​Weekly Encouragement 

   Allow me to start with a general encouragement for everyone.  Stay warm and safe. The first week of 2023 is here and it is already shaping up to be a memorable one.  As I write this there is a ground blizzard occurring due to high winds mixed with occasional snow.  This in itself should not be surprising considering the time of year and my location. Still, it is a little disconcerting when you simultaneously hear the howling wind assail the 95-year-old house and see the roadway disappear in a cloud of white.  A good day to stay inside if possible.  A sure affirmation is when the dog, Maggie, who loves staying outside, is back scratching at the door after five minutes to be let back in.  The look she gives says it all, “Enough of that, close the door.”  It is still
early in the season with more to come
   There was also supposed to be a reported change to the way things were being done in our nation's capital beginning this week.  Sure enough, the change occurred, but not quite as expected.  This is day three of what seems to be a binge-watching of re-runs of All in the Family to see who gets the coveted role of Archie Bunker to preside over a
dysfunctional family.  Stay tuned as history is being made and this is something our grandchildren will have to see to believe.  Popcorn, please!
   As another way to commemorate a new year we often acknowledge our mistakes more readily.  Rest assured this too shall pass.  A good friend admitted on New Year's Day that they had made an error and stated it was the one allowable for the entire year.  If only we could all be so fortunate.  As the comment was being said I wondered when my own first mistake of the new year would make its presence known.  Unbeknownst to me, I had already made my first 2023 mistake in November 2022.  Why wait I say.  In November of last year, I thought I was wise by switching our dental services from Duluth to a local establishment.  This would save a 70-mile round trip twice a year.  I visited the new establishment and inquired if they accepted the military retiree dental program I belonged to.  I was assured they did and made two appointments for both Cathy and
me on the same day.  They enhanced the service by offering the appointments at the same time as there would be two hygienists available.  All was right with the world.  Fast forward to Tuesday of this week and the first appointment with our new providers.  First, the appointments did not coincide but were consecutive as there was a miscommunication when the appointments were originally made.  This necessitated my canceling a weekly appointment for visitations.  Lesson learned.  Second, I had to pay a substantial co-pay x two for our services received.  Note, I have not had to pay a co-pay for the past 25
years.  Something was amiss. The next day I confirmed that I should have been more specific in November by asking if the dental practice was in the network I belonged to.  Alas, they are not.  Further investigation revealed that the only providers, 50 plus, are located…wait for it…yes, in Duluth, requiring a 70-mile ROUND TRIP.  There are none within the immediate area.  By the way, the local provider has outstanding hygienists and the location can't be beaten.  The office insurance specialist did ask if we would consider being clients if the practice became a member of the network.  I affirmed we gladly would and please advise accordingly.  The good news is that I made my first mistake of 2023 early, learned a valuable lesson on succinct communications, and have at least six months to obtain a network-approved dental provider. Often attributed to Augustine of Hippo is the saying, “Leave the past to the mercy of God, the present to the love of God, the future to the providence of God.”  I think I will try to make this one of my goals for 2023.
Our encouragement verse for this week is: Psalm 23:6  (NIV)“Surely your goodness and love will follow me, all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” May you be blessed by God's word.    Chris

​I guess the first time I heard the phrase was when I was about six or seven years old and was surprised to hear it used referencing me.  A friend and I had gotten into a disagreement about something of absolutely no consequence to adults.  But to kids, it was almost the end of the world. We started arguing and name-calling, then shoving, then ended up rolling on the ground for bragging rights as to who was right, but more importantly – who was wrong. On reflection of half a century, I am pretty sure I was the one in the wrong.  However, the revelation came when my grandfather was talking about the incident with my friend's father.  He described our altercation as "going at it like cats and dogs." Now, what did that mean? My friend was wiser in the ways of the world then and grinned when he heard that phrase.  He pointed at me and said I must be the cat.  Really? With the passage of time comes the wisdom of experience, nevertheless I still tend to scratch my head.  I mean think about it.  This is where Cathy tells me that I am putting too much thought into it already.   Pressing on. Cats and dogs, for the most part, tend to either get along or at least tolerate one another.  The most endearing memory of cats and dogs not getting along was a Warner Brothers cartoon from the 1950s, where a ferocious dog is chasing Sylvester, the cat.  That was family entertainment for children and we couldn't get enough of it every Saturday morning.  Now, we are in a different culture where such cartoons are deemed either too violent, not socially appropriate, or insulting to someone somewhere. Thank goodness for the YouTube search feature. Back to reality.  Cats and dogs have many admirable and practical characteristics.  In the US alone there are millions of these four-leged animals that provide companionship. They are patient, attentive for the most part, and rarely do you hear them complain unless they need to be fed, taken outside, or are in need of affection.  Unless you have allergies, who doesn’t like kittens and puppies.  Kind of like children that way.  So cute when so little, then they grow up.  It seems though that with cats and dogs as they get older, they become more loyal and attached to their humans. Then there is the all-important economic impact.  Cats and dogs are a multi-billion dollar industry.  There is the food, comfort items, toys, veterinary bills, grooming, and on and on. On several occasions, I have been visiting residents at nursing homes.  Two things bring immediate joy to the residents – young children and pets. We are fortunate in that we have both – a cat, Sophie, and a dog-Maggie. I am convinced they both have human personas. Sophie has a determined expression and if she could talk, we would hear Stewie Griffin from the cartoon show, Family Guy.  Maggie, however, is the pure personification of a fellow canine, Odie, from the cartoon series, Garfield.  Sophie takes everything in stride.  Maggie always wants to let you know she is there. Even if absent for only an hour, Maggie reacts as though we have been gone for days.  She is big enough that when I sit down, she can put both of her paws on my shoulders and goes eyeball-to-eyeball.  She looks as though she is saying, “Where have you been?  I missed you, now sit there and take your face exfoliation.  Sophie and Maggie are not best friends, but they do tolerate each other. It is disappointing that humans can’t follow the example of cats and dogs in finding whatever it takes to mutually get along together.  We have more labels that separate us than bond us to a common purpose. I take heart in realizing that God created cats and dogs and that they can get along quite well.  God created us and we can get along just as well.  That being the case, I don't mind being the cat or the dog. Our encouragement verse for this week is: Romans 12:18  (ESV)“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” May you be blessed by God's word.~Chris Article Written by Chris Belfield

Sermon Mark 10.17
     ​   Here in this short passage of five verses we have an amazing dialogue between Jesus and a wealthy man. If we look at Matthew, Mark and Luke we know that he is not just a wealthy man but that he is a rich, young ruler and that is how we commonly refer to him.
 Are you rich? Do you consider yourself wealthy? You might say – hey I’m not one of those billionaires flying around in space. I didn’t make the list of the 400 wealthiest people in America. I’m getting by, I’m making it or maybe even I’m pretty well off but I don’t know about rich. Anyone who’s TRAVELED outside the country to some of the poorer countries will tell you there’s billions of people who think most of us are rich – even if we don’t think we are. Does this passage have anything to say to those that are rich? Does it have anything to say to the billions of people that truly are poor and destitute?
Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem to the cross that awaits him. Along the way a man runs up to him, kneels before him and says “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Listen again – what a revealing question – Good Teacher what shall I do to inherit eternal life? We’ll come back to that. Jesus replies “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”
What do you notice about Jesus reply? Listen to how the young man replies. “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” Jesus looks at him and loves him. Ok let’s look once again at what we’ve heard so far. Good Teacher what shall I do to inherit eternal life. He comes to Jesus respectfully kneeling before him - Good Teacher – He doesn’t really understand who he’s kneeling in front of. Jesus’ reply hints at the fact that he is more than a Good Teacher. No one is good except God alone. The man continues – what must I DO to inherit eternal life? Does that sound like fingernails on a blackboard to you? I know it. You know it. There is nothing that WE DO to inherit eternal life. We are not pretty good on our own and just need a little help from God. We are not a toddler in our faith that just needs someone to help keep us steady so we can walk the right path to eternal life. We are like caterpillars in a ring of fire. We are doomed unless God in his mercy and grace and rescues us. Jesus’ reply continues – you know the commandments – Jesus doesn’t talk about those commandments that refer to God. He talks about all those that relate to the neighbor – murder, adultery, stealing, lying, honoring mom and dad. The young man replies – I have kept these things from my youth.
We might think – ya right – you’re full of it, you prideful, self- righteous so and so. But as far as we know he’s sincere in thinking that by his actions – he’s kept the commands. At least he thinks that outwardly he’s observed them most of the time. The interesting thing is that he felt that he kept the commands and yet he knows in his heart it’s not enough. What else must I do to inherit eternal life. Jesus sums up the commandments – he boils them down into two – love God and love neighbor. Love the Lord your God with all your heart soul mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.
We can try to view the commandments as a checklist – I haven’t murdered – check. I haven’t stolen – check. We can look at our own behavior and say - see I haven’t done anything wrong to my neighbor. I’ve been a good neighbor.
The next phrase about Jesus almost seems out of place. Jesus looked at him and loved him. Loved him? What do we think would have been loving? Maybe to say something like – wow I can see that your sincere and that you’ve been working so hard. You’re a godly young man with status, wealth, power – you’re an up and comer – a natural born leader – I’d like you to be on my team – in fact we’d be honored if you’d join our team. Doesn’t it seem like the way to love this his man is to welcome him?
But that’s not how Jesus loves him. Jesus looks on him with love and said “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
What – go sell all you possess and give to the poor. Does God have something against having possessions? What about Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Solomon? God blessed them with material things. If God doesn’t like material possessions, why does He give a command to protect them. God commands thou shall not steal. The early church shared what they had with one another. Is that what God wants us to do? Does Jesus want us all to sell our possessions and follow Him? Is that the thing that we must DO to inherit eternal life? That can’t be it because we know that we can’t DO anything – even sell all our possessions and give them to the poor – to inherit eternal life. And what about the poor? Those that don’t have any possessions. Are they to look to the rich to provide what they need? Is that how God will provide for them?
Why does Jesus tell him go and sell everything? The Bible doesn’t come right out and say. We get some hints in the verses that follow but we tread on thin ice when we speculate about God’s motives. Here are some thoughts – informed thoughts – opinions shared by others - but still they are only thoughts not scripture
1)    One thought is that Jesus didn’t just consider his godly behavior - he looked at his heart. And Jesus could see that he didn’t just have possessions but that the man’s property possessed him. It had become what he relied on – what he trusted in. Hence his possessions had become his idol - the thing that had taken the place of God. Jesus asked him to forsake his idol. Jesus desired to set him free from his old way of life – to die to self and all the self-made things he was relying on. But he could not let it go.
2)    Another thought is that he was completely self-focused. He was so focused on himself – his good behavior – that he didn’t even see his neighbors in need. Where you might be able to look at the commands as a check list – murder – no – check. Adultery – no – check. Love your neighbor is not something that you can check off. It’s never done. You don’t get to the end of the day and go – loved my neighbors – check. Not doing wrong to our neighbors is only part of what it means to love them.
Whatever Jesus’ motives were, we know how the man responded, he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property. He chose to cling to his things rather than to Jesus. He chose to hold onto his things rather than share them with his neighbors in need. Even though he knew in his heart that his religious practices – his keeping the commands and all his possessions couldn’t earn him eternal life. And Jesus lets him walk away. He doesn’t run after him – plead with him. He lets him walk away grieving. I remember the first time I preached on this passage 21 years ago. I was a seminary student studying in Africa. I had a friend who lived in the slums that invited me to preach at their church The roads were horrible because nobody owned cars. We were driving a little Toyota corolla that we had rented from another missionary family. And we slowly carefully made our way to the church. The church was made of rusty corrugated tin, and it was about 12’ x 20’. Church for them is an all-day event. You worship for a couple hours have lunch and then come back and worship some more. Their sermons can go on for an hour or more. I spoke for 20 minutes, and they were shocked that I didn’t preach longer. At the end of the service, they invited Laurie and I up to receive a love offering from them. We declined yet they insisted. So, as not to be rude, we stood at the front of the church and held our hands open as these poor and destitute people filed forward. One by one they placed what money they had in our hands. Then there came this man in his Sunday best he came forward but had no money and so he took his prized possession his tie clasp off and placed it in my hands. So, the rich young American who drove in on the only car in the whole area – was humbled to enjoy a feast of food that surely cost the congregation a fortune and then received all they had – even their treasured possession.
Those gracious and loving people taught me about clinging to Jesus and not my possessions – about trusting the Lord instead of trusting myself. And they taught me about sharing with those in need - they gave their all to this economically rich but spiritually poor seminary student. May their faith and generosity inspire us always. Amen 
 First Reading:                                                                                    Amos 5:6-7, 10-15
6 Seek the Lord and live, lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, with none to quench it for Bethel, 7 O you who turn justice to wormwood and cast down righteousness to the earth! 10They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth. 11Therefore because you trample on the poor and you exact taxes of grain from him, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. 12For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins — you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate. 13Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time, for it is an evil time. 14Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said. 15Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
                                    Psalm 90:12-17
12 So teach us to number our days that
We may apply our hearts to wisdom.
 13 Return, O Lord; how long will you tarry?
Be gracious to your servants.
 14 Satisfy us by your lovingkindness in the morning; so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
 15 Make us glad by the measure of the days that you afflicted us and the years in which we suffered adversity.
 16 Show your servants your works and your splendor to their children.
 17 May the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us; prosper the work of our hands; prosper our handiwork.
Second Reading: Hebrews 3:12-19
12Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 31But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” 16For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief
                                                                           Gospel         –
Mark 10:17-22
17As {Jesus} was setting out on his journey; a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, Do not bear false witness, do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
 


Have a Very Blessed Day W

 
 

 

Pastor Toms Sermon From August 29th, 21 Pentecost 14
Where is evil? Take a look, it’s all around us.
It seems like everywhere we look things are going wrong. Sin, death, and disease are rampant all around the globe. Things seem to be in crisis on many fronts. And crisis tends to bring out the best and worst in humanity. We see all kinds of divisions between people. Many are finding it hard to have civil conversations. Anger, yelling, hatred, threats, fights. Evil is nothing new. It’s been around since Adam and Eve. And it seems to be erupting all around us. The world seems to have gone crazy.  Compared to all that, Jesus’ disciples’ failure to wash their hands doesn’t seem like such a big deal. And yet the scribes and the pharisees get after Jesus for his disciples’ behavior. They asked him 5  “Why don’t your disciples wash their hands according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”  Jesus perceives their hearts and points out that they’re so caught up in own manmade traditions that they have let go of the commands of God.  Jesus calls the crowd to him and tells them it’s not what goes into you – it’s not eating grain with defiled hands – that defiles you – that makes you unclean and unholy. It’s not what goes into you, it’s what comes out of you that defiles you.  Later, his disciples ask Jesus to explain. He tells them it’s not what goes into their bellies that defiles them – it’s what comes out of their heart that does so.  Jesus goes on to say - out of the human heart, come evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, evil, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and folly. 23 All these evils come from within and defile a person.” I tend to do the same with this list of sins and evils that I do with the ten commandments. I tend to run through them like a checklist and give myself a pretty good grade. Let’s see – I don’t use God’s name in vain ….  . Check I rest a little and spend time in God’s word – that’s kind of like taking a Sabbath – sort of – check I haven’t murdered anyone – check Then there’s this list from Jesus No theft – check. No murder – check. And with the ones that are harder to check off – envy, slander, pride and folly - I like to grade myself on a curve. Sure, I may not speak of others in the best possible light but that’s not really slander – is it?– at least I’m not as bad as they are. Evil ideas – well my thoughts are not that bad – not that often – not as bad as that person or those people. Even when Jesus is telling me my heart is evil – I fight against him. I try to deny it and persist in saying it’s not in me - evil is out there. It’s in the world. Sure, I’m human. I'm not perfect but I’m trying. I’m not as bad as they are.  Who have I been talking about? me myself and i. And what have I been doing for myself and i? Trying to justify myself - trying to make the case for my own righteousness. Even though I know that I cannot make myself righteous - even though I proclaim the gospel message that Jesus died for my sins and rose to give me new life. That sinful part of me - the evil in my heart - will not die – it will not surrender.  we read in Romans 3 where it says “There is no one righteous, not even one and a little later in ch 3 we read - all [s]have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and yet our natural tendency is to try and wriggle out from under the Word as it is convicting us of sin. The Word says everyone’s a sinner – including you. We often respond - sure I’m not perfect, but I’m basically a good person. I mean look at that person over there – now they’re bad. But as we try to talk our way - and wriggle our way - out from under the God’s Word - Jesus pins us back by the ears and says – your heart is defiled – you are not holy – you are not righteous – and nothing you can think, say or do can make you even a little bit holy. Just like the Pharisees and teachers of the law could not make themselves holy by their own traditions – we cannot make ourselves holy by our own religious practices and traditions. As we realize that we cannot wriggle out from under God’s convicting Word - Jesus comes and takes us by the hand and leads us into a new kind of life. He says - your heart is unholy but here I’ll give you my holiness. Jesus says stop pretending to be righteous - you are not. but I’ll give you my righteousness.  God, by way of his word and his Spirit, continues to put to death the sin and the sinner in us. God’s work is not a paint job – making the outside look better. It’s not even a home improvement project – rearranging things so they look better. It’s a death and resurrection every single day that we are on this earth. But one day – one day – soon and very soon we can leave that unholy – that defiled - heart behind. Soon and very soon we are going to see the King. King Jesus - Lord of heaven and earth. Amen - Pr.Tom Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost – August 29, 2021  
Lessons From Sola Publishing - Used in worship on Sunday the 29th
Prayer of the Day - “O Lord, fully continue to purify and defend your Church. Since she cannot stand firmly without your power, govern her always by your grace; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.” 
First Reading - Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9
The Deuteronomistic principle is: keep God's commands and be blessed, do not keep them, and be cursed. Here, the blessing is taking possession of the land. That is a command that his chosen people kept with varying degrees of commitment and success. As soon as the people began to look on the land itself, instead of the Lord who gave them the land, they began to forget what God had done for them. This is why Moses implored them, “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget... (Deut 4:9)
Psalm - Psalm 119:129-136
The psalmist provides us with a picture of the person who not only wants to hear God's word but wants God to teach it to him. He wants to keep God's commandments, so he wants God to reveal it like light unveils things kept in the darkness. He distrusts his own abilities and asks God to steady his steps in the way. He cares not only for himself but for all who do not keep God's law. 
Second Reading - Ephesians 6:10-20
Perhaps Paul alludes to the exhortation to Joshua: “Only be strong and very courageous.” (Josh 1:7) If so, he adds a twist. The apostle tells us to be strong in the Lord—in the strength of his might instead of our own strength and courage. Using well-worn metaphorical language that he has used elsewhere (Rom 13:14), he tells us to put on the armor of God. Was Paul thinking of young David, trying on the king's armor but finally going to face the giant in the armor of God, in the strength of his might? 
Gospel - Mark 7:14-23
Jesus turns religious ritual on its head—and the ritually religious as well. Just as the food they put in their stomachs would never defile the heart, their bodily rituals would never cleanse their hearts. Human nature, along with the litany of “evil things” Jesus mentioned, will never be addressed by religious rituals and human traditions. The human heart is never cleansed except by the work of God.

​

What are the seven of the most well-known words in church? 
Tim Zingale points out that about 500 years before Jesus was born, a group of people emerged whose interest was the letter of the law. As time passed, they developed 613 rules that regulated Jewish life down to the smallest details. They redefined God’s decrees according to their own way of thinking and demanded that everybody live accordingly. They Let’s see if they sound familiar to you. WE’VE NEVER DONE IT THAT WAY BEFORE. Tradition is a good thing. The liturgy that we use for our Sunday worship service has been used for hundreds of years. It utilizes many passages from scripture. Last week we heard that many followers were turning away from Jesus, and he asked the twelve if they were going to leave as well. Peter responded – Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Do these words from John 6 sound familiar? Yes, we sing them every week. And that’s just one example. The whole service is designed and focused so that we can receive the good news of the gospel – in which Christ comes to us and distributes his gifts of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life. As we are blessed with those gifts we are renewed and strengthened in our faith and equipped to live out our faith in our daily lives. We begin our services with confession and forgiveness so that we might receive the good news with a clear conscience. The Old Testament, psalm and New Testament lessons were all selected to highlight the theme of the gospel message. The hymns are selected to do the same. The whole service points to Jesus and what He has done and is doing for you and me. Forgiveness – for you, salvation – for you, eternal life - for you. All because of God’s love – for you This tradition is designed to be in service of God’s mission in the world. These traditions – along with traditions of our own making - can be carried out as giving lip service to God when our hearts are far from him. The question to ask is who do our actions glorify? Who do they point to? When we do things are we drawing attention to ourselves - pointing to ourselves or to God. Are we seeking love, approval, and applause – do we want a gold star because we did such a fine job or are we serving our neighbor and pointing to God? The pharisees and scribes had come to town to check out Jesus. Some of them were known to use traditions to point to themselves – to glorify themselves – and to judge others.  replied - Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites. Their 613 rules originally might have been designed to honor God and to point people to God. But now they were being used to point to themselves and stand in judgment of others. Jesus went on to point out how they were paying more attention to their own tradition than they were to God’s word – telling people to take what they would use to honor and care for their father and mother and to give it as an offering to God. I imagine we can all think of people who’ve used church traditions to lord it over others and to point to themselves. Church kitchen wars and carpet wars are famous. Two different churches reported fights over the type of coffee. In one of the churches, they moved from Folgers to a stronger Starbucks brand. In the other church, they simply moved to a stronger blend. The argument got so heated that members left. Really, leaving your church family, your brothers and sisters in Christ over coffee. We need to do it this way - we can’t do it any differently because – WE’VE NEVER DONE IT THAT WAY BEFORE.  I heard a story recently about a grandpa who really slept soundly during his afternoon nap. As he was snoring away his grandkids carefully rubbed limburger cheese into his moustache. How they managed that without waking him I’ll never know. Anyway, he woke up from his nap and said holy mackerel this room stinks. Then he went into the kitchen and said this room stinks too. He went into practically every room in the house and in each room he said this room really stinks. But the problem wasn’t the odor in the room, he was the one who stunk. The point is that we can smell unrighteousness all around us but just like every other sin it’s difficult to smell it on ourselves. Yes, we all know folks who are really pharisees. And it’s easy to stand in judgment of them. But if truth be told there are times when most of us – maybe all of us think the way we’ve always done things is the right way. Maybe it has to do with church, maybe with the way we drive. In all the ways we do practically anything, there are opportunities for self-righteousness. We may be looking at others in search for self-righteousness when it’s right here under our noses. There are varying degrees of self-righteousness in all of us. But there’s one who covers all our self-righteousness with his own true righteousness. But there’s one whose blood covers all our judging and condemnation of others. Jesus loves you and me so much that he poured out his blood on a cross for all our pointing to ourselves. Many times, our striving for acceptance, approval, applause – our desire for that gold star - is searching for love and approval that has never been spoken to us. And so, this morning I want to speak truth to you. Not my truth God’s truth. God loves you God accepts you God approves of you. God created you just the way He wanted. God wanted you and chose you to be part of His family. Jesus bled and died to make YOU part of His church. Jesus takes all our self-righteousness all our judgment and in return gives us all his great wonderful gifts - forgiveness, salvation, eternal life. Once again, this morning by way of the Holy Spirit and God’s Holy Word, Jesus gives you not only his gifts but his very self. Amen ...accused anybody who didn’t follow these rules of not honoring God. They utilized their traditions to glorify themselves and to judge others. Washing your hands before you eat is always a good idea. This last year we’ve washed and disinfected our hands like never before. But they developed a very elaborate hand-washing law. Before they ate, 1½ egg-shells of water had to be poured over the hands. But this couldn’t happen in just any manner. It had to be done just so. The hands were held with the finger-tips upwards. The 1½ eggshells of water was then poured over them until it ran down the wrists. Each palm was then cleansed with the fist of the other. Then, the hands were held with the fingertips pointing downwards. Water was poured on them from the wrists downwards so that ran off at the fingertips. This was not a good scrub for cleanliness this was a ritual. It had to be done even if a person’s hands were spotless. You see, to them it was needed in order to please God. Not to do it exactly this way was sin. (Adapted from a sermon by Tim Zingale, SermonCentral.com). So when the Pharisees and Scribes saw that Jesus’ disciples did not wash their hands before they sat down to eat, they went nuts. Jesus! “You are not teaching your disciples to honor God like our ancestors did.” Jesus looked right into their hearts and ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me.
7 And in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8 Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”
First Reading - Isaiah 29:11-19
It is possible for people to be deeply religious, yet have little or no heart for God. We hate to admit it, but this is the way of some in our congregations, is sometimes our own situations, and was the case with Israel when Isaiah was a prophet. The religious things meant nothing, for it brought them no nearer to the Lord, his word, or his ways. Proof of this is not doing God's will and thinking God is none the wiser. Nevertheless, God promises to thwart the so-called wisdom of people, even if they are his chosen people.
 Psalm - Psalm 14:1-7
The psalmist warns people against the foolishness of unbelief. Atheism has been around for a long time and is still with us today. Sometimes this fool is not the one who says aloud that there is no God, but the one who says it in his heart. The Lord looks among us to see if there is anyone who believes, anyone who seeks his will. When the psalmist sang, the faithful were few and far between. The Lord still brings salvation for the poor in spirit, for those who confess their need of God's Savior.
Second Reading - Ephesians 5:22-33
Throughout Paul's talk of the submission and love appropriate to wives and husbands, the apostle uses religious terminology. The husband is the head and the wife the body, just as Christ is the head of the church, his body. Somehow the sacrificial love of a husband for his wife is like the sanctifying act of Christ for his beloved church. Marriage is a vivid illustration of the mystery of God's relationship with his people.
 Gospel - Mark 7:1-13
It is a sad irony that Jesus' disciples were eating with the Son of God, but that all the Pharisees could appreciate was the disciples had failed to wash their hands before eating. Certainly, the Pharisees had ceremonially cleansed their own hands first—and wanted to be sure Rabbi Jesus had noticed their pure religious practice. This is the way of religion: Look at me! Look at me! The way of faith looks to God.
Sermon from Pr. Tom 8-22-21 and readings & Gospil From Sola PUBLISHING  
​

Have you heard these words before? 
I Promise to love and cherish you, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, forsaking all others, til death do us part.
These are promises that we have made or heard at marriage services – and it’s a joy to see many people live up to those promises through thick and thin – some share many, many years together. Some delight in one another and some fight like cats and dogs and yet grit their teeth and keep their promises. 

What’s the challenge with these marriage promises? What’s our challenge with promises – not just marriage promises - all our promises? We’re sinful human beings living in a sinful world. We pray and ask God to bless our marriages and to help us with the promises we make. Having a sinful human nature and living in a sinful world doesn’t give us permission to break promises – nor does it give us an excuse to sin. But the problem with our promises is us.

How many of you have heard of Promise Keepers? It was a Christian ministry to men that featured big stadium events. I attended several of these stadium events 25 – 30 years ago. They were a significant move of God all across our country. They had a profound impact on me along with several of my buddies at church. It encouraged many men in their faith and encouraged them to be accountable to other men with regards to the promises we sought to keep. I’m so grateful to God for the ministry of Promise Keepers and yet I believe the focus was a little off. As Christians we are not so much Promise Keepers as Promise receivers. God is the one making the promises and God is the faithful promise keeper.

Did you catch all the promises in our Gospel passage today? We pick up John chapter six with the same verse we ended with last week. (The letter P stands for a promise from Jesus)

35 Jesus said to them, “ I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.      P   36 But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 37  All that the Father gives Me will come to Me,   and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.   P               For I have come down from heaven,  not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.    p
39 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing,   but raise it up on the last day. P  For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes      in Him will have eternal life,   P  and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”            P       
I figure 6 or 7 promises in these first 5 verses alone. Remember we read our Bibles with an eye to Law and Gospel. Where Law is what we are to do. It’s what God tells us to do or not do as in the Ten Commandments. Gospel is what God has done, is doing or will do for us. It’s a word of promise. 

After Jesus dishes up all these promises His listeners grumble and say a few words. Jesus answers them and gets right back to making another six promises.

Jesus answered and said to them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44   No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.     P
It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’    Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.       P
Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God;  He has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.               P
I am the bread of life. 49Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50This is the bread which comes down out of heaven,  So  that one may eat of it and not die.   I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; P
  and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh     P

This is gospel, gospel and more gospel and promise after promise. And what do all these promises have to do with? Your election, your salvation, and your eternal life. 
The Father has given you to Jesus and Jesus has you. Think about that for a minute. Jesus is a gift to us that we celebrate most often at Christmas. But you are a gift too. You are a gift from God the Father to Jesus. And you are a gift that Jesus treasures. Jesus has promised not to toss you out. He’s not going to lose you. Jesus has a hold of you and He’s not letting go. 
As it says in Romans 8  “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
You might think from verse 44 that the Father invites you to Jesus or that he lures you or entices you to come to Jesus. And that somehow you can decide to come to Jesus or not. For it says No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me DRAWS him; This word for draw in the original language is more like drag or haul. It is the same word used later on in John when the disciples are hauling in a huge catch of fish. It’s kind of like the trailer on a semi-truck. God the Father is the tractor part of the semi and you’re the trailer. The trailer is going where the tractor hauls you. And the Father’s hauling you to Jesus. 
Election is a mystery that runs through the whole Bible. And Jesus makes it explicit later in John chapter 15 when He says, “you did not choose Me but I chose you.”
God has chosen you to be His treasured possession and He’s promised you eternal life. Jesus promises that you will live forever. Did you notice that in verse 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes HAS eternal life. Jesus is saying that eternal life is not just some pie in the sky when you die. He’s saying that eternal life is a current reality your eternal life is now. 
And Jesus has promised that He’s going to raise you on the last day. On that great and glorious day when Christ returns, He’s going to raise your body to meet him in the sky. 
Promises are great – some of the best words we share. And we do our best to keep our word. 
But nothing compares to the promises Christ Jesus makes to us.  
Jesus has Promised to love and cherish you, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and his promise doesn’t end at death. He’s promised to never leave you or forsake you. He’s promised to love you forever. Amen



First Reading - 1 Kings 19:1-8
Elijah had stood up to King Ahab and all of his prophets and prophetesses. But now Queen Jezebel threatened his life, vowing to kill the prophet since he had slaughtered all of her prophets. This not only shows how the stakes are increased when one's life is threatened, it illustrates the weariness and loneliness that comes in ministry when one does not rely upon the Lord in faith. Yet, God is merciful. He provides for his weary servants, drawing them back to faith, often with the simple means of basic sustenance. Even though Elijah ran into a sparse wilderness, God met his needs. 

Psalm - Psalm 34:1-8
Though our very lives are threatened, we may exclaim with the psalmist, “I will bless the Lord at all times.” If run away to desolate places, even there we may proclaim that God delivers us from all of our fears. We must taste of his goodness to comprehend the refuge he provides through his patient mercies. Though this day is long and trying, God's mercies are refreshed in the morning. His steadfast love will sustain us forever. (Lam 3:23)

Second Reading - Ephesians 4:17-5:2
The old self is callous and corrupt, full of deceit and desire. Even though that old person in us was buried by God in the waters of baptism, it threatens to resurface and take control again. We are exhorted to put away and be finished with this former way of life. By daily repentance and confession, we put on the new self and are renewed in the spirit of our minds. The old way of life is gone. The new has come! (2 Cor 5:17) We now live as imitators of God in Christ.

Gospel - John 6:35-51
There are two equally bad choices that we might make. One is to look at the world, either with its temptations or its threats. The other is to look to oneself as the answer to these fears. Social media is rife with illustrations of Christians who put too much stock in the threats of the world. We need only look within to see the plethora of temptations. If we focus upon either the fear or our power to overcome them, we have lost the clarity of a Christlike mind. In short order, we will begin to grumble like the Hebrews in the wilderness and the Jews in Capernaum. Our focal point must remain in Christ alone. We must see him in the midst of trials and temptations—and continue to believe and trust. Everyone who looks on the Son and believes will be sustained eternally by him who is the Bread of Life. 

​Sermon from July 18th 2021 – 8th Sunday after Pentecost
 
I’m going to describe two banquets and you tell me which one sounds best to you.
 
First one is truly a royal occasion – it takes place in a beautifully decorated palace - all the top leaders in the country are there. And there are all the finest foods – the finest wines – and you can have as much as you want – and there is the best entertainment in the land – provided by the highest paid entertainer in the nation.
 
The second banquet seems like it’s just the opposite of the first – it’s not in a palace – it’s outdoors in the middle of nowhere – and then there’s huge crowds – thousands of people – and it’s hardly fine dining – just a simple meal.
 
Which sounds best to you?
 
Chapter 6 of Mark is an account of two banquets but there’s more. In this whole middle section of Mark Jesus has been showing people that He is the Son of God and the long awaited Jewish Messiah and telling them about the Kingdom of God. He’s healed people, even raised someone from the dead, cast out demons calmed a stormy sea. And Jesus has done this on both the Jewish side and the gentile side of the sea of Galilee. He’s paving the way for the church’s mission to all people – Jew/gentile Male /female young /old rich/ poor slave /free.
 
Earlier in CH 6 Jesus gives his twelve disciples authority to heal and cast out demons and sends them out two by two to the surrounding villages. As they are sent, they become apostles (apostles means sent ones) And they are sent to call people to repentance.
 
Then Mark tells us of the first banquet. It was Herod’s birthday party, so he invited all the nobility and leaders of the area along with military commanders. This had to have been a lavish affair with fine foods and fine wines. Not everyone at the palace was at the banquet. John the Baptist was in prison because John had called Herod out for marrying his brother’s wife Herodias. Herodias’ daughter danced for the dinner guests and Herod was so impressed that he offered her anything – up to half of his kingdom. Herodias had her ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter.
 
After that Mark tells us of the apostles returning from their mission to the villages in the area. They told Jesus all they had taught and done. They were so busy with ministry that they hardly had time to eat. And so Jesus tells them to go with him to a desolate place and get some rest.
 
These leads us to the second banquet. Thousands of people saw Jesus and the disciples leaving in a boat and raced ahead to meet them in this desolate place. Jesus has deep compassion on the crowd – the word used means that he felt for them deep in his gut - for they were like sheep without a shepherd. They were hungry for someone to lead them – hungry to be cared for – provided for – hungry for justice and righteousness – hungry for protection and for a shepherd to be with them in dark and scary times – even in the valley of the shadow of death
 
Jesus satisfies their hunger for righteousness as he teaches them and gives them the very Word of God. And after a long day of nourishing the crowds with his words the disciples want Jesus to send the people away so the crowds can go to neighboring villages and get some food. Jesus tells them you feed them. They had just come back from their mission trip where they had been teaching healing and casting out demons but feeding thousands of people – this was above their paygrade. They replied it would take 200 denari to feed such a crowd (a denari is a day’s wage) so they were saying that to feed 5000 men plus women and children it would take in the neighborhood of $15,000 in today’s money. Jesus says “what do you have?” Five loaves and two fish. You know how it goes Jesus has them sit on green grass in groups of 50 and 100 and takes the fish and loaves blesses it and feeds this whole crowd. Everybody eats their fill – not just a little bit but until they are satisfied. And there is more leftover than when they started – a full basket for each of the 12 disciples - those disciples who had been so busy with ministry that they didn’t even have time to eat.
 
Do you remember a time in the Old Testament when there was miraculous provision of bread in the wilderness? Manna – and who provided that – God – YHWH
 
Do you remember when the Old Testament refers to green pastures. Yes our psalm for today Psalm 23 and who’s the Shepherd – the Lord – YHWH – God
 
Jesus responds with deep compassion to the need of the crowds. And in the process shows once again that He is God in the flesh. And that He is a God of compassion, mercy and grace.
 
This is a story of two banquets – two kings – King Herod and King Jesus - one banquet is filled with self-indulgence that leads to death. The other is filled with love and service hosted by King Jesus - a king, a shepherd filled with deep compassion. His banquet is life giving.
 
There is a world filled with hunger – hunger for God – hunger for direction – hunger for healing – hunger for peace - hunger for food – hunger for love - for healthy connections with others – hunger for freedom from things that enslave us –
What are you hungry for this morning?
 
And in the midst of this world filled with hunger is Christ – Our good Shepherd making us to lie down in green pastures leading us beside still waters restoring our souls. Sometimes, in the midst of pain and suffering we wonder – are you there Lord – do you care Lord? It’s then that we hear the Word of God – reminding us that this is the Lord who’s guts ache for us – who hung on a cross for us - this is the Lord who walks with us even in our deepest darkest hour – and assures us that on account of this Good Shepherd we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
This is the Lord who comes to us this morning – giving his very self to us in the bread and the wine.
What are you hungry for this morning – Jesus satisfies.
 
Amen

Never Seem to be Able to Get Ahead
 Written By Chaplain Chris Belfield
It was one of those rare and cherished moments.  You know – the kind where you wish it could be frozen in time and preserved, but all too soon passes into the recesses of the memory and just as quickly fades away into obscurity.  I had taken a moment to consider the state of affairs in life and also around the home.  All major projects had been addressed.  Several new ones were actively and successfully in the works.  Finances were cooperating so that there was a little spare for unforeseen contingencies. This is significant when you are retired and on a fixed income.  Every dollar is accounted for and plans are made accordingly.  But this particular day, we were going to come out ahead for the month.  That is until the dog, Maggie, had to let us know that something was amiss. Cathy called my attention to the fact that Maggie was intrigued by something occurring under the back of my truck.  Now, I am very attached to my '99 Ford F-150, as I have been the only owner and she (yes, it's a she with a name – Hannah) has been very reliable until recently.  On this particular day, Maggie made note that there was a white fluid leaking from a rear shock absorber.  Sure enough, the seal had broken and the fluid was gone.  A replacement for sure, and you don't replace shocks singularly, but in pairs.  So it was that the contingency fund was going to take a significant reduction as Hannah had symptoms of other maladies that the mechanic doctor would have to diagnose and treat accordingly.  Never fails, does it?  Just when you think you're getting ahead.  Being an optimist, which goes along with being an ordained chaplain, there is a distinct silver lining here.  The repair shop is that good that I know that whatever repairs are done, that they are necessary and will last. Definitely an unplanned expenditure, but better now than when it is -20 degrees outside, right? I learned the lesson early in life about the futility of always trying to get ahead and build up a vast financial empire to call my own.  I was 11 years old. I had my first paying job – delivering papers.  These were not your standard daily newspaper, but rather a weekly paper aptly named, The Advertiser.  All it did was list items for sale.  It was approximately 10 pages every week.  My job was to fold the papers individually, put a rubber band around them and deliver them to approximately 120 houses in our suburban neighborhood.  All for one cent per paper for pay.  If I was lucky my grandfather would have the papers folded and placed in my cloth carrying bag by the time I got home from school.  Sometimes yes, most times no.  It took over two hours every Wednesday to do the paper route.  I remember times, during the worst of the winter weather when my older sister even was recruited to help.  All of this for $1.20 per week.  But for an 11-year-old in 1967, this was pretty good.  I was counting how much I would have after 1-2-and 3 years.  Then reality struck, and it was a sharp lesson that drove the point home.  I rode over a nail on my bike.  My grandmother, also my
accountant and financial advisor, taught me a valuable lesson very quickly. I had to buy the inner tube from my accumulated savings.  The tube was $2.49 – over two weeks of work!  That job only lasted two years when I decided that my academic pursuits as a teenager were more important.  It was because I finally found someone else who wanted the paper route that was now up to two cents per paper to deliver.  Still, I think it was a wise decision to move on. Other treasures can be accumulated at little cost and have huge dividends for years to come, such things as relationships, memories, helping others, and setting a good example. Now, you can always be ahead, and you can take it with you.  Jesus said it best in Matthew 6:19-21.
Matthew 6:19-21  (ESV)  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. May you be blessed by God's word.    
Chris

July 4th The 6th Sunday after Pentecost - Sermon By : Pr.Tom 

• First Reading Ezekiel 2 : 1-5 Pew Bible Page 1287
  
• Responsive Reading Psalm 123 Pew Bible Page 966
  
• Second Reading 2 Corinthian 12: 1-10 Pew Bible Page 1806
  
• Gospel Mark 6: 1-13 Pew Bible page 1560

Have you experienced rejection? It can be painful sometimes leaving lifelong wounds. Especially if it is by someone near and dear to us. A parent, a spouse. My wife Laurie learned early on that her parents were hoping for a boy – they even told her they were disappointed. She was supposed to be Wayne not Laraine. As the second girl and middle child she felt unwanted. That notion wounded her for a lifetime and shaped much of her life. 
My most profound feeling of rejection happened when my first marriage ended in divorce. Oh, I was crushed. It was so painful that I didn’t want to even think about dating for years. How do we react when we’re rejected? Sometimes the painful experience causes us to isolate and withdraw. Sometimes in our pain we become angry and want to lash out. 
We’ve been going through the gospel of Mark and we’ve been watching Jesus teach about the Kingdom of God and he taught not as others but as one with authority. In addition, he has been demonstrating miraculous power - healing the sick, casting out demons, even raising the dead and calming a storm. And his fame grew as did the crowds that followed him. Jesus encountered some opposition and yet his ministry was growing - getting bigger and better – until he went to his hometown. Somehow Jesus’ ministry has a limited effectiveness in his hometown of Nazareth.
Throughout his gospel Mark gives us one account after another where the faith of people does not affect the ministry or miracles of Jesus. The man filled with a legion of demons had no faith. The disciples that were being swamped by a storm at sea were filled with fear and not faith. So, it quickly becomes evident that faith is not essential for God to act, and that lack of faith is not a limiting factor for God. Divine miracles are not controlled by our faith. They come from the will and power of God.
And yet Jesus is amazed at the unbelief in Nazareth. Our catechism might help us make sense of their unbelief. We read about the 3rd article of the Apostles Creed. The part dealing with the Holy Spirit and the Church. Luther sums up the Bible's teaching saying - I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In one sense their lack of faith indicates that the Holy Spirit had not opened their hearts yet.
To his town folk Jesus was just the kid down the block that worked with his dad as a builder or carpenter. They were offended that now he had returned – who did he think he was - all high and mighty – teaching at the synagogue and with authority.
I believe this time in Nazareth was important for the disciples. Before Jesus sends them out, he wants them to know that he has experienced rejection even from those who knew him best. As they went out, they needed to know that their message and ministry would have a mixed reception. It would be accepted by some and rejected by others, and who are these disciples that Jesus is sending out. They are common uneducated men that aren’t exactly pillars of faith. Not long before this Jesus is in a boat with them and calms a storm and asks them “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” It’s these same men of little faith that Jesus sends out with his authority but few other provisions. They were to depend on God and the hospitality of others.
 8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town.  11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. The power to do the miraculous isn’t so dependent upon the faith of the messenger. It depends on the word and authority given by Jesus. This time in Nazareth was also important to the early church and to us. We know that after the resurrection, members of Jesus' family became pillars in the church. James the brother of our Lord was a prominent church leader. But Mark wants us to know that it wasn’t always this way. When the early Christians left their Jewish faith or their Greek or Roman gods, many of them experienced rejection. They often brought dishonor to their family. Today, many people experience rejection for their faith. In a Muslim home you are often thrown out of your home and your family for becoming a Christian. Many put their life in danger to follow Jesus. Jesus says to them and to us - you might be rejected by the ones that know you best – after all-says Jesus - I was. We often react to rejection with withdrawal, isolation, or anger. How does Jesus react?
One thing we see is that Jesus’ rejection in Nazareth doesn’t slow him down a bit. He doesn’t stop in Nazareth and wait for the Holy Spirit to open the hearts of people. He leaves his hometown and is off to the neighboring villages. His ministry isn’t slowed down, he multiplies it by sending out his disciples. Sometimes our most difficult mission is to our own family and friends. They know us – better than anyone. They know we are not so holy. Sometimes the transformation that has taken place in our lives can be a powerful testimony to God. But sometimes, familiarity can be an excuse that people use to reject our message. I think it is important that we continue to pray for our family and friends – especially those that don’t have a vibrant faith. But I also think it is important to recognize that Jesus commands us to make disciples of all nations – not just family members. Our witness and ministry is not just inside the walls of our church building nor inside the walls of our home.
So one thing we note is that rejection doesn’t hinder ministry and witness. If we experience rejection for our faith we keep praying and we move on to see where our message is welcome. 
Another thing we see is that for Jesus - rejection and opposition – become opportunities for grace – for in the very night in which he was betrayed, denied, deserted our Lord Jesus took bread and said - this is my body given for you. He took the cup and said - this is my blood shed for you.  Even when Jesus takes all the rejection and rebellion of all humankind upon himself - suffering the ultimate humiliation as he hangs from the cross – it is again another opportunity for grace - Father forgive them for they know not what they do.
I’d like to close with a few words that I’ve adapted from a Chris Tomlin song. 
We’re forgiven because He was forsaken
We’re accepted, He was condemned
We’re alive and well
His Spirit is within us
Because He died and rose again
Amazing love, how can it be?
That our king would die for you for me? Amen

​

Written By Chaplain Chris Belfield
I have a friend that I have known for almost 20 years, and we converse regularly on Facebook due to distance.  At least I thought this person was a friend.  As of two weeks ago, my friend has begun a daily posting of how many days are left until Christmas.  This is too much!  My sensibilities of what is right in the world have been assailed.  Why do I need a daily reminder of how few days are left and how much I will invariably leave undone until the last two weeks before Christmas?  I'm a man. It's what we do.  However, to be fair to my friend, I will give them the benefit of the doubt in that they are trying to help me plan better and perhaps get into the spirit of the season a bit earlier than would be assumed as normal.
Now, I am a fairly structured individual in some respects; in that, there is a time and season for all things.  Sounds almost Biblical, doesn't it? I’ll get to that in a moment. Some would possibly observe that I am almost obsessive about the days when the seasons change over. Almost.  I mean, the seasons are well defined on the calendars for a purpose, right?  And there are certain natural assumptions for each season – even here on the North Shore, though our warm seasons are a bit more abbreviated compared to the cold, and colder seasons. I have previously discussed the obvious season of road construction as well as building construction.  Now we are into the season of doing.  There seems to be so much we want to do and simultaneously, so many things that can be done.  So many choices. Where does one start?
Let’s see. Now that we are in the first week of July there is the 4th of July, which will be celebrated in many communities.  Take your pick. In Two Harbors, we have the Houle Information Center chock-full of information regarding the regional opportunities and points of interest.  Classic cars have begun making their appearances around the area which means there should be some car shows available.  The THUG is back in full force.  That would be the Two Harbors Ukulele Group, all primed up to entertain longtime
fans and new ones to be garnered. Then there is the long-awaited return of the cherished Heritage Days and Bay Days in Two Harbors and Silver Bay respectively.
All along the North Shore, from Duluth to Grand Portage, each community has seasonal offerings to appeal to every age group, and lifetime memories to be made.  Nature itself abounds with hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, numerous waterfalls, whose grandeur can easily compare with those of world-famous falls.  That is just my opinion, of course, and I am a bit biased for the home turf.
Yes, the Christmas season is coming, but the current season has so much to offer.  If you are an area resident, what are some of the area's offerings that you may not have experienced before, or that it's been a while?  If you are not from the North Shore area or have not been here in a while, well, it's time to come on up and explore all there is to do and enjoy some great Minnesota Nice hospitality.  For all, please have a great and safe season.
Oh yes, a reminder also that every day of every season is a great time to appreciate all the blessings God has given us to enjoy.  It's the right reason this season to say, thank you, Father.
Psalm 74:17   (NIV)
“It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer
and winter.”
May you be blessed by God's word.    
Chris

First Lesson - Lamentations 3: 22-33
Responsive Reading - Psalm 30:1-8
Second Lesson - 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, 13-15
Gospel - Mark 5 : 21-43

Have you ever been desperate? We can be desperate for big things and small things - sometimes in matters of life or death. Laurie is frequently desperate for some rest – for some peace and quiet and a chance to recover for a time before she gets back to caring for three active boys. Some would say that’s not a big thing. Laurie might beg to differ. It does impact her health but it not an urgent matter of life and death, but sometimes caring for the boys does become an urgent life or death matter. All three of the boys have a history having seizures when the run high fevers. Those can be scary but most times they are over in a couple minutes. She was home alone with the youngest boy, and he started to have a seizure. I was in the middle of a men’s Bible Study and Laurie called every guy in the study trying to get through to me, but we all had our phones off. She called 911. The seizure went on two minutes, three minutes The ambulance wouldn’t arrive from the neighboring town for 15 or 20 minutes. She was sobbing, praying and crying out to God. The seizure went on 4 minutes the little boy was blue. Was he going to survive. If he survived was there going to be damage from lack of oxygen. He was still seizing 5 minutes. She was desperate. Oh was she desperate.
In this portion of Mark’s gospel Jesus has been demonstrating his divine power. Power over creation when he calmed the storm when he was with the disciples in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. Power over diseases as he healed. Power over evil as he cast out a legion of demons. And he has been doing this on both sides of the Lake – both the gentile side and the Jewish side. Jesus has been showing that he is the long awaited Messiah and more than that that he is the divine Son of God and Lord of all.
His taught about the Kingdom of God with authority and his reputation for freeing people from evil and disease was spreading. His fame spread and the crowds grew and grew. After freeing the man plagued by many demons on the gentile side of the Lake he returned to the Jewish side where he was quickly surrounded by a crowd, and into the crowd rushed a man named Jairus a synagogue leader. He wasn’t a religious leader – maybe he was something like an officer on our church council. He was a godly man of some standing in the community. He had heard that Jesus, the powerful miracle worker, had just arrived and so in desperation he ran to him. This man of some status humbled himself and fell on his knees and pleaded earnestly with Jesus, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” He was desperate - the situation was urgent - it was a matter of life and death.  24 he was begging Jesus to do something for his little girl. And so, Jesus went with him. A crowd of people went with and on the way a woman tries to work her way through the crowd so that she can touch Jesus and be healed. Her situation wasn’t urgent it wasn’t life or death, but she had been plagued by this continual bleeding for twelve years and she was desperate. Because of her bleeding she was declared unclean under Jewish law. And there were three types of uncleanness serious enough to exclude you from society – leprosy, bodily discharges such as bleeding, and contact with the dead. She was an outcast. And to make matters worse she had spent all her money on doctors. So now in addition to suffering and being sick, in addition to being an outcast - separated from friends and family – she was broke.
This woman shouldn’t even be in a crowd, and she sure shouldn’t be touching anybody. But there she was pressing against one person and then another as she worked her way through the crowd to Jesus. She was violating all kinds of laws. She was desperate – she needed something from Jesus. She came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
Suddenly, the procession came to a screeching halt. Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes? I imagine the thoughts running through Jairus mind (why are we stopping Jesus? Hurry my daughter is dying. (Maybe today it would be like an ambulance racing to a critically ill child. Time is of the essence. But then the ambulance stops and uses its medicine to cure someone with a long-standing problem such as a longstanding back pain. chronic back pain is a serious problem, sure they desperately need healing – but it’s not an emergency)
The woman – this poverty-stricken social outcast – came with fear and trembling and fell at Jesus feet and confessed. And Jesus responds “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”But during the delay, people came up to Jairus and told him that his daughter had died. Jesus told him “Don’t be afraid, just believe.” And, of course, Jesus goes to Jairus’ house and raises the little girl from the dead. He puts the whole crowd of mourners out of the house and then41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (Which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).
Jesus comes into contact with this unclean woman and this unclean little girl. One unclean because of a discharge of blood the other unclean because she’s dead. Jesus is touched by one and touches the other by taking her hand. Anyone else would become unclean in the process but not Jesus. With Jesus it’s just the opposite He radiates cleanness to those He touches. Jairus and the woman came to Jesus because they were desperate the needed something from Jesus. And they had faith – they trusted that he could provide those things that they needed. Jesus provided those things and more. The woman who had the discharge – didn’t only need physical healing she needed to have that healing made public. She was rid of the discharge that made her an outcast. Now she could be welcomed back into the community. Now she could be welcomed back to worship. Not only was she healed physically, she was healed emotionally, socially and spiritually. Jesus emphasizes her identity and relationship. He calls her daughter.
Jesus has been demonstrating his power over creation, disease and evil. Calming storms healing the sick and casting out demons. And now in this passage Jesus demonstrates that He is Lord over death.He takes the hand of the dead girl and says little girl get up. We come to Jesus desperate for things – things that we really do need – sometimes life and death things. He may provide that thing – he may not. But often he gives more than we ask – healing emotionally, socially and spiritually. We go to Jesus for something we need – he answers our request for something by giving us someone – as He gives us himself over and over and over again. And as He gives us himself, he emphasizes our relationship to God and our identity as sons and daughters.
Dear saints you are beloved sons and daughters of the living God with whom He is well pleased. All because of what Jesus has done for you.
 
Pr. Tom