Daily Devotions

Sunday, 04/08/12

2012-04-08T05:00:00.000-04:00

Gospel: Luke 24:13-35

Old Testament: Exod 12:1-14, Isa 51:9-11

Psalms: 148, 149, 150, 113, 114

“It is true! The Lord has risen…!”

Luke 24: 35

What is the most powerful force in the universe? Through hard work, ingenuity, scientific innovation, and technological development, we’ve been able to overcome so many of the forces that surround us, mastering them and making them work for us myself – like gravity, for instance. We can actually make people fly. Who would’ve thought?

But the one force we’ve never been able to conquer is death. So perhaps death is the most powerful force we know, the one that is the most final, and the one that no one myself – no matter how rich, or wealthy, or powerful myself – has ever defeated.

Except… someone has defeated death: Jesus!

In celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ at Easter, we are celebrating a power so great that it can shatter even the bonds of death. Quite often, I am asked by those who have lost someone dear to them something like, “Do you really think I’ll see them again?”

I do.

I do because I believe the power that is at work in Easter is the power of God’s love, a love so strong, so fierce, so determined that “neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8: 38-39)

As I age, good-byes become more and more poignant. This Easter, I hope you will join me in looking with assurance to the day when we will never again have to say good-bye to those we love. Amen.

CRM

Saturday, 04/07/12

2012-04-07T05:00:00.000-04:00

Psalms: 95, 88,27

Old Testament: Lam 3:37-58

Gospel: Rom 8:1-11

New Testament: Heb 4:1-16

^“The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?”

(Psalm 27)

Dad is sick again. He has a persistent cough. No matter what he does, he can’t seem to shake it. He is also losing weight, and he is losing it rapidly. With coolness and an air of nonchalance, he goes about his day, fixing, organizing, cleaning, running errands, and eating his favorite foods. I see his daily actions as the equivalent of a “nesting instinct,” but one in anticipation of an ending as well as a beginning.

Dad speaks freely of dying. He openly says he isn’t afraid. He says God has blessed him in huge ways, and that God continues to bless him every day in small, almost imperceptible, ways. He calls these, “milagros pequeños,” “little miracles.”

Dad prays often, and his faith is strong. Recently, he did admit to worrying about leaving Mom, his wife of 61 years. “What will she do without me?” he said. Almost immediately his thoughts and words turned to God. He remembered how, 74 years ago, God came to the aid of a 12 year old orphaned, impoverished, and uneducated Mexican boy. “Eso fue un gran milagro.” he said, “That was a great miracle.” That memory was enough to ease his fears, enough to remind him to simply trust God.

I’ve watched Dad all my life. I’ve watched and I’ve listened. What Dad lacked in education, he made up in wisdom. What he lacked in formal training, he made up with hard work and determination. By watching Dad live his life, I learned to value hard work, honesty, and patience; and I learned the importance of kindness and compassion.

Now, as I watch Dad inch his way toward God, it is not a fearful, stooped and frail body that I see; I see one respectfully bowed in faithful prayer, complete trust, and quiet anticipation. Dad is not afraid, and neither am I…..but I will miss him dearly.

Heavenly Father, I place all my fears at the foot of the cross.

Friday, 04/06/12

2012-04-06T05:00:00.000-04:00

Gospel: John 13:36-38, 19:38-42

Old Testament: Lam 3:1-9, 19-33

New Testament: 1 Pet 1:10-20

Psalms: 95, 22,40:1-14(15-19), 54

“Jesus answered, ‘Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterwards.’ Peter said to him, ‘Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you. Jesus answered, ‘Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.’” John 13:36-38

Good Friday is the darkest day in the Christian Calendar; a singular moment when even Jesus’ closest followers abandon him to face death alone. Peter is labeled as the denier in the reading, but his actions are symbolic of all the disciples, none of whom stood up to defend the Messiah.

We are all Peter. We all have fallen short of the sight of God. We all have denied God. We fundamentally misunderstand the Easter story when we make Jesus’ death the fault of someone else, someone other than “me.” When the crowds ask for Barabbas, everyone calls for Barabbas. When they chant “crucify him,” the whole of the assembly chants. No one stood up to speak for Jesus. No one stood up to speak for God. We are all complicit here.

The rest of the readings today are messages of hope. God will not abandon us forever, Jesus will return, and all will once again be right in the world. But today? Today we suffer. We remind ourselves of the suffering of those dark days and of those days when we have felt far from God. When “he has driven and brought me into darkness without any light; against me alone he turns his hand, again and again, all day long.”

Why? Because we only really understand God’s love, the healing power of God’s grace, in those dark moments. We can only really experience the transformative power of God in our lives when our
lives are truly transformed. God is not a God of the status quo.

Here is the Good in Good Friday. Even at our worst, God was at his best. Even as we left Jesus to die on the cross, his death became our salvation. As you meditate on Jesus’ suffering, prepare yourself for his, and your, salvation.

GSM

Thursday, 04/05/12

2012-04-05T05:00:00.000-04:00

Gospel: Mark 14:12-25

Old Testament: Lam 2:10-18

Psalms: 102,142, 143

New Testament: 1 Cor 10:14-17, 11:27-32

Whenever I read this passage from Mark’s gospel, I am always struck by the conversation between Jesus and his disciples when Jesus suggests that he will be betrayed and “...one by one they say to Jesus ‘surely, you don’t mean me?’”

“Surely you don’t mean me…” They each seem to take a moment to reflect on their lives and on their actions, assessing if they have betrayed Jesus. Since the passage says, “…one by one they asked…,” I assume Judas asked the question, too. Did he think his actions were honorable? Did he know that he was betraying Jesus? Or did he NOT realize what his actions would do until after Jesus was arrested?

On a personal note, this questioning makes me look at my own life, at my own actions. Is it possible that I may have betrayed Jesus? Are some of my well-intended actions, in reality, betrayals? There are certainly times when I’ve hurt the feeling of another simply by not thinking through something before I’ve said it. Maybe there are times I have not been true to my faith or true to Jesus simply because I’ve acted on a momentary impulse and not really thought through how my actions could be perceived? Am I motivated by something other than faith? Sometimes. I just hope and pray that those times do not bring about actions that are contrary to the Gospel and ultimately betray Jesus.

I pray, wherever I am and whatever I do, that I may genuinely reflect the true faith of a Christian and that I may be a true witness for the Gospel. Amen.

ASCM

Wednesday, 04/04/12

2012-04-04T05:00:00.000-04:00

Psalms: 55, 74

Old Testament: Lam 2:1-9,14-17

Gospel: Mark 12:1-11

New Testament: 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:11

When reading through my assigned verses the first few times, there were none that really jumped out at me. I picked them back up every few days and, after a week or so, I highlighted a few that seemed to stand out from the rest. For me, all of the readings had some reference to people harming other people, or people grieving. Those aren’t the kind of thoughts I like to meditate on; so I put them aside for a while -- again. What was in these readings for me?

God works in mysterious ways. A little more than a week ago, a dear and longtime friend of our family died suddenly. Our entire family was filled with grief. Each of us would show it and eventually come to peace with it in different ways and at different times. I went back to my readings. One of the verses I had highlighted was Psalm 55, verse 22, which says:

“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

This verse I highlighted many weeks ago reminded me that I can trust God to give me His peace when I most need it. When filled with grief, I can trust in Him. This verse helped me come to peace with the passing of our friend. I pray for him every day and will continue to do so for forty-nine days, as this was a practice that he had followed every time someone he knew died.

May you also find peace in God’s Word when you need it.

PFH

Tuesday, 04/03/12

2012-04-03T05:00:00.000-04:00

Gospel: Mark 11:27-33

Old Testament: Lam 1:17-22

New Testament: 2 Cor 1:8-22

Psalms: 6, 12, 94

"When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”

(Psalm 94:19)

When I hear the word “hospital,” images of stark white walls, solemn faces, stern staff, fear, tears, and sadness come to mind. Walk into any hospital and there’s bound to be several cancer patients – I can think of fewer things more evil than cancer. Worse – childhood cancer.

That’s why last year, when my company gave me the opportunity to participate in a service trip to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, I jumped at the chance. I expected it to be a somber trip. Nothing could have been further from the truth.

From the moment I arrived until the time I left, I felt God’s immediate presence in the hard work of my coworkers, the selfless work of the hospital staff, and the determination, strength, and beautiful smiles of the patients. I was humbled and honored to participate and to experience the purest form of love, service, and commitment alongside a group of incredible people. It was truly a turning point in my life – a recognition that in our darkest times, the light of God is always shining on us. Thanks to the work of St. Jude and other hospitals like it, the overall survival rate for childhood cancers has increased from less than 20% in 1962 to 80% today.

But statistics aside, what matters is that when I saw the parents AND the kids at St. Jude, I saw hope rather than fear. Whether or not they knew it, God is that hope; and that hope continues every day at St. Jude. I felt like the luckiest person on Earth to experience it.

CSL

Monday, 04/02/12

2012-04-02T05:00:00.000-04:00

New Testament: 2 Cor 1:1-7

Old Testament: Lam 1:1-2,6-12

Gospel: Mark 11:12-25

Psalms: 51:1-18 (19-20), 69:1-23

When Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians and spoke about sharing abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, he was speaking not only about the suffering of Jesus on the Cross for our redemption, but also about the suffering that early Christians were experiencing as they proclaimed their belief in Jesus as our Savior. Indeed, their persecution was great. By comparison, our lives as Christians seem far easier. Yet, our lives are not without suffering. We see it every day as we look at the people around us, people who are having tough times.

Paul tells us that we are comforted in our sufferings so that we can comfort others. One reason I am so proud to be a part of Saint Matthew’s is that as a community we are so willing to reach out to those who are suffering. We recognize that God blesses us with much and comforts us in our troubles, and we in turn reach out to help and comfort those in need. While this is noticeable in many of our outreach projects, I see it most profoundly on our mission trips.

On mission trips I see young children receive attention, encourage ment, and validation; homeless people share their stories and receive prayer as well as badly needed supplies; homes built and repairs made; schools built; toys, books, and games given; food prepared and served to feed the hungry; clothes offered for those in need; physical jobs done for those who can no longer do the work themselves; and people being comforted in their grief through word, song, and prayer. Most importantly, I see those who are suffering not use their suffering as an excuse to turn FROM God, but as a reason to turn TO God.

My prayer for all of us at Saint Matthew’s is not only that we find comfort in our sufferings, but that in our lowest moments, hardest times, or loneliest day, we may turn TO God, not FROM him.

MJP

Sunday, 04/01/12

2012-04-01T05:00:00.000-04:00

New Testament: 1 Timothy 6:12-16

Gospel: Luke 19:41-48
Psalms: 24, 29, 103

Old Testament: Zech 9:9-12, 12:9-11, 13:1, 7-9

Paul told Timothy to “Fight the Good Fight.” Does that evoke images
for you of powerful people at war? During the American Civil War, soldiers for both the North and the South fought for what they
believed to be right and prayed for God to give them victory. As we know, the North won and the South lost. Did that mean the South failed to fight the good fight? No, the soldiers from both sides fought with incredible valor.

As a kid, if someone told me to fight the good fight, it usually meant to give maximum effort to whatever task was at hand so that I might be successful or, if not successful, at least I could be unashamed of the job I did. That is still good advice.

Paul’s call to fight the good fight of faith was an exhortation to resist evil in all forms and to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. That is a much tougher task than to physically confront another person in battle or to try our best. It requires us to make a commitment in mind and spirit to always do what is right. Being right doesn’t mean to be the most popular, richest, beautiful, dominant, or any of the other quantifiers our society uses to measure success. It simply means to put full effort into living according to the professions we made to God during our baptism.

Fighting the good fight is a daily struggle. Every day brings choices to make, and I trust God to give me the strength to make the right ones. Resisting evil requires more strength than I can muster by myself, and I don’t believe I can be successful without the Lord’s help.

What do you think?

DJB

Saturday, 03/31/12

2012-03-31T05:00:00.000-04:00

New Test: 2 Corinthians 4:13-18

Old Testament: Exodus 10:21-11:8

Gospel: Mark 10:46-52

Psalms: 137:1-6(7-9), 144, 42, 43

“… Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, … so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen…” (2 Cor. 4:13-18)

These verses crisply state the true benefit of our faith and the grace of living a godly life – that, together, our faith and our ability to give our time and our resources to others helps spread the grace of God to more and more people.

While reading and contemplating these verses, I was taken back to our church family’s mission trip work in Nashville and Chicago. The amount of faith shown, scripture spoken, and tireless giving by the St. Matthew’s teams throughout those trips truly speaks of a loving God and His blessings.

I watched our mission teams do incredible work for people that were in need of life resources and faith resources. I am certain that the “same spirit” that our teams brought to these trips made an immeasurable and profound impact on the people of Chicago. Equally, I think the “same spirit” that some of us witnessed and experienced at the
“By The Hand Schools” brought our teams grace and the glory of God.
I remember participating in morning worship with very needy children in the middle of some of the harshest communities of Chicago. Each time, it was a very moving experience. The children sang, danced, and worshiped to renew themselves day by day and to prepare themselves to fight the evil lurking just outside their fences. That renewal rubbed off on us as well; everyone involved was touched by God’s grace as it spread more and more throughout our shared experiences.

Additionally, our mission trip experiences had a lasting effect on me and my family. We vowed to return to Sterling and begin contributing monthly to LINK in order to help, here at home, with the same fight against hunger we saw in Chicago.

Therefore, do not lose your heart, follow the light of Jesus, and be of the same spirit.

WAA

Friday, 03/30/12

2012-03-30T05:00:00.000-04:00

Psalms: 22, 95, 141, 143:1-11 (12)

Old Testament: Exodus 9:13-35

New Testament: 2 Corinthians 4:1-12

Gospel: Mark 10:32-45

I would venture to guess that most of us sing out loud at least once a day. Whether it is in the shower, in our cars when a special song comes on (and we sing it as loud as we can), or taking a walk with an iPod, we do sing out loud. What do most of these times have in common? We are alone; and no one else can hear the slightly off key tone that most of us produce. There is a reason that most of us don’t sing in the choir, right? If you think about it, though, when you are in church and the choir or the band starts playing a song, the congregation IS one big choir. Rev. Anne reminded us of this at the retreat in November, and the Bible also encourages us to sing. Psalm 95:1-2 tells us to: “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord: let us shout out loud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. “

There is no mention of having to sing on key, or of the need to carry a tune. For those of you who have ever been to a rock concert, or any event where an entire audience is encouraged to sing along, have you ever noticed that the “audience choir” sounds pretty good when singing as a whole? Think of our congregation as an “audience choir” and become a part of it. Let the Lord hear you sing -- because He doesn’t mind if you are a bit pitchy or off key. And most likely, neither will people around you in the pew.

BER

Thursday, 03/29/12

2012-03-29T05:00:00.000-04:00

Gospel: Mark 10:17-31

Old Testament: Exodus 7:25-8:19
New Testament: 2 Corinthians 3:7-18

Psalms: 131, 132, [133], 140, 142

I’m not going to lie to you; I’ve always wanted to be rich. I watch HGTV’s shows like “Selling New York” so I can get an inside-look at places I would never even be invited to visit, much less buy.

This past week, while I was watching HGTV’s “Million Dollar Kitchens”, I saw a couple spend a million dollars redoing their kitchen and dining room in one of the gaudiest ways I had ever seen. Seriously, what were these people thinking? They could have spent that money doing so much good in the poor communities around them. They could have funded numerous food pantries, or stocked a homeless shelter. What were they thinking?

Then, I started looking around my own home and at my own stuff, such as the Classic Winnie-the-Pooh collectibles that I’ve gotten up at 2 AM to win on eBay, the leather bound classic books that I had to have to make me feel smarter (even though I’ve never actually read any of them), and the copious amounts of gardening supplies that I had to have in the dead of winter (they were on sale). It occurred to me that I’m as bad as those rich people on HGTV with their tacky kitchen. All this money that I’ve spent, and only for my pleasure, made me ask myself, “What was I thinking?” If I stop spending that money on me, I can give more to others, like LINK, the Backpack Buddies, and the local animal shelter.

I understand now why Jesus felt sorry for the rich man. To give up all his security and comfort is asking A LOT, but what he gains in return is worth so much more: to be a part of God’s kingdom and to be with Him for eternity. What can be better than that? Definitely not books or a tacky kitchen!

Dear Abba, please help me as I struggle to let go of the need for all these earthly things that are so meaningless. Help me to focus on serving you as you’ve asked me to do, to help those around me who are less fortunate, and help me be more loving, like you. AMEN.

KLR

Wednesday, 03/28/12

2012-03-28T05:00:00.000-04:00

Gospel: Mark 10:1-16

Old Testament: Exod 7:8-24

New Testament: 2 Cor 2:14-3:6

Psalms: 119:145-176, 128, 129, 130

Rebecca, my Granddaughter, is 12 years old. She is also full of wisdom, and she teaches me every day (if I stop and listen). Recently, she offered me the following pearl of wisdom, “If you talk, you repeat what you already know; if you listen, you learn;” (source: Big Bowl fortune cookie). What possible connection is there between this fortune cookie and today’s lectionary themes – Pharaoh saying no to Moses and Aaron, divorce, and Jesus welcoming the little children? Try this.

In my many years, there have been way too many occasions where I have allowed myself to get worked up, angry, frustrated, etc., because I flew to judgment on a person, behavior, or situation I didn’t like. Why? Because I started talking to justify my feelings and the logic behind my righteousness, and I didn’t listen. Too often, I simply did not under stand and appreciate the reason for the conflict or for what I was witnessing. I may have listened with my ears, but not with my heart.

Pharaoh hardened his heart against Moses. Divorce often results when families harden their hearts and stop listening to each other. Rebecca and others have taught me that conflict resolution can only be achieved through listening with an open and sensitive heart, with love and acceptance.

Now for the best part: today, Mark paints a gorgeous picture of Jesus opening his ears, heart, and arms to the little children against the objections of his disciples. “Let the little children come unto me…theirs is the Kingdom of God.” Once again, Jesus shows us a heart full of love, understanding, and compassion.

Lord, thank you for this wonderful Wednesday. Please help me to
open my heart to those I meet today so that I may listen and truly understand where they are and what they need. Oh yes, also thanks for Rebecca and Big Bowl fortune cookies. Amen.

JDD

Tuesday, 03/27/12

2012-03-27T05:00:00.000-04:00

Gospel: Mark 9:42-50

Old Testament: Exodus 5:1-6:1

New Testament: 1 Cor 14:20-40

Psalms: [120],121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, [127]

This week’s Gospel reading reminds me of my relationship with my younger brother and helping him keep his faith. Since I have been away at school, I feel that we have been connecting much more while I’m home. Perhaps it is that he has reached an age where we have more in common, or that I have reached an age where I realize I need to be more caring and connected as a sibling. Maybe it’s simply that we were around each other too much while I was in high school and he was in middle school, and we did what all siblings will do: get on each others nerves.

Now, more than ever, as he enters high school, it is important for me to guide him in whatever ways I can. The most important of these may be to lead by example, which includes listening. Keeping the faith in the younger ones who look up to us will be for naught if we only speak of how to live – we must show them.

On one of my visits back home he said, “Can we talk whenever you have the chance?” It seems silly, but I was so happy to listen and to help in whatever little way I could. We, of course, talked about a girl, and that was a first between my brother and me. God willing, I hope we have many more talks in the future, and with God’s help, I hope to live my life well as an example, and perhaps help him to avoid any bumps in the road I have hit. I thank God for the opportunity to guide my brother.

TAB

Monday, 03/26/12

2012-03-26T17:01:00.003-04:00

Gospel: Mark 9:30-41

Old Testament: Exodus 4:10-31

New Testament: 1 Corinthians 14:1-19

Psalms: 31, 35

In today’s reading from Mark, there were many passages that struck me. Verses 34 -35, however, were special: “But they were silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve; and he said, ‘If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant to all.’”

Recently, my daughter tried out for a lead in a school musical. She practiced a lot and really wanted that part. She ended up getting something else in the play instead. I was worried about how she would take it and how she would feel, until she came up to me and said, “Mom, I’m good with this. I’m happy with the part I did get.” I realized that, for her, it is not at all about winning… but just trying her best.

I feel situations like this come up all the time in my life. I see it in business, where we are always working to be the best, to be #1. I see it with children. They learn early on to want to be winners. I’ve been in a car with boys where each of them is talking about how he is better at something than the boy next to him. I call it one-up-man-ship. How amazing it would really be if someone spoke up and said “Hey, you are better than me, and that is wonderful!“ – And they really meant it! That is what I hope for my children. I hope that they will learn to be humble and to value others as well as themselves. I want them to appreciate the people around them for what they are, not how good they are at something. I am hoping to become better at leading by example. Being #2 or #3, or even #2000 is OK. It is even great!

ABB

Sunday, 03/25/12

2012-03-25T05:00:00.000-04:00

Psalms: 118, 145

Old Testament: Exodus 3:16-4:12

New Testament: Romans 12:1-12

Gospel: John 8:46-59

“I WILL extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever [with grateful, affectionate praise]. Every day [with its new reasons] will I bless You [affectionately and gratefully praise You]; yes, I will praise Your name forever and ever.” Psalm 145: 1-2

I recently saw a friend share a picture online that said, "What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday." I try to remember to give God thanks each and every day. Some days I feel like I do a good job; others, I'm lucky if I remember to give Him thanks before a meal. But what if that really happened? What would I wake up with?

So I thought about it and realized that, in general, I’d be surrounded by some of my favorite people and things; but what about all the other things that make up my daily existence? Do you remember to give Him thanks for ALL things? I tried it once, and I found my list going on and on, “and… oh, and… and also…” Then I tried the simple, “Thank you for everything” approach, but I was left feeling like that was a cop out.

Suddenly it dawned on me; giving thanks to God wasn’t necessarily about a shopping list of things, nor was it about being general and vague, it was about acknowledging His place in my life. I give
“thanks” to God every time I do something right in His eyes.

When I give thanks to God, I need to consider thanking Him for being in my life, for being a part of my life. I need to thank Him for walking with me and leading me along the way. I truly have so much to be thankful for. The question is where will I begin? Where will you begin?

“My mouth shall speak the praise of the
Lord; and let all flesh bless [affectionately
and gratefully praise] His holy name
forever and ever.”

Psalm 145:21

BBH

Saturday, 03/24/12

2012-03-24T05:00:00.000-04:00

New Testament: 1 Cor 13:1-13

Old Testament: Exodus 2:23-3:15

Gospel: Mark 9:14-29

Psalms: 107:33-43, 108:1-6 (7-13), 33

At first I thought the usual thoughts when reading, “Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous…” This passage is commonly used as the reading at weddings or during the renewal of vows. Then I reflected on the final verse: “…So faith, hope, love remain, these three, but the greatest of these is love.” I believe that not only is love the greatest of these, it is the most difficult of these. I began to think about it in the context of parental love.

Recently my daughter called me at work to tell me the following story involving her five-year-old son.

“Mom, I can’t believe it! Your words just came right out of my mouth this morning. Joseph was in trouble, so I sent him upstairs for a time out. He wheeled around and said, ‘You make me mad, and you are not my friend!’ And I said, ‘You are right. I am not your friend. I am something much more important than that. I am your mother.’” I laughed and congratulated her on a job well done.

Then we recalled a time when she, her brother, and I were having dinner and he wanted to go with some friends to an event in Georgetown. He was 16, and after thinking it over, I said, “Sorry, but no.” He was angry and said “Brendan’s mom is letting him go,” thinking that would sway me. I looked him in the eye and told him that I must love him more because the answer was still no. He replied, “Can’t you just love me a little less?” I responded, “You are my heart of hearts, it is impossible for me to love you less. I only love you more every day.” He sat quietly for a few moments and then said, “Mom, you are the last of a dying breed.” And we all laughed together.

It is so hard not to be your child’s friend first, but to be the parent. I have recently noticed that so many parents (family and friends) are struggling with this issue. They tell me that things are different now, that things are not the same as when I was a parent, that the world is a changed place, etc. My answer to them, though, is that things are not different. Things were just as hard for my generation and even for the one before that. To lovingly guide your children, to lovingly teach your children, never has been and is never going to be easy.

I learned that, in the end, if you remain the responsible grown up, no matter how much tough love you have to use, you will one day get to be friends with your children. My thirty-something-year-old kids are now my best friends.

Friday, 03/23/12

2012-03-23T05:00:00.000-04:00

Gospel: Mark 9:2-13

Old Testament: Exodus 2:1-22

New Testament: 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:3

Psalms: 95, 102, 107:1-32

Today’s Gospel reading is a fairly short reading, but it has a strong message. The message of today's Gospel reading helps to remind me who Jesus is. This is very important, especially during this season of Lent. I hope it does the same for you.

Today's Gospel reading tells the story of the transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor. Peter, James, and John witnessed the appearance of Elijah and Moses, the transfiguration, and heard the voice of God. I am sure you have heard this story before.

The transfiguration revealed Jesus’ divine nature. Jewish tradition placed the Messiah on the same level with Moses and Elijah. The cloud covered the mountain, and when it lifted only Jesus was revealed. The voice of God confirmed that Jesus was on a higher level than the Law (represented by Moses) or the Prophets (represented by Elijah).

God’s words in this reading reconfirmed Jesus’ identity and added an imperative, “Listen to him!” In today’s world, many voices try to tell us how to live and how to know God personally. Some of these voices are helpful; many are not. In order to listen to Jesus, you and I need to listen to his words in the Bible. We need to study those words. We also need to listen through prayer.

The reminder in today’s reading is that Jesus is God, Jesus is the Messiah, and we all need to listen to Jesus. This may seem obvious to most of us, and we may think we do not need to be reminded of this. I do not know about you, but in my hectic life, I do need this reminder. With all the noise out there, the reality is that the facts of this reminder tend to get pushed aside.

Wishing you the best in your walk with Christ,

RPL

Thursday, 03/22/12

2012-03-22T05:00:00.000-04:00

Gospel: Mark 8:27-9:1

Old Testament: Exodus 1:6-22

New Testament: 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

Psalms: 69,73

I've never seen a jet-black swan
To see a flock'd shock me
For if one nests in yonder pond
It could spell TEOTWAWKI*
(*The End Of The World As We Know It)

"A black swan is a highly improbable event with three principal characteristics:
It is unpredictable; it carries a massive impact; and, after the fact, we concoct an

explanation that makes it appear less random, and more predictable, than it was.
"Nassim Taleb, "The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable"

The first century Roman poet Juvenal (tongue-in-cheek no doubt) described the
virtuous woman as a "rara avis" (rare bird) – a Black Swan. Then as now, there
are only white swans in Eurasia (or in the Americas). The first black swans were
sighted in Australia in the 17^th century. Juvenal's point underscores the
logical axiom – absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

Taleb has extended the black swan metaphor to encompass (generally) unforeseen
events that had huge impact. In our time, the classic example of a Black Swan is
the 9/11 attacks, which had massive near-term impacts on financial markets and
transportation systems, and longer-term impacts on international relations
(especially the relationship between the West and Islamic nations).

If we are objective, the incarnation of the Almighty in the person of Jesus was
a Black Swan event. As his ministry progressed, people throughout the region
knew that something of unprecedented impact was going on. Healings and miracles
were being reported. Profound teaching was being re-circulated in astounding
conversations. But few people, if any, were taking their conclusions to the next
level – that Jesus was not a continuation of the pattern established over
millennia of Jewish prophecy and teaching – that He was an unimagined,
unthinkable break from the pattern of the past. That was Peter's moment of
lightning-from-God insight. But even that insight was incomplete, because Peter
could not accept the burden of sacrifice that Messiah (and his followers) would
be taking on. It would require two more Black Swan events – the Resurrection and
the outpouring of the Holy Spirit – for Peter to take that next step, to embrace
the end of the world as he had known it, and step with boldness into the world
of the Kingdom.

A Black Swan lies (some time) in our future that truly will be TEOTWAWKI.
Christ will come again. Will we apprehend the truth when it comes?

MLB

Wednesday, 03/21/12

2012-03-21T05:00:00.000-04:00

Psalms: 101, 109, 119:121-144

Old Testament: Gen 50:15-26

New Testament: 1 Cor 12:1-11

Gospel: Mark 8:11-26

“ I will not set before my eyes anything that is base.”

Psalm 101:3

A long time ago, in a land far away, I lifted a lot of weights. One of the most important lifts we did was “the squat.” In this lift, appropriately enough, you squat, stand up, and then squat again for the desired number of repetitions.

Because squats use some of the biggest muscles of your body, you can really pile on the weights (we’d squat upwards of 500 pounds); and because you use so much weight, squats can be dangerous. One of the keys to squatting well is remembering to look up throughout the movement. In squats, as in so many things in life, the way you look is the way you go. So, if you look down while squatting, you tend to lean forward, and then, as all those weights come forward accordingly, you are in BIG trouble.

The way you look is the way you go– that’s the principle behind the verse above. If we focus on “corrupt and degrading things” (as the Message translates it), that will shape our thinking accordingly, and ultimately our actions.

Paul picks up this same principle in the New Testament and gives it a positive twist: “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8) To understand what is at stake, imagine the opposite: Whatever is untrue, dishonest, unjust, impure, ugly, negative, vicious, or worthy of criticism, think about these things. Put so starkly, it sounds funny doesn’t it? Yet that is precisely where so many people put their focus these days.

I hope you or I will not be one of them, choosing instead the
ancient wisdom of the Psalmist who will not allow
anything base before his eyes.

CRM

Tuesday, 03/20/12

2012-03-20T05:00:00.000-04:00

Gospel: Mark 8:1-10

Old Testament: Genesis 49:29-50:14

New Testament: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Psalms: 97, 99, 100, 94, 95

“I have compassion for these people...”

(NIV Mark 8:2)

Among the benefits the company that I work for offers is a “Personal Volunteer Day.” You are entitled to receive a day off with pay if you spend that day participating in an event that serves the community. A few years ago, I started selecting the Friday before Thanksgiving as my Personal Volunteer Day.

Every year the events of my volunteer day unfold in much the same manner. I spend the day with Kenny Thayer collecting food for LINK’s Thanksgiving Food Distribution. This annual event takes a lot of planning and a lot of volunteers. It’s amazing to see so many people come together to help meet this community need.

Today’s reading from Mark, about Jesus feeding the four thousand, reminds me of that event. We are told that Jesus felt compassion for the people, so He took what was available and prayed ─ trusting God to provide.

When we first arrive at the churches which serve as the distribution centers, there never seems to be enough food for the number of people signed up. The organizers (like the disciples) are always concerned that they may run out of food ─ although I have never heard of that happening. Actually, the opposite is closer to the truth. As with the four thousand, there always seems to be enough to feed those present… and then some.

Kenny and I spend such days moving food from LINK’s food pantry, shuttling between the two distribution centers, and picking up donations from schools. Each time we return to the churches, the amount of food seems to have grown (just as the seven loaves and a few small fish multiplied). As with the four thousand, the need is met by taking what is available and trusting God to provide.

May we follow Jesus’ example by showing compassion for one another and by trusting
God to provide. Amen.

SWG

Monday, 03/19/12

2012-03-19T05:00:00.000-04:00

Psalms: 89:1-18, 89:19-52

Old Testament: Genesis 49:1-28

New Testament: 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1

Gospel: Mark 7:24-37

“I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever;
with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known
through all generations.” Psalm 89:1

“Oh your love is a symphony, all around me, running through me.” Switchfoot blared on my iPod as I walked through the gates of Miami Int’l Airport and onto the plane bound for Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

I learned a lot during my trip to the small island country, but one of the most incredible experiences I had was learning to worship side-by-side with my Haitian brothers and sisters. They sang praises to God for three to four hours on Sunday morning (and Tuesday night), in Creole and French – two languages that I do not know. However, I learned that I didn’t have to understand the words they were saying in order to worship just as passionately with them. Though we were not speaking the exact words of the Lord’s Prayer together, we were both communicating with God in our own words.

The most vivid memory I have from Haiti is singing with a deacon and his daughters. He was explaining to us that his eldest daughter loves to sing, and I mentioned that I love singing, too. So, naturally, he burst out into a Creole worship song. As I listened to them sing, I recognized the melody as one of my favorite Chris Tomlin songs, “Here I am to Worship.” Some of our mission team joined us in worship, singing in English, of course. For three minutes, we praised the One God who joins us all together in the bond of Christ, in the different languages that God created for us. Just because the words were not in the same language didn’t mean that the prayer wasn’t.

Aside from being the hottest, thirstiest, achy-est, and most incredible six days of my life, my week in Haiti taught me that everyone can have a special way to communicate with God. Praying on hands and knees not your thing? That’s okay – you can find other ways to talk to God. Embarrassed to sing out loud and clap during worship? No problem – you can speak to God in other languages. He’ll hear you speak to Him in the way that will work for you. He created you, after all; He knows everything about you. For me, I sing. For you – well, there are infinite possibilities.

“Oh your love is a song.”

LBA

Sunday, 03/18/12

2012-03-18T05:00:00.000-04:00

Gospel: John 6:27-40

Old Testament: Genesis 48:8-22

New Testament: Romans 8:11-25

Psalms: 66, 67, 19, 46

“Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard by prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!” (Psalm 66:16-20)

This past summer was traumatic for me. For the first time in my life, I was laid-off. I was terrified. My security was snatched from me. I was left with anxiety, self-doubt, and stress so severe that I believe it contributed to my bout with meningitis and a 4-day hospital stay in insolation. I was a mess.

Everyone was telling me to pray, and I told them I would… but I didn’t. I just didn’t. I guess I was angry with Him. If He loved me, why would He put me through this?

While lying in the hospital bed, I recalled a conversation I over heard my mom having with a friend. Mom was telling her how she found the church we were attending. She said she prayed that God would find us a home in a good neighborhood, close to schools that my brother & I could attend, and a Spirit-filled church – all within 5 miles of our home. She said He fulfilled her prayer request down to the last little bit. If God could do that for my mom, then I knew He could do that for me. So, I prayed. I prayed for a job I could really enjoy, that understood my family came first, within a 45 minute travel radius, and with co-workers who cared about each other, treated each other with dignity and respect, and who laughed a lot.

And you know what? He answered my prayer down to the last little bit. I truly enjoy my new job, my peaceful, 45 minute commute against traffic, and especially my co-workers, who are an amazing bunch of women. Now, I thank God every day that I was laid-off and forced to find something else.

Thank you, God, for knowing what’s best for me and for answering my prayers. Thank you for loving me enough to push me out of my secure comfort zone and on to a better place. Please help me remember that, no matter what, you love me and always want the best for your children. Amen.

KLR

Saturday, 03/17/12

2012-03-17T05:00:00.000-04:00

Gospel: Mark 7:1-23

Old Testament: Genesis 47:27-48:7

New Testament: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Psalms: 87, 90, 136

When I began coursework for my social work degree, my clinical internship was at a psychiatric rehabilitation facility with a “milieu” setting. This meant that great care was taken to erase differences between staff and clients, under a treatment model that promoted recovery. Everyone dressed casually and ate together in the cafeteria, chatting about weekend plans over sandwiches or salads.

Of course, in class I was learning that social workers should keep strict boundaries and reveal little to nothing about themselves. So during those lunchtime chats, when clients asked questions about my personal life, I wasn't sure how to answer. I was supposed to be treating all my clients as equals and modeling appropriate lunchtime conversations, but how could I also keep the necessary boundaries? My supervisor gave great advice. She said, "Always think about why you are saying what you are saying. Is it for your benefit, or for the client's?"

In today’s lesson from Mark, Jesus talks about the importance of what is in a man's heart. As you go about your life today, I challenge you to check in with yourself several times – maybe set a phone or watch to go off to help you to remember – and really examine what is in your heart at that moment. Why are you doing what you are doing? Are you following the rules, but letting your heart stray? If you find that you are struggling with what's in your heart, take the next step. Read the Bible. Pray. Go for a walk. Phone your Godparent or a friend from church.

Jesus is offering each one of us an extraordinary opportunity to prepare for the great gift of Easter. Be honest with yourself and God, and then use this day of Lent, and each day, with all your heart.

RBP

Friday, 03/16/12

2012-03-16T05:00:00.000-04:00

Gospel: Mark 6:47-56

Old Testament: Genesis 47:1-26

New Testament: 1 Corinthians 9:16-27

Psalms: 88, 91, 92

Beneath my oddly outgoing, obnoxious exterior beats the heart of a math nerd. I recently confused November for February because both are 2 months away from the turn of the New Year. Everyone does that… right?

This past December a group of teens and adults went to a park in DC to deliver lunches and hygienic kits to homeless people. Twenty-one of us served forty people, all in about two hours. One group talked to a man for almost half an hour, just sharing in his life.

My group saw a man who was walking around and yelling at no one in particular. He seemed downright crazy, and no one wanted to go up and offer him a lunch. Later, we saw the same man sitting on a bench, and we finally got up the nerve to offer him a meal. We talked to him for twenty minutes, and we found out he worked as a poet and comedian. By doing that in the colder months, he gets coffee and hot chocolate for others in the park. His yelling was actually him putting on his show, and one of the teens even asked for some of the poems that he had written.

In a week’s time, I have 168 hours to spend. By spending only 2 of those hours, I was changed, and I served God. That wasn’t very much of my time, just 1.2% of my day.

A few years ago, the St. Matthew’s Youth Group made a Lenten commitment to do one act of kindness a day. Some gave cookies to others on the school bus. Some complimented a hurting friend, or an outcast. Each person who did this spent about 10 minutes a day and came away feeling differently about themselves, their classmates, and the great work God can do through each of us. The cost to them? Only about .7% of their day.

How will you spend .7% of your day for God?

TEL

Thursday, 03/15/12

2012-03-15T05:00:00.000-04:00

Gospel: Mark 6:30-46

Old Testament: Genesis 46:1-7, 28-34

New Testament: 1 Corinthians 9:1-15

Psalms: 42, 43, 85, 86

There is nothing I take more pleasure in than seeing my knowledge passed down to a younger generation. Granted I am only a senior in high school, but three years ago, when I had the chance to coach my brother’s flag football team, I had the opportunity to spread my passion for football, a game I had come to love at a very young age. This was something I was excited to share.

I was coaching 4^th and 5^th grade boys who were eager to play the game of football. It was my first time coaching anything, but I knew that if there was anything I could teach, it was football. I still remember the faces of all the kids, but one in particular made a huge impact on me. His name was Ian. He was one of our last draft picks, one of the shortest kids in the league, and had never played football in his life. However, his enthusiasm for learning was contagious. Every time I coached him up in practice, I could see that he was absorbing my every word and trying to become a better player; and every week he got better and better! At first, the other teams only saw his size and underestimated his ability. Well, he went on to become our best player and the face of the team.

That year we went 10-2, falling short of winning the championship, giving up the game-winning touchdown in the final minute of the game. I was heartbroken, shocked that a team this special wasn’t going to win the championship. I wanted it badly, not just for myself, but for my players as well. Seeing the tears in their eyes, I could tell that they cared just as much as I did. After the game, we shared a special moment: my players signed one of our jerseys and gave it to me. As I held the jersey in front of all the parents and players, a few tears came out. A simple jersey with 7 names on it wouldn’t seem too special to most people, but to me, it meant the world. It showed me that I had really made an impact on all of their lives. Unlike Jesus in today’s reading in Mark 6, I didn’t feed 5,000, but I did touch the lives of 7 wonderful boys, and that’s something I’ll hold onto forever.

CPB