Daniel's "Secret Sauce"

2.16.25

Ron Loge

Let’s pray together:

Jesus “You are the vine; we are the branches.”  Lord, help all of us here today remain connected to You, finding inspiration, guidance, and strength in Your Word and divine presence. Amen.

Today when you look around this sanctuary, there's a big elephant in the room, and we’d like to pretend it’s not here.  Big elephants make us uncomfortable. Big elephants are obvious to everyone, but we avoid talking about them.  Before we do talk about the Big E, let me deflect any discomfort with some old elephant-based humor.

Back when I was a kid elephant jokes were popular.  They were usually silly and often didn't make a lot of sense. For example, going back to my 4th grade humor,  here's one: How do you know there's an elephant sitting on the pew next to you in church? You can smell the peanuts on its breath. Bad – huh?  Or, why did the elephant take up the saxophone? It got tired of trumpeting.  Worse?

So, let's move away from juvenile humor and face the elephant in the room which is, namely, Pastor Triller is no longer here and we are on our own and today I am in this pulpit instead.

So, to confront the elephant this morning, I want to explore three main points :  #1- Our feelings and emotions about this transition time, #2 – A deep dive into Pastor Daniel’s Secret Sauce recipe, that’s right – Secret Sauce, and #3 - How the scriptures can guide us in this time of change.

So how are you feeling?  What emotions have you experienced since we learned of our beloved Pastor’s new call? 

I’d like to address this topic head-on since it touches our hearts deeply. While change is a natural part of life, we usually don’t like it because it often brings about a whirlwind of emotions that can leave us feeling unsettled. Together, we will navigate this journey of emotions, seeking understanding, comfort, and hope.When a pastor leaves, it can feel akin to losing a family member. Pastors play a crucial role in our spiritual and personal lives, guiding us through challenges, celebrating our joys, and walking alongside us in faith. Their absence can create what feels like an abyss that is difficult to fill.

Let’s take a moment to reflect on some of the common emotions we may have experienced during these last 2 months.One of the most immediate feelings we may have felt was grief. Grief is a natural response to loss, and with the departure of a pastor we may mourn.  We may feel sadness over the loss of his leadership, sermons, and personal connection with us. This grief can manifest in various ways - tears, a sense of emptiness, or even anger or a perception of abandonment. Have you experienced those?Are you feeling confusion or uncertainty or even fear ?  We may question what the future holds for our own spiritual growth and that of our church community. The unknown is hard to deal with.

Will we find a new pastor who can fill those big shoes?  How will this transition affect our on-going ministries and relationships?  Your session has been meeting often and has had to quickly acknowledge and confront these questions and feelings, too.  It’s important to understand that we all feel these emotions.

But like the eastern concept of the Yin and Yang, change can bring about new opportunities. While we may mourn the loss of our pastor, we can also look forward with anticipation and hope.  As we embrace the future, we can trust that God has a plan for our church, one that may involve new visions, fresh ideas, and continued energy.  We can lean into God’s promises and trust that He is working all things together for our good.

 Let’s reflect back on what has happened in the last six years with Pastor Triller leading us in our faith journeys.  How was it that over the last six years this church seemed to grow in numbers, in enthusiasm for God’s word, in love, and in faith?In other words -   Have you ever wondered, “what was Daniel’s Secret Sauce?” 

First of all, what is a secret sauce.  It's that special something—typically a quality, ability, or practice—that makes a person or thing or a food distinctive. Despite the name, 'secret sauce' is rarely a secret.  Let’s do a culinary dive into Daniel’s Secret Sauce.

What's it that he was so good at remembering people's names? Often astonishing!  Think of the Children’s message time - all the kids coming up front and he could name every single one of them as they sat down beside him.  He could remember your families members’ names whenever they came to visit.  He remembered your name after the first time you met.

Being called by name makes one feel good, special and significant.  He made us all feel special.

Was this the Secret Sauce?  No, but it was a delectable ingredient in the recipe.

Was his Secret Sauce his organizational skills ? His clear sermons, the flow of worship, the many activities of the weeks and seasons?  That was all great – essential ingredients -  but that wasn't the whole sauce.

Was it that he held us in suspense? Every Sunday we would come to church wondering whether he was clean-shaven or had a three-week beard. That added spice but it was not the sauce.

Was that his humility?  For example, his self-deprecating humor about being a benchwarmer on a losing high school football team? No, that was a secret he shared, but not the sauce.

Was  it his ability to communicate well with all age groups?  No,  but it was an important savory component that added a lot of flavor to the recipe.

Was it his even-handedness?  How he managed the delicate balance of worshiping through the time of the COVID pandemic while other churches struggled with political and polarization pressures? Was that it?  No, but that did impart a robust texture to the recipe.

The fact that he and Callie displayed the Fruits of the Spirit in their lives was a key ingredient of the Secret Sauce recipe that added sweetness – but it was not the whole salsa.

Was it that he leaned into love, frequently reminding us to reach out in Christ’s love to the weak, ill, immigrant, poor, and hungry.  This was the salt that the secret sauce brought out the true flavor.

Other contenders for the Secret Sauce included his ability to gently push our comfort zones, or how he was there with us in sickness, wellness, celebration and grief. These were all parts of his recipe, but what, then, was Daniel’s Secret Sauce? Think about it. We come here spiritually hungry.  Where do we find our nourishment?  What really was in his recipe that gives us sustenence?

Let’s take the lid off the kettle and get a taste.

His walk with Jesus was real.  As a disciple he lived and walked the way of Jeus. The Holy Spirit lived in him. He preached the gospel no matter whether the text came from Daniel or Ecclesiastes or Job or Philemon.  He always came back to the message of Jesus.  Talk about the best Secret Sauce.  Jesus was Daniel’s Secret Sauce. 

We came hungry and he fed us the words of Jesus, the message of love. Of atonement. Of salvation through faith. I believe many or most of you developed a closer relationship to Jesus because of Pastor Triller.  I will personally attest to that.  I suspect many of you will agree that you have become better disciples of Jesus.

So, after all this,  this sermon is not about Pastor Triller.  It is about his Secret Sauce.  The Secret Sauce that can be ours. Walking with Jesus, Living in the Holy Spirit. We grew spiritually – individually and as a body.  He equipped us to go forward in our faith journey together – now, even after he has left. 

Because of that,  I believe we better understand our church’s vision statement:  “To be a family of faith becoming transformed in the love of Jesus Christ.”  That remains our vision as we begin the search for a new pastor. I think that calls for praise and gratitude. Amen?

Pastor Daniel acknowledged this vision when he announced his call to Ellensburg WA.  He wrote to us invoking scripture quoting Paul in 2nd Thessalonians 1: 3.  This was also Daniel’s message to us:  “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so because your faith is growing more and more and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.”

This verse provides deep insight into the Christian community and the essential virtues of faith and love. To fully grasp the significance of this verse, we must understand its context.

Paul wrote this letter to the Thessalonian church to encourage them amid persecution and trials. The early Christians faced immense challenges, yet their faith remained steadfast. Paul commends them for their unwavering commitment to Christ and their growing love for one another.In our own lives, we often encounter trials that test our faith, and this, right now, may be one. It is easy to become discouraged or to lose sight of blessings amidst our struggles. However, Paul’s words remind us that gratitude can transform our perspective, allowing us to see God’s hand at work even in difficult times.

We saw God’s hand at work last week during the first service on our own with Barb and John Davis and the vibrant God’s Kids leading us in worship.

As we express gratitude for Pastor Triller’s past service and gratitude for one another, we create a culture of love within our church. This culture encourages us to support and uplift each other, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and included.

Every day, we experience God’s grace and mercy, yet we often take these for granted. By cultivating a habit of thankfulness, we deepen our relationship with God and recognize His presence in our daily lives. 

Paul notes that the faith of the Thessalonians was “growing abundantly.” This phrase is significant; it suggests that their faith was not static but dynamic. Real faith is alive, nurtured by God’s grace and our response to His Word.  It’s Christ’s presence within us: The Secret Sauce! As we meditate on our faith, we should ask ourselves: How am I growing in my faith? Am I allowing God’s Word to transform my mind and heart? 

Faith, like any living organism, requires nurturing.  Pastor Daniel, like Paul, knew that growth requires intentionality—engaging with scripture, participating regularly in worship, and being in fellowship with other believers, which we will continue steadfastly as we go through the process of the search for a new pastor.

Paul also highlights the increasing love among the Thessalonian believers. As Christians, we are called to love unconditionally, mirroring the love that God has for us. This love is active; it seeks the well-being of others, no matter how different, and often requires sacrifice. In today’s world, where division and strife can easily take root, the call to love one another becomes even more crucial.  Our love can be a beacon of hope and unity.

As we navigate our emotions or uncertainty, let us commit to be Prayer Warriors, praying for one another.  Prayer is a powerful tool for healing and comfort. We can lift our grief, confusion, and fears to God, asking for His guidance and peace.

Additionally, offering support to one another, whether through listening, encouraging words, or practical help, can strengthen our bonds as a church family.

A perfect example is this card I received in the mail this week from one of you expressing their gratitude and love – straight out of Thessalonians - that was an energizer!We can support each other through offering our time, talents and treasures.

Here is the good news, Jesus gave us an instruction manual. I am going to approach the same text from John 14 that Pastor Triller used three weeks ago, but from a little different angle.

We are by no means the first community of believers who has had to say goodbye to their pastor and teacher. Think of the upper room, the site of the Passover meal with Jesus and his disciples.  Jesus promised his disciples that he would not leave them alone.

 After Jesus washed his disciples feet, Jesus began by saying “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

Imagine the shuddering, confusion and fear the disciples felt at this announcement.  Their lives centered on Jesus, his wisdom, his friendship, his constant presence. They felt secure and hopeful, felt spiritual growth and were loved unconditionally.”  Then he told them, “I am going away.”  These men would have to face life without this trusted companion.  The disciples put all they had in the Jesus basket.  But then Jesus startled them again when he said,  “Very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I'm going away.”

How could that possibly be?  Jesus clarified, “Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come, but if I go, I will send Him to you.”   Now the disciples must have been baffled, “Who is this Advocate who is supposed to be with us when Jesus is gone?” “What’s His job description? “

We can get a grasp of the meaning of what Jesus was telling them if we look at the original text of John. The word for Advocate in Greek was paraclete.  The word paraclete is a difficult translation from this old Greek into modern English.  If you explore various translations of the Bible, you will find the following words to express what Jesus when he said advocate:  counselor, friend, comforter, helper, strengthener, intercessor, someone to stand by.

In other words, the job description of the Advocate or Holy Spirit is to help us pray, to speak to our heart, to teach, and to be our speed dial to God, The Father.

By sending the Holy Spirit Jesus fulfilled his promise from Matthew 28: 20 – “ And surely, I am with you always.”  He is with us always through the Holy Spirit.With the help of the Advocate we reflect the heart of Christ and become a living testimony of His grace in the world.

So in time of transition with each and every day ahead, may our lives radiate gratitude, faith, and love.  As Jesus told his disciples when he promised the Holy Spirit, “You will do greater works than these.”May we, too, do greater works and in doing so be a shining example of Christ’s love in our troubled world.  Today, right now, open yourselves to the presence of the Holy Spirit and be filled with the special Secret Sauce only Jesus can provide.

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your unwavering presence in our lives. As we navigate the emotions that come with the departure of our pastor, we ask for the Holy Spirit to give us comfort, guidance, and peace, trusting in Your plan for our church. May we welcome the new Pastor You send to us with open hearts and a spirit of collaboration. We place our hopes and fears in Your hands, knowing that You are working all things together for our good  Help us grow in our faith and to increase our love for one another so that in doing so, we reflect the heart of Christ and become a living testimony of His grace in the world.  May we be filled with Your Secret Sauce. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.