2 Corinthians 7:13 In this we find comfort.
In addition to our own consolation, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his mind has been set at rest by all of you.
There was a conflict in the church at Corinth. Paul sent his deputy Titus to help take care of the situation and to solve the problem. The problem was resolved and the people were one again, worshiping together in unity and in joy.
That's where Paul found comfort - not in winning, not in getting his way, not in any of those things. Paul found comfort because Titus' mind was set at rest, because the people were worshiping and working together. A burden shared is a burden lightened and a joy shared is a joy multiplied. Paul shared in Titus' joy who shared in the joy of the people of Corinth. Their joy was multiplied. Share in someone else's joy today. Be of one mind and share the joy.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Worship this weekend: Saturday at 5 pm and Sunday at 10 am. We will have a special appeal and update from our National Youth Gathering group. And enjoy the ASLC float in Saturday morning's parade.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
ASLC Devotions - Thursday
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
ASLC Devotions - Wednesday
Mark 6:48 When Jesus saw that the disciples were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the lake. He intended to pass them by.
Jesus needed some time to himself to pray. Always a good idea, even when you're the Messiah! So he sent the disciples on ahead of him to their next destination, across the lake. Then when he decided it was time to see what the guys were up to, he saw that the winds were bad and they were really struggling with the oars. And he set out on foot to meet them: across the water. This didn't happen in northern Minnesota in the wintertime, so the lake wasn't frozen over. He walked on the water. And this version of the Bible says "he intended to pass them by."
I've always wondered about that. What was Jesus' plan? Was he going to just walk across and meet them at the other side? As it turns out, he paused and got in the boat with them and the winds calmed down and everyone was amazed. But what was the original plan? Was he just going to leave them to suffer against the wind while he went ashore to rest?
I've seen other translations that take the original Greek words to mean something else - something like "he pretended to pass them by." I love that image. Jesus, pretending to walk on without noticing them - until they cry out for help. Jesus as the ultimate practical jokester. "Oh, I didn't see you there."
We'll never know the original plan, but Jesus didn't leave them struggling. Jesus never leaves us struggling. Jesus handles it for us. Jesus calms the wind. Jesus gets in our boat. Jesus does not leave us alone.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship this weekend: Saturday at 5 and Sunday at 9. Check out our float in the parade on Saturday morning as well.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
ASLC Devotions - Tuesday
Sorry for the lateness of the morning, but ponder this the rest of the day!
Exodus 9:20 Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord hurried their slaves and livestock off to a secure place.
This little line comes in the midst of all the plagues that God sent to Egypt through Moses in order to win the freedom of God's people. After a couple of the plagues, Moses then warned them that hail was coming. Apparently some thought Moses was more accurate than Tom Skilling and took precautions.
It just struck me as I read this that I sometimes forget there were people in Egypt who believed God - even before Pharoah finally relented. We sometimes think of this story in simple terms: people didn't believe and bad stuff happened, people still didn't believe and more bad stuff happened. But this sentence reminds us that some of the officials of Pharaoh trusted and took precautions. I guess it's just a healthy reminder that life and faith are not as simplistic as we sometimes make them out to be. There are lots of gray areas.
Also - God always finds people who trust God's word. Every day. In every place.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Remember to join us for worship on Saturday at 5 and Sunday at 9. Also, don't forget to check out All Saints' entry in Palatine's parade on Saturday morning!
Exodus 9:20 Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord hurried their slaves and livestock off to a secure place.
This little line comes in the midst of all the plagues that God sent to Egypt through Moses in order to win the freedom of God's people. After a couple of the plagues, Moses then warned them that hail was coming. Apparently some thought Moses was more accurate than Tom Skilling and took precautions.
It just struck me as I read this that I sometimes forget there were people in Egypt who believed God - even before Pharoah finally relented. We sometimes think of this story in simple terms: people didn't believe and bad stuff happened, people still didn't believe and more bad stuff happened. But this sentence reminds us that some of the officials of Pharaoh trusted and took precautions. I guess it's just a healthy reminder that life and faith are not as simplistic as we sometimes make them out to be. There are lots of gray areas.
Also - God always finds people who trust God's word. Every day. In every place.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Remember to join us for worship on Saturday at 5 and Sunday at 9. Also, don't forget to check out All Saints' entry in Palatine's parade on Saturday morning!
Friday, June 22, 2012
ASLC Devotions - Friday
John 20:15-16 Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher).
I'm sharing a little bit of Easter in June with you because of the Feast Day of Mary Magdalene. Mary was the first of Jesus' followers to meet him after he had risen from the dead. Mary was the first evangelist - telling the rest of his followers that he was alive. This scene is one of the most tender and beautiful you'll find.
Mary is weeping for all that she's lost - Jesus is dead, and she thinks now even his body is gone so she can't anoint him and care for his body the way she wants. But then Jesus simply speaks her name. And she recognizes him. Jesus calls her by name and she knows. She knows that everything is changed. Jesus has called you by name as well. Listen for his voice.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Saturday at 5 and Sunday at 9. A blood drive is being hosted this Sunday morning at All Saints. As always, complete information can be found at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
I'm sharing a little bit of Easter in June with you because of the Feast Day of Mary Magdalene. Mary was the first of Jesus' followers to meet him after he had risen from the dead. Mary was the first evangelist - telling the rest of his followers that he was alive. This scene is one of the most tender and beautiful you'll find.
Mary is weeping for all that she's lost - Jesus is dead, and she thinks now even his body is gone so she can't anoint him and care for his body the way she wants. But then Jesus simply speaks her name. And she recognizes him. Jesus calls her by name and she knows. She knows that everything is changed. Jesus has called you by name as well. Listen for his voice.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Saturday at 5 and Sunday at 9. A blood drive is being hosted this Sunday morning at All Saints. As always, complete information can be found at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Thursday, June 21, 2012
ASLC Devotions - Thursday
Acts 20:2 When [Paul] had gone through those regions and had given the believers much encouragement, he came to Greece.
Much of the book of Acts is the story of Paul's missionary journeys. He traveled throughout much of modern-day Turkey and Greece (and Mediterranean islands as well) spreading the gospel and proclaiming the good news of the life that's available in and through Jesus. It often makes for great adventure reading. This verse could almost act as a summary of the whole thing: "when Paul had gone through those regions and had GIVEN THE BELIEVERS MUCH ENCOURAGEMENT, he came to Greece."
That's what Paul did. He traveled around and gave the believers encouragement. He encouraged them to stay true to the faith in the face of persecution. He encouraged them to live together peacefully and as one. He encouraged them to worship and pray diligently. He encouraged them. Who will you encourage today? Who encouraged you yesterday?
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Saturday at 5 and Sunday at 9. A blood drive is being hosted this Sunday morning at All Saints. As always, complete information can be found at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Much of the book of Acts is the story of Paul's missionary journeys. He traveled throughout much of modern-day Turkey and Greece (and Mediterranean islands as well) spreading the gospel and proclaiming the good news of the life that's available in and through Jesus. It often makes for great adventure reading. This verse could almost act as a summary of the whole thing: "when Paul had gone through those regions and had GIVEN THE BELIEVERS MUCH ENCOURAGEMENT, he came to Greece."
That's what Paul did. He traveled around and gave the believers encouragement. He encouraged them to stay true to the faith in the face of persecution. He encouraged them to live together peacefully and as one. He encouraged them to worship and pray diligently. He encouraged them. Who will you encourage today? Who encouraged you yesterday?
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Saturday at 5 and Sunday at 9. A blood drive is being hosted this Sunday morning at All Saints. As always, complete information can be found at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
ASLC Devotions - Wednesday
Luke 6:45 The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.
Here Jesus is talking about contrasting good people and evil people and being able to judge them by what we see. Previously he was talking about trees and fruits: a good tree bears good fruit of course... and a bad tree produces bad fruit.
Knowing most of you as I do, there are not evil people reading this. So that's not really the concern that I want to raise for you this morning. Instead, think about Jesus' closing comment: "it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks." Do you let your mouth speak the abundance that's in your heart? Or are you shy about your faith, about your love, about your deepest commitments? Let the abundance of your heart out - then good fruit will spread throughout the world.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Saturday at 5 and Sunday at 9. A blood drive is being hosted this Sunday morning at All Saints. As always, complete information can be found at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Here Jesus is talking about contrasting good people and evil people and being able to judge them by what we see. Previously he was talking about trees and fruits: a good tree bears good fruit of course... and a bad tree produces bad fruit.
Knowing most of you as I do, there are not evil people reading this. So that's not really the concern that I want to raise for you this morning. Instead, think about Jesus' closing comment: "it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks." Do you let your mouth speak the abundance that's in your heart? Or are you shy about your faith, about your love, about your deepest commitments? Let the abundance of your heart out - then good fruit will spread throughout the world.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Saturday at 5 and Sunday at 9. A blood drive is being hosted this Sunday morning at All Saints. As always, complete information can be found at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
ASLC Devotions - Tuesday
Jeremiah 21:11 To the house of the king of Judah say: Hear the word of the Lord,O house of David! Thus says the Lord:
Execute justice in the morning,
and deliver from the hand of the oppressor
anyone who has been robbed,
or else my wrath will go forth like fire,
and burn, with no one to quench it,
because of your evil doings.
Jeremiah here provides a bit of a job description reminder for the king. Never-mind whether the king appreciated being told the parameters of his job by a wandering prophet. This gives us a little insight into what God thinks the job of a king is. Execute justice. Save those who have been robbed from their oppressor. Simple. A two-point job description. Not bad.
Now I'm assuming that nobody reading this is a king. Though through the power of email forwarding and the six degrees of separation, you never know. But we all can vote for our king/President and Congress. And we all exercise power to greater or lesser degrees. This is what God wants us to do in our life together: justice and saving those who are robbed from their oppressors. And by God's grace, we can do it as well.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Saturday at 5 and Sunday at 9. A blood drive is being hosted this Sunday morning at All Saints. As always, complete information can be found at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Execute justice in the morning,
and deliver from the hand of the oppressor
anyone who has been robbed,
or else my wrath will go forth like fire,
and burn, with no one to quench it,
because of your evil doings.
Jeremiah here provides a bit of a job description reminder for the king. Never-mind whether the king appreciated being told the parameters of his job by a wandering prophet. This gives us a little insight into what God thinks the job of a king is. Execute justice. Save those who have been robbed from their oppressor. Simple. A two-point job description. Not bad.
Now I'm assuming that nobody reading this is a king. Though through the power of email forwarding and the six degrees of separation, you never know. But we all can vote for our king/President and Congress. And we all exercise power to greater or lesser degrees. This is what God wants us to do in our life together: justice and saving those who are robbed from their oppressors. And by God's grace, we can do it as well.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Saturday at 5 and Sunday at 9. A blood drive is being hosted this Sunday morning at All Saints. As always, complete information can be found at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
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