2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
The very end of Paul's letter to the Corinthians contains this blessing and exhortation. Paul wanted them to hear these words at the very end.
Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Agree with one another. Live in peace. These are some more of those very simple-sounding biblical concepts that seem so hard for us to live out "in the real world." Because the call is to agree with one another. The call is not to be so convincing that everyone would turn and agree with you. The call is not to defeat those who disagree with you through logical reasoning or illogical whining. The call is to agree with one another. Simple. Straight-forward. And the quest of a lifetime is to see if we can do it.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Worship together at 8:30 and 11 this Sunday with Education Hour in between at 9:45. Visit our website at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for more information
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
ASLC Devotions - Wednesday
Mark 11:25 Jesus said, ‘Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.’
This is a very hard thing for me to think about. It's a hard thing for me to try to wrap my head and my faith around and to make it fit into my images and strong convictions that God is an endlessly forgiving God who forgives out of God's grace and not out of our deserving. If that's true, then God should forgive my trespasses whether or not I forgive the people that I have anything against. Jesus' statement here in Mark makes it seem as if my receiving forgiveness from God is dependent on whether or not I've forgiven everything I possibly can.
In an ultimate and strict and simplistic sense, I don't believe that's true. I don't believe that God would withhold forgiveness from me if I fail to forgive someone else. It's just not what the rest of Scripture and the tradition teach. But there's something very powerful and powerfully convicting about the statement anyway. Obviously, my forgiveness of others or lack thereof has very real consequences. Obviously, my forgiveness of others is something that's very important to God. And for now, knowing that is enough. I'll work on it.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Worship with us and receive Holy Communion 8:30 and 11 on Sunday morning. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a current monthly newsletter and calendar.
This is a very hard thing for me to think about. It's a hard thing for me to try to wrap my head and my faith around and to make it fit into my images and strong convictions that God is an endlessly forgiving God who forgives out of God's grace and not out of our deserving. If that's true, then God should forgive my trespasses whether or not I forgive the people that I have anything against. Jesus' statement here in Mark makes it seem as if my receiving forgiveness from God is dependent on whether or not I've forgiven everything I possibly can.
In an ultimate and strict and simplistic sense, I don't believe that's true. I don't believe that God would withhold forgiveness from me if I fail to forgive someone else. It's just not what the rest of Scripture and the tradition teach. But there's something very powerful and powerfully convicting about the statement anyway. Obviously, my forgiveness of others or lack thereof has very real consequences. Obviously, my forgiveness of others is something that's very important to God. And for now, knowing that is enough. I'll work on it.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Worship with us and receive Holy Communion 8:30 and 11 on Sunday morning. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a current monthly newsletter and calendar.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
ASLC Devotions -- Tuesday
Genesis 49:53 When Jacob ended his charge to his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed, breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.
When someone dies, we have lots of euphemisms that we use to talk about it. It often seems out of place or in poor taste to simply say "He died." So we have come up with dozens of other ways to say the same thing: he passed away or he passed on or he met his maker, etc.
Generally, I'm not a fan of any of these euphemisms. I think that as Christians who are confident that death is not the end we don't need to be afraid or squeamish about death. But if I were to use a euphemism, I might be inspired by this verse to use one I don't hear very often, "He was gathered to his people." That speaks of being wrapped in teh loving embrace of God. That speaks of a confidence in resurrection and new life. That speaks of the reunion that we all long for and believe in. Yes... someday I would like to be gathered to my people.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour at 9:45. Full information on all our ministries is available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
When someone dies, we have lots of euphemisms that we use to talk about it. It often seems out of place or in poor taste to simply say "He died." So we have come up with dozens of other ways to say the same thing: he passed away or he passed on or he met his maker, etc.
Generally, I'm not a fan of any of these euphemisms. I think that as Christians who are confident that death is not the end we don't need to be afraid or squeamish about death. But if I were to use a euphemism, I might be inspired by this verse to use one I don't hear very often, "He was gathered to his people." That speaks of being wrapped in teh loving embrace of God. That speaks of a confidence in resurrection and new life. That speaks of the reunion that we all long for and believe in. Yes... someday I would like to be gathered to my people.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour at 9:45. Full information on all our ministries is available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Monday, September 12, 2011
ASLC Devotions -- Monday
Genesis 48:21 Then Israel said to Joseph, ‘I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your ancestors.
Parents and grandparents, indeed all of our elder, our forefathers and foremothers, give us many gifts. We learn many things from those who have gained knowledge and wisdom through life's experiences. It is always a good idea to listen carefully to what we can learn from those who have seen more. And, as we are able to be in the position to share wisdom and knowledge, to remember to do that with grace and care.
Of all the gifts we can receive from generations past and all the gifts we can pass on to the generations to come, there is nothing more significant than faith. There is nothing more significant we can share or receive than the blessing it is to know that God will be with us. Israel (also known as Jacob) was about to die and was passing on some final wisdom and assurances to his son Joseph. The final word that he wanted to leave was a word of faith and promise and hope. "God will be with you." What are the gifts of faith you have received? How have you passed them along?
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
For full calendar, visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org. Worship with us Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour at 9:45.
Friday, August 5, 2011
ASLC Devotions - Friday
Acts 18:24-25 Now there came to Ephesus a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria. He was an eloquent man, well-versed in the scriptures. He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord; and he spoke with burning enthusiasm and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.
Apollos was one of the earliest Christian evangelists, responsible for spreading the good news about Jesus through lots of the ancient world. He did not write any books or letters which are part of the Bible so we don't know him quite as well. But here is a bit of his story. The important thing that strikes me today is that he did not know Jesus - he had only known the baptism of John. He didn't walk with Jesus or see Jesus. But he had been instructed in the Way of the Lord and so he could speak with burning enthusiasm and teach accurately.
We sometimes think we don't have what it takes to share our faith. Some of us may not have a deep personal experience of knowing Jesus' presence in our lives - and we feel jealous of those who do. We feel inadequate. We feel that we don't have what it takes then to share. Because we can't say "I've seen Jesus." But neither did Apollos. Apollos knew what he had been taught. And it was enough. What God had given him was enough. What God has given you is enough.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Worship with us Saturday at 5 pm or Sunday at 9 am. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a current newsletter and calendar.
Apollos was one of the earliest Christian evangelists, responsible for spreading the good news about Jesus through lots of the ancient world. He did not write any books or letters which are part of the Bible so we don't know him quite as well. But here is a bit of his story. The important thing that strikes me today is that he did not know Jesus - he had only known the baptism of John. He didn't walk with Jesus or see Jesus. But he had been instructed in the Way of the Lord and so he could speak with burning enthusiasm and teach accurately.
We sometimes think we don't have what it takes to share our faith. Some of us may not have a deep personal experience of knowing Jesus' presence in our lives - and we feel jealous of those who do. We feel inadequate. We feel that we don't have what it takes then to share. Because we can't say "I've seen Jesus." But neither did Apollos. Apollos knew what he had been taught. And it was enough. What God had given him was enough. What God has given you is enough.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Worship with us Saturday at 5 pm or Sunday at 9 am. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a current newsletter and calendar.
ASLC Devotions - Friday
Acts 18:24-25 Now there came to Ephesus a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria. He was an eloquent man, well-versed in the scriptures. He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord; and he spoke with burning enthusiasm and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.
Apollos was one of the earliest Christian evangelists, responsible for spreading the good news about Jesus through lots of the ancient world. He did not write any books or letters which are part of the Bible so we don't know him quite as well. But here is a bit of his story. The important thing that strikes me today is that he did not know Jesus - he had only known the baptism of John. He didn't walk with Jesus or see Jesus. But he had been instructed in the Way of the Lord and so he could speak with burning enthusiasm and teach accurately.
We sometimes think we don't have what it takes to share our faith. Some of us may not have a deep personal experience of knowing Jesus' presence in our lives - and we feel jealous of those who do. We feel inadequate. We feel that we don't have what it takes then to share. Because we can't say "I've seen Jesus." But neither did Apollos. Apollos knew what he had been taught. And it was enough. What God had given him was enough. What God has given you is enough.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Worship with us Saturday at 5 pm or Sunday at 9 am. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a current newsletter and calendar.
Apollos was one of the earliest Christian evangelists, responsible for spreading the good news about Jesus through lots of the ancient world. He did not write any books or letters which are part of the Bible so we don't know him quite as well. But here is a bit of his story. The important thing that strikes me today is that he did not know Jesus - he had only known the baptism of John. He didn't walk with Jesus or see Jesus. But he had been instructed in the Way of the Lord and so he could speak with burning enthusiasm and teach accurately.
We sometimes think we don't have what it takes to share our faith. Some of us may not have a deep personal experience of knowing Jesus' presence in our lives - and we feel jealous of those who do. We feel inadequate. We feel that we don't have what it takes then to share. Because we can't say "I've seen Jesus." But neither did Apollos. Apollos knew what he had been taught. And it was enough. What God had given him was enough. What God has given you is enough.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Worship with us Saturday at 5 pm or Sunday at 9 am. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a current newsletter and calendar.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
ASLC Devotions - Wednesday
Matthew 15:37 And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.
Jesus started out with seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. He did his thing and fed 4000 men, plus a unnumbered number of women and children. When the leftovers were gathered, there were seven baskets full.... more than he had started with in the first place before feeding the crowds. The leftovers were more than the raw ingredients.
The kingdom of heaven is like leftovers that are far more than we even knew possible.
The kingdom of heaven is like enough for everyone - and more than enough to spare.
In the kingdom of heaven, God has given so many gifts, that what we think we see is only the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more yet to come!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Worship with us and experience a little taste of the kingdom of heaven on Saturday at 5 pm and Sunday at 9 am.
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