Luke 5:5 Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.’
When was the last time you said "I've tried that before and it doesn't work." When was the last time you refused to try something because you'd already tried it - or something that looked suspiciously like it - and it just didn't work? I know some children who won't try new foods if they look suspiciously like other foods they've tried before they don't like. It makes me want to get creative and make cake that looks like brussel sprouts or something and see what happens. But I digress...
It's important to learn from our mistakes and move on. We know the phrase that those who don't know their history are doomed to repeat it. But I also think the opposite is true: those who know their history too well never get a chance to try something again. What if Simon had refused to put the nets down where Jesus said because he'd already tried that spot? Maybe he wouldn't have followed Jesus. Maybe he wouldn't have become a disciple. His life could have been drastically different if he'd learned his history too well. Sometimes it's best to forget what's happened before so we can experience the new things that God is offering for us.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
This devotional message is a ministry of All Saints Lutheran Church, Palatine, IL. If you would like to be removed from the list, please simply reply and let us know. If you'd like to worship with us, we gather on Sunday mornings at 8:30 and 11 for Holy Communion.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
ASLC Devotion - Tuesday
Ezekiel 1:28 Like the bow in a cloud on a rainy day, such was the appearance of the splendour all round. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.
Theology is a dangerous business. I don't mean dangerous like the military or police work, but dangerous intellectually. Talking about God or describing God is dangerous because God is literqlly indescribable. Once we say God is like something, we are missing the point because human language cannot contain God. Talking about or describing God is like putting God in a box. There is no box adequate for God and we know from the bible that God does not appreciate being put in boxes.
That being said, I think Ezekiel's vision is compelling as a way to think about God. This vision looks and feels like the God I have experienced in my own life and in and through your lives. God is like the bow in a cloud on a rainy day. God is like that comfort, that beauty that cannot be described. God is there even while the rain is going on. God is like the bow in a cloud on a rainy day. Yeah... that sounds about right.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
this devotional message is a ministry of All Saints Lutheran Church. If you would like to unsubscribe, please reply and let us know.
Theology is a dangerous business. I don't mean dangerous like the military or police work, but dangerous intellectually. Talking about God or describing God is dangerous because God is literqlly indescribable. Once we say God is like something, we are missing the point because human language cannot contain God. Talking about or describing God is like putting God in a box. There is no box adequate for God and we know from the bible that God does not appreciate being put in boxes.
That being said, I think Ezekiel's vision is compelling as a way to think about God. This vision looks and feels like the God I have experienced in my own life and in and through your lives. God is like the bow in a cloud on a rainy day. God is like that comfort, that beauty that cannot be described. God is there even while the rain is going on. God is like the bow in a cloud on a rainy day. Yeah... that sounds about right.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
this devotional message is a ministry of All Saints Lutheran Church. If you would like to unsubscribe, please reply and let us know.
Monday, April 15, 2013
ASLC Devotions - Monday
Ezekiel 1:1 In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
This past week, Pastor Jenn and I received letters written by some of our Sunday School students. Apparently, they had been learning about Doubting Thomas and the concept of doubt in general. So they wrote private letters to their pastors asking about doubt. Because they were private letters, I won't say more... But they did cause me to think a little bit more about doubt than I normally would on a Thursday afternoon, as I set about to compose responses to the letters I received. And, once more, I began to wish that I the kinds of visions that Bible people seem to have had.
Ezekiel would have had a hard time doubting, I imagine. He saw the heavens opened, I tell myself. He knew that he saw visions of God, I tell myself. So of course he didn't doubt. Except that's not the whole story. He as among the exiles by the river Chebar. He was with people who had lost everything God had promised them: their homes, their families, their nation, their independence. And they doubted. Ezekiel doubted. Later in his book he doubts right to God's face during the vision. So I think doubt is just part of the human condition. Doubt is part of the faith condition. It is always with us. We doubt, and we believe. And we pray each day for our faith to be built.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
This message is a ministry of All Saints Lutheran Church. If you would prefer not to receive these devotional messages, simply reply and ask us to remove you from the list.
This past week, Pastor Jenn and I received letters written by some of our Sunday School students. Apparently, they had been learning about Doubting Thomas and the concept of doubt in general. So they wrote private letters to their pastors asking about doubt. Because they were private letters, I won't say more... But they did cause me to think a little bit more about doubt than I normally would on a Thursday afternoon, as I set about to compose responses to the letters I received. And, once more, I began to wish that I the kinds of visions that Bible people seem to have had.
Ezekiel would have had a hard time doubting, I imagine. He saw the heavens opened, I tell myself. He knew that he saw visions of God, I tell myself. So of course he didn't doubt. Except that's not the whole story. He as among the exiles by the river Chebar. He was with people who had lost everything God had promised them: their homes, their families, their nation, their independence. And they doubted. Ezekiel doubted. Later in his book he doubts right to God's face during the vision. So I think doubt is just part of the human condition. Doubt is part of the faith condition. It is always with us. We doubt, and we believe. And we pray each day for our faith to be built.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
This message is a ministry of All Saints Lutheran Church. If you would prefer not to receive these devotional messages, simply reply and ask us to remove you from the list.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
ASLC Devotions - Wednesday
Luke 24:4 While the women were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them.
The women who had followed Jesus all the way from Galilee to Jerusalem followed him even to the grave. They followed Joseph of Arimathea to see where he lay Jesus body. Then, after observing their sabbath rest, they returned with spices and ointments to anoint his body according to their custom. But they found the stone rolled away from the entrance. They found the grave empty. They did NOT find the body there awaiting their treatments.
And, in wonderful biblical understatement, we read that they were perplexed about this. Perplexed?!? Really? I think they were shocked. They were in awe. They were dumbfounded. They were probably scared. And in their fear, in their awe, in their perplex-ment? two men (we presume them to be angels) appeared to calm them - to help them understand. When we are scared, when we are perplexed, God sends angels to calm our fears. Alleluia! Christ is risen!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join in the rolling of Eastertide this Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour at 9:45.
The women who had followed Jesus all the way from Galilee to Jerusalem followed him even to the grave. They followed Joseph of Arimathea to see where he lay Jesus body. Then, after observing their sabbath rest, they returned with spices and ointments to anoint his body according to their custom. But they found the stone rolled away from the entrance. They found the grave empty. They did NOT find the body there awaiting their treatments.
And, in wonderful biblical understatement, we read that they were perplexed about this. Perplexed?!? Really? I think they were shocked. They were in awe. They were dumbfounded. They were probably scared. And in their fear, in their awe, in their perplex-ment? two men (we presume them to be angels) appeared to calm them - to help them understand. When we are scared, when we are perplexed, God sends angels to calm our fears. Alleluia! Christ is risen!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join in the rolling of Eastertide this Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour at 9:45.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Rev. Len Peterson Funeral Arrangements
Friends in Christ:
Christ is risen! Alleluia!
Because Christ lives, we know that we shall live also.
It is in this Easter hope that we share the news of the death of Pastor F. Leonard Peterson. Pastor Len was the senior pastor of All Saints Lutheran Church from 1995 through his retirement in 2006. He died on Easter morning.
Funeral arrangements are as follows:
Visit Bethlehem's website for directions including this note: Note: Due to construction on 94th street, currrently the best way to reach Bethlehem is to take 91st street east off of Western; turn right (south) on Oakley and proceed to 9401 S. Oakley.
Because of this funeral, the Women's Bible Study that normally meets on Thursday mornings will be cancelled this week.
If anyone would like to attend and feels uncomfortable driving, please call the church office or pastors and we will make every attempt to coordinate ride-sharing. Meanwhile, we pray in thanksgiving for the life and witness of Pastor Peterson.
Christ is risen! Alleluia!
Because Christ lives, we know that we shall live also.
It is in this Easter hope that we share the news of the death of Pastor F. Leonard Peterson. Pastor Len was the senior pastor of All Saints Lutheran Church from 1995 through his retirement in 2006. He died on Easter morning.
Funeral arrangements are as follows:
- Visitation will be Wednesday (tomorrow) from 3-9 at Thompson & Keunster Funeral Home which is at 5570 W 95th Street in Oak Lawn.
- The funeral service will be Thursday at 10:30 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church which is at 9401 S Oakley in Chicago. There will be visitation also beginning at 9:30 at Bethlehem on Thursday morning.
Visit Bethlehem's website for directions including this note: Note: Due to construction on 94th street, currrently the best way to reach Bethlehem is to take 91st street east off of Western; turn right (south) on Oakley and proceed to 9401 S. Oakley.
Because of this funeral, the Women's Bible Study that normally meets on Thursday mornings will be cancelled this week.
If anyone would like to attend and feels uncomfortable driving, please call the church office or pastors and we will make every attempt to coordinate ride-sharing. Meanwhile, we pray in thanksgiving for the life and witness of Pastor Peterson.
ASLC Devotions - Tuesday
Psalm 150:6 Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
In this week of resurrection and new life and promises and hope, we praise the Lord. We who still have breath in us, we praise the Lord. We trust that those who have died are now praising the Lord before his throne. We trust and we hope that one day we will all be reunited to praise the Lord together.
Because Christ lives, we live also. Because Christ lives, fear is ended. Because Christ lives, we praise the lord! Alleluia! Christ is risen!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Eastertide rolls on next Sunday as we celebrate with Holy Communion at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour returns at 9:45.
Praise the Lord!
In this week of resurrection and new life and promises and hope, we praise the Lord. We who still have breath in us, we praise the Lord. We trust that those who have died are now praising the Lord before his throne. We trust and we hope that one day we will all be reunited to praise the Lord together.
Because Christ lives, we live also. Because Christ lives, fear is ended. Because Christ lives, we praise the lord! Alleluia! Christ is risen!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Eastertide rolls on next Sunday as we celebrate with Holy Communion at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour returns at 9:45.
Monday, April 1, 2013
ASLC Devotions - Monday
Joshua 10:25 And Joshua said to them, ‘Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous; for thus the Lord will do to all the enemies against whom you fight.’
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Joshua was the leader who helped guide the Israelites as they took possession of the land God had promised them and began to live there. Of course, there were other people living there before who weren't too excited to see the Israelites. So there was war. And the Israelites won. And Joshua promised them they didn't have to be afraid anymore. After slavery, after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, they didn't have to be afraid anymore. God would take care of their enemies.
It's easiest, I think, to think of enemies and what we want God to do to them in terms of human enemies. We think of people who've hurt us, people who've hurt our families and we want God to do thus and so to them. But today is Easter Monday. Today we remember that God has conquered greater enemies than all of these. God has conquered death itself! There is no need to be afraid. Because Christ lives, we shall live also.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
The Easter season continues as we worship next Sunday at 8:30 and 11.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Joshua was the leader who helped guide the Israelites as they took possession of the land God had promised them and began to live there. Of course, there were other people living there before who weren't too excited to see the Israelites. So there was war. And the Israelites won. And Joshua promised them they didn't have to be afraid anymore. After slavery, after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, they didn't have to be afraid anymore. God would take care of their enemies.
It's easiest, I think, to think of enemies and what we want God to do to them in terms of human enemies. We think of people who've hurt us, people who've hurt our families and we want God to do thus and so to them. But today is Easter Monday. Today we remember that God has conquered greater enemies than all of these. God has conquered death itself! There is no need to be afraid. Because Christ lives, we shall live also.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
The Easter season continues as we worship next Sunday at 8:30 and 11.
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