Devotion - Monday, September 30

One of the stories in the Old Testament worth knowing is the encounter between Naaman, Commander of the army of the king of Syria, and the prophet Elisha.  You can read it in 2 Kings 5.

Naaman has found favor with God, and his commended for his valor.  However, he suffers from leprosy.  In a raid a young maid from the land of Israel is taken.  She suggests Naaman go to Israel to be healed of his leprosy.  

Much like the story of the birth of Jesus, the Kings are the ones to whom they go.  But it is not the Kings who speak for God or accomplish God's purposes.  It is the prophet, Elisha, who saves the King of Israel from humiliation (and perhaps even destruction.)

The part of the story I want to focus on this morning is what happens when Naaman gets to the house of Elisha.  With his mighty army and with his ten thousand talents of silver and six thousand shekels of gold and his ten festal garments he waits outside.  Elisha sends a messenger - yes, sends a messenger - and tells Naaman to go take a bath in the river Jordan.  

That is it.  That is all he says.  Bathe seven times, "and your flesh shall be restored."

Naaman is enraged!  "No shouting to the heavens?"  "No waving of his hands over the infected flesh?"  Naaman storms off to the rivers of his homeland.  

It is Naaman's servants to say to him, "If the prophet had asked you to do some great and difficult thing would you not have done it?  How willing then ought you to be to do this little thing."  Naaman does; and he is made well.

God does not demand great feats from us.  God does not set up difficult entrance processes.  God welcomes us into His family and says, "Live life fully; live the kind of life that is going to make you happy and bring joy to those around you."  "Love me," Jesus says, "and love your neighbor as if your neighbor were yourself."

Maybe, if God gave us a more difficult task, more would follow. 

Naaman's encounter with Elisha reminds us that while some may come looking for a show - the real deal is the small, simple acts done to please God and to help God's people.

Friday Devotion

Today's offering was prepared by Ryan Song:

Topic: God as your Father
Here are five points about God that I know personally as I’ve gotten to know him.
1)       God is a Community of Relationships

God desires to have relationships, and fundamentally the concept of God itself should bring forth some notion of community and fellowship. A triune God (Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) with separate entities and yet at the same time are one says it all. God himself is a community of relationships. Genesis 1:2 says “the spirit of God swept over the face of the waters” and later in Genesis 1 every time God speaks, something is created which means God’s word has some form of agency and according to John 1 it says “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. Eventually John reveals this “Word” became flesh and was the father’s only son. Note how John describes the Word and God as two different beings yet with one identity. So even in the beginning of creation you have the community of God working as one.

2)       A Personal God

Now if God is a community the question becomes what community is he inviting us to? Incredibly God is inviting us to him, his own personal relational community. He is our savior, shepherd, king, servant, lamb, spouse, and father among other things.  

3)       God as our father

The Lord’s prayer says it all (Matthew 6:9-13, note this is Jesus saying the prayer). “Our Father in heaven…” there are two things to note. The word “our” is a personal term. First to say something/someone is my, mine, or our, it means it is personal to you by definition. For example, to say this is my crew, my possession, my friend, my mother, it is a specific and unique relationship to you. Second when we pray to God we should pray as if he is our own personal and unique father who understands our needs, wants, and pains. Basically we should be comfortable talking to him as if he is our Dad.

 

4)       God being our father means we have rights

Contrary to popular belief, being a child endows you with great power. When I was a little kid there were times I would wake up at 1 AM and wake my parents up and ask them to get me milk or go buy me ice cream. The person who catered my needs was my father. Drowsy and wearisome, he went and got me my milk and ice cream and it was doubtful that he would do such an act for any child, or even now but because I was his child he got me what I wanted. Thus it is important to know that not only is God your Father, but you are also his child. Thus, being his child endows you with exclusive rights.

5)       Conclusion

For those who are fatherless, or didn’t really have great parents, know this; God more than anybody in the world pursues a relationship after you, and it’s just not any relationship, it is the most intimate relationship possible. God is a Father to the fatherless, and for those who never knew God as a father, well stop reading this because you have some major catching up to do with your Dad. 

Devotion - Thursday, September 26

This morning's reading from I Corinthians 2 spoke to me.  In verses 14ff, Paul addresses bickering among the faithful.  They seem to be attempting to boast over who it was that shared with them the word of God.  Was it he, Paul, or did they owe their conversion to Apollos.  Paul reminds them that it makes no difference.  Whomever it was that planted the seed or watered the seed, it is God who brings the growth.

Too often we see the one doing the planting or the watering.  Too often we identify ourselves with that individual.  We talk about being "Lutheran," or "Methodist," or "Presbyterian."  As if that really matters.

Luther once wrote (I will paraphrase a bit - working from memory), "Do not call yourselves 'Lutherans'.  Who is Luther than any one should be known by that name.  There is but one name by which we ought to be known and that is the name of Christ."

I wear my Lutheran badge proudly.  It identifies my theological sensibilities.  It becomes shorthand for those who start up a conversation with me.  But it is not the name which brings me salvation.  That name is the name of Jesus.

Devotion - Wednesday, September 25

I love working with college students.  You are at a critical juncture in your life; set sufficiently free from your family of origin so as to be able to construct your own life path, yet tethered to the communities which have magnificently brought you thus far.  You are eager to learn, and willing to explore.

You are at the exact point where I can say to you, "Not every word which comes from the mouth of the Lord is true," and you will ask what I mean rather than dismiss anything more I may have to say.

Read I Kings 22:1-28.  It is another story about King Ahab.  In this story, even God has had enough.  God is so ready to be rid of Ahab that God entices the prophets to speak an untrue word.  Ahab wants to know if he should go to war.  When the prophets ask God's word, they are instructed to tell Ahab to go up.  Only Micah seems to have the whole story.  

The attempt to find in the Bible some simple legal code are confound by this story.  But the Bible isn't a legal code - it is the witness of God's people to God's activity among us.

The seemingly conflicting words of God's servants may cause some to say, "If you all can't agree, then why would I want to be a part of the community of faith."  But the life path we are constructing allows us to celebrate the diversity of voices - prayerfully considering how the seemingly confusing divergent voices blend into symphonic harmony.  

Life is complicated; and so is God's participation in our lives.  God's intentions toward the earth never changes - God loves what God has created and God will go to any ends (even death on a cross) in order to communicate that love to us.  If God's interactions with us were not complex, how would we have confidence in God?  Given the complexity of the lives we live?

Tuesday Devotion

This morning's devotion is provided by Pastor Sarah Lang, St. Matthew's Charleston, campus pastor to MUSC/College of Charleston:

Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.  Genesis 2:7

 

The campus ministry where I serve, whenever the students gather, has a tradition of sharing highs and lows and prayer concerns with each other. For us, it’s an easy way to check-in about our weeks and share in each other’s lives. This week when we gathered, in addition to sharing simple highs and lows, we also shared a soundtrack for our week—songs we typically listen to when we’re sad or happy, full of sorrow or full of joy.

 

The song that’s been a companion for me this past week is entitled “Dirt,” and it’s written and sung by an under-the-radar-kind of band called The Collection. The song tells the story of biblical characters who all struggle with being dirt in various ways:  Abraham was scared to die, Joseph’s coat was full of pride, Moses never entered into the land promised him, Solomon fell for every single lie, David abused power and fame, Peter denied his love and his name, and Paul wrestled with a thorn unknown.

 

After naming the brokenness and pain of being human, the song suddenly shifts.  The stark musical beginning builds to a full, orchestral, gorgeous end. The dirt isn’t the end of the story, but instead as the song goes on to tell, God uses each of these suspect characters to bring goodness, compassion, forgiveness, and beauty into the world. The song ends with a declaration of God’s amazing grace—that God doesn’t see the dirt in us but rather life.  

 

Listen to the song here.

 

For me, this song has been my companion, because it seems right now my life is full of dirt. The congregation where I’m serving is divided. It’s fighting. The conflict is ugly. It’s painful. It looks and feels like dirt. Sometimes it is hard to see beyond it.

 

And yet, the pain, the conflict, the fighting, the dirt is not the end of the story, and that’s God’s promise and God’s story.  Like Adam before us, we are made from the dirt of the earth, and throughout our lives we choose dirt rather than the life Christ chooses for us. Eventually, we will all return to dirt. But that dirt is not the end of the story--from the dirt of the cross and tomb comes new and unexpected life. 

 

Over and over again, this is God’s story. And so the song reminds me that no one and no God-forsaken situation is beyond the reach of God’s love and redemption. Not those who hurt us. Not you. Not me.

 

Thanks be to God who redeems the dirt in me.

Devotion - Monday, September 23

I realized by way of conversation with one of you, how confusing it is for regular readers of these brief morning thoughts to keep track of where and how I come up with the Biblical references I make.

Each morning, I read from three different places in the Bible.  The guide that I use follows a lectionary (a proscribed list of readings) which are designed to guide the reader through the Bible in two years.  Each morning I read a selection from the Old Testament, a selection from one of the books in the New Testament, and a reading from one of the Gospels.

My conversation reminded me that as I choose which of those three to address in my note to you, it isn't all that easy for you to know how I got there and why.

There is so much to learn in the Bible.  As we will discuss at next week's Bible study - so much to learn that we might have a full and wonderful life.  Learning all this, or remembering all this is not a preparation for some "test" or "entrance exam" for heaven.  It is an opportunity to live the life God holds before us.

I have already written too many paragraphs to even address today's selections.  Let me tease you by saying that in I Kings 20 & 21 you will find the references to King Ahab and Jezebel.  Ahab let's his power go to his head; Jezebel uses that power for evil ends.  Thus, when you get to the Book of Revelation, hers is the name used for those who oppose God.

The New Testament reading is the opening verses of I Corinthians.  It is likely, over the next couple of weeks, that I will make reference to these.

Same is true for the Gospel lesson.  We are in Matthew 4 (today it was the story of Jesus' temptation).  We will be reading Matthew for the next several weeks.  

The Bible is a collection of 66 different books.  Approach it this way - you cannot read "The Bible," you can only read one of the books within the Bible.  Pick one of those books and read it (very few require more than an hour to read.)  You may not know every thing which happens in all the books, but you will remember some of the things which happen in I Corinthians.

Stick with me - make small steps - and realize that useful knowledge is obtained over time.

Devotion - Thursday, September 19

The book of Philippians presents a contrast.  Paul writes this letter while he is in prison.  And yet, over and over, he speaks of "joy."  How can he be joyful if he is in jail?

Paul's joy is not derived from the short-term realities of his life.  From those he might reflect his mood as being "happy," or "sad,"  Happiness (to quote my teacher) arises out of the waxing and waning of one's good fortune.  "Joy", on the other hand, is a result of knowing that we are connected to that which is larger than ourselves.

Paul is filled with joy; the immediate circumstances of his life cannot rob him of his confidence in his relationship with God.

Devotion - Wednesday, September 18

There is a sampling of "Devotional Classics" which I read years ago and have since given copies to various students.  The material was also used for our fall retreat in 2010.  In it, the editors acknowledge the variety of ways in which Christians express our piety.

Reading the collection allowed me to realize that my prime expression of piety is service.  There is a reason why I am involved in the CROP Walk for Hunger.  There is a link between my relationship with God and my interest in obtaining equality for LGBTQ individuals.  And it is understandable that I would see the work of Habitat for Humanity as an effort pleasing to God.

This morning we begin the 20th Homecoming Habitat house.  Over the next 10 days we will frame, roof, hang sheet-rock, and vinyl.  It is an amazing thing to see. It is a testimony to the spirit and the desire of the student community to be of service.

I will have fewer one-on-one pastoral visits over these next two weeks.  Most of my comments will be instructions on how to drive a nail or where to cut an opening for electrical boxes.  But God's Word is being spoken in the midst of each such comment; God's will is being done as every student is allowed to see how their efforts are transforming the lives of a neighbor.

Keep the project in your prayers.  And pray for the time when all of God's children will have a good, decent home.  And if service isn't your prime expression of piety, stretch yourself in that direction just a little.  Come out to help us work on the house.

You can watch our progress at http://www.clemson.edu/webcams/  - Select "Bowman Field from Holtzendorff.

Tuesday Devotion

Today's devotion was prepared by Frank Honeycutt - pastor at St. John's Lutheran, Wallhalla - 

“Which one of you…does not leave the ninety-nine and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?”

                                                                                                                                 Luke 15:4

 

            Okay, pop quiz time. Just a couple questions on the test. Pencils ready?
 
            Question #1: Which one of you, if you had a flock of 100 sheep in the wilderness (or 100 children under your care in New York City or anywhere you want to imagine) would leave the 99 all alone and go looking for that lost sheep or lost child until they were found? (Now look, I’ve just started administering this little test and I already see a hand up in cyberspace. No, it doesn’t say you have any assistants or nice wandering Bedouin to help you search or watch the others. You leave the 99, okay? Unprotected and alone. There’ll be no more impertinence tolerated here).
 
            And which one of you, having set out on such an insane search (sorry, I’m editorializing here; I just need to ask the question as Jesus asked it)…Which one of you would keep searching high and low, night and day, interminably if it took that, until the lost was found? Which one of you would search just like that? Forgive me. One more little detail. Which one of you after searching all over tarnation and finally locating this little lost beast (I mean sheep) would actually call the entire neighborhood together and throw a party? Which one of you out there? That’s the first question. Take your time.
 
            On to question #2…Which one of you having ten silver coins and losing one would turn on the lights (not to mention the floodlights) and sweep through your house all night, relentlessly sweeping, pathologically sweeping, even moving the heavy stuff like the stove and refrigerator out onto the front porch, looking under things and in every drawer, searching for that lost coin even though you know there’s a small fortune in change over the years that has slipped under the backseat of your car? Which one of you? And when you finally locate the coin after several days of searching, which one of you would throw a party (a party!) to celebrate the finding of that sliver of silver?
 
            Well, none of us, actually, even on our best days. That’s the right answer to both questions. None of us would search the way Jesus describes the relentless and reckless shepherd in the wilderness. We’d want to establish caveats and guidelines; realistic policies. And none of us would search with the tenacity of that woman. We have too much fiduciary backup to worry over something so small.
 
            I have to keep reminding myself: these old parables are not about how we might behave on our best days. These old stories are about God and the kingdom of God. God is relentlessly, tenaciously, and lovingly looking for the lost in a search with no time limits. God throws floodlights into the darkness and cares about even the small and forgotten concerns because they are large in this upside-down kingdom that values mustard seeds and birds of the air and even the hairs of one’s head.
 

The church, of course, can choose to join God in the search. But please understand: Jesus is out there ahead of us. He’s been out there before the search even crosses our minds.

 

He leads. We follow.    

Devotion - Monday, September 16

Back in the summer, while most of you were away, I preached a sermon at UniLu on the request from the disciples that Jesus teach them to pray.  (It is posted at my blog:  http://chrisheavner.blogspot.com/2013/07/sermon-july-28-2013.html)

The theme of the sermon was while pastors teach many things, I wondered how much instruction they gave with regard to "how to pray."

This morning's devotional guide shared a process for praying:

1. Begin by glorifying God.  Praying such words will set a pattern for a life which glorifies God.
2. Offer thanksgiving for all God has provided.  Be general as well as specific.
3. Confess.  Acknowledge those ways in which you have fallen short of the glory God intends for you.  Ask for healing to be delivered.
4. Petitions for self, for loved ones, for neighbor, for the Church and for the world.
5. Bring the prayer to an end by once more acknowledging God's readiness to hear, God readiness to respond. Glorify God once more.

Setting up an order for our prayers prevents us from treating the time with God as if it were a session of sitting on Santa Claus' lap.  We are encouraged to remember that when we pray, we align ourselves with that great stream of faithful who have prayed through the centuries and around the world.

My prep for that sermon this summer (and the responses I got when it was shared) revealed to me that learning to pray is a difficult thing to do; more sadly, teaching others how to pray is not a class offered enough in most of our congregations.  My prayer is that these few lines help.

Friday Devotion - September 13

Today's devotion is offered by Elizabeth Nichols

 

The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still. Exodus 14:14

 

I lift my eyes into the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from The Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. Psalms 1:1-2

 

If The Lord cares so wonderfully for wild flowers he will certainly care for you. Luke 12:28

 

These three verses are my favorite Bible verses of all time. I've never really examined them too closely; when I do look at them closely I see a common thread running through all of them, which is probably why they're my three favorites.

 

God is with us, he helps us, and he cares for us. These messages are so simple and are ones God sends to us over and over. Think about how many places in the Bible where we are given these messages. Being humans however, we try to be in control of every aspect of our lives instead of relying on God who made us and is so much wiser.

 

This is one of the biggest problems that I face as a Christian. I can't stand the thought of not being in control of my own life. So many times I fight for control, thinking that I can handle anything that comes my way, but it isn't so. God is gently and patiently waiting for each and every one of us to realize how much we need him. We need him to love us when nobody else will. We need him to protect us when nobody else can. And we need him to be with us always when we feel the most alone.

 

These verses are gentle reminders that God is fighting for us, even when we don't ask him to. He is our help in every situation, even when we have no idea where to turn. And he cares for us more wonderfully and passionately than anyone could ever imagine.

 

When your life feels out of control or too hard to handle, or even on the good days, remember how much God is doing for you and how if you only open up your heart and loosen the reigns on your life, God will help calm you like he calmed the raging waters in the storm. So today, as Psalm 46 says, be still and know that he is God.

Devotion - Thursday, September 12

A pastor friend challenges me with regard to the devil.  His words remind me that too often I dismiss the hurtful and harmful influence which lures us away from Christ.  

The devil enters Jewish writings after the Zoroastrians end the bondage of  the Israelites.  By the time of Jesus, speaking of the Devil had become common.

James writes of the devil.  In chapter 3 he writes, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near God and he will draw near to you."

Whatever or whoever the devil is - it is never a good thing to cozy up to "it."  When we allow ourselves to begin to develop un-saintly behaviors, we know that real transgression is sure to follow.  Merely keeping a distance between ourselves and that which lures us away prevents a multitude of slips and slides.

Part of my disdain for talk of the devil is linked to a TV comedian who in the 60's and 70's had a routine in which every bad act was explained away by saying "The Devil made me do it."  It garnered many laughs; it also created the mentality that the one who acted was not responsible for their mis-deeds.  The devil may be powerful, but never enough so as to defeat the intentions of God.  That can only happen when we resist God and draw near to the devil.

Luther referred to James as "the epistle of straw."  But James has much to offer a world where the Devil has so many trinkets and so much glitter.  James reminds us, it is the Lord who alone can "exalt you."

Devotion - Wednesday, September 11

I am always conflicted on this date.  September 11 does have a significance for our world, certainly for our nation, and the speaker at the conference I am attending reminded us all that 9/11 is the date which marks the emergence of a new era for all those connected to Latinized Christianity.

 

On September 11, evil raised its head and took a bite out of our sense of safety.  On September 11, illusions were shattered and we were forced to see the world through differing lenses. 

 

Some of those who read this offerings will be able to remember what life was like before that Tuesday morning.  The incoming students this fall may remember the worry and anxiety in their parents' faces, but may not be able to recall was life was like on September 10, 2001.

 

The effect of that day on us is seen in many differing ways.  The most tragic of which is when that day becomes an excuse to hate those different from us; when it becomes the fodder for accusing a whole people of the actions of a misguided few. 

 

The spirit of this nation was not crushed on that day; the ideals toward which we strive were never in peril.  That which we confess was not taken from us.  We have remained faithful to ourselves and to our God.

 

Evil does its worse when it is allowed to create in us hatred and mistrust. Remember in the Genesis 3 story how Adam points a finger at Eve, Eve points at the serpent.

 

Do not let evil have that power over you, over us.

Devotion - Tuesday, September 10

Today's devotion is shared by LCM Alum, Pastor Steve Troisi

 

Psalm 121 – “I lift my eye to the hills”

 

I am a 2004 graduate of Clemson and have a deep love for all things Tigers.  Until recently this meant season tickets and late nights even with my Sunday morning responsibilities.  In July this year, we moved our family from Summerville, SC to Austin, TX.  This has been both an exciting adventure and a challenging new start.  

 

When I think back about my first semester at Clemson, I find many mirrored experiences.  There was a new job—college student.  There was a new home—Thornhill….in all its glory.  There were new routines—going the Zaxby’s and driving to Seneca to the closest 24-hour Walmart.  And, probably the hardest part was being away from old friends and family and feeling a bit like I no longer knew exactly where I fit.   It is a bit of an unnerving experience being thrust into a whole new world.  It isn’t easy particularly while still trying to solidify who you are while at the same time attempting to discern who you will be. 

 

Just like my first weeks in Tigertown, I have found myself looking for touchstones and little reminders of home.  One of those places has been my car, since that has stayed unchanged for several years.  Another one was provided by ESPN on Saturday evening.  From my perch, approximately 18 inches from the TV, I got watch every second of the Tiger’s entrance and hear the roar of the crowd. 

 

Psalm 121 beginning with the beautiful words, “I lift my eyes to the hills.”  For me, as I reflect back on that feeling of home Saturday evening, in some ways, this was exactly what I was doing.  In the midst of the change around me and all the new experiences on the horizon, what I needed most was that grounding moment, eyes pointed toward those hills we all love. 

 

When we read the rest psalm what we find are words of promise and trust that when we are in the middle of challenges, when we are embarking on a new journey, it is God who will show up and carve out a pathway forward.  And, when it feels a little overwhelming, it is God who calls our eyes to the hills; it is God who provides those grounding moments, those touchstones of home that remind us not only who we are but that it is okay to be ourselves in this place too. 

 

As you think back about the last two weeks, how has God provided those grounding moments or touchstones of home for you?  How has God be active in your life, lifting your eyes to the hills and making it possible to see a route forward in this new and sometimes nerve-racking semester?

 

Pastor Steve Troisi

Devotion - Monday, September 9

We had a wonderful day yesterday in the north Georgia mountains.  The water was high, there were fewer folks on tubes than I can ever remember, and everyone in the group seemed to have a good time.  It was a great day.

When you leave Helen, GA, you have to make a sharp turn between two beautiful cow pastures.  To the south of the intersection there is a historic mound noting Cherokee History.  As we slowed to make the turn, we could see some parked cars and folks walking around the intersection.  Then I noticed the family, sitting along the side of the road with a cardboard sign which read "Family with three children needs help."  Unsure what to do, or even what was reasonable to think I could do, I drove on toward Clemson.

This morning I read from James 2.  Martin Luther's critique of James too often becomes an excuse for ignoring James' wise words and his counsel on rightly following Jesus.  In this second chapter James asks whether we ignore the person in shabby clothes and give preference to the one dressed in fine clothing.

How do we respond, to God's children who are in need?  We reflect the love of Jesus by welcoming others into our LCM group and making sure they know they belong.  How do we reach out with Christ's love to the family sitting along the side of the road, asking for help?

It isn't always easy to "help."  And what could we do to reverse a series of setbacks that bring someone to the point of homelessness and hunger?  We don't know the full extent of that particular family's situation - but we do know there are many who are hungry and homeless.

I don't know.

But I do know that Jesus told me to give to the poor and to attend to their needs.

So I will search for ways and opportunities to do what I can, to do what I must, in order to thank God for all the good gifts I have received by sharing those gifts and those abilities with those whom God places in my path.

It was a glorious day yesterday.  And seeing that family along the side of the road added to the significance of the day  - reminding us that we weren't a bunch of college kids on a weekend outing, we were children of God, traveling together and striving to understand what it means to be children of God.

Friday Devotion - Written by Hannah

Today's devotion has been prepared by Hannah Creech:

A couple weeks ago during band camp, there was a representative from the bone marrow registry who had set up a table in Brooks and was trying to convince people to sign up to be on the donor list. I figured, ‘Why not?’ and filled out the sheet. As a result, I got a call asking me to complete a short phone survey concerning the registry.  As I was completing this survey yesterday, I was asked a couple of questions that got me thinking. One of the questions asked, ‘On a scale of 1-5, with 1 being very willing and 5 being not willing at all, how willing would you be to put in a time commitment of 30-40 hours over the course of 4-5 weeks for paperwork, blood tests, and giving marrow?’  I found myself actually thinking ‘Man, that’s a pretty big chunk out of my time.’ There are people out there dying because they need bone marrow and I was mentally complaining about a few hours out of my chill time.  I don’t know about all of you, but I constantly have to remind myself to be less selfish and to think about others for a change. I admit that I personally tend to go through the motions, but not actually sacrifice a lot of my personal time for service to others.  

 

The bible warns us against this in Philippians 2:3-4:

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vein conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

 

I come to church and I am a pretty active member of LCM, but how much do I actually try to help other people?  Pastor Chris mentioned on Wednesday that people who are active in church groups are actually less likely to go and do service projects by themselves without a group of their friends.  I definitely see that in my life.  This semester I am going to make it a personal goal to be better about thinking about others and trying to do a little more to help out, even if it does take a little time out of my schedule. This year, LCM has made a goal of trying to be more service oriented, so I just wanted to share my little aspiration and invite all of you to join in!

Devotion - Thursday, September 5

If this is going to be a year in which our LCM group re-commits itself to service, then it is natural that the topic of caring for others would arise from our shared journey.

This morning, my reading of I Kings 3 brought me back to the part of last evening's LCM Program which seemed to be the most difficult for us to embrace.  I am referring to the discussion about advocacy - of how it is that we speak up and speak out for those who need our support.

In I Kings 3 we read the story of two women who come to King Solomon, asking him to decide whose child is living and whose child has died.  The two women share a home, each bore a child, but one dies.  There is a dispute as to which is the living child.  Solomon asks for a sword that he may divide the living child; each will get a half, but neither will get the whole child.  The one woman tells him to proceed.  The other says, "No.  Let her keep the child."  To this woman Solomon gives the living child.

The final verse of this story says that all of Israel stood in awe of the King, and "the wisdom of God in him, to render justice."

The wisdom of God is revealed as Solomon seeks to be the servant of Israel.  The wisdom of God is not a trait which leads to his becoming self-important or self-imposing.  Wisdom allows him to establish justice.

Justice is a slippery thing. Striving for justice means making judgement calls about what is right and fair.  Seeking justice means taking action - action which another is likely to oppose.

It takes God's wisdom to know what is just and fair and right.  It takes God's wisdom to seek that which is beneficial to God's Kingdom.  

If we are to be in service to others, then we must also be prepared to step out in the pursuit of justice.  We must be ready to address the systems and structures which allow for some of God's children to prosper while others languish.  

Solomon asked God for a discerning mind.  Solomon used that gift to address the abuse of one and to expose the sincerity of another.  Let us pray for such wisdom and let us put it into service in seeking justice.

Devotion - Wednesday, September 4

At Gibeon, Solomon worshiped and sacrificed to God.  In a dream,  God appeared to Solomon and said, "What shall I give you?"  (I Kings 3)

Solomon looks over all that God had already provided, is so overwhelmed at God's goodness, and asks God for "an understanding mind to govern (God's) people."

It pleased God that Solomon had not asked for a long life, or riches, or the lives of his enemies.  So God grants Solomon's request - and promises him a long life, riches, and victory over his enemies.

There are times in my life when my prayers are dominated with the things that I need God to do for me.  I prayed for my mother when her surgery failed to correct the blood flow to her brain.  I prayed for my daughter's safety the year she was living and serving in Mexico.  There have been other such times, and there will be many more in my future.

But I try to remember the prayer of Solomon, and I clear away my own self-interest long enough to ask for that which is needed for the building up of God's people and the work of God in the world.  I pray for a discerning heart and for a willing spirit and for the wisdom to do God's will.

It helps to have a system - to have an order in my prayer in which I include those things which place other concerns at the center.  Our Sunday morning Kyrie does this by dedicating a verse to concerns in the world, concerns for the Church, concerns for others, and then a verse for what troubles me.

Let it never be the case that we pray for others so that God will see our selflessness and grant us that which we selfishly desire.  God forbid!  But may it happen in your life that as you get into the regular habit of praying for others you will come to experience the life-change which comes from being united in prayer with all those who lift an united voice to God.  This is what happens to Solomon.  It is how prayer can change our lives and the world in which we live.

Tuesday Devotion - Written by Pastor Frank Anderson

In order to expose you all to a wider circle of spiritual leaders, I have asked Pastors from your home churches or other ministries into which you come into contact to assist in preparing devotions.  This one is from Pastor Frank Anderson, Campus Ministry at USC:

In Luke’s Gospel Jesus tells the parable about the guests at a banquet who fail to show humility, taking all the best seats, and who are humiliated by the host in favor of a more esteemed guest who comes later.
I had an experience of this parable recently while in Iowa visiting family.  I went to the Greek Orthodox Church because I heard the Bishop of Chicago was in town, and he and I worked together many years ago when we were involved in an AIDS Service Organization in that city.

We were reacquainted, and I was asked to join him after the Liturgy for a parish lunch where he was the honored guest – the head table no less!

I’ve read the parable, I know the drill, so I coyly sat at the very last seat of the table with five empty seats between me and the Bishop (false humility to be sure!).  While I wasn’t assured of a seat right next to the Bishop, I also wasn’t that thrilled with sitting by myself at the end of the table either.  Sure enough, the call came – Bishop Dimitri called to the end of the table “Come sit next to me!”  And so I did.  So what’s the big deal?

Jesus lives out in action and speaks in parables about banquets and wedding dinners, and a variety of other social occasions.  And ALL OF THEM tell us something important about the Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven.  Just what is God doing in the world and how does it involve us?  How do we act at the great banquet of God’s generosity and how does if change us and what we do?

One thing we done is to push back the realization and fulfillment of this Kingdom and its Godly or Heavenly ramifications.  To those in the world who are hungry, poor, naked, imprisoned, sick, dying, or who are strangers in our land, we dangle this image of a future time when all their emptiness will be filled, hopes realized, and diseases healed.  That the Kingdom of Heaven or of God is a future prize for those who endure present trials – the spiritual finish line – a paradise found.  And we’re all off the hook for the present troubles, free to engage in our false humilities, false abundance, and false security.

We fail to consider Jesus and his actions and parables in the present tense.  We neglect the connection between discipleship and God’s need for loving action in a hurting world.  We nibble at the edges of this great banquet afraid spend too much faith capital, or actual capital to address the needs around us.

I’m not talking about becoming righteous by our own effort or action, but God has called us to action through the actions and parables of Jesus.  By feeding the hungry, lifting the poor out of poverty, clothing the naked, visiting those in prison, healing the sick, comforting the dying and welcoming the stranger in our land we are illuminating the Kingdom of God and the inherent promise to a world plunged in darkness.  Our Baptism and our discipleship demand our attention to God’s invitation – an invitation to the entire world – Welcome, God has created a place at the Table for ALL!