“They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.” - Mark 6:47-56
Reflection by Charles McClunin
What does it take to know that 'You Know God'? In Jesus’ time the people could talk and listen to him, observe his actions and question his intentions, be spellbound by his miracles. It was a 'hands-on' experience that left those fortunate enough to witness these events so much more ready to 'Jump on the Band-wagon' and follow him—no questions asked! Today, I envy those witnesses from long ago; you see, I'm like Thomas; I want to put my hand in his wounds but I can't, so I go thru life with the knowledge that his life is my GPS which directs my route and corrects my wrong turns. As long as I do not turn him off and BELIEVE in his guidance, I know I will reach my intended destination.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Lenten Reflection - February 28, 2008
“They all ate and were satisfied.” - Mark 6:30-46
Reflection by Earl Buffalo
We have all heard the story—5 loaves and 2 fish to feed 5000 people. How is this possible? Do you believe it?
When confronted by these miraculous events, our own sensibilities are put to the test. When we look at the ministry of Jesus, we are continually asked to suspend judgment and to trust what we are told. The blind regain sight, the lame walk, water is turned to wine, and the greatest miracle of all - the dead are raised. How does one resolve the questions about miraculous events? How can they be explained? In a word—faith.
Faith is the power to believe without having seen, to trust in, and to simply accept the Word of God. Given our own rational thought processes and philosophical nature, skepticism and disbelief abound. After all, who wants to debate a miracle? How can you win that argument? How many of us carry doubts within us that keep us from proclaiming Christ as our Savior to our co-workers, friends and acquaintances? One of my favorite song lyrics’ reads “Faith is a burden. It’s brave and bittersweet. Hope is hard to hold to. Lord, I believe, only help my unbelief.”
Explaining or being able to debate miracles is not required. We don’t need to defend our faith. We simply need to nurture it and humbly ask that it be strengthened—“like a mustard seed waiting for some proof.”
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.
Reflection by Earl Buffalo
We have all heard the story—5 loaves and 2 fish to feed 5000 people. How is this possible? Do you believe it?
When confronted by these miraculous events, our own sensibilities are put to the test. When we look at the ministry of Jesus, we are continually asked to suspend judgment and to trust what we are told. The blind regain sight, the lame walk, water is turned to wine, and the greatest miracle of all - the dead are raised. How does one resolve the questions about miraculous events? How can they be explained? In a word—faith.
Faith is the power to believe without having seen, to trust in, and to simply accept the Word of God. Given our own rational thought processes and philosophical nature, skepticism and disbelief abound. After all, who wants to debate a miracle? How can you win that argument? How many of us carry doubts within us that keep us from proclaiming Christ as our Savior to our co-workers, friends and acquaintances? One of my favorite song lyrics’ reads “Faith is a burden. It’s brave and bittersweet. Hope is hard to hold to. Lord, I believe, only help my unbelief.”
Explaining or being able to debate miracles is not required. We don’t need to defend our faith. We simply need to nurture it and humbly ask that it be strengthened—“like a mustard seed waiting for some proof.”
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Lenten Reflection - February 27, 2008
“Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.” - Psalm 119:97-120
Reflection by Calvert Steuart
Psalm 119 is bound together through 176 verses, as the most extensive poem of the Psalter, utilizing one central theme—praise of the law.
Verses 97 through 110 have a central theme of praise for God's law which sustains the reader. The law is praised, not as a restrictive set of requirements, burdensome upon the believer, but as a joy, as an inspiration, as law to be praised and joyfully followed, sustaining faith, protecting against persecution and trouble. The law is praised as a shelter and shield and as a delight to be joyfully followed.
Verse 105, "your word is a lamp to guide me and a light for my path," has been embodied in the 1984 Christian praise hymn by Amy Grant in its opening verse, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." This psalm praises God's law as God's will which sustains the believer through the dark hours and better times, always providing a guide to the Psalmist and by extension to each of us today.
Reflection by Calvert Steuart
Psalm 119 is bound together through 176 verses, as the most extensive poem of the Psalter, utilizing one central theme—praise of the law.
Verses 97 through 110 have a central theme of praise for God's law which sustains the reader. The law is praised, not as a restrictive set of requirements, burdensome upon the believer, but as a joy, as an inspiration, as law to be praised and joyfully followed, sustaining faith, protecting against persecution and trouble. The law is praised as a shelter and shield and as a delight to be joyfully followed.
Verse 105, "your word is a lamp to guide me and a light for my path," has been embodied in the 1984 Christian praise hymn by Amy Grant in its opening verse, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." This psalm praises God's law as God's will which sustains the believer through the dark hours and better times, always providing a guide to the Psalmist and by extension to each of us today.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Lenten Reflection - February 26, 2008
“Again and again they put God to the test; they vexed the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember his power—the day he redeemed them from the oppressor.” - Psalm 78:41-42
Reflection by Cathy Stasny
Psalm 78 is the story of the Israelite history from God bringing the Israelites out of Egypt to the time of Israel’s return to captivity. This Psalm reads like a good story, instructing the reader regarding what God expects from His people and what His people can expect of Him. The Psalm is the story of how God is good to His people but they were not always good to God in return. The overall theme is that God did wonderful deeds for His people but they did not obey Him. In addition, the Psalm stresses the importance of passing on from one generation to the next generation the story of God’s unconditional love for His people. The Psalm instructs that the family is responsible to teach its children about God’s love. Failing to teach our children is not an option according to God.
The theme of Psalm 78 is still fundamental today – we know that trusting in God and following His commandments is the right thing to do but…we do what we want, not what God would want us to do! As in the Psalm, today God wants us to keep His covenant; however, we fight against this. Why? Is it not easier to just obey the commandments? Yes, it can seem easier but we are strong willed and our minds tell us what is best for us. We seem to go along living our lives doing as we please; but the commandments are always in the back of our mind; yet we feel we know best. It may take a situation in our family or community that ‘wakes us up’ and reminds us that God is always good to us and we are called to obey Him.
Psalm 78 is as significant today as it was when written 700BC years before Christ was born. The Psalm was meant to be an instruction on how to act in our relationship with God and what our responsibilities as people of God are to this relationship. How we should act in our relationship with God and our responsibilities to God have not changed over these many centuries.
Reflection by Cathy Stasny
Psalm 78 is the story of the Israelite history from God bringing the Israelites out of Egypt to the time of Israel’s return to captivity. This Psalm reads like a good story, instructing the reader regarding what God expects from His people and what His people can expect of Him. The Psalm is the story of how God is good to His people but they were not always good to God in return. The overall theme is that God did wonderful deeds for His people but they did not obey Him. In addition, the Psalm stresses the importance of passing on from one generation to the next generation the story of God’s unconditional love for His people. The Psalm instructs that the family is responsible to teach its children about God’s love. Failing to teach our children is not an option according to God.
The theme of Psalm 78 is still fundamental today – we know that trusting in God and following His commandments is the right thing to do but…we do what we want, not what God would want us to do! As in the Psalm, today God wants us to keep His covenant; however, we fight against this. Why? Is it not easier to just obey the commandments? Yes, it can seem easier but we are strong willed and our minds tell us what is best for us. We seem to go along living our lives doing as we please; but the commandments are always in the back of our mind; yet we feel we know best. It may take a situation in our family or community that ‘wakes us up’ and reminds us that God is always good to us and we are called to obey Him.
Psalm 78 is as significant today as it was when written 700BC years before Christ was born. The Psalm was meant to be an instruction on how to act in our relationship with God and what our responsibilities as people of God are to this relationship. How we should act in our relationship with God and our responsibilities to God have not changed over these many centuries.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Lenten Reflection - February 25, 2008
“Daughter, your faith has healed you...Don’t be afraid, just believe.” - Mark 5:21-43
Reflection by Nancy Horkan
Two very different stories about two very different people—one a ruler in the synagogue, Jairus, and the other a poor woman whose name we don’t even know. One seeking healing for his dying 12- year old daughter and one sought help for her own 12-year infliction. One was bold enough to ask Jesus directly; the other indirectly by touching his garment. Two different stories; one message—ask and believe.
We may not be able to physically reach out and touch Jesus with our hands, but we can reach out and touch Him with our prayers. When we do so in faith, He always takes the time to listen and respond. This parable reminds us that sometimes Jesus strengthens our faith in Him by meeting someone else's needs first and letting us witness, learn and grow—just as Jesus stopped along the way to heal the woman while Jairus and the crowds witnessed. He shows us that we can take our personal needs or those of others to Him in whatever way works for us. Jesus is approachable in every circumstance.
What troubling things are going on in your life right now? What’s your fear? What’s your need? What’s your crisis? Take it to Jesus and don’t be afraid; just believe.
Reflection by Nancy Horkan
Two very different stories about two very different people—one a ruler in the synagogue, Jairus, and the other a poor woman whose name we don’t even know. One seeking healing for his dying 12- year old daughter and one sought help for her own 12-year infliction. One was bold enough to ask Jesus directly; the other indirectly by touching his garment. Two different stories; one message—ask and believe.
We may not be able to physically reach out and touch Jesus with our hands, but we can reach out and touch Him with our prayers. When we do so in faith, He always takes the time to listen and respond. This parable reminds us that sometimes Jesus strengthens our faith in Him by meeting someone else's needs first and letting us witness, learn and grow—just as Jesus stopped along the way to heal the woman while Jairus and the crowds witnessed. He shows us that we can take our personal needs or those of others to Him in whatever way works for us. Jesus is approachable in every circumstance.
What troubling things are going on in your life right now? What’s your fear? What’s your need? What’s your crisis? Take it to Jesus and don’t be afraid; just believe.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Lenten Reflection - February 24, 2008 - The Third Sunday of Lent
“So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.” - Romans 7:13-25
Reflection by Reverend Bob McCoy
“I try to be good, but sometimes I just can’t help myself.” I don’t remember which of our daughters said it or what the circumstances were. Most parents hear similar words from their offspring, but when we examine the statement in the light of our quotation from Paul’s letter to the Romans, we hear a different message. Each of us earnestly tries to obey God’s law, and each of us is frequently frustrated at our inability to ignore the temptations assaulting us from every side. Indeed, we “delight in God’s law,” but we also find many ways of delighting in the empty pleasures of the secular world.
Are we too hard on ourselves? Maybe, maybe not. God gave us pleasurable earthly pastimes for our enjoyment, so they can’t be all bad. Where we go astray is in what balance we achieve between the worldly and the holy. We know we shouldn’t devote every hour of our lives to fun and games, but we also should realize that we don’t have to spend all of our time with our noses to the spiritual grindstone. Even the most strictly cloistered monks find time to have fun.
What’s the right balance for you and me? That’s a good question for reflection during this Lenten season. If we are honest with ourselves, we will probably find that we need to change by God’s grace in some way. We might need to pray more. Maybe we will actually find that we have to play more.
Reflection by Reverend Bob McCoy
“I try to be good, but sometimes I just can’t help myself.” I don’t remember which of our daughters said it or what the circumstances were. Most parents hear similar words from their offspring, but when we examine the statement in the light of our quotation from Paul’s letter to the Romans, we hear a different message. Each of us earnestly tries to obey God’s law, and each of us is frequently frustrated at our inability to ignore the temptations assaulting us from every side. Indeed, we “delight in God’s law,” but we also find many ways of delighting in the empty pleasures of the secular world.
Are we too hard on ourselves? Maybe, maybe not. God gave us pleasurable earthly pastimes for our enjoyment, so they can’t be all bad. Where we go astray is in what balance we achieve between the worldly and the holy. We know we shouldn’t devote every hour of our lives to fun and games, but we also should realize that we don’t have to spend all of our time with our noses to the spiritual grindstone. Even the most strictly cloistered monks find time to have fun.
What’s the right balance for you and me? That’s a good question for reflection during this Lenten season. If we are honest with ourselves, we will probably find that we need to change by God’s grace in some way. We might need to pray more. Maybe we will actually find that we have to play more.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Lenten Reflection - February 23, 2008
"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life." - Psalm 27
Reflection by Michael Ryan
When I was younger and before I had done much Bible study, I thought this verse simply meant that we should all want to go to heaven, to live in the House of the Lord. It was only many years later that I began to take to heart the passage in Luke (17:21) that tells us that “the Kingdom of God is within you” and to recognize that these two ideas are connected in a very wonderful way. If with God’s Grace we can grasp the Kingdom of God within us, we can live in the House of the Lord right now! When I was in the hospital undergoing a serious operation, one of my nurses told me that every breath we take is a gift from God, and I was powerfully reminded once again to dwell “in the house of the Lord” not at some vague and later time, but now, today.
Reflection by Michael Ryan
When I was younger and before I had done much Bible study, I thought this verse simply meant that we should all want to go to heaven, to live in the House of the Lord. It was only many years later that I began to take to heart the passage in Luke (17:21) that tells us that “the Kingdom of God is within you” and to recognize that these two ideas are connected in a very wonderful way. If with God’s Grace we can grasp the Kingdom of God within us, we can live in the House of the Lord right now! When I was in the hospital undergoing a serious operation, one of my nurses told me that every breath we take is a gift from God, and I was powerfully reminded once again to dwell “in the house of the Lord” not at some vague and later time, but now, today.
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