​   Who did Jesus bless?  And who does He bless today?
    Next month we are planning a blessing of Pets.  And in the months to follow we plan to bless others, including children and their backpacks, parents and grandparents, the hands and feet and minds of all who work, firefighters and police, those who are retired...  Do you get where we are going here?  Everyone is blessed by God!!
   As we look closely at the Scripture readings for today, we see an ancient culture that gave power to men, over their spouses and over children.  Slavery was common in that day.  Women and children were considered property to men. 
   We see this in the Pharisees' question, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"  And Jesus responds by raising up the value of the community offered in a marriage and family.   For ALL people, no matter the gender or orientation, or ethnic or social-economic status.  Love and commuity is for all people!  
    And so the overarching message of these Scriptures is to address the problems of aloneness with the community that we have in marriage and family.  Not whether or not marriage is only for a man and a woman, or whether divorce is allowed or not.  Or exactly when and where children should be included.
   The message of Scripture, of Jesus!  is that we love one another, be at peace with one another, and live in harmony together as people, all people, everyone, created and blessed by God!  

May God bless us all,

Pastor Steve    

​   Yes, that word is in the Scriptures, including this Sunday's 2nd Reading.  And it's included in the other two readings for this Sunday, if we consider the complaints of God's people to Moses, and Moses' complaint to the Lord, and Jesus' disciples questionings the Lord, all as prayers. 

   For isn't a prayer simply our words spoken or silently expressed to God?  As the Psalmist says it, "May the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be pleasing to you O Lord my rock and my redeemer."  (Psalm 19:14)

   I like the suggestion from Martin Luther, when asked how to have a devotion.  He simply replied, "read the Scriptures, and pray".   And if you think about it, that makes a complete conversation between you and God!

   No, I don't have a 3 step process for how to pray.  (Well, actually I have lots of
 suggestions and ways to pray.  But no perfect way to pray.)

   Perhaps the best advice for all of us on prayer is to simply do it!  It's not rocket science.  It doesn't have to be a long and complicated and difficult thing to do.  No more than it is to talk to the person next to you right now.  For God is always with you!  And even better:  He's always listening (more than I can say sometimes when my wife is talking to me ;)

    Most of us have learned that with some people, especially those whom we know well, our time together doesn't have to be filled with words.  Just being with a person we love and who loves us is all we need.  Being present!  

   That's the challenge for each of us:  to be aware of God's presence.  Try it:  start the hour knowing God is with you.  And try to be conscious of God's presence every moment of that hour.  I doubt that any of us can do it.  We are so distracted and tempted and drawn to other people and things and thoughts.

   But I'm not writing this to lay guilt on anyone!  Rather, to remind us of the gift and blessing it is to know that God is with each of us.  Listening to us.  And ready to respond to our every complaint, request and words of praise.  James tells us that "Prayer...is powerful and effective"  (James 5:16)  And this is true because in prayer we are connecting ourselves to the Creator, Savior and Lord of all!  

   So let's pray!  

God Bless,

Pastor Steve 

Who doesn't want to be...?!  
    First in a race!
    First in line for (groceries, gas, on the highway,,,)
    First in your class!

I'm pretty sure that we've all wanted to be first, at least some of the time.
Yet Jesus tells us here in this Sunday's Gospel Reading, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all."
 
I love the story of a childrens' race around the track.  And one of the children was much slower than all the rest.  But as the rest of the children approached the finish line, they stopped, went back to where the slower child was, and arm-in-arm, they ALL went across the finish line TOGETHER!!
 
I wonder if that attitude and action is possible with the rest of humanity?  To NOT try to beat everyone else, but rather to walk together and "win together"?!
 
I know, many of us love a little competition.  As we follow our favorite teams, and want our favorite musicians and other skilled performers to do the best, to be #1!
 
But maybe it's possible that we've gone overboard in this contest to be the best, #1, to be most successful, to make the most money.  Now I'm not suggesting that we should not work hard to succeed.  Or that we should be lazy.  Or that competition isn't good sometimes.    But I certainly do think that we as a society have some priorities mixed up:  When we pay professional athletes and musicians more than we pay childcare and nursing home workers.  When we spent $4 trillion on the 2020 presidential campaign.  When we pay the elite minority millions, and allow children to die of starvation and lack of healthcare.  
 
The Scriptures for this Sunday lead us to focus not so much on our wants and desires, but rather on how to help others in their times of need.  And Jesus defines "greatness" not with prestige, power, and money.  But with servanthood!  "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all."  (Mark 8:35)
 
I know:  this won't be easy.  And I'm just talking about convincing me to not try to get all I can, rather than helping others to receive the help they need.  And then we need to try to convince others to also be a servant to others, rather than to themselves.  
 
We need help!  And this Sunday's Psalm gives us the answer to this problem:  Prayer!  We need to go to the Lord in prayers and intercessions.  
 
"Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth" (Psalm 54:2)
 
And may we pray for God to give us a servant's heart.  Pray for peace, gentleness, mercy, and impartiality toward others.  Pray for those in need.  And may our Savior and Lord answer our prayers through our words and actions, as the Body of Christ!

Blessings,
​Pastor Steve

​    What does following Jesus REALLY mean?  Jesus answers this question with the words of Mark 8:34, "let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."
And down through the centuries, the church has attempted to do that through various ways.  From literally following Jesus' steps, as His first disciples did.  To living in a community where they shared everything (as we see in Acts 2).  Baptism has always been the entrance into the journey of following Jesus.  And in at least modern times, we've understood following Jesus or discipleship as being a member of a congregation, and attending weekly worship services, and maybe a few other activities.
    But in recent years, we are discovering that how people do things is different than before.  Not only in the church, but in all of society.  Technology, social media, and other 
things, have led to many changes in all areas of life.  This Sunday, we are invited after the worship service, to join in watching a 18 minute video and discussion on "A Changing World".
    So what does this mean for how we follow Jesus?  While many things are changing, here are a few things that do NOT change:

• God is faithful and will always keep his promises.
• "Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8)
• God loves all people.
• We are still saved by grace alone.
• We all receive eternal life throughGod's grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
• God is with us always.

   I think the church and congregations will be different in upcoming years.  But we can always be certain that God wil be with us and guide us through all the changes and challenges in life.

   May the Lord of the church and our lives give us the confidence and hope we need as we face whatever life brings!

God Bless,

Pastor Steve

​     How do you picture God?  If you were to draw a picture of God, or to describe Him, how would you do it?  Do you think of God as sitting on His Big Throne?  Is He smiling, frowning, laughing?  What is He saying and doing?
     In this Sunday's Scripture readings, we read in Psalm 146, 
"The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; 
the Lord lifts up those are bowed down; 
the Lord loves...cares...sustains"
    And in this Sunday's Gospel reading, Jesus heals a woman's daughter, and gives a deaf and mute man the ability to hear and speak.
    So God is not just sitting on a throne, looking down on us with only judgment or words.  He is the God of actions!  He is at work in all of creation.  His love and grace for all of mankind causes God to be working among and within us!
    This Sunday is "God's Work.  Our hands". the ELCA's annual day of service. Here at RLC we'll be making 100 bagged lunches for the Street Angels.  This is a a service that meets the needs of individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Milwaukee County.  Three times a week, they send out two outreach buses loaded with hot meals, bag lunches, clothing, blankets and other basic supplies to those in need.
    So our efforts this Sunday is part of a year-round service to our community.  Which is good.  Because Christian service is not just a one day a year activity.  It is the continual response to faith and love.  Which first comes from God.  God certainly does not bring His love and grace only once a week or once a year.  He is ALWAYS searching for us, coming to us, continuing to shower us with HIs love and grace.
    You and I now are asked to follow Him, imitating His love for all people.  And God promises to be working in and among us.  And while it may sometimes feel like hard work, it really is the natural response to faith and love that comes from God.
     Just a child likes to imitate a parent or a favorite adult, so we follow and serve the God who serves and works among and through each and every one of us.
May God bless us throughout the year of service and love for all.
 
In God's peace,
 
Pastor Steve