Psalm 5:7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house,
I will bow down towards your holy temple in awe of you.
Do you ever roll over when the alarm clock goes off on a Sunday morning and feel the urge to just turn it off. I don't mean press snooze, but just turn it off, pull the covers back over your head and worship at St. Mattress by the Boxspring that morning? I'll confess that I feel that urge sometimes. Now, I generally get over that urge because it has to do with my mortgage payments and the fact that I enjoy getting a paycheck. But for you all, those same things don't apply. And so I often wonder as I look out at the congregation on Sunday morning: why are these people here? What brings them here? Why did they get out of bed this morning? Why aren't they golfing?
And then the psalmist answered: through the abundance of your steadfast love. It's God's love that allows us to be present each day. It's God's abundant love that drives us to worship and praise. It's God's love that compels us to be in community with other people who are children of God. This makes me think of my favorite thing Martin Luther ever wrote: no, it's not "On the Power and Primacy of the Pope." It's these words, part of his explanation to the Third Article of the Apostle's Creed, about the Holy Spirit: "I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel..." It goes on, but the point is that even faith is a gift from God. Thanks be to God for the gift of faith.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
To "talk back," visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com. Remember to come and worship this Sunday at 8:30 and 11, with education hour at 9:45.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday
Friday, September 25, 2009
ASLC Devotions -- Friday
Acts 12:20-23
Now Herod* was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came to him in a body; and after winning over Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for a reconciliation, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. 21On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat on the platform, and delivered a public address to them. 22The people kept shouting, ‘The voice of a god, and not of a mortal!’ 23And immediately, because he had not given the glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
Herod had been a strong opponent of Jesus and the disciples for a long time. Shortly before this passage, he has James killed with the sword, and Peter imprisoned. After Peter escapes from prison with the help of angels and Herod can't find him, he has the guards killed. We don't really know why he was so angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, but because they needed friendly relations to import food, they request a meeting and a peace agreement.
Imagine if you will, knowing Herod's reputation and requesting to meet him. It's no wonder that they came to him "in a body" or large group. Seeing this incredibly powerful and intimidating ruler struck down in front of you would have been a pretty amazing sight. Amazing, frightening, faith-inspiring, perhaps...
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
PS. Saturday morning we'll bless pets at All Saints. Bring your animal companions at 9:00 for a brief time of prayer and readings of thanksgiving, and a blessing for you and your pet-friends!
Now Herod* was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came to him in a body; and after winning over Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for a reconciliation, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. 21On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat on the platform, and delivered a public address to them. 22The people kept shouting, ‘The voice of a god, and not of a mortal!’ 23And immediately, because he had not given the glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
Herod had been a strong opponent of Jesus and the disciples for a long time. Shortly before this passage, he has James killed with the sword, and Peter imprisoned. After Peter escapes from prison with the help of angels and Herod can't find him, he has the guards killed. We don't really know why he was so angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, but because they needed friendly relations to import food, they request a meeting and a peace agreement.
Imagine if you will, knowing Herod's reputation and requesting to meet him. It's no wonder that they came to him "in a body" or large group. Seeing this incredibly powerful and intimidating ruler struck down in front of you would have been a pretty amazing sight. Amazing, frightening, faith-inspiring, perhaps...
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
PS. Saturday morning we'll bless pets at All Saints. Bring your animal companions at 9:00 for a brief time of prayer and readings of thanksgiving, and a blessing for you and your pet-friends!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday
Psalm 139:11-12
11If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light around me become night’,
12even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
I'm usually a pretty good sleeper, and once asleep, can stay that way until alarm (electronic or human) or light wakes me. However, there are certainly occasions when I lay awake in the middle of the night -- plagued by worries or stress. The darkness of night coming to mean less than the lack of light outside my window and more my state of mind. Perhaps you know what I mean?
Find comfort in the words of the psalmist. Psalm 139 would probably make my top ten list of psalms, if I were to craft such a list. It speaks to the deep knowledge that God has, and the closeness of God. For those sleepless nights, there is comfort knowing that even the darkness is not dark to God.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
11If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light around me become night’,
12even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
I'm usually a pretty good sleeper, and once asleep, can stay that way until alarm (electronic or human) or light wakes me. However, there are certainly occasions when I lay awake in the middle of the night -- plagued by worries or stress. The darkness of night coming to mean less than the lack of light outside my window and more my state of mind. Perhaps you know what I mean?
Find comfort in the words of the psalmist. Psalm 139 would probably make my top ten list of psalms, if I were to craft such a list. It speaks to the deep knowledge that God has, and the closeness of God. For those sleepless nights, there is comfort knowing that even the darkness is not dark to God.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
ASLC Devotions -- Tuesday
2 Kings 11:21
Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.
The 12th chapter of 2 Kings reads like a narrative obituary for King Jehoash. Starting with the last verse of chapter 11, we learn that Jehoash was seven when he began to reign in the land of Jerusalem. He's the only one of his family to have survived a violent revenge-killing. And he survived because someone squirreled him away with his nurse in a room; for seven years they hid there, evidently undetected. We don't know much of what he did for the first part of his kingship, but I imagine that most of it was consumed with growing up.
His accomplishments as king, fit to be recorded in the book, seem to be two: he got the temple repaired after the priests weren't doing it, putting the repairs in the hands instead of folks like stone cutters and masons; and, he paid off King Hazael of Aram to stop him from invading Jerusalem. After these two highlights are mentioned, the story continues that his servants rose up and killed him. He served for 40 years and he was succeeded in office by his son. King Jehoash was seven when he took the throne.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
These devotions are also posted at: aslcdevotions.blogspot.com for an opportunity to comment and discuss with others.
Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.
The 12th chapter of 2 Kings reads like a narrative obituary for King Jehoash. Starting with the last verse of chapter 11, we learn that Jehoash was seven when he began to reign in the land of Jerusalem. He's the only one of his family to have survived a violent revenge-killing. And he survived because someone squirreled him away with his nurse in a room; for seven years they hid there, evidently undetected. We don't know much of what he did for the first part of his kingship, but I imagine that most of it was consumed with growing up.
His accomplishments as king, fit to be recorded in the book, seem to be two: he got the temple repaired after the priests weren't doing it, putting the repairs in the hands instead of folks like stone cutters and masons; and, he paid off King Hazael of Aram to stop him from invading Jerusalem. After these two highlights are mentioned, the story continues that his servants rose up and killed him. He served for 40 years and he was succeeded in office by his son. King Jehoash was seven when he took the throne.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
These devotions are also posted at: aslcdevotions.blogspot.com for an opportunity to comment and discuss with others.
Monday, September 21, 2009
ASLC Devotions -- Monday
Matthew 9:13
[Jesus said to the Pharisees] Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’
In this passage Jesus has just called the disciple Matthew, a tax collector. They have dinner together, along with many other tax collectors, a profession often mentioned in the same breath as 'sinner.' The Pharisees couldn't fathom that Jesus would call Matthew as a disciple, let alone break bread with him and his friends.
I think we're aware that Jesus' disciples were sort of a group of misfits, at least by religious and social expectations. But what does Jesus mean by desiring mercy, not sacrifice? There is an echo of the sixth chapter of Micah that rings in this verse -- God doesn't require burnt offerings presented with false heart, but instead "to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God." So, the question for us, I think becomes, how are we merciful? How do we live into this desire of Jesus'?
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
PS. If this prompts a point of discussion for you, or you would like to see if others are chatting about it, visit: aslcdevotions.blogspot.com
[Jesus said to the Pharisees] Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’
In this passage Jesus has just called the disciple Matthew, a tax collector. They have dinner together, along with many other tax collectors, a profession often mentioned in the same breath as 'sinner.' The Pharisees couldn't fathom that Jesus would call Matthew as a disciple, let alone break bread with him and his friends.
I think we're aware that Jesus' disciples were sort of a group of misfits, at least by religious and social expectations. But what does Jesus mean by desiring mercy, not sacrifice? There is an echo of the sixth chapter of Micah that rings in this verse -- God doesn't require burnt offerings presented with false heart, but instead "to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God." So, the question for us, I think becomes, how are we merciful? How do we live into this desire of Jesus'?
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
PS. If this prompts a point of discussion for you, or you would like to see if others are chatting about it, visit: aslcdevotions.blogspot.com
Friday, September 11, 2009
ASLC Devotions -- Friday
James 2:26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.
How's your faith? Sometimes it's hard to measure faith. We can't see it. We can't measure it with a thermometer. We can't measure it on a scale. It can be hard to measure the faith that's in us to know whether it's adequate, to know whether we have a good amount of faith or whether our faith is shaky.
James reminds us that one way to take a check on our faith-life, to take our temperature, so to speak... is to take a look at how we live our lives. This is not a call to do good things (feed the hungry, clothe the naked, etc) for their own sake. We use those as a measuring stick for faith. If you're not living your life and doing the works that you know God would call you to do, don't worry so much about the works. Return to faith. Pray. Worship. Seek God's presence. That's the priority.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
This weekend we modify our worship schedule for the fall and winter. NO Saturday worship. Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11. Education Hour (Rally Day) at 9:45 with a celebratory picnic after the 11:00 service in the Gathering Space. Visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com to comment and converse about these thoughts.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
ASLC Devotions News
We continue to hope that these devotional thoughts each morning are a helpful way for you to connect with faith and with God's Word each and every day wherever you are. A few people have asked about the ability to comment and converse about the entries, so your requests have been answered.
Beginning with tomorrow morning's message, each of the devotional entries will also be posted to a new blog. That way, you can find past entries and comment back to Pastors Jenn and Seth and to one another and you can read the comments of others. Visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com to comment and converse about these devotional messages.
After the entry for the day, click on the "Comments" button. You can enter a comment. You will be asked to type a verifying word to make sure that you are an actual human and not some kind of spambot. You will NOT need to create any special account to do this. You will NOT get any additional email because of this (unless you want to read the comments of others). It's just another opportunity for dialogue.
If none of this made sense to you and you just like reading these emails without having to define the word "blog", ignore everything I just typed. But if you're interested, check out the ASLC Devotions Blog.
God Bless,
Pastors Jenn and Seth
Beginning with tomorrow morning's message, each of the devotional entries will also be posted to a new blog. That way, you can find past entries and comment back to Pastors Jenn and Seth and to one another and you can read the comments of others. Visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com to comment and converse about these devotional messages.
After the entry for the day, click on the "Comments" button. You can enter a comment. You will be asked to type a verifying word to make sure that you are an actual human and not some kind of spambot. You will NOT need to create any special account to do this. You will NOT get any additional email because of this (unless you want to read the comments of others). It's just another opportunity for dialogue.
If none of this made sense to you and you just like reading these emails without having to define the word "blog", ignore everything I just typed. But if you're interested, check out the ASLC Devotions Blog.
God Bless,
Pastors Jenn and Seth
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