MLK DAY OF SERVICE REFLECTION

Last year’s MLK Day of Service at Redeemer proved to be one of my most memorable and important days of 2011. The 2012 edition arrived even bigger and better, exceeding my expectations. 

The day started with an enthusiastic worship service thanks to Pastor Matt Simpkins and the House of the Rock band. Singing, clapping and feeling God’s love at 8 a.m. was stronger than nuclear-strength Starbucks. This was followed by a variety of service projects. My family members and I were scheduled to work in the Redeemer sanctuary cleaning the choir loft and the balcony alongside members of the Goshen Valley Boy’s Ranch. Working in tandem with my wife and children and being given the task of helping beautify Redeemer was extremely gratifying. Seeing my kids tiny hands scrubbing away was truly a sight to behold. Just like last year, the MLK Day of Service was a fantastic opportunity to help instill in my children the importance of service work. Coming together as a congregation, taking action and giving back reminds me why we’ve chosen Redeemer as our place of worship.

- Jon Waterhouse

Unclean Spirits | Devotion by Pastor Tim Smith

Mark 1:23 Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 1:24 and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." 1:25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" 1:26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.

One of the intriguing themes noted by biblical scholars of Mark’s Gospel  is the “Messianic Secret.”  At the baptism of Jesus the voice from heaven addresses only him.  Repeatedly in response to Jesus’ miraculous acts, the crowds and religious authorities are left wondering, “Who is this?”  Jesus himself instructs everyone not to tell anyone about his works of power.  It’s a complete mystery prior to the Peter’s confession who Jesus is and even after that what it all might mean.

There’s one exception to this secret of identity and purpose.  From the beginning the demons know who Jesus is.  Presumably they make it their business to know because Jesus is such a huge threat to them.  He is their undoing, and they know it.  They also know that he is the Holy one of God.  Ironically, they are the first ones besides the voice from heaven to proclaim who Jesus is.

This passage is the first work of power and authority by Jesus.  He is both opposed to and stronger than the power of evil that holds us captive.  He wants to and is able to set us free.

What are your “unclean spirits?”  You probably don’t call them that, but despite the sophisticated spin we put on our demons, Jesus sees them, knows them, and wants to set you free.  Though they would want you to fear them, they are scared out of their wits by the Holy one of God.

Prayer:  Healing God, my demons are many.  Though they have such power over me, they know that you have power over them and want me to be healed.  Cast them out, oh God, and fill the void with your presence, in the name of Jesus, the great Healer.  Amen.

Devotion by Pastor Tim Smith

Mark 1:14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God,

1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."

Fulfillment.  We all seek it, work for it, expect it, do our best to finagle it, yet it’s as slippery as a greased pig at the county fair.  No sooner have we experienced its joy than we begin to wonder how we might, next time around, outdo this feeling.  If it feels good to have accomplished “x,” then imagine how amazing it would be if I could only do “y!” 

Henri Nouwen says that successes are diabolical that way.  No matter what we’ve already done, we always want more, have to top that last round.  That is to say, we can never be truly content.  It’s similar to addictive behavior.  This high was so amazing, but think how amazing and even higher high will be!  The end is destruction, so long as we misunderstand fulfillment to be the sum total of our successes.

True fulfillment comes from outside of us, and though we certainly work toward it and for it, it comes finally only as a gift.  In Mark’s gospel, when Jesus begins his public ministry, he indicates that the time is fulfilled.  He hasn’t accomplished it by any actions yet, but he does imply that in the big picture of things God has a plan.  History is going somewhere.  Everything that happens is interconnected and moving toward the fulfillment of God’s purposes.  Star Wars would put it this way:  “It is your destiny.”

“It’s time” is what Jesus seems to say, and what makes it time is that the kingdom of God has come near.  Two imperatives quickly follow his indicative:  1)repent, and 2)believe in the good news.  We don’t cause or bring about the fulfillment, but we surely must respond to it.  In repentance we turn away from our self-centered human directions and focus on and pursue God’s direction.  In believing the good news, we acknowledge and live as if everything depends on God and that everything that separates us from God, namely sin, death, and the devil, no longer have ultimate power.  In believing that we no longer have those fears as ultimate obstacles, we are free finally to live hopefully and to grasp as fulfillment what were once only unreachable goals:  forgiveness, hope, eternal life, and freedom from even ourselves so that we can truly know the joy of serving others.  That’s where Jesus is headed, and he bids us follow.

Prayer:  Gracious God, it’s time.  Your time.  Forgive me for continually insisting that it’s my time, my success, and my fulfillment for which you created me.  Help me to let go of me and follow you.  Amen.

Who Me? | Devotion by Pastor Mary Peters

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread ²At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; ³the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. ⁴Then the LORD called, "Samuel! Samuel!" and he said, "Here I am!" ⁵and ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down. ⁶The LORD called again, "Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." ⁷Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. ⁸The LORD called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. ⁹Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
¹⁰Now the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." ¹¹Then the LORD said to Samuel, "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. ¹²On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. ¹³For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. ¹⁴Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever."
¹⁵Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. ¹⁶But Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son." He said, "Here I am." ¹⁷Eli said, "What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you." ¹⁸So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, "It is the LORD; let him do what seems good to him."
¹⁹As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. ²⁰And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the LORD. ²¹The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

The story of God calling Samuel in the night is familiar to many people. Even if we are reading it for the first time we are clued in to suspect that it is not Eli who is calling Samuel.  We stand outside the story knowing more than the main character.  Come on Samuel, catch on.  It is God who is calling you.   But more than the fact that God is calling is the message that God is not pleased.  The word that Samuel hears and the word he is given to speak is a word of judgment, a word of no.  I wonder if either Samuel or Eli were surprised.   

 

Do we ever try to be attentive to God’s word of no or stop?  I know a woman who prays faithfully and explains to me all that the things that the Lord is going to give her.  However, to my mind, there are plenty of changes she needs to make in her behavior.    Ah…..to my mind!  How easy it is to see what God wants to say to someone else.  We just assume that our lives are pretty much OK.  What could God possibly want me to change or stop?

As we honor the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this weekend we remember that he spoke a word of correction and no to injustice.  For many, those who thought the good old days were really good, that prophetic word was not well received. Receiving, listening requires humility and the guidance of others.  Receiving means being ready to be redirected.  Speak, Lord for your servant is listening is risky business, but the most important business of all. 

Pray: O Lord, help me to be ready to listen to your Word and give me strength and guidance to change as you direct.  

Changing our Posture through Service by Rozella Poston

“And so Jesus gave us a new norm of greatness. If you want to be important—wonderful. If you want to be recognized—wonderful. If you want to be great—wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That's a new definition of greatness.

And this morning, the thing that I like about it: by giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant.”

Excerpt from “The Drum Major Instinct” given by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on February 4, 1968

The term “navel gazing” took on new meaning for me when I was in seminary. During my Lutheran Confession’s course, I learned about Martin Luther’s Lectures on Romans where he expounds on Paul’s understanding of sin as revealed in Romans 7:15, 18-19. Luther states:

“Our nature, by the corruption of the first sin, being so deeply curved in on itself that it not only bends the best gifts of God towards itself and enjoys them (as is plain in the works-righteous and hypocrites), or rather even uses God himself in order to attain these gifts, but it also fails to realize that it so wickedly, curvedly, and viciously seeks all things, even God, for its own sake.”

Augustine of Hippo, an early church father coined the phrase “Incurvatus in Se”, which Luther uses to provide the imagery for the English translation of this phrase: being “curved in on oneself”. This imagery broadens my perspective of sin. No longer is it merely about my behavior, but rather it is about my fundamental posture.

As my theological studies continued, I began to see my call as a leader in the community of faith as one who helps people reorient their postures. I believe that service and being overtly aware of others leads us to be more compassionate, caring and faithful people.  These qualities affect our posture. How can I notice the other when I am literally curved in on myself?

We are gearing up for our Second Annual MLK Day of Service, Monday, January 16, 2012. The quote at the beginning of this post helps us think about what it means to be great. It has nothing to do with our own prowess or achievements. It has everything to do with our relationship with others and how we are called to serve. On this day over 150 people of all ages and abilities will gather at Redeemer for worship, be sent out in the community for service and return to Redeemer to celebrate and reflect on how God is continually calling us to not only behave in particular ways but to change our posture from one of self-focused to other-focused. This year, our event will feature a special concert by the band Starboarders – a group that is dedicated to using their gifts to raise awareness for special causes that literally changes lives. They are completely other-focused and will help us think about how our lives can be reflections of service. We will spend time learning about how this one day of service can jump start a lifetime of faith based action and advocacy. This event is free and open to the public. Friends are welcome!

For more information and to register, visit www.redeemer.org. If you have any questions, please contact Rozella Poston at rposton@redeemer.org.

Remember Your Baptism | Devotion by Pastor Tim Smith

Mark 1:9-11 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

Christmas is a big deal in the Christian tradition and especially in our culture-but did you realized that though only two books of the Bible (Matthew and Luke) give us a birth story for Jesus, six books recount or refer to the baptism of Jesus (all four gospels plus Acts and Romans). Could it be that for the scriptures, the baptism of Jesus is more important than his birth? Could it be that for us, our baptism is as important as our birth? I wonder how many of us can name our baptismal date, much less celebrate it as we do our actual birthdays.

Though Jesus clearly was born and in that incarnation we rejoice, his first 30 years were rather nondescript. What changes at his baptism? It's a new start for him. It's clarity as to his identity, and with this clarity he is ready to face the high stakes of the public ministry ahead of him. The Holy Spirit descends on him, but remember that this very Spirit was present in his conception.

As Jesus emerges from the baptismal water, he sees the heavens "torn apart." Matthew and Luke use a Greek verb that means "opened," implying that they could subsequently close again. Mark uses the verb schizomai which literally means ripped apart, irreparable, violently and permanently rent asunder. All this is the result of his baptism.

Even more interestingly, these baptismal events form the first of two "bookends" for Mark. It's not birth and death, but baptism and death. At the baptism when the heavens are torn apart, the Spirit descends and a heavenly voiced calls him "son." At the moment Jesus dies in Mark, he "breathed out his spirit" (15:37), the curtain of the temple is schizomai, and the Gentile centurion (not God) makes a proclamation of Jesus' sonship.

As the holidays come to a close and we return to old routines, as we begin a new year and wonder if anything can ever really be new for us, we remember our baptism into Christ. We remember that Christ, like us, was born, but that we, like Christ, receive clarity and identity in the voice of our baptism. You are God's precious child-claimed, loved, forgiven, gifted, and empowered for your public ministry in the world. Whatever demands and challenges 2012 may hold for you, this voice among the many voices that would claim you is alone true and hopeful. May you be blessed daily to remember it!

PRAYER: Gracious God, thank you for claiming us as your own. So many voices vie for our attention and allegiance. May we believe and choose your voice and hang on for dear life to our baptismal identity. Amen.

The Good News by Pr. Matt Simpkins

If you’ve ever met my Father, you know we look a lot alike.  We share a lot of things in common – but my father was never the most outwardly religious guy.  I was fairly certain he had some faith, but never was quite sure what it looked like as a kid.  But over the years, like many of us, my father went through some tough events.  Through those events, he became very close to his faith.  (It’s funny how that works…)  At his home congregation in Charlotte, North Carolina, he was asked to participate in his Christmas service by writing this letter.  As we wrap up Christmas, I’ll share it with you:

DEAR JAMES,

 WOW! WHAT A NIGHT! I'M SO EXCITED I CAN HARDLY PAUSE TO WRITE

 THIS NOTE, BUT I JUST HAVE TO TELL SOMEONE WHAT I SAW AND HEARD LAST NIGHT, AND WHO BETTER TO TELL THAN YOU, MY BROTHER.   JAMES, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR HAS ARRIVED,  JUST AS THE PROPHETS FORETOLD. YOU MUST GO SEE HIM!

 WE HAD JUST BEDDED DOWN THE FLOCKS LAST NIGHT, IN THE FIELDS RIGHT

 OUTSIDE TOWN.  THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE ENTIRE AREA LIT UP FROM THE BRILLIANT GLOW SURROUNDING A MAN.  NO, NOT JUST A MAN, BUT AN ANGEL. AN ANGEL, JAMES, NOT 20 FEET AWAY FROM ME! I THOUGHT I WAS ABOUT TO BE FRIED OR SOMETHING, BUT SHORTLY AFTER APPEARING, THE ANGEL SPOKE IN A VERY PEACEFUL AND STRONG VOICE SAYING: . "DO NOT BE AFRAID. I BRING YOU GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY THAT WILL BE, FOR ALL THE PEOPLE. TODAY IN THE TOWN OF DAVID, A SAVIOR HAS BEEN BORN TO YOU. HE IS CHRIST, THE LORD.  THIS WILL BE A SIGN TO YOU: YOU WILL FIND A BABY, WRAPPED IN CLOTHS AND LYING IN A MANGER."

SUDDENLY, THERE WERE A GREAT NUMBER OF ANGELS THAT JOINED THE FIRST, AND THEY WERE ALL PRAISING GOD AND SAYING “GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH, PEACE TO MEN, ON WHOM HIS FAVOR RESTS." THEN, THE ANGELS LEFT US, AS QUICKLY AS THEY HAD ARRIVED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE JUST LOOKED AT EACH OTHER TRYING  TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED. WELL, IT DIDN'T TAKE US LONG TO DECIDE  TO HURRY OVER TO TOWN TO SEE THIS BABY FOR OURSELVES. WE SAW MARY, JOSEPH AND THE BABY IN THE STABLE, JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM THE TEMPLE. YOU KNOW…THE ONE NEAR BENJAMIN'S HOME. WE TOLD EVERYONE WE SAW, WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED  TO US, AND ALL WHO HEARD IT, WERE AMAZED!

 I AM ENTIRELY FILLED WITH JOY AND THANKFULNESS TO GOD, FOR SENDING US A SAVIOR. I CAN'T BELIEVE GOD CHOSE ME AND MY SHEPHERD FRIENDS TO FIRST HEAR THIS GREAT NEWS FROM THE VERY MOUTHS OF ANGELS. THIS NIGHT WILL SURELY CHANGE THE COURSE OF MANKIND'S EXISTENCE, AND TO THINK...GOD PUT ME THERE TO BE A WITNESS!

 OF COURSE, WE HAD TO GET BACK TO THE FLOCKS, BUT WE SPENT THE REST OF THE NIGHT PRAISING GOD, AND GIVING HIM ALL THE GLORY!  ALL THAT WE HAD SEEN AND HEARD, WAS JUST AS WE HAD BEEN TOLD.

 HALLALUYAH! HALLALUYAH! HALLALUYAH! ALL PRAISE AND GLORY BE TO GOD!

 BE WELL, JAMES, AND TELL EVERYONE YOU SEE, WHAT HAS HAPPENED!!

 YOUR LOVING BROTHER,

 JOHN

What I love about this letter is how he captures the sheer fright and awe of the shepherds.  They get lost a bit in some readings – but these are the chosen ones to go see the king.  Now, remember, being a shepherd is a terrible job – but God constantly chooses the lowly and the lost to proclaim the good news.  And this night, we celebrate the inbreaking of the kingdom - the first step in God’s kingdom reigning on earth forever.  And each Sunday as we gather for the meal, we get a foretaste of that victory feast, we get to see a glimpse of God’s kingdom come.  Being one of the lowly and lost is something that many of us can identify with, right?  No matter how long we’ve been gone, what we’ve done or not done, how well we pray or how terrible we live, GOD COMES FOR US.  Our Lord runs to meet us and carry us home!  Furthermore, God comes to us and tells the story first to the lowly, the dirty, the broken and the outcasts!  Reading this story we are reminded that God can use even us – even you and me to spread the good news.

So why wouldn’t we want to share the good news?  Right?  Seems like a no-brainer.  This is the best thing that we could ever hear!  Our Savior is here!  Go tell it on the mountain!  Jesus Christ is born!!!