Devotion 4.7.20

The Lutheran Hour devotion series for Lent, written by Dr. Keri Vo, seemed appropriate during Holy Week and during the COVID 19 crisis.  In the midst of personal crisis and about to lose his life, Christ looks and has compassion on the people who cry for him.  From 4.6.20 Devotion by Dr. Vo:

And there followed Him (Jesus) a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for Him. But turning to them Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.' For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?" (Luke 23:27-31)

Have you ever been in the middle of terrible suffering? If you're like me, it gives you a kind of tunnel vision. I can't concentrate on anything but the pain. Oh, somewhere in the back of my mind I know that life goes on—that other people still exist—even that they might be suffering, just as I am. But it's incredibly hard to put my own suffering aside to focus on theirs. My own suffering takes up all my energy.

But notice that Jesus is different. Just look at Him on the road to the cross! He's already been beaten, tortured, kept up all night, put through five separate trials—and yet He still notices the women on the side of the road who are grieving for Him.

In fact, He goes further than that. He lays His own suffering aside and takes a minute to warn them of what's on the way—their own suffering at the fall of Jerusalem. Those days will be so horrible, He says, that being childless will look like a blessing. After all, if such evil things are happening now, while God Himself is walking the face of the earth, what will happen when He is no longer visibly present?

Jesus sees us just as clearly as He saw those women. He sees you—your situation, your needs, your suffering. He is concerned for you. Your suffering is the reason for His suffering. As Isaiah put it, "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:4-5). He loves you this much.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to respond to Your love with love. Amen.

Devotion 4.6.20

Pontius Pilate.  The name itself brings the Christian mind to the week of the entry, to the night where the apostles broke bread, and to Christ's arrest, "trial," crucifixion and resurrection.  Pilate is a key figure in the book of Matthew (27) to whom the Jewish leaders hand Christ.

Interestingly, Rev. Dr. Joel Heck, theology professor at Concordia University Austin, writes about Pilate in the March 2020 Lutheran Witness.  When we hear the story of the passion this week, it's good to know the story Dr. Heck shares (new to me).  In John 19,  Heck writes, "When the Jews feared that Pilate was about to release Jesus, they shouted, 'If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar." To the "rest of the story..."

Heck notes this:  "Just two years earlier, Lucius Aelius Sejanus had been executed in Rome for a plot against those who were aligned with Tiberius, the Roman emperor.

"Pilate was a friend of Sejanus and had actually been nominated for the governorship in Judea (by Sejanus).  If word got back to Rome that Pilate was Sejanus' friend, Pilate's governorship, even his life, could soon be over.

"The Jews apparently knew about Pilate's friendship with Sejanus and seemingly threatened to send word about that friendship to Rome.  So Pilate realized that he was in a difficult spot.  He had to choose between justice and his future.  He decided to compromise his understanding of justice and Roman law and handed Jesus over to be crucified."

Heck goes on to say that God's plans always supercede man's.  Pilate's frame of mind becomes even more clear with this background information.  To know the story from scripture is to see a man who seems to not want to have Christ's blood on his hands.  Knowing this story says Pilate was also concerned with keeping his own head on his shoulders and the Jews knew it.  Through it all, God's plans prevail.

We all have blood on our hands.  We too deny Christ, plot and plan, and attempt to twist our "thoughtfully" developed plans so that our will be done.  Going back to Jeremiah 29, we remind ourselves that God "knows the plans He has for us." Yet even Christ Himself shows us in his prayer in earnest when He implores God to spare Him from this, but he does confess, "Not my will, but your will be done."

We pray that we always seek God's will.  We ask for the mercy and forgiveness when we act like Pilate and seek to employ our own will and plans over God's. We know that even with Christ's blood on our hands, there is forgiveness.

Rev. Dr. Joel Heck, "God's Plans (not ours)" Lutheran Witness, March 2020

Devotion 4.2.20

According to John Maxwell, there are two responses to adversity:  Seek advantage or see adversity. It is, as he notes, a matter of perspective.  What does that mean - a matter of perspective?

Without looking it up, in layman's terms, it means how we see things, our mental framework.  Maxwell jokes in a video series on leadership with the following:  "The optimist sees the glass half full.  The pessimist sees it half empty.  The realist sees the wrong glass.  And while the three of you were arguing about the glass, I drank the water.  Signed, the Opportunist"

The apostle Paul was someone who saw opportunity in adversity.  In Philippians 1, we hear Paul as he says, "...for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life of by death.  For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain..... I am hard pressed between the two.  My desire is to depart and be with Christ for that is far better.  But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account." (19-24)

THAT'S perspective.  To die is to be with Christ.  To live is to proclaim the gospel.

We all face adversity, not just now, but on-going, so when we do, what is our perspective?  Do we see the darkness and fear the unknown?  Do we seek advantage in those moments?  To grow, to learn, to appreciate the here and now?  Do we spend time in quiet reflection and come out on the other side of adversity better for it?

Paul ministered from prison, from a ship wreck, in hostile territory, beaten....  Yet he held the faith and proclaimed the gospel, saying later in Philippians to focus.  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (4:6.-8)

So, what are we focused on?  What keeps our attention?  At Lent, is it Christ and Him crucified?  Do we turn to him when we are anxious?  Do we turn our hearts to what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, or excellent?  Pray that we do think on these things.

Devotion 4.1.20

"Feed your faith; Starve your fears." John Maxwell

A reminder that we are nearing the end of Lent.  COVID 19 distracted me from Lent (remember that Maxwell did say a crisis is a distraction).  After all, my devotion life and prayer life focused on the crisis in front of us, not Lent.  Yet in today's Lutheran Hour devotion, Kari Vo, the author, reminded us that Lent is exactly where our minds should be as we navigate this crisis.

Hear her words:

"Then those who had seized Jesus led Him to Caiphus the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered.  And Peter was following Him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside, he sat with the guards to see the end." (Matthew 26)

"I've often wondered why hope is considered to be a virtue.  They call faith, hope, and love the three theological virtues, and I can see the point for faith and love.  But hope? I'm use to thinking of that as something that just happens to me, depending on my life circumstances.  I don't usually think of myself as responsible for having hope!

....What's going on in Peter's head (in this story)? Whatever it is, it doesn't include hope at all...." (Lutheran Hour Devotion, March 31, Dr. Kari Vo)

What is going on inside Peter's head?  Exactly!  Peter's denial goes beyond words, it includes action!  He's hanging with the guards during the crisis that would ultimately see Christ's crucifixion!  What is he thinking? 

Peter is in the moment, Vo reminds us, thinking of the here and now and not about what Christ had promised:  His death and resurrection.  Peter is in the here and now, distracted by his own thoughts and not allowing Christ to be his focus.

So, in Lent, are we distracted by the virus, or are we putting our hope in the promise of Christ?  We are observing the season that ultimately celebrates his suffering, death, and resurrection.  Everything else is a distraction. 

We pray that we turn our eyes to Christ, His suffering, death and resurrection. 

Devotion 3.31.20

I sometimes think I was born in the wrong time period.  Growing up in a house with my parents born in 1923 and 1931 (Dad and Mom), I tended to think older.  Listened to Big Band music every day because that is what my dad played.  Listened to a guy named Paul Harvey because he came on twice a day in my dad's car.  Part of that generation also recognized baseball as the only sport in the nation. Football existed, but in terms of popularity, baseball was the National Pastime.  It certainly was in our house.

So, I find myself, at times, thinking more about that game that was rather than the one that is.  Needless to say, in our extended confinement due to the virus, I found myself watching Ken Burns' baseball documentary which I've watched before, and I chanced on it with my favorite player to discuss, Babe Ruth.  The Babe.  Bambino.   If you read about baseball, its history, it always starts from New York and grows outward from there. 

I recently read a book on Babe which was excellent because it covered his life on and off the field.  Babe was (no debate) the first celebrity in every sense of the word.  He was known outside the game of baseball and capitalized on that popularity.  Babe became the bridge between the innocent and somewhat ill-informed celebrity, whose name was not his to use but open to anyone who wanted to make money off his or her popularity (he had no claim to the candy bar "Baby Ruth" which came about during his rise - it's an interesting read in the legality of what they pulled off at the candy company) to the more sophisticated celebrity who knew to trademark his or her name.

Interestingly enough, Babe was as good a pitcher as he was a hitter, and he was, many say, the best pure hitter in the game - ever.  Why did he leave the mound?  Because fans loved his homeruns.  Babe could play outfield and hit every game and not pitch and possibly miss a game after.  I enjoy reading the history of the game with people like Babe, Gehrig who complimented Babe, and other players down the line like Dimaggio and others.  It was a different place, different time, and I think I understood it better than I do modern times.  I always enjoy the opportunity to visit that time period.

What about you?  As you find time to sit and do things you may not have ever done because we were consumed with the present, work, children's activities pulling us to and fro, outside commitments, engagements that competed with our time....  Where do you find yourself?  How is the silence sitting with you?  How is the lack of activity because of "stay in place" working out?

Perhaps one place we can turn during out time is to God's Word, to hear the wisdom He has for us, for the direction we seek.  A key passage in the bible for me comes from Jeremiah 29, a familiar passage to all of us:  "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, Plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will hear you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."  Perhaps God has us exactly where he wants us.

We pray for God to guide us through this.  We pray that God hear our prayers, our prayers for ourselves, our neighbors, our nation and our world, His world.  We know He sent His Son to be our resurrection and life, and we know of the promise of eternal life through faith in His Son.  We lift a prayer of thanksgiving for the greatest gift we have in Christ.

Hope Men's Ministry

Devotion 3.30.20

So the service readings for Sunday were from Ezekiel 37 and from John 11.  The valley of dry bones and Christ raising Lazarus from the dead.  Both seemingly two separate readings having little to do with each other.  A desolate valley of dead animal bones seems like an apocalyptic movie set, and Jesus visits Martha and Mary to have them mourn the loss of their brother and think, wishfully, that Christ had been there to prevent the death.

Pastor asked, "What was Lazarus' life like after Christ raised him from the dead?"  He speculated about the various scenarios that might have been after he came back to life, but he linked it to the question:  How will our lives be impacted by this COVID-19 virus, when all returns to normal?

One of my favorite tv shows is MASH, and a classic episode involves Harry Morgan (who would go on to be in the cast after this season as Colonel Potter) who is doing a guest spot as a crazy general named General Hamilton Steele.  When he meets Father Francis Mulcahy, he gets two inches from his face and yells, "There are no atheists in foxholes!" to which Mulcahy replies, "I've heard that."

Sure, when the bullets are flying, God, our Father and Creator, and His Son, Christ, are front and center, hearing many promises that may never be fulfilled.  This corona virus is a slow-motion battle, which confronts two aspects of our lives:  Our fears and our conveniences.  We fear the unknown, the virus and the impact it may have on us, including the possibility of death, and the conveniences, plenty of toilet paper in my life, enough to wrap a house with as a prank.  Fear is present and conveniences are put on hold indefinitely.  So we turn to God in our slow motion battle because "there are no atheists in foxholes."

But look back at the two passages again.  In Ezekiel, Ezekiel is told to "prophecy to these bones..." and when he does, bones arise, sinew attaches, flesh comes next, then skin.  Then Ezekiel is asked to prophecy again, and when he does, God breathes life into the desolate, lifeless bones that have become bodies.  In John, Christ gives life to a dead (four days dead) and lifeless Lazarus.

We feed our faith and starve our fears, John Maxwell said on more than one occasion.  During our time of retreat and reflection afforded us by this hiccup in our conveniences, perhaps that should be our focus.  Taking the life-giving promise from Christ, who tells Martha as she mourns, "I am the resurrection and the life." (11:25). Indeed, Christ is the author of our faith, and it is Him to whom we turn in all times, good and bad.

We pray that we use this time to "Be still and know that I am God" by focusing on our faith.  We ask for God to send His Spirit to us to help strengthen our faith.  We take our petitions to God, including our fears, and ask that He handle them for us.  We are thankful that He is the resurrection and the life.

Devotion 3.26.20

If I use the word "leader" what comes to your mind?  What's a leader look like?  What does a leader sound like in his or her own words, his or her voice?  How do you choose or recognize someone in a position of leadership?  How is the person elevated to that status in your mind?

John Maxwell notes that in a crisis a leader(s) show up.  That makes it sound like they aren't necessarily chosen, but it sounds more like that rise up from the midst of the chaos that surrounds us.

On a separate but related note, I've always wondered about the war hero.  The man (most often in our history) who was at the right place at the right time, or inserted himself into the situation to resolve, rescue, or sacrifice himself to save the lives of or end the situation of many.  Have you ever met one face-to-face?  I have had that privilege.  In a funny way, I always pictured a John Wayne figure, or maybe a Sylvester Stallone-esque type.  Chiseled, jaw that pushed out to form a strong appearance of confidence.  You get the idea.  This guy?  Nope.  Average height, mild-mannered, slight build.

During our conversation he told me of his days in battle, and he told me his assignment.  The astonishment in my voice was not mistaken.  "Really?" I asked. "No way.  Wow, I can't believe that I'm talking to someone who did that." (He did reconnaissance in Vietnam behind enemy lines.  Sat in trees as troops from the north went by, gathering troop positions.  Literally ate off the land and went for days or more gathering the information). 

Think of the people in Christ's time, then, looking for the Messiah.  Another David, a king of kings.  A man after God's own heart.  Clearly a strong and charismatic leader, capable of uniting a troubled nation under Roman rule.  Yet they forgot David's beginnings, the "youngest of Jesse's eight sons."  The one, who when assigned to confront Goliath, caused Saul, the king, to doubt and "dress David in his own tunic and...armor...and a bronze helmet...  David fastened his (Saul's) sword over the tunic and tried to walk because he wasn't used to them."  David eventually convinces them he needs to shed the armor and meet Goliath on his own (and with God).  (1 Samuel 16)

Isaiah 11 had told the Hebrews "a little child will lead them," but they, and we, miss that in our time of need.  A baby had been born in Bethlehem to fulfill the scripture in humble beginnings (Luke 2).  Christ would grow and become the fulfillment of the promise, and yet many missed and miss it.  He's not the leader we were looking for.  Not a powerful earthly ruler, but a humble servant who came to earth to deliver us.

We pray for our leaders among us in the crises of our lives.  We ask for humility and wisdom from our leaders as they are among us, and we ask for God to guide them and for us to exhibit humility in following them.  We pray that we all turn to Christ, the humble servant leader, to guide us in our time of trouble.