete?" which is the one like Jesus who will be with us while Jesus is absent? The Holy Spirit is the One who lures us to the Father in Christ; he guides us toward our best future and to the Kingdom of God.
Recently, there has been terrible violence in the U.S., much of it racially or politically motivated. What can we do to counteract this hateful trend? First, we must recognize that God created all the people in his image. Then, we can reject the voices of division and acknowledge that we are all one: brothers and sisters of the God Jesus called Father. Finally, we can pray for peace, especially for the people whose hearts are so full of hatred that they kill innocent strangers in the service of their warped ideas.
Jesus gives his disciples more than just a new commandment in John 13; he gives them an example of how love in practice looks. He loves His own, loves them to the end, and loves them no matter what. He loves them by serving; he loves them by feeding; he loves them by preparing them for life when he has been "Glorified" and is no longer with them. The love Jesus requires of his disciples (us) is a healing, life-giving share in the life of God Himself.
In John 2:22-30, Jesus is in the Temple during the Dedication celebration (we know it as Hanukkah). Those who surround Jeusu ask him to tell them plainly whether he is the Messiah. He responds by telling them that he has ALREADY been quite clear about who he is, but they haven't believed him because those around him are "not of My sheep." What does this exchange mean for us today? Who are among "His sheep?" Are we, and if so, so what? When we are His sheep, we know who we are because we understand who He is. Believing in Jesus has ramifications for how we live our lives and see the world.
This episode discusses Mothers' Day and the importance of our mothers. Then we discuss the possibility that the Supreme Court will overturn Roe v. Wade and its significance. Finally, the show considers how important it is for Christians to be engaged in the community's life, politically and otherwise.
At the end of John's Gospel, Jesus again shows himself to his disciples on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. At first, those disciples had difficulty recognizing him - they were fishing, and he was about a hundred yards away on shore, cooking. When they came ashore, they were afraid to ask him who he was; they KNEW it was the Lord but somehow needed to be reassured. Then Jesus took Simon aside and three times asked him: "Simon son of John, do you love me?" After Simon answered yes to each question, the Lord said, "Feed my lambs;" Tend to my sheep;" Feed my lambs and my sheep." What was Jesus asking of Simon in this exchange, and what does he ask of us? ,
This episode discusses the importance of people of faith in the public square. What is the relationship between religion and political debate and action?
- A reflection on John 20: 19-29. On the evening of the first day of the week after Jesus' death, his disciples, such of them who hadn't gotten out of town yet, were huddled in a locked upper room, hiding for fear that the ones who killed Jesus would come after them next. Suddenly he is in their midst: not the broken body of a resuscitated corpse, but the glorious body of the one who Lives. And he tells them to be at peace - he brings them peace: not the world's peace, but God's. And he sends them to do what he did; he tells them that they MUST forgive lest unforgiveness prevail on earth. What does all that mean for us? I hope this reflection from the first Sunday after Easter will shed some light on the answer to that question,
Today we discuss healing prayer, the love of God as manifest in our pets, and the second half of the program discusses the Holocaust as we prepare to celebrate Holocaust Remembrance Day. Where was God? And what can we learn as we look back and remember? And remember we must, lest history repeats itself!
The meaning of Easter for Jesus and us. How the experience of the risen Lord on the first day of the week after his Crucifixion changed the lives of his small band of followers, and how they changed the world. By risking their lives and everything, they had to proclaim that the One who died is also the One who now lives.
What is the meaning of Holy Week for us today? As we celebrate the last week of Jesus' life, the Church invites us to reflect on the Passion of the Christ. Our salvation comes at an enormous price! What can we learn from the story of the Lord's suffering and death? We may want to avert our eyes, but the story of Christ's passion is at the heart of the Gospels. It reveals God's love for us while also reminding us of our value in God's eyes and the importance of each moment of life.
In John's Gospel, the week before Jesus' death, we hear about a dinner held in his honor at the home of His friends Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. At the dinner, Mary took a pound of aromatic nard perfume worth a year's wages (in today's dollars, it was worth more than $100,000) and poured it over Jesus' feet, anointing him and drying his feet with her hair. That was a fantastic display of love, but was it wasteful? Jesus didn't think so, and neither do I. That gift of love challenges us to be extravagant in our love of Jesus.
In this wide-ranging show, we discuss how to handle a fender-bender, the efficacy of healing prayer, and the importance of using time well (it is, after all, precious).
Parables are action stories - Jesus doesn't expect us merely to listen to them; he expects them to change us. So what is the challenge of Jesus' beautiful parable about the man who had two sons? What does it ask of us today?
There is a clash between two worldviews: one rooted in faith in the creator God who gives us every good gift and who has made us in his image, brothers and sisters to each other; the second rooted in fear in which man, not God, is the master of the world. This second view leads to what Thomas Hobbs called the "war of all against all." Pastor Rich discusses this and more in today's episode of Faith Unscripted.
Repent or perish! Jesus tells his disciples that suffering and death are not punishments for sin, but they can come suddenly and catch us unaware. Violence and natural disasters will be with us, but should they touch our lives, will we be prepared. In this reflection on Luke 13:1-9, Pastor Rich reflects on Jesus' urgent call to repentance and the hope-filled parable of the barren fig tree.
This episode is a wide-ranging interview with Steve Possell, a legend on Rockland County radio for over 50 years. Steve is a devout Catholic, and he and Pastor Rich discuss the Catholic Church and the importance of faith in an increasingly faithless world.
Pastor Rich's thoughts on the conflict in Eastern Europe and other matters are all discussed on today's Faith Unscripted.
Even though danger lurked in Jerusalem, even though some Pharisees warned him that Herod was plotting to kill him, even though he could have saved himself, Jesus wouldn't abandon his God-given mission. His work was to go to Jerusalem and conquer death on the cross. We, like our Lord, have a divine mission, and we must accomplish it, no matter what, even in the face of death. As disciples, we must strive to be like Christ.
Opening Prayer at the Hudson Valley Freedom Coalition - March 5th conference at Clarkstown Reformed Church, West Nyack, NY
Lent, turning to God, and Ukraine - all topics touched on in today's episode of Faith Unscripted.
Our Christianity doesn't mean we should escape from the world and its cares. On the contrary, as followers of Christ, we must be lovingly engaged. Pastor Rich reflects on the importance of being involved in the education of our children.
At his Baptism the Spirit descended on Jesus in the Jordan and the Father spoke: "This is my son, my beloved, in whom I am well pleased." Jesus then led into the wilderness knowing who he was and what he must be about. He was the beloved, the Son of God. Nevertheless, while Jesus fasted 40 days, the Satan tempted him. What does this time of temptation for Jesus mean for us in our time of temptation?
In this reflection, on Ash Wednesday and Lent, Pastor Rich considers the paradox that "you are but dust and ashes," insignificant as we stand before the creator God, but "for you, the world was made." Lent celebrates both realities: we stand humbly before the God who loves us with eternal love and who gives His only Son so that we might live eternally with him.
Recorded on "Fat Tuesday" or Mardi Gras, the show discusses the importance of Lent as a time of preparation, repentance, and return to faithfulness and God. The word Lent comes from an old English word meaning "springtime." If we make a good lent, we can experience a new springtime in our spiritual life.
On a mountain, Jesus was "transfigured." His face was shining, his clothes sparkling white, and Moses and Elijah appeared with Him to discuss his "departure," which was to take place in Jerusalem. However, a cloud overshadowed them, and the voice of the father spoke, "This is my beloved Son, my Chosen One, LISTEN TO HIM." What was Jesus saying to his disciples, and us, that we MUST hear? Pastor Rich reflects on this question in his sermon on the last Sunday before Lent.
How can we be a blessing to everyone we meet? Well, we can pray for them, and we can speak a word of blessing into their lives. That can be as simple as saying "God bless you" to a waitress or a colleague at work. Christians must be active and involved in our world as servants of the Crucified Christ. He saves through his self-giving love. He gave His all on the cross so that we might live. As His disciples, we too must give of ourselves lovingly to share in his saving mission.
According to Joseph Campbell, Jesus' teaching that we should love our enemies is the high point of ethical teaching in world history. Love here is not a warm feeling of affection; it is the hard choice to act in the best interest of those who do not have our best interest at heart. When we love, in this sense, we forgive, and we do what is compassionate for those who have been (and may continue to be) hostile to us.
In a wide-ranging program, Pastor Rich explains what it means to be "Catholic," the importance of getting involved, as believers, in the world, and the courage of the Canadian Truckers.
Jesus often tells us what we don't want to hear but what we need to know. For example, in the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6), Jesus tells his disciples that the poor, hungry, grieving, and derided are blessed. Why? Perhaps because in our moments of emptiness, we realize what is always true: we need God every second of every hour of every day of our lives. Today Pastor Rich reflects on Jesus' Sermon on the Plain.
Exhausted after a night of fishing and coming up empty, Peter and his partners were ashore, cleaning their nets and looking forward to a good night's sleep. After preaching to a crowd by the lakeshore, Jesus told Peter to sail to deep waters and put out those newly cleaned nets. Against his better judgment, since he and his companions had fished all night and come up empty, Peter did as Jesus suggested and hauled in a miraculously abundant catch. Awed and afraid in the presence of the Holy, Peter acknowledges his sinfulness. "Do not be afraid," Jesus told him, "from now on, you will be fishing for men," At once, Peter left everything to follow Jesus. Jesus calls us, as he called Peter, to leave worldliness behind, follow Him, and go fishing!
Pastor Rich, with help from Rabbi Paul Kurland, reflects on the call of Isaiah. What does God mean when he tells Isaiah that he is going to a people who "hear but do not understand and see but do not perceive?" Does God harden our hearts, or does our hardness of heart deafen us to God's word? Learn about that and more in this episode of Fatih Unscripted.
Jesus' sermon in Nazareth enraged the congregation. How could he possibly suggest that God cared about outsiders when the Jews were God's chosen people? Jesus challenges his disciples, then and now, let go of all preconceptions and prejudices and to follow God's love to whatever surprising places it might lead us,
Pastor Rich reflects on the importance of being present in the moment. Now is the only time in which we live. The past is a memory; the future is a possibility. Now is the moment of life; it is "grace-filled time." Therefore, it's crucial to live aware of its beauty and its potential.
Jesus' opens the scroll of Isaiah and reads "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me for he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor ..." Jesus' mission is filled with the spirit, anointed with the spirit. led by the spirit, and it is a mission to lift up the downcast, and to proclaim God's favor. Jesus continues this mission through the church, through US. What does his mission statement mean to us? Well, it's our mission too, isn't it, if we are to be his disciples (his students). Learn more in this week's sermon from Clarkstown Reformed Church.
A healing prayer - and openness to God in prayer are just some of the subjects discussed on today's episode of Faith Unscripted.
The Sabbath is a day spent in heaven, or so our Jewish brothers and sisters believe. Pastor Rich's guest today, Rabbi BenZion Klatzko, shares the Orthodox Jewish traditions of Sabbath-keeping and shows us all a way to deepen our relationship with God, with our families, and with others.
When Jesus and his mother attended a wedding in Cana of Galilee (John 2), Mary spotted a problem: the bride and groom ran out of wine during the celebration - an embarrassing faux pas. So Mary went to Jesus and said: "they have no wine." She didn't tell him what to do, but she trusted that he would address the problem somehow. Here we see Mary as a model of the church at prayer. What can we learn from this story? Pastor Rich addresses all this and more in this episode of Faith Unscripted. We hope it will bless you.
Luke's Gospel tells us that John the Baptist, the great prophetic voice preparing the way for the Lord, yet he was just the preliminary act of God's great revelatory moment when the Word who became flesh would walk among us. John knows who he is - the one who prepares the way for one mightier than himself. Yet when Jesus comes, he comes humbly, as one of the throngs of people being baptized in the Jordan. In doing so he reveals the nature of God to us, and he reveals to us who we are meant to be. Pastor Rich reflects on Luke 3:15-19.
God's cherished gifts to us: the incarnation, revelation in the Old and New Testaments, the three theological virtues (Faith, Hope, and Charity), the four Gospels, The five books of the Torah, the six days of creation - each could be a meditation in itself. Today's program further explores the gifts of God to believers. All that and listener phone calls too on today's Faith Unscripted show. Enjoy!
In the Prologue (John 1:1-18), the evangelist gives us his version of Jesus' origins. Matthew and Luke tell of his infancy; John speaks of Jesus as the Eternal Word with God "in the beginning." To know who WE are, we must first know who Jesus is. He shows us the potential of our humanity and invites us to be what we were created to be: image-bearers of God.
Ever wonder what the song The Twelve Days of Christmas means? Why would anyone give a partridge in a pear tree as a Christmas present? And seven swimming swans - who would even want that? But there's a deeper meaning, and we begin to explore it in this episode of Faith Unscripted, along with taking some interesting listener calls and questions.
Long before little Kevin McAllister was left home alone in Chicago by his family, which was rushing to catch a plane and, well, just forgot him, Jesus was "home alone" in Jerusalem in His father's house. While Jesus didn't have to fend off the "Wet Bandits" or worry about a frightening old next-door neighbor, He did engage with the teachers in the Temple. He explained himself to a worried Mary and Joseph, who returned to Jerusalem when they realized their son wasn't with them or their relatives in the caravan home to Nazareth. So why was it "necessary" for Jesus to be in his Father's house? What does this story teach us about our own walk with God? And where is OUR Father's house? This is a reflection on Luke 2:41-52.
What is the REAL meaning of Christmas? Is it lost amid all the shopping and decorating and wrapping and partying? That's what Charlie Brown sets out to discover in the 1965 special, Charlie Brown's Christmas. The secret, he finds out, is in the story told by Luke about shepherds visited by angels singing Glory to God and Peace on Earth. The angels are still singing, and we still need to hear them. Enjoy the Christmas Message at Clarkstown Reformed Chuirch.
John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea during the reign of Tiberius (in Rome), while Caiaphas was the High Priest in Jerusalem. His message was simple - repent and be ready. That same message applies to us today as we celebrate the birth of Jesus and wait for his return.
How an illiterate teenage girl in a remote province of the Roman Empire changed the world and became, forever, the "Blessed Mother." Mary is an image of the Church and of all of the faithful who are invited to give birth to the Lord, daily, in our lives and world.
Shelton Becton grew up in the Carolinas, the child of a farmer/pastor. He grew up in the church, and his first love was the music of faith. That faith has formed his life and his life's journey. Enjoy this fascinating interview with a giant in the music world who has walked with Christ for his whole life.
Advent is a time of waiting and remembering. We remember the birth, in Bethlehem, of the long awaited Messiah, and we wait for His return in Glory. What will that return look like. Do we see any signs of Him coming as He has promised to come. This episode discusses all these topics.
In today's episode, Pastor Rich discusses Advent: a time to look back to the time of the birth of the Messiah as we look forward to His return in glory to usher in a new Heaven and a new earth. In the mean time we wait for his coming every day in the Spirit.
Rabbi Hirshel Jaffe is a five-time cancer survivor who has completed the NYC Marathon. He was part of the delegation of clergy who visited the hostages in Iran in 1980, and he was on hand at the White House to welcome them home in 1981. Rabbi Jaffe was honored by President Reagan as an American hero. In today's broadcast, he talks with Pastor Rich about hope and the importance of spirituality, prayer, and helping others. Pastor Rich also talks about Advent, a season of hope and expectation.
In Luke 21:25-36 Jesus speaks to his disciples about difficult times ahead. The temple, sign of the majesty of the God of Israel and of the Jewish people, will be tterly destroyed, and the world itself will end with portentous signs in the heavens and frightening events on earth. When that happens Jesus says we should not fear, rather sand up, lift our eyes and know that our redemption is near. As we remember Jesus' coming in history in Bethlehem, we look forward to his return to complete the work of redemption and usher in God's complete victory. While we wait, though, God still comes to us every day - so keep watchful and don't despair.
This week we celebrate Thanksgiving and it's important to remember to whom we must, first and foremost, give thanks. The psalmist says "give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his mercy is everlasting." And so it is. Give thanks for everything - absolutely everything - each day and I guarantee you'll be so much happier. Give thanks to people too - the ones who help you, serve you, love you ... This year make a resolution to live a year of gratitude. Finally true thanksgiving means not only saying thanks, but doing acts of kindness and generosity for others. Let's make this the best Thanksgiving ever. Today's special guests are Rabbi Paul Kurland and Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoelmann.
When Jesus stands before Pilate to be judged on trumped up charges of sedition (John 18: 33-38) we see the confrontation of two kingdoms: The kingdom of this world (the cosmos), and the kingdom of God. One is ruled over by those who seek to control by force and intimidation, the other seeks to transform through loving kindness. One is a kingdom of lies, the other of the Truth. We must choose between these two realms - and we must choose NOW. Who will reign in our hearts, and in our lives? It's up to you ... Choose wisely
Yesterday evening Pastor Rich attended a lecture and exposition of relics curated by Father Carlos Martins. The presentation, held at the Marian Center in Stony Point, NY, featured a talk by Father Martins, last week's guest on Faith Unscripted, followed by time to be in the presence of the relics Father brought from the Vatican. Almost 500 people came to listen to the lecture and see the relics. They came for various reasons, but all came looking to somehow connect to the Holiness of God. What can we do to allow God to act in our lives - that is part of the Pastor's reflection: to enable God to room in our lives to work, we must live grateful lives, worship in a faith community, know our sinfulness and confess it, turn back to God, and, Most IMportantly, FORGIVE! I hope you enjoy the show.
Beginning what is sometimes called the "little apocalypse," Jesus tells his amazed disciples that the mighty Temple of Herod, which was a wonder of the ancient world, would one day be destroyed with "not stone resting upon another." What is the Lord telling his disciples? What is he telling us? Pastor Rich reflects on this passage in his sermon entitled "Birthpangs."
Beware, Jesus tells us, of hypocrisy - doing the right thing, but for the wrong reasons (such as self-aggrandizement or honor in the eyes of others). Do not prey on the weak and vulnerable, rather care for them as you can. Generosity means using what we have in the service of those who may be in need. Jesus asks us to have compassionate hearts and to ACT compassionately.
Pastor Rich interviews Fr. Carlos Martin, the curator of relics at the Vatican, who is currently taking an exhibit of over 150 relics on a tour of the United States. Fr. Martin explains what relics are, the scriptural basis for using them as part of one's spiritual life, the connection between relics, the holy ones of every age, and the healing power of God. A fascinating exploration of a not well-known aspect of Christian spiritality.
Jesus' disciples James and John want to share in the Lord's majesty when he becomes King of the Jews. Jesus teaches them that genuine greatness requires a willingness to be "the slave of all." What is the difference between those who would command, and those who genuinely lead? Pastor Rich reflects on true Christian greatness and genuine Christian leadership.
On Election Day Christians have an obligation to pray that God's will be done, to know the issues and the candidates well eanough to make a good choice, and we must act consistent with our Biblical faith by voting for candidates and on issues carefully and prayerful. Pastor Rich also discussed Rev. David Jeremias' new book, Where Do We Go From Here, The book is a brilliant discussion of the evil of Marxism and the Scientific Socialism that Marx' theories spawned. We must be careful today as Marxism makes inroads into our society through movements like the "cancel culture," alienation of parents from having influence in the education of their children, "gender fluidity," and hostility to people of faith and their engagement in the public square.
Pastor Rich discusses the relationship between faith and other disciplines in our increasingly diverse and pluralistic world. And in an age where things seem to be coming unglued, Pastor discusses how God DOES act powerfullly in our world, and the importane of repentance and turning back to God in our (and every) age.
Halloween has become all about ghosts and goblins and witches and the like, but in its origins, it was a holy day in its own right - the eve of the feast of all saints. So it is worth remembering the sacred origins of Halloween and how it is connected to the Saints who have gone before us - our mothers, fathers, grandparents, and beloved friends who have gone before us in death and are now numbered among the saints!
Love does, and our faith in the God who IS love invites us to love actively and generously. In this episoce we talk about what looks like.
When the young man comes to Jesus at a crossroads in his life, seeking direction, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus gives him a clear and loving response: keep the commandments, sell what you have, give to the poor, and then follow me on the Way. The young man went away despondent; he was wealthy and couldn't give up his riches; he was clinging to this world. What about us?
What does the Book of Revelation teach us about what is happening NOW? The purpose of the book is to give us hope for the future - no matter how bad it looks, Jesus wins in the end, and we who are faithful to him and his Way will win with him. But the book also tells us what we need to do in the meantime while we wait for the end-time. That's what the letters to the seven churches tell us - they speak of what we must do, as people of faith, while we wait for the return of the King.
A reflection on Jesus' teaching on divorce and faithfulness to covenant in Mark 10: 1-16. Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? Jesus points us to the creation story in Genesis and God's plan for His creation to multiply, fill the earth and subdue it. What can we learn from His teaching? Listen and learn ...
As we wait for the end times, what do we do in the meantime? In the second show on the theme of the Book of Revelation, Pastor Rich discusses the importance for Christians to live into their discipleship. What does the message of Jesus to the 7 churches of Asia Minor mean for churches today. We begin to explore these questions in this broadcastn
How do we welcome strangers? Are we open to them, or do we fear and become suspicious when the "other" enters our world. If we do the latter we are not unlike Jesus' disciples who wanted to stop a stranger casting out demons in Christ's name because "he isn't one of us." Jesus' message, to them and to us, is clear. Those not against the Lord are for him - and we must be grateful for the smallest thing done by others in the name of Christ.
Are we in "end times?" Lots of people think so, but what does the Bible say? Today we discuss the last book of the New Testament, the Book of Revelation. What does it tell us about what's happening now, what will happen in the future/end times, and why we should have confidence in The One who Is, Who Was, and Who Is to come. This is the first in a series on Revelation and what we can learn from it today.