ASLC Devotions - Friday

James 1:13  No one, when tempted, should say, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one.

I'll be honest: James is not one of my favorite books of the Bible: guess I'm a Lutheran. As such, I'm not as familiar with it as I am with others. I'd forgotten about this little nugget until writing this devotion and using the daily lectionary we use. I love it.

This is one of my biggest theological pet peeves: when people say "God is tempting me" or "God is testing my faith." I understand it's a way for folks to understand hard times or difficult things that are happening in their lives. But the consequences of that belief are not healthy spiritually. If we believe God tempts us, then how does that jive with our more over-arching belief in a loving and gracious and merciful God? Would the same God who stands ready to forgive any sin then tempt us into sin? Doesn't make any sense. 

We experience temptations and sin and brokenness not because God sends it to us. We experience those things precisely as a consequence of our separation from God. We are tempted because we are separated spiritually from God. God resists temptation with us. God forgives our sin. That's God's role in the equation: not tempter, but forgiver.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

This weekend brings to an end our summer worship schedule: 5 pm on Saturday and 9 am on Sunday. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and newsletter

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

James 1:5  If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. 

Like most people, I like to think that I'm a pretty generous person. I give financially to my congregation, to other church organizations, and to other organizations that I support. I give my time to friends and neighbors. When people ask for something, my first response is yes - I want to give. I want to help.

And sometimes it's just exhausting. Sometimes, I admit, I get tired of it all. I get tired of giving to others and want to just say "no" to something so I can hide in my house and read a good book.

Good thing I'm not God, isn't it? God, as opposed to you and I, gives "to all generously and ungrudgingly." God gives to all - whether they fit the list of things we like or not. God gives generously - not just enough, but an over-abundance. And God gives ungrudgingly - never holding back, never wanting to hold back.

Thanks be to God!

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

This weekend is the final weekend of our summer worship schedule: 5 pm Saturday and 9 am Sunday. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and newsletter.

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

John 15:16  Jesus said, "You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. "

Jesus here speaks some of the most freeing words I have ever heard. I didn't choose Jesus. Jesus chose me. I didn't choose God. God chose me. I don't have to focus on whether I feel good in my relationship with God. I don't have to work hard on my spiritual life to get to the point where I can choose to give over my whole life to God.

God's already chosen me. God's already given me my whole life. God chose me when I was baptized. And when God chooses something, it can never be un-chosen. It can never be undone. No matter what I do, no matter what I say, no matter what I think - God has chosen me.

Most importantly, God has chosen you. Breathe in the freedom of that knowledge.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

This weekend we have our summer worship schedule for one final weekend: Saturday at 5 pm and Sunday at 9 am. Visit http://allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and newsletter.

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

Nehemiah 9:30-31  For many years you were patient with them, and warned them by your spirit through your prophets; yet they would not listen. Therefore you handed them over to the peoples of the lands. Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.  

Remember yesterday's confession led by Ezra? Here the prayer continues. 

Sometimes people ask me to summarize the Bible - reading it can be intimidating if you don't know all the historical details (it's not really that intimidating and you don't need to know every detail, so read it). But if I were really pressed to summarize the message of the Bible, it's the story of God's relationship with humanity throughout history.

And these two verses do a good job of summarizing that relationship: God has been patient with people. God sent prophets to warn people about the dangerous lifestyle choices we make (like, ignoring God and acting like greedy, well, people). The consequences of human sin bit people. But the end of the story is always God giving life. God never leaves us in our sin. God never leaves us in pain. God is gracious and merciful. Every day. Throughout time. Today. God is gracious and merciful.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

This weekend is the final weekend of our summer worship schedule: 5 pm on Saturday and 9 am on Sunday. For complete calendar and newsletter, visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org

ASLC Devotions - Monday

Nehemiah 9:6  And Ezra said: ‘You are the Lord, you alone; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. To all of them you give life, and the host of heaven worships you.'

You can't do better than Ezra. Ezra was leading the entire nation of Israel in a group confession. Picture what we do at the beginning of most Sunday morning services, but the entire nation doing it together. They were returning from exile, from generations living away from "home." And it was time to re-assess, to re-establish, and to re-build. Yes, they were going to rebuild the temple, rebuild the walls around Jerusalem, and rebuild their homes. But most important, they wanted to rebuild their relationship with God.

So Ezra began their confession by praying to God on their behalf, calling to mind all the great things God has done. "To all of them you give life." That about sums it up, doesn't it? God gives life to everything on earth. God is the source of life, the source of gift. Now that's a good foundation for a relationship with God - remembering that God is the source of it all. 

So when we begin worship with confession, think about this: you are rebuilding your relationship with God. And when the words of forgiveness are spoken, know that God says "yes - I want a relationship with you."

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Next weekend is the final weekend of our summer worship schedule: 5 pm Saturday and 9 am Sunday. For the newsletter and calendar, visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org

ASLC Devotions - Friday

Romans 16:15  I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep an eye on those who cause dissensions and offences, in opposition to the teaching that you have learned; avoid them. 

When Paul wrote letters (which is what many of the books of the New Testament were originally) he always closed with final pieces of advice. After he finished the purpose of the letter and sent greetings to everyone, he closed with short little proverb-like pieces of advice. This is one of those from the book of Romans... avoid people who cause dissension within the church.

Interesting piece of advice. I might have expected that Paul would have said something different... something more like "confront them" or "speak the truth to them" or "show them the truth." But no - Paul tells us (through the Roman church) to avoid those who cause dissension. Sometimes there is no way to win an argument. Sometimes nobody is going to win. So the best path may be to hold fast to the truth and turn off those who are trying to start something.

Probably applies to other workplaces as well, huh?

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship with us Saturday at 5 pm or Sunday at 9 am. 

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

Acts 6:15  And all who sat in the council looked intently at [Stephen], and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.  

I wonder what the face of an angel looks like. I wonder what it would be like to look at a person's face before me and think "Hey, that person's face looks like the face of an angel." It may be one of those things that you can't describe, but you'd know it if you saw it. You'd be looking at someone and know it. And interestingly, at least the way this is written in the book of Acts - it reads as if the entire council were looking intently at Stephen and all of them decided at the same time that his face was like the face of an angel. Interesting.

It's even more interesting when you know the context. The council was looking for a way to condemn Stephen and execute him - which they found and completed the execution just a few verses later. Stephen was an early disciple who was preaching and convincing people of the gospel. This frightened the council in Jerusalem so they instigated false witnesses against him. And they killed him. When they killed him, he spoke words of forgiveness - very similar to Jesus on the cross.

So perhaps the face of an angel has something to do with a quiet confidence (in the resurrection, no matter what happens) and a willingness to forgive no matter what happens. I wonder we could show the world the faces of angels today....

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Join us for worship this weekend at 5 pm Saturday and 9 am Sunday.

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

 Ruth 2:8-9  Then Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Keep your eyes on the field that is being reaped, and follow behind them. I have ordered the young men not to bother you. If you get thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.’ 

Ruth was a starving foreigner who was looking for enough food to feed her elder mother-in-law and herself. She just wanted enough to eat. Boaz was a distant relative through her dead husband's family and a wealthy landowner. So Ruth asked for permission to glean in his fields - that is, she asked if she could follow behind the hired hands and pick up the droppings they lost as they were putting the harvest in their baskets. Can I pick up the trash and eat it, please?

Boaz was a generous man and admired the dedication and faithfulness of this woman toward her husband's family. So he told her to stick close, even drink the water of his hired hands. The story goes on that he tells his hired hands to "accidentally" drop some good stuff for Ruth. The people of God have always cared for the poor and those who need it. The people of God are not in the business of asking, "By what right are you here? Show me your papers?" The people of God are in the business of caring for needs. Thanks be to God!

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship with us and give thanks to God for all that you've been given Saturday at 5 pm or Sunday 9 am. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar.

ASLC Devotions - Monday

 1 Kings 17:14  For thus says the Lord the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth.

Elijah is speaking to the widow of Zarephath. A massive drought had struck the land and Elijah, the prophet, invited himself to stay at the widow's home where she was living with her only son using the last bit of food before she thought she and her son would starve to death. But Elijah gives her the promise of God. The jar of meal will not be emptied. The jug of oil will not fail until the day the Lord sends rain again.

The same words almost exactly are repeated two verses later - if you don't trust me, look it up. It happened as Elijah said it would. But I think the promise verse is more important than the fulfillment verse. The promise of God is where it's at. The promise of God is where the life is found. The promise of God are the words we should remember. The fulfillment sometimes doesn't come as quickly as two verses later in our lives. But the promise always comes. Remember the promise. Hold onto the promise. Your jar of meal will not be emptied. Your jug of oil will not fail. It's a promise.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Join us for worship this Saturday at 5 pm and Sunday at 9 am. Full calendar and announcements available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org 

ASLC Devotions -- Friday

Galatians 6:9-10

⁹So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up. ¹⁰So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.

I don’t know if you ever feel like whatever good efforts you’re doing – whether it’s in a relationship or on a diet or for the betterment of a community – if whatever you’re doing just doesn’t seem to matter. I hope I’m not the only one who feels that way! Doing the “right thing” doesn’t always appear to make a difference – the long-term gains are far more valuable, clearly, but the short-term, instant gratification often isn’t there.

These verses can bring us encouragement during those times, when perhaps we waffle on a decision or grow discouraged. I appreciate the emphasis on working for the good of all whenever we have the opportunity. Now, where do we see an opportunity to work for the good of all? Let us be encouraged and not grow weary.

Peace,

Pastor Jenn

ASLC Devotions -- Thursday

Romans 15:5-6

⁵May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, ⁶so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

One of my favorite parts of worship – whether it’s a Sunday morning, a wedding or a funeral – is the blessing. At All Saints we bless backpacks and bicycles, teachers and mission trip participants. And, every time we gather, there’s some sort of blessing for everyone to take with you when you leave. I think I like it because I can take it with me – the blessing has words that can go with me wherever I go.

This blessing from the book of Romans is spoken to a whole community and it speaks to a needed unity – May God grant you to live in harmony and with one voice glorify God. Sometimes that’s the message that any community needs – and sometimes it’s a message that individuals need to hear because of the many and varied circumstances in their own life. Regardless, they are words that we can take with us – wherever we go. Receive this blessing from God.

Peace,

Pastor Jenn  

ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday

Mark 8:4

⁴His disciples replied, “How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?”

There are these fantastic stories of Jesus and his disciples feeding thousands upon thousands of people in deserted places with a little bit of bread and some fish. Some accounts say that they fed 4,000, others say that they fed 5,000, still another says 5,000 PLUS women and children.

I’ll be honest: the numbers don’t matter to me. Any of those numbers are impressive and represent a miracle – a miracle of multiplication, a miracle of sharing, a miracle of abundance, a miracle of God answering the people’s needs, even though they questioned Jesus. I don’t have a lot of experience with being in a desert, but I know that I’ve seen Jesus feed people: with bread and wine, with water and word, with his life-giving Spirit, in ways that I could never have imagined, and for which I give thanks. How and where have you seen Jesus feeding people?   

Peace,

Pastor Jenn

ASLC Devotions -- Tuesday

Deuteronomy 8:7-9

⁷For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with flowing streams, with springs and underground waters welling up in valleys and hills, ⁸a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, ⁹a land where you may eat bread without scarcity, where you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron and from whose hills you may mine copper.

After living in the wilderness, God is leading the people into this land that we often call “the promised land” – and it sounds wonderful: enough water for crops, land that can be planted, groves of trees already producing fruit, resources for building and trading. This is a land that comes with a guarantee, too: you will lack nothing. Wow. That all sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

But the verses that come just after the ones quoted above carry an important reminder: Do not say to yourself, “My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth. But remember the Lord your God…” Remember the Lord your God. It can be easy (tempting?) to look around at all that we have – whether it’s a lot or a little – and feel satisfied as if we have accomplished something to attain it all. But if we believe that all we have and are comes from God and belongs to God, then our attitude changes. Instead of patting ourselves on the back at our seeming accomplishments, perhaps we turn our hands upward to God in praise and thanksgiving. Thanks be to God.

Peace,

Pastor Jenn

ASLC Devotions -- Monday

Numbers 11:21-23

²¹But Moses said, “The people I am with number six hundred thousand on foot; and you say, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat for a whole month’! ²²Are there enough flocks and herds to slaughter for them? Are there enough fish in the sea to catch for them?” ²³The Lord said to Moses, “Is the Lord’s power limited? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not.”

Poor Moses. He led the people out of slavery, and all they did was complain – if only we had meat! It was better for us to have been slaves! And God says to gather the people – God has heard their complaints. Not only will I give them meat, God says, but I will give them meat to eat until they are sick of it and loathe it. It would seem that God has the people’s number, so to speak – for they never really seem to be satisfied, right?

But even as Moses is receiving this word from God, he begins to question whether or not God can really do this – after all, he looks around and sees 600,000 people and no meat at all. How could it be that they will receive not only enough meat for tomorrow, but enough that they will get sick of it? (Peanut butter and jelly, again?!) The answer to Moses’ question, of course, is that God provided quails for the people to eat, and for generations (and still) people told this story to demonstrate that God can do mighty things. I wonder what stories you tell about God doing mighty things in your life?

Peace,

Pastor Jenn