Waukesha, WI
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Storms of life

1/20/2016

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Scripture: Mark 4:35-41
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 
36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 
37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 
38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

​Observation: Jesus preaches to the storm, the storm calms, and the disciples are left in wonder.

Application: Why are you so afraid? This question gets asked of us a lot.  You expect it from your parent or your teacher or maybe even your boss. Don't really expect if from Jesus though.  The point in which the storm comes might make us afraid.  To be sure, there are plenty of storms that rage in our lives.  You can probably name 5-10 off the top of your head right now.  I know I can.

The point of this story in scripture is that Jesus is in charge.  Jesus is the one to calm the storms of life.  Our faith and trust in this promise is the point in which Jesus asks the question: "Why are you so afraid?"  Fear can overtake us away from the trust that we have in Jesus.  I am often struck by the amount of times 'do not be afraid' occurs in scripture.  Every time there is cause to be afraid.  But there is also cause to trust that Jesus has got this storm under wraps, and it won't last for long.

Prayer: Lord help me trust that you have this all under control.  Quiet the storms that are raging in my life so that I might experience your peace.


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Family

1/19/2016

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Scripture: Mark 3:31-35
31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 
32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”
33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.
34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 
35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Observation: Jesus turns the idea of family around.  The identity of family is not bloodlines but of kingdom goals.

Application:  It is funny to me that we use the word family to talk about what it means to be church because that word 'family' has so many attachments from any one person.  When we talk about the family of faith, as in the body of Christ, it begins to look a bit different than my family or your family.  Whoever is doing God's will, God's work is my brother and sister and mother.

A few months ago I began removing the last names of people I baptize because of this understanding of family.  I am not sure anyone noticed but I began teaching this to the baptized parents and godparents.  I explain that we don't use your last name because you are joining a family that goes beyond bloodlines and in baptism we leave that particular identity of being a Fetters', a Webster, a Beranek, a Colgrove, a Geiger, a Marquardt, a Gerner, a Smith or a whoever.  We have now been claimed by one who will share a new identity of brother and sister and mother.

Prayer: Lord thank you for your Son who gives us a new identity of what it means to be family.


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Streams in the desert

1/18/2016

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Scripture: Psalm 126
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
1 When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem,
    it was like a dream!
2 We were filled with laughter,
    and we sang for joy.
And the other nations said,
    “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”
3 Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!
    What joy!

4 Restore our fortunes, Lord,
    as streams renew the desert.
5 Those who plant in tears
    will harvest with shouts of joy.
6 They weep as they go to plant their seed,
    but they sing as they return with the harvest.

Observation:
The supreme kairos moment 
(both moments of joy and sorrow that interrupt life) in the life of the people of God was Exile.  The return from exile brought about joy for those who were once filled with sorrow.  The psalmist uses language of farming to articulate the nuances of God's action in the world.  The transformation process is often different than what we expect.

Application: We have experienced a lot of transformation where I serve, the people of St. Mark's.  Whether it is the through intentional prayer groups like HHH (hurts, hang ups, and habits), or in discipleship huddle, or in the prayers during communion (both individual and 
corporate), or in the service of healing, or in the Wednesday night worship, or through serving opportunities.....God is bringing a harvest out of the seeds of tears.  Kairos (both moments of joy and sorrow that interrupt life) is certainly a being processed and offered over to God.  Through these kairos moments of our individuals and the life of the community of faith we are beginning to witness the transformation God offers and the psalmist testifies about.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for moving in ways that we see transformation; offering streams to those who walk in desert lands.



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Drive Thru's and dives

1/12/2016

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Scripture: Mark 2: 23-28
23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Observation: According to the law, it was perfectly fine to take the heads of grain from the field (first drive thru?) of someone as you were passing by, as long as you didn't take more than a share.  This instruction was for the good of the community.  The problem is that Jesus breaks the law by doing this on the sabbath.

Application: According to the principles of sabbath rest that God lays out; daily, weekly, yearly, every 7 years....I am not very good at recognizing the need for sabbath rest.  Well, that isn't true either.  I recognize the need but I am terrible about taking it.  In a go-go-go action and production valued society, rest seems to be laziness.  Yet it is what God wants for us.  So much so that we are instructed to participate in it and Sabbath was given to us, for us, because God loves us.  Sabbath is not about the 'shoulds' - I should do this, I should do that....but it is about claiming the desire for God to bring us rest by abiding in him.

​Prayer: Lord help me find rest daily, weekly, yearly, and sabbatically. Help me work from rest.  Strengthen me to say no to the constant demands of the world. 


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From the rising of the sun

1/7/2016

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 Scripture: Psalm 113

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Observation: The psalmist gives praise to God at all times.  From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same.

Application: One of the most important faith formation events of my growing up was attending church camp as a family.  It was a time to hear scripture in fun and exciting ways, often through music.  One of the songs was an articulation of this very song. It's not as hokey as the below but it is the same version.  As soon as I started reading that psalm, I started to sing this song.  It is carrying this song in my heart that I appreciate about learning a simple way to praise God!
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Prayer: Lord, you are always worthy of our praise!  May we carry these songs in our heart.
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Sing for Joy

1/5/2016

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Scripture: Isaiah 42:10-20

Observation: The prophet encourages us to sing a new song. All creation, the seas and coastlands sing for Joy.  Yet this song ends with a lamenting God, expressing prayers uninformed by the revelation of God, alarmed by Israel's disobedience.

​Application: You know it happens, you get a song stuck in your head, it stays there for it seems like forever.  Recently, a friend of our family gave us a CD.  It was a Christian Rock CD for children.  Now, before I tell you anything else, I am always suspect of all Christian 'worship' music cd's.  They can go sideways theologically very quickly.  We packed this CD with us on our way on a long road trip.  We turned it on to let the kids sing a long to it or at least keep them entertained.  In short we took a risk knowing very well these new songs could be terrible.  However, we were really surprised, that CD got played several times during that trip and continues to be a connection to God for our family while we drive from place to place in our car.

One of these new songs that has become one of our family's love languages (Click on the youtube video to hear it below)
"My God, you supply all my needs, according to his Word, according to his riches and glory." 
Prayer: Lord in this new year, help us to sing new songs of you joy!  May we become people of Sela!
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God heals

1/4/2016

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Scripture: Psalm 103:1-5

Observation: A psalm of praise for the healing God offers.

Application: A long time ago, my favorite theologian, Douglas John Hall broke down the pronunciation of the word disease....saying dis - ease.  When he said it I had an epiphany, disease is not a diagnosis of some contagion but disease is about not being at ease.  I have recently felt the dis-ease in my life, seeking healing for that dis-ease.  Part of this is coming to a conclusion that God is at the center of healing my disease.  My friend Ernie likes to say; "you can't pour out what you don't have."  Seeking this healing in my life from the place of discomfort has made me realize and pay attention to the dis-ease I have been feeling.  It has caused me to be uncomfortable in a place of vulnerability I have not been before.  in that vulnerability, I have had a supreme sense of God's overwhelming grace and healing.

Yesterday in worship I witnessed this same vulnerability and willingness of others to enter into a place of dis-ease that people came forward for healing and anointing. It was yet another opportunity to God's grace, forgiveness and healing.

Prayer: Lord, we thank and praise you for your healing power.  Enter into the discomfort and dis-ease of our lives that we might know your healing mercies more and more.

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