Acts 27:1 When it was decided that we were to sail for Italy, they transferred Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, named Julius.
A little bit of biblical history here: the apostle Paul traveled all through what is now Turkey and Greece spreading the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ and founding churches. He did this in places we know mostly because of the letters he then wrote to them later: Thessalonica, Philippi, Corinth, etc. He wrote the book of Romans as a kind of introductory letter. He'd never been to Rome but wanted to go. He never quite made it, at least in the way he planned. But God still worked good from a bad circumstance.
Paul got himself arrested for his preaching. Because he was a Roman citizen he had the right to appeal his prosecution all the way to the emperor in Rome. So he did that. So eventually Paul made it to Rome (the beginning of the journey is what we read above), but not as a free man. God took the awful circumstance of Paul's arrest and made it possible for him still to reach Rome, preaching the gospel to his fellow prisoners and to his captors.
Whatever bad situation is happening in your life, God is able to provide good news out of it. Even if you're in prison.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Our summer worship service begins this coming weekend (May 28/29) with Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9. This Saturday only, bring your bicycles and tricycles and other wheeled toys for a special blessing following worship.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
ASLC Devotions - Wednesday
John 8:38 Jesus said: 'I declare what I have seen in the Father’s presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.’
Practice what you preach. Preach what you practice. Talk the talk and walk the walk. Or is it, talk the walk and walk the talk?!? Anyway, we all know that there is a strong connection between spoken things and actions. Or at least, we'd like there to be. There's a strong connection sometimes in the dissonance we notice: we notice when someone isn't living what they say. We notice when someone's non-verbal communication doesn't match up to the words coming from their mouth. And we strive to have them match in our own lives.
Jesus speaks of this connection here in a slightly different way. We shouldn't so much strive to have our actions match up with our words... instead, we should strive to have our actions match up to God's words.
Love your enemies.
Pray for those who persecute you.
Trust in the Lord always.
How well do your actions today match up with these words?
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us TONIGHT (Wednesday) at 7 for a dessert reception and stories from South Africa with our missionary Brian Konkol. Then, our summer worship service begins next weekend with Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9.
Practice what you preach. Preach what you practice. Talk the talk and walk the walk. Or is it, talk the walk and walk the talk?!? Anyway, we all know that there is a strong connection between spoken things and actions. Or at least, we'd like there to be. There's a strong connection sometimes in the dissonance we notice: we notice when someone isn't living what they say. We notice when someone's non-verbal communication doesn't match up to the words coming from their mouth. And we strive to have them match in our own lives.
Jesus speaks of this connection here in a slightly different way. We shouldn't so much strive to have our actions match up with our words... instead, we should strive to have our actions match up to God's words.
Love your enemies.
Pray for those who persecute you.
Trust in the Lord always.
How well do your actions today match up with these words?
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us TONIGHT (Wednesday) at 7 for a dessert reception and stories from South Africa with our missionary Brian Konkol. Then, our summer worship service begins next weekend with Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
ASLC Devotions - Tuesday
Proverbs 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
Humility is one of the most important and common biblical concepts. We all need to recognize that, there is a God and you're not it. Humility is also one of the most counter-cultural things that we can do as Christians in our society. We live in a society that does not encourage humility. We are encouraged to build ourselves up, to win and to be proud, to metaphorically thump our chests. We all attend workshops and seminars on how to write our resumes to most fully show all our accomplishments and skills.
The problem is when you believe your own hype. The problem is when you actually begin to think that you can walk on water. When that happens, to paraphrase Martin Luther, you should reach up and feel the top of your head. Chances are, you'll feel some donkey ears up there. [He used a less family-friendly word for donkey] But when we recognize our own faults and failings, we can turn to the One who provides all. The Lord, who will turn us away from evil.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us Wednesday evening at 7 for a dessert reception and stories from South Africa with our missionary Brian Konkol. Then, our summer worship service begins next weekend with Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9.
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
Humility is one of the most important and common biblical concepts. We all need to recognize that, there is a God and you're not it. Humility is also one of the most counter-cultural things that we can do as Christians in our society. We live in a society that does not encourage humility. We are encouraged to build ourselves up, to win and to be proud, to metaphorically thump our chests. We all attend workshops and seminars on how to write our resumes to most fully show all our accomplishments and skills.
The problem is when you believe your own hype. The problem is when you actually begin to think that you can walk on water. When that happens, to paraphrase Martin Luther, you should reach up and feel the top of your head. Chances are, you'll feel some donkey ears up there. [He used a less family-friendly word for donkey] But when we recognize our own faults and failings, we can turn to the One who provides all. The Lord, who will turn us away from evil.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us Wednesday evening at 7 for a dessert reception and stories from South Africa with our missionary Brian Konkol. Then, our summer worship service begins next weekend with Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9.
Monday, May 23, 2011
ASLC Devotions - Monday
Exodus 13:17-18 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was nearer; for God thought, ‘If the people face war, they may change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people by the roundabout way of the wilderness towards the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of the land of Egypt prepared for battle.
George said to me as he was facing his last days and looking back over his life "Pastor, my life sure didn't work out according to my plans. And boy am I thankful!"
In the midst of disappointments and hurts and sideroads and what seem like closed doors, life can seem random and disappointing. But when we look back, when we see things from a bit of perspective, generally I think we can see that God has carried us through all those sideroads and byways to something better (or at least more interesting) than what we would have chosen. If we're choosing and making our plans, we generally follow the advice that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. But God knows that there may be a stronger army standing in the middle of that straight line. God knows that the smarter course may be to go around.
It brings to mind one of my favorite church signs ever: "If God is your co-pilot, you better switch seats."
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us Wednesday evening at 7 for a dessert reception and stories from South Africa with our missionary Brian Konkol. Then, our summer worship service begins next weekend with Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9.
George said to me as he was facing his last days and looking back over his life "Pastor, my life sure didn't work out according to my plans. And boy am I thankful!"
In the midst of disappointments and hurts and sideroads and what seem like closed doors, life can seem random and disappointing. But when we look back, when we see things from a bit of perspective, generally I think we can see that God has carried us through all those sideroads and byways to something better (or at least more interesting) than what we would have chosen. If we're choosing and making our plans, we generally follow the advice that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. But God knows that there may be a stronger army standing in the middle of that straight line. God knows that the smarter course may be to go around.
It brings to mind one of my favorite church signs ever: "If God is your co-pilot, you better switch seats."
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us Wednesday evening at 7 for a dessert reception and stories from South Africa with our missionary Brian Konkol. Then, our summer worship service begins next weekend with Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Missionary Visit
Hi all,
Brian Konkol, one half of the ELCA Missionary team we support in South Africa, will be visiting with us next Wednesday, May 25. Brian's partner and wife Kristen, will be staying in Wisconsin with their child to have some grandparent time.
Brian will be with us on Wednesday evening for a 7 pm dessert reception in the Gathering Space. He will share pictures and stories of their ministry in South Africa, and we will have an opportunity to ask questions and have conversation. Please join us for this great opportunity to thank Brian for his partnership in our ministry.
Pastor Seth
Brian Konkol, one half of the ELCA Missionary team we support in South Africa, will be visiting with us next Wednesday, May 25. Brian's partner and wife Kristen, will be staying in Wisconsin with their child to have some grandparent time.
Brian will be with us on Wednesday evening for a 7 pm dessert reception in the Gathering Space. He will share pictures and stories of their ministry in South Africa, and we will have an opportunity to ask questions and have conversation. Please join us for this great opportunity to thank Brian for his partnership in our ministry.
Pastor Seth
ASLC Devotions - Friday
Acts 6:8 Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
George, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
Lydia, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
Nancy, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
[Insert your name here], full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
The power to do great wonders and signs is not limited to Jesus. Never was. Never was meant to be. The power to do great wonders and signs also passes to those who follow Jesus, to those who bear the name Christian. You do great wonders and signs. You make the blessings that God has given to you spread to all the people. You feed the poor. You shelter the homeless. You provide little geese for subsistence farmers in Guatemala. You proclaim the saving gospel that Jesus has risen in Palatine. You, saints, full of grace and power, do great wonders and signs among the people.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Come on Sunday morning for some more great wonders and signs. Worship is at 8:30 and 11.
Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
George, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
Lydia, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
Nancy, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
[Insert your name here], full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
The power to do great wonders and signs is not limited to Jesus. Never was. Never was meant to be. The power to do great wonders and signs also passes to those who follow Jesus, to those who bear the name Christian. You do great wonders and signs. You make the blessings that God has given to you spread to all the people. You feed the poor. You shelter the homeless. You provide little geese for subsistence farmers in Guatemala. You proclaim the saving gospel that Jesus has risen in Palatine. You, saints, full of grace and power, do great wonders and signs among the people.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Come on Sunday morning for some more great wonders and signs. Worship is at 8:30 and 11.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
ASLC Devotions - Thursday
Acts 7:6 And God spoke in these terms, that his descendants would be resident aliens in a country belonging to others, who would enslave them and maltreat them for four hundred years.
This is a quote from a speech before the High Council by Stephen, one of the early Christian leaders. He's talking about ancient Israel being enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. So it's a guy from 2000 years ago talking about something that happened about 1200 years before his time. This is old stuff. Ancient stuff. And yet it resonates today. "Resident aliens in a country belonging to others" is an amazing phrase that describes Christian disciples today.
Many years ago (1989 to be exact) two theologians name Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon cowrote a book called "Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony." I have been influenced and challenged by this book in many ways. One of the things they mean by the title and that strikes me when I read this passage again is that we as Christian live in a culture that is not our own... if we're doing it right. Instead of winner-take-all, we are servants of all. Instead of the best and the brightest, we are the last shall be first. Instead of the survival of the fittest, we are the meek shall inherit the earth. It makes life difficult sometimes as a Christian in this alien culture we call the 21st Century West. But it's where God has called us to live. And just as God saved ancient Israel from their time of being resident aliens in Egypt, God has provided salvation for us as well. In Christ, the resident aliens find their home.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join all the other resident aliens for worship at 8:30 and 11 this Sunday morning.
This is a quote from a speech before the High Council by Stephen, one of the early Christian leaders. He's talking about ancient Israel being enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. So it's a guy from 2000 years ago talking about something that happened about 1200 years before his time. This is old stuff. Ancient stuff. And yet it resonates today. "Resident aliens in a country belonging to others" is an amazing phrase that describes Christian disciples today.
Many years ago (1989 to be exact) two theologians name Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon cowrote a book called "Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony." I have been influenced and challenged by this book in many ways. One of the things they mean by the title and that strikes me when I read this passage again is that we as Christian live in a culture that is not our own... if we're doing it right. Instead of winner-take-all, we are servants of all. Instead of the best and the brightest, we are the last shall be first. Instead of the survival of the fittest, we are the meek shall inherit the earth. It makes life difficult sometimes as a Christian in this alien culture we call the 21st Century West. But it's where God has called us to live. And just as God saved ancient Israel from their time of being resident aliens in Egypt, God has provided salvation for us as well. In Christ, the resident aliens find their home.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join all the other resident aliens for worship at 8:30 and 11 this Sunday morning.
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