I wonder why those words of this Sunday's Scripture readings stood out for me?
Could it be because I'm going on a vacation tomorrow?! My wife and I are looking forward to spending some time traveling to see three of my siblings, and then a few days at Lake Geneva :) The places we're going will not really be "a deserted place". I'm sure I'll be talking and listening a lot as we share updates with our relatives. And I haven't been to Lake Geneva yet, but from what I hear, no one is describing it as "a deserted place". Nevertheless, I know that Sandra and I will have plenty of time with just each other, as we take walks together around the lake, and enjoy some good food and drinks, read some good books, and celebrate 40 years of marriage (almost...8/12/84) We all need times of rest and recreation. Whether it is a vacation, weekend, a day off, or even a good night's sleep....our bodies, minds and souls, need to occasionally rest and be restored. The Scriptures teach us this important lesson: from the creation account that ends with "God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done" (Genesis 2:2), to the Sabbath day that God sets up for us in Exodus 20, to the Lord as our Shepherd, restoring our souls, and leading his disciples to a quiet place for rest, to Jesus' words in Matthew 11:28, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and i will give you rest." Did you catch a common denominator in those readings of Scripture? God is present and active in all of them. And so God is the source of our rest and restoration. Be assured: I won't leave God when I go on this vacation. (And neither will you when you take any time off). For our Lord and Savior will be with us always! With His grace and love and comfort and hope and peace that He will always be giving. (I just won't be preparing blogs, devotions, book studies, sermons, etc. for a few days :) God's peace, Pastor Steve
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If Jesus had "powers at work in Him", then why didn't he use those powers to keep John the Baptizer from being killed by Herod? Oh, but we can ask all kinds of similar questions: why did God allow all the violence and murders of men, women, and children all down through history, including the history recorded in the Scriptures? Why does God allow children to be harmed? Why does God not stop so many people from being exploited, and killed by those who commit heinous crimes against all kinds of people? Why doesn't he immediately answer my prayers for those who are ill or injured or grieving?
It seems to contradict what we are told, that God is love and mercy and all-powerful! So how do we answer these questions? Let's start by quoting Scripture: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways highter than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9) And so just as a young child doesn't know why a parent does all that they do, so we cannot begin to understand all of God's ways. Here's another way of answering these difficult questions. God does not approve of all that happens, including in the accounts of Scripture. He obviously allows it, but he certainly doesn't want anyone to sin or to harm others or themselves. Yet God does have a plan that answers all the pain and grief that comes upon people and our world. Jesus is God's plan for solving all the world's problems and violence and suffering and grief. First, Jesus answers all our pain and suffering by walking with us through whatever we face in this life. For He too suffered and died and faced all the sin and suffering and death that is in this world. And most importantly, in Jesus' life, death and resurrection, we all are given eternal salvation! Meaning we have comfort and hope in all that we face in life. I realize that that may not help you in the immediate situation that you find yourself in. None of us wants to experience pain and suffering and death. But may each of us draw comfort and hope in knowing that we are not alone. Our Savior, and His Church will be with us through whatever we experience. And there always will be a reason for hope, as we know that at the end of every tunnel is the smiling face and warm welcome of our Savior. (In fact, He's with us right now and always). God Bless, Pastor Steve Jesus spoke these words about the people from his hometown. They were questioning, doubting, and taking offense at Jesus' teachings and actions. They didn't believe in Him. They didn't believe Jesus had the authority to teach and perform miracles by God's power. And so we hear these words that we never want to hear about ourselves: "He was amazed at their unbelief".
Faith. Belief. Trust. These words can be defined as a three-part process: a. receiving information b. acknowledging the information as truth c. relying on that truth For example, a child is told that the piece of furniture in their house is a chair. She/he learns and sees that the chair is strong enough to hold people when they sit on the chair. And the child trusts this enough to sit on the chair. Here's the thing about faith. It is the way that each of us receives information and truth. It doesn't change the reality of what we trust in. I mean, that chair is there whether a child believes it or not. So with God. He is Creator, Savior and Lord, whether anyone believes it or not. I think of faith in this way: suppose a friend decides to give you a gift. He may surprise you and just give it to you without any prior knowledge. Or, he may tell you, "I have a gift for you. And next week I will come to your house and give it to you." Faith is knowing about the gift ahead of time. Some people like to know of a gift ahead of time. Others like surprises. So consider the advantages of knowing about a gift ahead of time. You may enjoy the anticipation of wondering what the gift will be. You may want to prepare for the gift, especially if you know something about it (like when your friend says, "you will really enjoy this gift on your next vacation!" And you consider what it may be: a new fishing rod, a reservation at a favorite restaurant, etc.). So you will be happy and tell others about this gift that you are expecting from your friend. Or think of faith in this way: as a child asks for lunch, or for a bandage when hurt, or for a hug when sad, etc. Yet the parent will do all Of those things anyway, because the parent loves and will care for their child. So faith is asking, as God already has and will Continue to give and bless us. So you and I know that God loves us. That he has wonderful plans for us, as we have God with us always. And he promises to equip us with all we need to follow Him. He even promises us eternal life with him! So we tell our family and friends and neighbors. And we look forward to all that God promises to give! Keep in mind: God loves ALL people. He loves you even if you don't know or believe it. He will be watching over you and caring for you and with you always, no matter what! But it sure is good to know this. So let's tell the world! About God's gift of salvation!! God Bless, Pastor Steve Of all the things that people want, at the top of the list for most of us would be good health. Indeed, to have and do any of the other things that people want, a person first needs to have good health.
And so when the Psalmist prays for his health to be restored, we all can appreciate such a prayer. But now how does God answer such prayers? As we see in this Sunday's Gospel reading, sometimes the Lord heals with just a touch (as we see in the woman who touches Jesus and is healed in Mark 5). Sometimes with Jesus' words, a person is healed and even raised from the dead (as we see in the little girl raised with the words, "Little girl, get up".) The problem is, Jesus doesn't promise that that will ALWAYS happen. We no longer can touch Jesus' clothes (as the woman in Mark 5 did). And while Jesus spoke the words to raise the little girl, He doesn't do that anymore; at least not yet. Oh the day will come when all people will be raised and given glorified bodies without any illnesses. As the Scriptures describe heaven, it includes no more tears, death or pain (Revelation 21:4) But what about in between the times when Jesus walked the earth with His healing ministry, and when the glorified Christ will receive us into the eternal life prepared for us? That's where you and I are now. Here's what we can do now: First, we certainly can pray for healing, and even for resurrections. And keep in mind: while God is all-powerful and do anything He wants to do, He is also sovereign and has the authority to heal right now, or to wait, or to work through other means. And so just as a parent of a young child may not give what a child asks for, or not as soon as she/he wants it, so God answers our prayers in various ways. I know of people healed immediately, in later weeks, months, years, and for some, the healing comes after death, when given a heavenly body. God also most often is working through the body of Christ: through the people in whom He chooses to work. Like doctors, medical science, social workers, police, teachers, the church, etc. And so you and I become the means through which God brings healing and new life to people. I am not able to cure a person of cancer. But I can support the cancer society that is working to do so. I am not able to raise the dead, but I can save loves through the protection and care and help that I can provide through all kinds of agencies and actions and words. So let us trust in the God who created all of us and all things, and who knows us better than anyone else! Let us trust in the God who so dearly loves each and every one of us that He sent us His Son to redeem us all. And let us trust in the God who heals, raises the dead, and ultimately will restore us all to perfect health and an eternal life with Him! God Bless, Pastor Steve In this Sunday's Gospel reading, Jesus teaches us to "Love God,,,and your neighbor as yourself." And then Jesus is asked this question. "And who is my neighbor?"
Jesus answers by telling the story of the Good Samaritan, who helps the man who was robbed and beaten up, in need of care. And so Jesus answers the question by leading each of us to help those in need. This week we are reminded of many opportunities to be a good neighbor who helps those in need. Tomorrow is Juneteenth, a federal holiday in the US, commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. It was on June 19, 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the American Civil War. But there is a lot of work yet to do in our country, as we continue to see racism in our nation. And exploitation (defined as "treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work") is a problem across our nation and world, including sexual, labour, domestic and other forms of exploitation. Marginalized people continue to struggle in our society, due to their race, sexual orientation, social-economic status, disabilities, and for other reasons. Perhaps it is best to sum up all of these groups of people, as those in need, those hurting, and those whom we can help. So how can we help? How do we love our neighbor? Our faith and life in Christ is a wonderful source of love for all people. Jesus came to be Savior of the world. He died for all. And now He lives in and through each of us as we bring God's love to one another. In fact, our Savior is also in those who need our help. As He tells us in Matthew 25:40, "just as you did it to one of these (who are hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick, in prison, etc.) you did it to me." May we see the needs of our neighbors! And may we use the resources we have to help others in need. In so doing, we will be loving God and our neighbors. God Bless, Pastor Steve A mustard seed was believed to be the smallest of all the seeds, and in the days of this writing of Mark 4, it was the smallest seed used by Palestinian farmers. Yet this very small seed grew to a mustard shrub that could have a height of 10 feet!
This tiny seed that grows into a large plant is used by Jesus to illustrate the growth of God's kingdom. Small beginnings, yet great endings! Consider the people and things that start out small and insignificant, and end up having a powerful impact on people and nations! The birth of famous people like J. S. Bach, Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Jesus of Nazareth! The wars won that changed the future of nations, such as WWII, and others. The invention of electricity, all kinds of transportation, and so many other scientific discoveries. All these things began with one person, or one event, or one idea. And certainly the greatest example of small beginnings with great endings is that of God's Kingdom, beginning in the birth of the Baby Jesus, and in faith. And ending in the eternal life celebrated in heaven by all of God's redeemed! Of course, the ultimate beginning of everything is God. And He is not something small! Yet He chooses to work in small, insignificant people and ways. And it leads to huge and powerful results. Like the word of God that created the world. The birth of a baby that became Savior of all. The waters of baptism that brings the Holy Spirit and saving faith. And God continues to create and grow His kingdom in what appears to be small and insignificant ways. LIke in a word you or I say and it leads to faith and love in others. Or an action that leads to comfort and hope given to many. Or sharing resources that combine to help in so many ways. May you and I be "like a mustard seed" in all the ways that we can serve in God's Kingdom. And in all of it, God will be at work! Just as He makes a small seed grow into a large plant! So may God accomplish His grace and love in each of us. God Bless, Pastor Steve This Sunday's Gospel Reading includes these words, spoken by people about Jesus! Some people thought He was possessed by a demon.
Jesus didn't say and do things as people expected. Hmm.. That sounds a little like the 8 words that we often hear in churches, "We have never done it that way before!" Over the years, I've seen and heard a lot of things from different people in the several churches where I've been a member, and served as pastor. And honestly, I've learned a lot! People can do things differently and sometimes it is better than the ways we have done. I think many of us will agree that we all get into habits and ways that can be improved. And sometimes we need to be challenged to change our ways! Yes, I said that word: "change"! I am certainly an example of change. Many of you know my story of the big change I made just 6 years ago. Changes that include my denomination, theology, and inclusion of a community of people that I honestly didn't know much about at all! So if I can do that, then each of us can look at what we're believing and doing, and be at least open to change! And that means that you and I may not do things as other people do them. Or we may not see people as others do. Just as Jesus did. As a favorite preacher and author of mine (Michael Curry, former Bishop of the Episcopal Church) writes in his book, "Crazy Christians", "What the Church needs, what this world needs, are some Christians who are as crazy as the Lord. Crazy enough to love like Jesus, to give like Jesus, to forgive like Jesus, to do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God--like Jesus." (p. 3) And so I invite you to be crazy! And we'll be in good company: with our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ! Blessings, Pastor Steve "Sing with joy to God our strength and raise a loud shout to the God of Jacob" (Psalm 81:1)5/28/2024 A popular theme in comedy is a drawing of aliens watching human activity, things that they have never seen us do. And they don't understand what and why we are doing all kinds of things.
So what would aliens say when they first saw a congregation at a worship service? Think about it: everyone sitting in rows, facing a big box, with candles, a cross, and a person standing in front of them, often with a robe and a colorful strip of cloth around her/his neck, as they talk to one another, with a 10-15 minute speech somewhere in the middle. And then the people stand, and then sit back down, and then stand, etc. And they talk while they close their eyes, sometimes bowing their heads, or raising their heads, and maybe even their hands, and singing! What is that? Why? And to whom and why are they doing all of this? A favorite Christian comedian of mine is Tim Hawkins. And he has a funny piece on people raising hands during a worship service. Check it out some time! What are we doing, and why are we doing what we do in a worship service? I have books explaining each part of a worship service. And what each action and symbol in a sanctuary means. But of course the books I have mostly are all about Lutheran worship. Believe it or not, there are other ways to worship, in other churches (like 40,000 different denominations!) And I'm not going to criticize any of them. Rather, let's look again at the words of the Psalm: "Sing with joy to God our strength and raise a loud shout to the God of Jacob" However you can or want to do so! And don't give me the excuse, "I can't sing". In Psalm 100:1 it says, "Make a joyful noise". Whatever that means for you! God is our strength! He is the God of Jacob, the God of History, of all of God's people. And He gives us joy! Joy in the salvation that God freely gives by His grace and love in Jesus our Savior! So who cares what aliens think! Or anyone else. As we worship and praise and thank God for all He is and all He has given to us! However you or I or anyone else does it. God sees, and God hears, and God loves us all. Blessings, Pastor Steve Recently I heard someone in their 20’s tell me that most of his friends, even with partners and spouses, do NOT want children. What a contrast that is from my experience when I was at that age.
I remember dating a woman who was one of 11 children, and while dating her, she became one of 12! And if I recall correctly, most of my friends all wanted children (though maybe a few less than 12 :) My parents tell the story that in my Dad's proposal to Mom he hoped for 17 children. And Mom still said yes!! (though they only had 8 children, including twins that were still born, and my younger sister that was adopted). I remember meeting a person once who was mother to 16 children. And when I asked her to name them, she named off 14, and then said, “Oh wait! I forgot…(and named the other two ) That's quite different from those who do not want any children! And w e could go in several directions on this, pointing out probable reasons for why or why not to have children. But here’s the point I’d like us to consider for a few moments: community. Merriam-webster defines “Community” as “a unified body of individuals; people with common interests living in a particular area; a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society” The most obvious example of community is a family. But perhaps more people are now looking for community beyond a family of parents and children, I’m sure we can come up with all kinds of communities. And it won’t come as a surprise that I’d look to the church as community :) The Scripture readings for this Sunday all include community: Isaiah 6 showing the Lord on His throne surrounded by angels singing praise to God, and Isaiah is brought into this glorious community, and then sent out to bring in others. Romans 8 The Triune God adopts us as “children of God”, making us joint heirs with Christ! John 3 begins with a conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus (a community of two) and ends with Jesus as Savior of the world. And so the community of ALL people whom God loves and by His extravagant grace does not condemn, but comes to save all the world. So no matter whether you have a family of one, two, or 16, we ALL are a part of the family of God! We see this at Resurrection in our inclusion of all and love for one another. And this community of people whom God loves and includes in His grace and salvation reaches beyond the walls of RLC! I so appreciated Matt Short’s words at the Assembly, “I am Asst. to the Bishop for Evangelical Mission. And those last two words means “Good News, including more than just us”. And this Sunday’s Gospel reading says it well, “God so loved the world…that the world might be saved through Him”. My fellow redeemed: we have a lot of work to do: sent out to reach ALL the world! With the abundant, ridiculously extravagant love and grace of God for ALL PEOPLE! Now that’s an awesome community!! A while ago I was talking with one of our members at Resurrection after a Sunday service, as we stood in the sanctuary. And the topic came up of reckless driving and crashes with innocent people harmed and killed. And we were talking about how to solve this problem. Heavier fines? More jail time? And I think I said something like, "But I don't know if that will really help. So what can we do about it?!" And the response came back without words, just a look around the sanctuary, and hands open to that space of worship and gathering of God's people at RLC. In other words: WE are the answer. As God works in and through us. As we worship and pray and respond as God's people in love and service and all that each of us can say and do.
No, it didn't mean that that is ALL we can do. As I just said in last Sunday's sermon: prayer is the first thing we can do. But it always will lead to actions. So let us gather for our services and meetings and fellowship at RLC. And may it lead us to whatever we can do to help our communities and nation and world. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, "It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness." So I look forward to joining you in prayer and love and service, and so be a blessing to our community and world! And certainly the brightest light we can share with others is the light of God our Savior, and the peace and hope that the crucified and risen Christ can bring to all! God Bless, Pastor Steve |
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