tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16990373322053492112024-03-13T12:17:23.696-05:00Random thoughts from an Arkansas Lutheran...I often get questions regarding my personal devotion or study time. People ask about what I study or read. The answer is simple...I read scripture...randomly. Well, maybe not randomly because it seems that God usually finds a way to direct me to words that I need to hear.
Welcome to a sneak peak into what God has directed me to this week...Pastor Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002592059954469781noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699037332205349211.post-4220390621343375862011-09-15T20:55:00.000-05:002011-09-15T20:55:54.042-05:00Use your IMAGINATION!<div style="font: 10.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I<b>MAGINE:</b> <i>to form a mental image of something not actually present to the senses.</i></span></span></div><div style="font: 10.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 11.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 10.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We encourage our children to use their imaginations every day. Every now and then we even dare to imagine such things as a nap, more time to complete tasks, our dream job, our dream spouse...but only sometimes. As adults we often hold ourselves back from imagining...but I think we do ourselves a disservice by not daring to imagine...especially when it comes to our faith.</span></span></div><div style="font: 10.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 11.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 10.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What does imagination have to do with our faith, you ask? We understand our imaginations to be limitless, without boundaries, beyond constraints and with no expectations. Don’t we perceive God in the same way? God is something that we cannot fully grasp and understand with our human minds yet we know that God is there, that God is limitless, without boundaries, beyond constraints and expectations. We understand God to be fully surprising and all-encompassing!</span></span></div><div style="font: 10.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 11.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 10.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our ideas of God and our faith, while firmly grounded in scripture, take flight when we dare to IMAGINE how things could be - how things WILL be. When we dare to IMAGINE how God would have things, our faith blossoms.</span></span></div><div style="font: 10.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 11.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 10.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Scripture certainly leaves certain things up to our imagination - it does not spell everything out word-for-word. It tells us to love one another. By the power of our imagination we see what that looks like for us. Scripture encourages us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, etc... and those things take shape in our communities when we use our imagination, together, to make a difference. And scripture prompts us to learn more and our imagination is sparked when we study and grow into the stories and prophecies we find there.</span></span></div><div style="font: 10.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 11.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 10.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our imagination is key to our faith. Our faith grows when we IMAGINE how God wants our life to be; when we IMAGINE how God can change our life; when we IMAGINE how being a disciple can effect our life. It is a powerful thing; it’s the fuel we need for us to keep moving, the material we need to make a difference in the lives of the people around us and it supplies the gifts we need to live into our vocations.</span></span></div><div style="font: 10.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 11.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 10.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">BUT sometimes it’s hard to allow our imagination to guide us. When a situation calls for practicality, it seems frivolous to imagine the solution. Or when the outcome is uncertain, it feels ‘dreamy’ to dare to imagine how it might be. </span></span></div><div style="font: 10.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 11.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 10.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We must be careful not to restrain our imagination or refrain from using it. We must be bold enough to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in the right direction <b>by</b> our imagination. God is consistently seeking out ways to communicate with us, to move us and to call us into action. God desires for us to move, to make a difference, and to change the world. It is by the power of our imagination that this happens.</span></span></div><div style="font: 10.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 11.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 10.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #333233;">Our human nature causes us, however, to wonder just how far we can truly reach with our imaginations. Paul tells us in Ephesians </span><span style="font: 6.7px Arial; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><sup> </sup></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">that God is able to<i> do</i><b><i> immeasurably more</i></b><i> than we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.</i> That is how far we can reach with our imaginations - further than we can ask, further than we can imagine or dream. Don’t limit yourself - don’t hold yourself back. DARE to imagine!</span></span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
</span></div>Pastor Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002592059954469781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699037332205349211.post-24335736990044277292011-09-11T22:06:00.000-05:002011-09-11T22:06:15.865-05:00Do I have to forgive THAT!?!?<div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? </i>- Matthew 18:21a</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This text is a text that makes us nervous or uncomfortable. This verse is just the beginning of quite a story that Jesus tells (go ahead, I’ll wait while you look it up and read it) - it contrasts beautifully the the Christian life we know we SHOULD lead and the human life that often takes over. It’s a text that makes us squirm when we think about how many times we have asked ourselves this question that Peter asks.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The events of this day 10 years ago, September 11, 2001 certainly provide the background for us to think about this text and they should urge us to imagine this concept of forgiveness.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">There always seems to be a need for forgiveness. A new offense occurs, a new fault is found, or an old wound is opened up...there is never a lack of opportunities to practice forgiveness. Peter understands this and asks Jesus the question we have all asked a million times - <i>just how many times do I have to forgive?</i></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Peter knows he has to forgive but he’s looking for an out here. He’s looking for a limit to what he has to do. He wants Jesus to tell him that at some point it’s ok to put your foot down and say NO! Enough is enough - I can’t - I won’t forgive THAT! </span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Why is it so hard for us to forgive? Why do we hold on to grudges? We certainly don’t want to admit fault and it’s in our nature to want revenge, to make someone pay when we are hurt or frustrated or upset. We run out of pity for people who hurt us, people who are different from us, think different, act different...we would rather fight for self-protection or vindication than love someone in forgiveness. In Christ, grace abounds FOR us. Why does it not abound OUT of us??</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We are faced every day with the torture of needing to forgive but being unable to. This parable forces us to examine our human nature and expose ourselves for what we are - humans. Sinful humans in need of God’s grace.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It also forces us to imagine: to imagine how God’s unending grace breaks through the bleakest of circumstances, to imagine how even when we are out of forgiveness for one another, God is there forgiving us, to imagine how God desires to reconcile us with one another thru the power of God forgiving us first and we begin to imagine new hearts - full of mercy - that create the possibility of forgiveness and reconciliation; with God and with one another.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When we consider the lengths Jesus went to to forgive us - the underserved suffering, persecution and execution - forgiveness between one another doesn’t seem so hard.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Imagine a world where there is no limit to forgiveness...where we just do it...because it’s the right thing to do. Where we forgive the little things such as a refusal to share a toy or someone cutting us off on the freeway. Imagine a world where we forgive the big things such as abuse, untruths or injustice. And dare to imagine a world where we forgive the unspeakable things such as the events of 9/11, hate or war.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Jesus imagined such a world and he lived every day of his life trying to make it happen. And he died so that it would...</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Let us dare to imagine such a world...Amen.</span></div>Pastor Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002592059954469781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699037332205349211.post-81777564806116435552011-09-07T16:20:00.000-05:002011-09-07T16:20:52.019-05:00I wanna join....<div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #999999;"><i>15</i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i> "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. </i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #999999;"><i>16</i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i> But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. </i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #999999;"><i>17</i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i> If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. </i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #999999;"><i>18</i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i> Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. </i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #999999;"><i>19</i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i> Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. </i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #999999;"><i>20</i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i> For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." -</i> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #660633;">Matthew 18:15-20</span></div><div style="color: #660633; font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This text is one that generates a lot of questions for me...</span></div><ul><li style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Who exactly is a "member" of my church? </span></li>
<li style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Who decides what constitutes sinning? </span></li>
<li style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Isn't it racist to use the designation of "gentile" in such a derogatory manner? </span></li>
<li style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Why does Jesus pick on tax collectors? </span></li>
<li style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Where is the unconditional love of Jesus if people are being excluded and shunned? </span></li>
<li style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">What precisely does it mean for Jesus to be among those gathered? </span></li>
</ul><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;">And for the record. I don’t like this Jesus...all judgement and exclusive and stuff...not the kind of guy that I can get behind, if you know what I mean.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This text has never sat well with me, so I tried researching, digging back into my memories of what I know about Jesus and the text started making a bit more sense....This text is about community - who’s in and who’s out . It’s about trying to become part of something and then STAYING. it’s about going to a place where everyone accepts you for who you are and you are never alone. Because, really, sometimes you wanna go “where everybody knows your name....and they’re always glad you came....”</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We all desire to be part of a community. I've heard it said that Jesus was the first community organizer. He desired to pull ALL people into community with him - he didn’t exclude or cut out. He didn’t draw lines or boundaries. So why do we??</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We do it all the time...you risk life and limb cheering for the ‘wrong’ sports team. The parents of the ‘A-team’ students wouldn’t be caught dead talking to the parents of the ‘B-team’ students...or, even worse, the parents of those that didn’t even make the team. We draw lines based on skin color, language, tradition, culture, grades...you name it, there is a boundary around it.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The early Christians craved community, too. They had been kicked out of their old Jewish ones, they weren’t part of the Roman elite and the pagans wanted nothing to do with them. So they ‘got brave’, followed their leader, and started a new community. One whose boundaries were broadened; one where holes could be found in the walls so that everyone could get in; one where the one thing that made you worthy was God’s love. This new community was INCLUSIVE, it was hungry for new members and they reached out - not to benefit themselves, but to share the good news of a place, finally, where ALL were welcomed unconditionally! </span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In this community, they found love, friendship and accountability. They found a place where people strived to live up to a higher standard of conduct. A place where love meant calling each other out when things weren’t quite right. The Message translation of this text says that if someone offends you, sins or is not holding up their end of Jesus’ teachings and they won’t listen to one-on-one reasoning, to a group of friends or to the congregation then you need to “start over from scratch, confront them with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love.”</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">That’s what Jesus did over and over in his ministry. That’s how he treated Zacchaeus, the tax collector...and Matthew, the tax collector. Both men we know and love as devoted followers of Jesus were welcomed into Jesus’ community with love and acceptance.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Our communities are built upon unity in God’s love, grace and forgiveness, not upon exclusion based on someone’s sin....or what we perceive as their sin. We have enough sin of our own to worry about, don’t you think?</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The teachings of Jesus were summed up as<i> Love God - Love One Another</i>. Sometimes we are called to hold our brothers & sisters accountable to the teachings of Jesus. Sometimes WE need to be held accountable to the teachings of Jesus. But it is in community where we find support - in a community of believers we find the unconditional love of God and of one another. Welcome to the community.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Amen.</span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
</span></div>Pastor Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002592059954469781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699037332205349211.post-23637811732468368262011-09-02T16:09:00.000-05:002011-09-02T16:09:57.633-05:00The Dog Days of LifeHello. It's been a while since my last post. I've been going thru what my friend, Pr. Darrel coined 'the dog days of life'. I received his church's newsletter a couple weeks back and this was his letter. It hit me like a ton of bricks - like a homerun hitter's bat hits a ball - like a ... well...it hit. Hard. Take a read. Enjoy. Drink.<br />
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Stacy<br />
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From the Pastor’s Desk<br />
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The dog days of summer are truly upon us. Records are being broken around the country as a high pressure system has been sitting right over most of Mid-America. Coupled with high humidity, it s dangerous to be outside doing even modest activity for any length of time. Meteorologists caution against excessive heat reminding us to wear light clothing, drink plenty of liquid, and take frequent rest breaks when we are going to be outside.<br />
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This summer’s heat is a good metaphor for the dry hot spells that can occur in our spiritual lives also. Receiving devastating news, dealing with broken relationships or long term resentments can be as hard on our spiritual wellbeing as the hot sun is on our physical well-being. Like the dog days of summer, the effects of spiritual neglect can drain us of the spirit of life that God so desires for us.<br />
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What the meteorologists reminds us are helpful hints as we deal with the dreaded heat of this summer. They can also provide us with needed relief as we face life’s issues that would otherwise stifle our spiritual joy:<br />
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1) Wear Light Clothing. Don’t let yourself get weighted down with the stresses of life, what we shall eat and what we shall wear. Our heavenly Father knows what we need and He, who clothes the grasses of the earth and feeds the birds of the air, will provide for His children.<br />
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2) Drink plenty of liquid. Take in the nourishment your spiritual body needs as well. Reading, study and meditation on God’s word will richly supply your body with what it needs to replenish your spirit and renew your faith and life in Christ.<br />
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3) Take frequent rest breaks. Take time to gather with your brothers and sisters in Christ around Word and Sacrament each Sunday morning. Hymns of praise, words of encouragement, reconciliation with God and one another and feasting at the table on the life giving body and blood of our Lord and Savior is ‘good food for the soul’<br />
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I hope you are carefully managing yourself as we work our way through the ‘dog days of summer’ and equally important, carefully managing yourself as you work through the emotional and spiritual ‘dog days of life.’ <br />
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May God, who is able, richly bless you and refresh you in body, mind, and spirit.<br />
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Pastor Darrel<br />
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Pr. Darrel is the pastor at United Lutheran Church in Bella Vista, AR<br />
Pastor Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002592059954469781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699037332205349211.post-1090285412033351412011-05-28T22:08:00.000-05:002011-05-28T22:08:22.714-05:00But I wanna KNOW....now!<div style="font: 12.0px Arial; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“<i>Be still and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth”. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge...</i> - Psalm 46:10-11</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The month of May has been full of horrible weather, catastrophes, international events, endings, new beginnings and all sorts of emotional situations. We have seen floods and tornados, we’ve seen international fugitives brought to justice, we basked in the afterglow of a royal wedding, our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews graduated from high school and college and we are looking forward, with some anxiety, some excitement and some trepidation, to an unknown future.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">But is it really unknown? And unknown by whom? As humans, it is our natural inclination to want to know ‘the plan’; to have an understanding of what is coming up ahead so that we can prepare ourselves and make sure we’ve got everything under control. But the truth is this, the world is uncertain; there are choices to be made and those choices impact our world, and the world around us. It is impossible to know what the future will hold...except for this: “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” (Jeremiah 29:11, The Message) These are God’s words as written by the Prophet Jeremiah to the remnant remaining in exile. Those words are for all of God’s people; then and now. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">God’s promises to us to take care of us, not abandon us and to give us a future do not mean that every day will be sunshine and roses. But the promises mean exactly what they say...that God will not abandon us. Through all of the disasters, catastrophes, fighting, celebrating and transitions, we have a God who is faithful to His promises and walks beside us. As Jesus’ heart was saddened by the death of Lazarus, so is God’s heart saddened by the death of even ONE of His children. As Jesus celebrated at the Wedding at Cana, so does God celebrate with any of us when we enter into relationships with one another. As Jesus prayed for the Father’s blessing upon the disciples as they began their public ministry without him, so does God bless each one of us as we begin a new chapter in our lives.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The future we hope for is a future full of joy, love and, most of all, eternal life with God in Heaven. That is what is promised to us. Our life here on earth will be one that is full of trials & tribulations, celebrations, endings & new beginnings...through it all, God is here with us. God is in the devastation, giving us the determination to rebuild. God is in our relationships, giving us the patience and faith to accept and love each other. God is in our endings and new beginnings, giving us the wisdom and courage to begin again.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Be still and know that He is God...our refuge...our promise...and He is here.</span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
</span></div>Pastor Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002592059954469781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699037332205349211.post-24520003778431884462011-05-18T10:01:00.000-05:002011-05-18T10:01:19.683-05:00Praying for Peace, Not Death...This is another departure from my usual devotion...sorry. I'll get back to those later this week. I simply feel like there is a Christian voice that has been missing from all of these discussions and I wanted to add my 2 cents...<br />
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In the May 5 edition of the Benton County Daily Record an article titled "Religious Leaders Weigh in On Bin Laden's Death" got me all fired up. In the article 5 religious leaders from NW Arkansas were quoted. The Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist leaders all renounced the celebration of his death, calling instead for continued prayer and reconciliation. The 2 Christian leaders they quoted left me absolutely speechless (well for about 2 minutes) and then infuriated.<br />
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One evangelical pastor said that bin Laden's death came as a result of answered prayers for justice, that God chose bin Laden's death. He went on to say "God chooses how he answers prayers...when justice is served, as I think it was in this situation, we do give thanks for the answer to prayers." Another Baptist pastor said (and I quote) "My initial reaction was 'Thank you, Lord,' because we needed something, considering the bad economy and the controversy over the current president's birth certificate, war, heavy rain and all the other things. We also celebrate the death of wickedness as an answer to our prayers."<br />
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So I was upset...upset enough to do something I have never done before...write a letter to the editor. It was finally published today...so here it is...<br />
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<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I am writing in response to the article titled “Religious Leaders Weigh In on Bin Laden’s Death” in the May 5 edition of the Daily Record. The article, as I read it, seemed to be lacking the grace-filled Christian voice of peace that I hear from my friends and colleagues.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I join my Jewish, Buddhist and Muslim brothers in calling the actions of the past week a call to justice, peace and healing & reconciliation. As a Christian I certainly do not see Bin Laden’s death as an answer to prayer. I, for one, never prayed for him to die. Scriptures call me to love and to pray for my enemies (Matthew 5:44) - while it is the hardest thing I do, I know that only God has the power to change people. Violence, hatred and war do nothing to change the hearts and minds of people - only God’s unconditional love and grace can do that. My fervent prayers continue that God will accomplish this.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As a Christian leader in our community, it is my responsibility to draw people together. To bring unity by declaring the Good News of the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ for all people; not to draw lines of division and hatred. Celebrating the death of our enemy only strengthens the lines of division and increases the distance between us.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I am relieved that a source of evil has been defeated however, to think that the news of his death wipes out the fears of a faltering economy, overcomes the sadness surrounding the destruction of homes and lives by violent weather and will hush the voices who continue to question our leadership is absurd. Evil still exists, hatred and fear run rampant...and it will continue until we can learn to live together in peace, respect one another as God’s children and learn to pray for the unity of ALL.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My ultimate rejoicing comes in knowing that God has promised that, on that final day, love will overcome hatred, peace will overcome violence and God’s justice will finally unite all people of the earth. Until that day, I will continue to pray for our communities, our country, our world, and yes, even my enemies.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Rev Stacy Seger</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Pastor, Christ the King Lutheran Church</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Bentonville, AR</span></div>Pastor Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002592059954469781noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699037332205349211.post-71414345099204961182011-05-05T14:54:00.000-05:002011-05-05T14:54:05.458-05:00National Day of Prayer...couldn't have come at a better time...<div style="font: normal normal normal 10.1px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">This isn't my typical blog post - it's actually a letter that I sent out to members of my congregation today...my heart has been heavy as we've been through a rough week together, so I thought I would share...peace...</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10.1px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10.1px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><i>"Joy finds its fullest and deepest expression not over a human death but in God’s promise to unite all things in heaven and on earth, to reconcile the human family and to bring God’s reign of peace." </i></b></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10.1px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><i></i></b>Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, Mark Hanson</div><div style="font: 11.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 11.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Dear members & friends of Christ the King -</div><div style="font: 11.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 11.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">This week has been one of varied emotions for all of us. The events of this week have left some feeling relieved, joyful or victorious while others were left feeling heavy-hearted, fearful or disillusioned. Perhaps you felt a combination of all of these. In any case, emotions and spirits were running high this week and I believe that Bp Hanson's words were a powerful message of hope and security for a darkened world.</div><div style="font: 11.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 11.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Regardless of how you feel about the events of this week, your emotions are justified; they are your own and are to be respected. Each opinion and feeling is as unique as the person who owns it. As Christians, however, we can come together around the sure and certain promise of God to reconcile the entire human family to Himself and bring an everlasting peace to all. We have the awesome responsibility and opportunity to enact that now.</div><div style="font: 11.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 11.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Today marks the 236th National Day of Prayer since the first one was called in 1775 by the Continental Congress. Since then, throughout the years, there have been prayer rallies, marked days of prayer and assemblies. 2003 marked the beginning of the organized, national activities we see today. I urge you this day, on this National Day of Prayer, to take time out of your schedule to pray. Pray for those who lost their lives due to acts of violence or hatred. Pray for all those who have lost loved ones. Pray for the church that we may be a beacon of hope in a dark world. Pray for all military members and their families that they might be filled with God's spirit of justice and peace. Pray for our community that we may shun violence and hatred. Pray for our world that love would overcome hate. And, finally, pray for those who would seek to hurt and destroy out of hatred and vengeance.</div><div style="font: 11.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 11.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Praying for our enemies is one of the hardest things we can do - yet one of the most effective. For Jesus commands in Matthew 5 <i>Love your enemies...pray for those who persecute you....</i>Praying for miracles, for God's action in our lives or the lives of others is not fruitless, for only God is powerful enough to make change like that happen.</div><div style="font: 11.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 11.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Grace & Peace to you, my friends.</div><div style="font: 11.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 11.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Pr. Stacy</div>Pastor Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002592059954469781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699037332205349211.post-69042214497851870742011-04-08T15:20:00.000-05:002011-04-08T15:20:12.161-05:00I am a runner.<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying "Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you." </em></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Jonah 3:1-2</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The story of Jonah has always been intriguing to me...not so much because of the whale or that Jonah survived for three days in his belly but because of how far Jonah was willing to go to 'out run' God and how far God was willing to go to find him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We know that this second time that God came to Jonah occurs after Jonah heard him once and didn't want to go to Nineveh and in his running away finds himself in an unfortunate situation with some surly sailors in a boat on a stormy sea. Jonah gets thrown overboard; sure to drown in the rough waters. God, however, has other plans. A giant fish shows up, swallows Jonah, and there he stays, safe and sound until he can take no more and cries out to God for help. God hears him and orders the fish to spit him out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THIS is where we find dear Jonah when God says to him a second time "Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sound familiar? You hear a calling, feel a nudge, have a sense of something greater - then run; as far and fast as you can only to get caught up in some sort of quandary where the only way out is to pray. So God does what God does best and He rescues you...only to issue the same calling, nudge the same nudge, urge you to something greater.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is where I often find myself during Lent. The examination of my faith journey, the review of my sins and the resulting repentance and the call to discipleship I hear during Lent is often heavy and I find myself wanting to run. Run to a place of comfort, of solace and of grace - back into my comfortable life of worship, prayer, Bible study and service without the need for self-examination, repentance and witness. I am a runner. I am an evader. I am Jonah.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But thankfully, God is God and God will pursue me to the all corners of the Earth, even to the depths of the ocean where He will send a giant fish to swallow me up to keep me safe until I realize that I am utterly, 100%, completely and totally dependent upon God's grace and mercy rather than my own skills and abilities. Then I will be spit out and God will, once again, ask me to be a faithful disciple and witness to my God of grace and mercy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's all that God asks of us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let us pray: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Lord God, thank you for being persistent in chasing us down, as we run far and fast. Help us to trust in your grace and mercy to lead us to places of growth and prosperity. Amen.</em></span><br />
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</div></div>Pastor Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002592059954469781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699037332205349211.post-87417064032771189422011-03-11T16:59:00.000-06:002011-03-11T16:59:15.444-06:00A Little Light Over Here, Please?!<div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.</i> </span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">- Psalm 43: 3-4</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Lent - it’s not a season of the church year that I look forward to...and I don’t think I’m alone in that. I feel like Lent is the ‘black sheep’ of the church-year family, like people go out of their way to avoid thinking about it or acknowledging it or we simply don’t understand what it is really all about. I’m trying to approach Lent in a different way this year...</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Usually Lent is approached with a solemnity that is quite appropriate for a time of fasting, prayer and meditation. But it is usually more than solemnity that we have - we often approach Lent with a solemnity mixed with anxiety, fear, trepidation and despise. Because, after all, isn’t Lent all about giving up those things that we love the most; chocolate, wine, cookies, pasta....</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I’m approaching Lent this year as a season of searching - I’m not giving anything up. As a matter of fact, I’m adding something, a spiritual discipline, meditation. Now, before those of you who know me well laugh hysterically at the thought of me trying to sit still and quiet ALONE for any lengh of time, hear me out. I’m going to try meditation so that I can focus in on God’s voice and God’s light during my time of fasting, prayer and preparation. I’m going to spend time in silent solitude and try to see the light and the truth that is guiding me down this path called life. Along the way I may experience some ‘noise’ or some ‘darkness’ but that is ok, because I know that God will lead me back to God. I know that my path, while sometimes curvy and hilly, is a path that leads to God’s grace and goodness. </span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I pray that during my Lenten journey I am able to learn something about myself; I don’t know what it might be because if I knew it I wouldn’t have to learn it, right? I also pray that God will reveal something new to me...something about the path that I am on. And I pray that what I learn and what is revealed will cause me, on that glorious Easter morn, to praise God, my exceeding joy and give Him thanks and praise for a safe and spiritual Lenten journey.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">May it be so with you, as well.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Let us pray:</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>Guiding God - I pray your blessing upon your children as we begin our Lenten journeys. Guide us with your light. Grant us courage to continue the journey, even when it’s rough, and bring us to an everlasting joy. Amen.</i></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>Pastor Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002592059954469781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699037332205349211.post-64716264172672729852011-03-04T15:04:00.000-06:002011-03-04T15:04:16.573-06:00You Want Me To Do WHAT?!<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.</i> - 1 John 5:3-4</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">There are many things in life that weigh us down; jobs, responsibilities, health concerns, money troubles, relationship issues...the list could go on and on. Yet the one thing we let REALLY get us down is following God’s commandments. When the disciples asked Jesus <i>Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the law?</i> (Matthew 22:36) Jesus answered them simply: LOVE. Love the Lord your God, Love your neighbor. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The commandments are simple...to love, as God first loved us. Nothing crazy or grandiose. Nothing that requires any special tools or large amounts of cash. Just love. Love without limits, without conditions, without expectations. The greatest gift we receive is God’s daily, unending, limitless love. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The 2nd greatest gift we receive is the gift of the commandments. We often see the commandments as burdens; as things meant to make us feel guilty or to so constrict our lives and actions that simply ‘living’ is out of the question...however, the exact opposite is true. God’s commandments give us a road map on how to live our lives. They guide us in our relationships with God and with each other. They remind us of what is important: God and His desire to love and bless the whole world and our ability to get along with one another and live fruitful lives.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Imagine a world where we were able to let go of all the burdens that weigh us down so that we might love one another...</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Paul pleads, in his 1st letter to the church at Corinth: <i>You must get along with each other. You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common.</i> (1 Cor 1:10) Human disagreements, fights and arguments are not anything new. They were as common to the ancient world as they are to us today. Why is it that when we look to our neighbors we see natural enemies rather than natural friends; we prefer to draw lines of us vs them rather than see each other with the same love and grace that God looks upon us with. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I urge you, friends - we cannot solve all the worlds’ problems of fighting and violence, but we can start here...with us. Recognize the great gifts we are given in God’s love and in the commandments - and then simply live and love one another.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Let us pray:</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>Gracious God - there are things in this world that weigh us down, that burden our lives and keep us from keeping your commandments. We lift all that to you now, trusting in your grace and mercy. In our new found freedom, make us bold to love; to love you above all else, and our neighbors as ourselves. Amen.</i></span></div>Pastor Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002592059954469781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699037332205349211.post-73483357504422142002011-02-11T10:40:00.000-06:002011-02-11T10:40:53.332-06:00Battery running low - plug in here.<div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. God does not faint or grow weary; God’s understanding is unsearchable.</i> </span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">- Isaiah 40:28</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I’ve had contact lately with a lot of people who seem tired; not sleepy tired, but worn out-depleted-exhausted tired, emotionally drained and mentally tapped out. </span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I remember in seminary they told us that after the exhausting Advent/Christmas season there is a ‘breather time’ to catch up before Lent and the exhausting season of Easter. I beg to differ. There is no ‘breather time’ between any season, any day or, really, any hour that I can find. Life keeps going, things keep happening and a plethora of activities and responsibilities clamor for our attention. LIFE is exhausting. </span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It seems like we are always looking for new ways to refuel and reenergize...energy drinks that pump us up, fancy exercises and meditation designed to stretch our brains while stretching our muscles, creative ways of sleeping so that we can get by on fewer hours of sleep to add more hours of productivity...blah, blah, blah. It’s hard enough to find time to breath, spend priceless moments with loved ones or just relax without taking up time by experimenting with new techniques.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">There is one way to refuel and reenergize - one place where we can spend a few minutes and get some much-needed ‘charging’ - it is tried and true, no experiments, no energy drinks and no fancy sleep techniques. Are you ready for it? Prayer.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Prayer.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I know it’s hard to imagine finding time to pray but it’s KEY to a well-balanced, full, energized life. It doesn’t have to be formal or lengthy; it just has to be real. You and God...in conversation. Instead of hitting the snooze button for another 9 minutes of sleep when your fancy sleep techniques fail, spend some time talking to God. When you are driving to pick up your child from soccer practice, turn off the car radio and talk to God. When you are waiting for the #7 bus to pick you up, talk to God. </span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">God’s energy is endless. God’s store of resources is limitless. God doesn’t get tired of hearing from you. God doesn’t grow weary of your conversation. God loves you. God understands your needs, desires and exhaustion. </span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Let us pray:<br />
<i>Eternal God - Help me to find time to plug into you today. Help me, as I struggle with daily schedules and responsibilities to find time to rest in your endless mercy and grace. Fill me with your energy so that I may continue to be of service to your world. Amen.</i></span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div>Pastor Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002592059954469781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699037332205349211.post-83670519022942708612011-02-02T15:01:00.000-06:002011-02-02T15:01:09.293-06:00Thanks for surfing by...come again.<div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial; line-height: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7.3px/normal Arial; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><sup>5</sup></i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the friends, even though they are strangers to you; </i></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7.3px/normal Arial; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><sup>6</sup></i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on in a manner worthy of God; </i></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7.3px/normal Arial; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><sup>7</sup></i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>for they began their journey for the sake of Christ.</i> </span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial; line-height: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">- 3 John 1:5-6a</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 11.0px Arial; line-height: 10.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 11.0px Arial; line-height: 10.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Like a lot of others, moving away from my home state and beginning my first call as a pastor in a small church in NW Arkansas caused me to lose touch with many people I considered friends. I was not able to keep up on what was happening in their lives, the blessings and challenges they were facing, and then Facebook happened. Through Facebook, I have been able to follow the joys and challenges of many of my friends and family all around the world. While it’s not as personal as sitting down over coffee or picking up the phone for a chat, it is what works for many of us now that we are busy and wrapped up in our families and vocations all over God’s world. I do admit that I would much rather be able to spend time visiting in person, but I have found a special joy in logging into Facebook to read updates, blogs, posts and seeing new pictures.</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 11.0px Arial; line-height: 10.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 11.0px Arial; line-height: 10.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">With this new convenience of technology comes blessings beyond measure, but also responsibilities. I have found some things that people post to be hurtful or condemning or downright hateful. To be honest, that sucks some of the joy right out of Facebook, and other social networking means, for that matter. </span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 11.0px Arial; line-height: 10.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 11.0px Arial; line-height: 10.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This verse from 3 John puts things into perspective for me. While the epistle writer was writing specifically to his friend Gaius about the manner in which he had just welcomed a group of traveling missionaries, it has something to say for us, too. The writer thanks Gaius for his hospitality while they were visiting, but also reminds him, that as they are traveling in the name of Christ, Gaius is called to send them on in a manner worthy of God. While it is most likely that he was reminding him to send them with food, supplies and money, perhaps, it is also a reminder to send them on with prayers, encouragement, support and love.</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 11.0px Arial; line-height: 10.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 11.0px Arial; line-height: 10.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Each day we have a number of people, either on purpose or by stumbling, who visit our Facebook page, blog, MySpace, website or other social networking site. What message do we want to send with them? What image would we like to portray? One of love, grace and discipleship? One worthy of God? When they go on their way to the next website/page, what we have shared with them may have an impact that could be spread to countless others. It’s up to us to faithfully treat all people as friends and to send them on in a manner worthy of God.</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 11.0px Arial; line-height: 10.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 11.0px Arial; line-height: 10.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Let us pray:</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 11.0px Arial; line-height: 10.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>Welcoming God - each day you welcome us anew into your family with love, acceptance and grace. Help us to be bearers of the same to each person we encounter; in person or virtually. Fill us with your spirit, God, we pray. Amen.</i></span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div>Pastor Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002592059954469781noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699037332205349211.post-39158050408980223252011-01-28T14:46:00.000-06:002011-01-28T14:46:13.358-06:00"This is true love - you think this happens every day?"<div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us - and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - 1 John 3:16</span></span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i></i></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">One of my favorite movies is The Princess Bride. Beautiful Princess Buttercup is kidnapped and held against her will to marry the evil Prince Humperdink, all the while, waiting for her handsome prince (her childhood love), Westly, to rescue her. During one particularly tense scene, Westly must take leave from Princess Buttercup, assuring her that he will return to save her and the following conversation takes place:</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000144/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Westley</span></a></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">: Hear this now: I will always come for you. </span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000705/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Buttercup</span></a></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">: But how can you be sure? </span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000144/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Westley</span></a></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">: This is true love - you think this happens every day?</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">True love - we hear about it, read about it, see it in the movies; but do we really KNOW it? It seems like the hardest thing to get right in life is love. We can often trace much of the hurt and anguish in our lives back to failure to give or to receive the love we all need. In order for our lives to be fulfilled we must receive love and we must give love.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We are blessed with a God who gives us His perfect love, freely and unconditionally, every day. It is in knowing the love of God that we can begin to know and share the love of one another. It is the love of God that brought us Jesus; the son of God, to show us what love looks like; selfless service and giving of oneself for another. And it is the love of God that came back for us when Jesus was raised from the dead and promises to come for us again. God always comes for us; TO us and THROUGH us to the world. </span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">God’s love is TRUE love. Westley asked the question “you think this happens every day”? The answer is yes. God’s love does happen every day in all sorts of wonderful ways; God’s love comes for us, to us and through us to bless the whole world through the power of scriptures, prayer, worship, fellowship and service. We need only look to the life of Jesus to know that the love we share together is a love founded on grace, forgiveness and acceptance.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;">Let us pray:</div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>Gracious, loving God - thank you for showering us with your gift of unconditional, extravagant love. Help us to be bearers of that love to a world that is hungry to know and to be reassured that you will always come for us. Amen.</i></span></div>Pastor Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002592059954469781noreply@blogger.com2