doing

and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.” And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered. “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.” Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.” And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:20-35, NRSV)

Who are Jesus’ mother and brothers and sisters?

There has been debate about this for a long time. Does Jesus have brothers and sisters from Mary?

Well that is not really a question for this reading. And Jesus Himself gives an answer to the question that does not answer the question.

Any one who does the will of my Father is my brother and sister and mother.

So if you are doing God’s will you are a brother or sister or mother of Christ!

And partly this is probably because after He had called the disciples to follow Him, His own family said He as crazy! Not only the religious authorities are against Him now, but also His family.

So do not be put off when doing the will of God is hard and people turn against you, because Jesus had to go against the authorities of the religious order of the day and His family!

Be doing the will of God, so you will counted as a part of the family of God, not the family that says He is crazy, but the family of co-inheritors!

 

for the sport of it

O LORD, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
Yonder is the sea, great and wide,
creeping things innumerable are there,
living things both small and great.
There go the ships,
and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.
These all look to you
to give them their food in due season;
when you give to them, they gather it up;
when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
when you take away their breath, they die
and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created;
and you renew the face of the ground.
(Psalm 104:24-30, NRSV)

I love this psalm because it paints a jovial picture of God.

He created the Leviathan for the sport of it. Because He could and for a laugh.

Everything that is on the earth and the earth itself was formed by God.

And God will renew all of it in His timing.

Let us be good stewards of His creation while we wait for Him.

discipleship

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified. When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, “This is really the prophet.” Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But some asked, “Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” So there was a division in the crowd because of him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not arrest him?” The police answered, “Never has anyone spoken like this!” Then the Pharisees replied, “Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law—they are accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, “Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?” They replied, “Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.” (John 7:37-52, NRSV)

“Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?” Asked Nicodemus.

Interesting question. Which they really didn’t answer. The pharisees answered with another question and comment.

They did not have an interest in discovering the truth about Jesus, they wanted Him gone.

He was leading people to a different understanding of what it means to follow God, and that was upsetting the apple cart if you will.

Nicodemus is the model disciple in John. While those called to follow Jesus fall away at His crucifixion, Nicodemus is there.

Nicodemus comes to Jesus under darkness at first. Seeking to know who Jesus is.

Then he speaks out a little more publicly, here in chapter 7, and the next time we see Nic in the gospel of John, he is helping take Jesus’ body off the cross.

From seeker, to speaking out in Jesus’ defense, to giving Him a proper burial. Nic goes from learner to learner, and continues to grow as one following Jesus.

If only we could be as bold as Nic was.

new

From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:16-21, NRSV)

Have you ever been in a new car? And there is that new car smell…

They have even tried to recreate that smell in air fresheners, so you can live that moment of the new car smell…

There is something about things being new.

New shoes just seem to walk better…

New pens write smoother…

New houses are cleaner (well that’s because they haven’t been lived in yet!)

New cars feel better…

And a new life would be great! Well we all have a new life, every day! If we are in Christ and He is in us, then every day is a new creation! The old has gone and the new life in Christ has come!

Every day is a new day smell!

So live in the new and help everyone to see the new life they can have in Christ!

formed

Remember these things, O Jacob,
and Israel, for you are my servant;
I formed you, you are my servant;
O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.
I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud,
and your sins like mist;
return to me, for I have redeemed you.
Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it;
shout, O depths of the earth;
break forth into singing, O mountains,
O forest, and every tree in it!
For the LORD has redeemed Jacob,
and will be glorified in Israel.
(Isaiah 44:21-23, NRSV)

We have a hard time today believing in miracles.

But the problem is we forget that miracles happen every day around us!

We also seem to forget that every morning we can open our eyes and get out of bed is a miracle, and that we ourselves are a miracle!

God formed us and knew us before we were born! He knew us in our mother’s womb, and set us apart to be a part of His master plan.

So sing for joy in the miracle you are!

And shout His praise for all he has done for you!

Who has life?

This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. There are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree. If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:6-12, NRSV)

Whoever has the Son has life, and whoever doesn’t have the Son does not have life.

Seems pretty simple. Except, who gets to decide who has the Son and who doesn’t?

According to this if you believe in Jesus and you have Him in your heart then you have the Son. However in today’s society there are many differences of opinion on what it means to follow Christ. We do not agree that everyone who claims to be a part of the body of Christ is a part of the body of Christ.

So who gets to decide?

Here is the thing, the Bible does not tell us not to judge, it says “judge not unless you want to be judged.” If you are willing to judge others, then you have to be willing to be judged by others. And that is fine for some, but for me, I am glad it is not my call on who has the Son and who doesn’t. In fact I can only truly be sure for me. I can help you see God and know He wants to be in a relationship with you. I can share with you about my faith and the grace He has given me. I can love yo as He has loved me. But then God has to give you the Son. I can not give Him, because God is the only one who can judge whether or not someone has the Son.

God decides. Not us. So do not get upset with someone else because they sin differently than you. Love them. and let God decide.

Blessed to be a blessing!

Stewardship - a way of life

18 months ago I arrived at St. John’s Lutheran Church as the call rostered leader. It has been wonderful being here, even with the welcome we received with the below 0 temperatures to close down school! We have grown together as a mission post in the body of Christ and are doing wonderful ministry together.

And now we are approaching summer, a time when families head to the cabins, and go on vacations. And this is something we need to do. We need to get away when we can for rest and relaxation and time with the family. So go! And remember that you are the body of Christ as you go. You will be sharing His love and grace and mercy with everyone you see and meet.

But as you go, remember we are still here at St. John’s. We are still a part of your life and your faith journey. We will be here, with the same needs we have during the non-summer months. Council met last night and discussed the dwindling checking account. This made me rethink my newsletter article this month, and come into the office and look at some numbers and trends over the time I have been here.

Over the 18 months I have been here, income has been over expenses in 6 months. Which is good, as those spikes can carry us through some of the low spots. And they are what you think they would be, Easter, the car show/auction and November/December. And we are close in the other months.

An easy response to this is, we need more people. Well that is not always a way to solve money issues. As new families do not understand stewardship concepts. I remember the first time I attended worship at a congregation and they started talking about giving. I gave $5 or $10 a week. I did not understand the Biblical basis of giving. And some of our “new” members come from other congregations, and they do have a concept of giving, and stewardship, but maybe life situations right now do not allow for them to give, with children and bills. So more people does not automatically mean more in the plates.

So then we ask our members to give more, when some of us are giving all we can give. And we have given, and have given to special projects and other things the congregation needs. So we just can’t squeeze any more out. And I get that. Some of us are giving all we can.

So what do we do? I wish I had the easy answer and could say, “Here is what we need to do to make this problem go away!” I don’t. So what do we do? Well we start by praying.

Let us all continue to Gather, Grow and Go. Let us gather together for worship and fellowship and building up of each other. Let us grow in our understanding of that we are not giving money to God and trusting Him to do the right thing with it, we are giving back to God what He trusted us with.  Let us grow in our discipleship and our relationships with God and each other. And let’s go into the world to share His love and our understanding of the relationship we have with Him and help others have that same thing. But as we go, let us not forget to still be here at St. John’s through our giving. This can be made easy by joining in on the Simply Giving program which allows you to give electronically any amount you would like on your chosen day of the month. This can be set up as a one time giving or a reoccurring giving option. So even when you are away, you can still be here too!

We can all look at what we have been blessed with and pray about how we can be a blessing.

I am ready to buckle down and live into the relationship we have started and build this mission outpost for God. Are you ready to buckle down with me? Let us be a blessing as God has blessed us!

of the devil

Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. Everyone who commits sin is a child of the devil; for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born of God do not sin, because God’s seed abides in them; they cannot sin, because they have been born of God. The children of God and the children of the devil are revealed in this way: all who do not do what is right are not from God, nor are those who do not love their brothers and sisters. (1 John 3:7-10, NRSV)

Wow! I am wondering if my salvation is secure…

Everyone who commits sin is of the devil and those who are born of God do not sin.

So any one who sins is of the devil and has no part of God, only those without sin are going into the kingdom of Heaven.

So who then can be saved?

According to this passage no one is safe, or going to be saved.

Because we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Yes even after we have met Jesus and been given the grace that only God can give, we have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

We all struggle with doing what is right, and not sinning. So where is the hope?

If we love our brothers and sisters we are from God.

So stay the course and follow after God, and live in the grace He gives us, not giving into the flesh but seeking forgiveness when we do fall short, and love all of God’s children.

The Holy Trinity – Sunday – May 31, 2015 by Kenn Storck

It is Holy Trinity Sunday.
Time to dust off the Dogmatics.
Speak of God as H-2-0:
water with three parts –
mist, liquid, ice.

Or a three leaf clover will do
to disclose the Three-In-One.

Why do we bother with
images, icons, projections of God
worthy to be shattered
by the mystery unsolved?

How dare we define the Divine,
Domesticate the Godhead?

Go ahead: Draw your pictures,
Color your triangles,
Speak of the Three-In-One,
And the One-In-Three.

Use the Athanasian Creed litmus test
Of Father / Son / Spirit.
But all the while do not trust
The limit of language,
The confinement of metaphor,
The simplicity of simile.

The Ancients knew
One could not be
In the presence of the living God
And live.

Moses beholds God’s backside,
Jeremiah – God’s fingers in his mouth,
Isaiah God’s robe and a hot coal.

The Christ confined in flesh,
Spirit unmanageable,
Cosmic-Creator.

Expand do not contract God
For God is the Great Iconoclast.

And we at last
With Job
Stand in the Divine Presence
Jaws dropping
In muted wonder.

Kenn Storck / May 25, 2015

Used with permisssion copyright @apoemasunday by Pr. Kenn Storck.