Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20
See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Reflection This reading from Deuteronomy is a favorite among prosperity gospel preachers. The prosperity gospel is the erroneous notion that God rewards faith with prosperity (health and wealth) and punishes disbelief with affliction. But is this really the truth? Has that been your experience? There are a host of places we can look to prove that interpretation false. Take, for instance, the early Christians. Faithful people like Felicity and Perpetua, Polycarp, and Steven. They are considered some of the most faithful followers of Jesus. They are, each and every one of them, canonized saints. Did they end their days in prosperity and wealth and good health? Far from it. They are all martyrs, subjected to gruesome and tragic ends. And yet they never wavered in their faithfulness to Jesus. Countless faithful people have suffered unspeakably and yet remained faithful to God. According to the prosperity gospel, that should not happen. So what is going on in this reading from Deuteronomy? Well, this reading is not a universal promise of prosperity or doom. This reading is Moses’ way of exhorting the Israelites to follow God’s laws. Moses is telling the people that if they follow God’s laws and live the way God asks them to live, they will have a better shot at a just and harmonious society than if they all just do whatever they want. It does not mean, however, that nothing bad will ever happen to them (see Job), or that they will all obtain egregious levels of wealth (see the early Christians). Health and wealth are not the reward of faith; relationship with God is the reward of faith. And with faith, your relationship with God can weather anything, be it extraordinary wealth or the threat of martyrdom. --Jim Vitale Prayer We thank you, O God, that you do not abandon us in our times of need, but are always with us, drawing us into closer relationship. In moments of challenge, remind us that you are always with us. In moments of prosperity, remind us to be generous and merciful. Amen.
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Reading: Matthew 6:25-34
“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed, your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Reflection One of the things I don’t do well is living in the present moment. So often, I am either rehashing past experiences in my mind or I am worrying about the future. I’m remembering “the good old days” or I’m planning ahead. I’m not enjoy what is happening RIGHT NOW. I think God wants us to enjoy today and be in the present. You may have heard the old saying, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift from God. That is why it is called the present.” Kids often live for the moment. They don’t worry about what is to come or what happened. They have limited sense of time. Maybe if we approach life in a childlike way, everyday can be a new adventure given to us by God. We can’t change the past. We don’t have to fear the future. Jesus died and rose from the dead so our sins would be forgiven, and we’d have eternal life. As chosen children of God, our future is secure. I’m going to try to remember the words of Psalm 118:24 and work on living in the now. “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” --Chad Hershberger Reading Instead of a prayer today, reflect on these words from Paul Bowle’s The Sheltering Sky: “…because we don’t know (when we will die), we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well. Yet everything happens only a certain amount of times, and a very small number, really. How many more times will you remember a certain afternoon of your childhood, some after that’s so deeply a part of your being that you can’t even conceive of your life without it? Perhaps four or five times more. Perhaps not even that. How many more times will you watch the moon rise? Perhaps twenty? And yet is seems limitless.” Reading: Luke 14:1, 7-14
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the Sabbath, they were watching him closely. When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host, and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers and sisters or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Reflection Comedian Jim Gaffigan explains weddings in a way that I love. He says “Weddings are kind of weird. I mean what’s the logic?” He goes on to speak in a voice like someone making a royal proclamation: “Well we love each other, why don’t we pretend we have a kingdom? We’ll invite your parents’ friends and my parents’ friends and we’ll have a banquet. And the two kingdoms shall come together as one.” Gaffigan goes on to crack wise about the awkwardness of showing up late to the bridal registry and only finding a $300 fork remaining on the bride and groom’s wish list. “We’ll be the fork friends. Great.” In Luke 14, Jesus talks about inviting people to your biggest, fanciest party who can do nothing to repay you. The banquet that Jesus is describing isn’t about impressing people. It isn’t about the fanciest clothes and the most uncomfortable shoes. (The shoes. Lord, have mercy.) It’s about reaching out to people who need care. It’s about making sure that everyone has a place at the table. It’s about removing the gift table altogether and setting up another table for guests instead. Because no gifts are required. And absolutely everyone is welcome. No exceptions. No special cases. No need to be on an approved list or give your invitation as proof that you’re allowed in the door. Come on in; you’re part of this kingdom. Every week, I offer this invitation for communion, and I think it sums up how Jesus invites us to the banquet: The table is set. This is the table not of the church, but of the Lord, and this feast that we celebrate is for you. You who have much faith and you who have little. You who have been here often and you who have not been here in a long time. You who have tried to follow Jesus and you who have failed. So come not because I invite you, but because Christ invites you, for here is Christ coming to you in bread and wine. For these are the gifts of God given for all of you, the dearly loved people of God. Come, this feast is ready. --Sarah Hershberger Prayer Gracious God, thank you for inviting us into your love. Thank you for teaching us how to care for others through your Son. Thank you for guiding us with your grace every day. Amen. Reading: Hebrews 13: 1-8, 15-16
Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. Let marriage be held in honor by all and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” So, we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?” Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Reflection We have used one of the verses of today’s scripture during our staff training at camp. “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” This verse helps drive home to summer staff that fact that we should be welcoming to all because we just don’t know to whom we might be sharing God’s love. It's an interesting concept to think about. When we encounter someone we don’t know, we never know exactly who we are in the presence of. I was standing in line recently at a chain restaurant and noticed that the couple in front of me struck up a conversation with a young man in front of them. They seemed to be enjoying the conversation, but I surmised that they just met in line. It was nice to see some positive dialogue between strangers. The verse before our “strangers verse” is “Let mutual love continue.” It always comes back to love, doesn’t it? If we show love, whether it is to those we know or the strangers we meet, we are sharing God with others! --Chad Hershberger Prayer As we entertain angels, guide us in love, O Lord. Guide our deeds, our thoughts, and our words with whomever we meet. May we be hospitable to all we meet. Amen. Reading: Psalm 112
Praise the Lord! Happy are those who fear the Lord, who greatly delight in his commandments. Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures for ever. They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous. It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice. For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered for ever. They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord. Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor; their righteousness endures for ever; their horn is exalted in honor. The wicked see it and are angry; they gnash their teeth and melt away; the desire of the wicked comes to nothing. Reflection “His heart is firm.” “His heart is steady.” There is a calmness and a peace, a sure and certain hope in Psalm 112. I can’t help but think of an anchor on a boat. When trouble rages about and the seas are rocky and shaky, the boat is secure when anchored to the bottom of the sea. So too, in our faith life, we must not be shaken or tossed about by every storm that comes our way. Day after day in this life, we face uncertainty, never knowing what each day will hold for us. Often we struggle and worry needlessly over things that we have no control over. When we put our trust in the Lord, our hearts are firm, our hearts are steady. We need not fear or worry with God as our anchor and stronghold. When the boat starts rocking and the storms start raging, remember who anchors the boat. Remember the one who holds us firm and steady. In any and all of life’s trials, remember the strong, solid foundation of our faith in a God who is able to calm each storm and hold us steady. --Amy Shuck Prayer Heavenly Father, no matter what today may bring, no matter the storms that may come my way, help me to remember to trust in you completely to calm any turbulent winds or restless waves that may toss me about. May I feel the anchor holding me steady as you care for each and every need this day. Amen. Reading: Proverbs 25:6-7
Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble. Reflection It is not often that we find ourselves in the presence of a king or noble these days, but this reading from Proverbs is still a valuable teaching for us. How often have we pushed to the front of the line to be closer to the important people? How often have we chosen the best seats while others had to sit in the back? And we have all had moments of thinking that we are better than someone else. The writer of Proverbs is talking to us about something called humility, which is defined as the feeling or attitude that you have no special importance that makes you better than others. When we act out of humility, we put aside our sense of self importance and recognize that all are equal in the eyes of God. The apostle Paul writes, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,” (Philippians 2:3). If we bring together Paul’s words to the Philippians and today’s reading from Proverbs and see God as the king, then we can see that we belong right alongside all of God’s other children. We will be called to a specific place when and where God wants us to be. And no matter which seats we are placed in, God always values and loves each of us. --Rev. Karla Leiby Prayer O great King of kings, teach me to live humbly, placing myself no higher than others. Open my heart to see, learn, and serve wherever you place me. Amen. Reading: Romans 8:26-27
Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Reflection Each summer at camp, every member of the staff is assigned to a prayer pal. That person is their buddy for the summer, and they are to pray for them. In most cases, we try to pair a new staff member with a returning staff member so that the veteran staff can help the new person learn the ropes. We also use these pairings when they we do partner work during training. My friend, Michael, from Chicago, says, “Partners accelerate learning.” As we read in this passage from Romans, we are reminded that the Holy Spirit is our prayer pal, too. The Spirit tells us what to pray for. Sometimes we do not know what to say. I know I’ve often prayed to God, “God… you know.” The Spirit is to be a guide for our prayer life. Rest assured that God knows what the Spirit’s mind is and the Spirit intercedes for us. I find that comforting! Lean on your personal prayer pal, the Holy Spirit! --Chad Hershberger Prayer Help us with sighs too deep for words, Spirit. Intercede on our behalf. Help us know God’s will. Amen. Reading: Luke 13: 10-17
Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are set free from your ailment.’ When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, ‘There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.’ But the Lord answered him and said, ‘You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?’ When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing. Reflection: Jesus was clearly out of line. There he was in the synagogue on the sabbath - the day each week set aside to honor God by doing no work or business. A bent and crippled woman showed up, who had been suffering for 18 years. Jesus surely knew better, but he touched her and healed her anyway. The leader of the synagogue was indignant. In many ways, the leader was right. The rules and customs of their community made it clear that the Sabbath was a day to be free of work. But Jesus didn't back down. He pointed out that everyone did the work necessary to care for their animals on the Sabbath. This woman, a child of God, ought to receive the same. Responding with care and compassion to the needs of others also honors God. The leader of the synagogue had missed an important point. He had gotten caught up in the details and intricacies of following the Sabbath rules and had actually missed the larger point of honoring God by caring for another in need. Perhaps he believed that the woman's ailment was some kind of punishment from God. But Jesus makes it clear that God is the source of healing, and not pain. It is usually easier to simply follow rules than to live with compassion. It is certainly easier to judge people than to care for them. Jesus invites us all to notice the needs around us and care for them, to discover ways to reach beyond boundaries and rules, and bring healing and wholeness to our world. Jesus broke the rules, not for the sake of rebellion, but to heal and transform lives. To reconnect people to the God who loves us all. To help us move from judgement to compassion. To make it clear that God's priorities are different than ours. –Alicia Anderson Prayer Help us to align our priorities to yours, O Lord. Amen. Reading: Hebrews 12:18-29
You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. (For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”) But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking, for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven! At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what is shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe, for indeed our God is a consuming fire. Reflection How do we worship God? How do we show gratitude? This reading from Hebrews might be a bit hard to read, but essentially, the author is contrasting the side of God which we have been told to fear, with the side of God we see in Jesus, who offered up his very blood for us, so that we could live. The author tells us, that since God is a “consuming fire” who has removed created things, yet in Jesus has given us a kingdom that will not perish, we are to offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe. To me, worshipping God is a lot about gratitude. How can I find ways to be grateful for all that God has done for me and the entire world? It cannot just be a Sunday morning thing, but if my gratitude is real, it will also spill over into how I live my life the rest of the week. I am reminded about Jesus’ calling to love God, and love neighbor. To me, those two commandments are so closely intertwined, that you cannot have one without the other, and together, they perfectly express what showing gratitude to God might look like. --Rev. Dr. Tormod Svensson Prayer Oh God, help me show my gratitude and love for you, by more faithfully loving my neighbor, especially my neighbor who might have been marginalized or looked down upon for any reason. Amen. Reading: Psalm 103:1-8
Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. Reflection “With all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto.” You’ve probably heard this phrase at every graduation ceremony you’ve ever attended. It has always made me chuckle just a little bit. I’ve often wondered what exactly the rights and privileges are. It turns out that when they give you your diploma, it doesn’t come with a little card that tells you the benefits that come with your degree. (For example, I had really hoped that my masters degree would come with free coffee on Wednesdays, but….no such luck. Bring a diploma to Dunkin any day of the week and all you get is a blank stare…but I digress….) When we get to verse two of Psalm 103, we’re reminded not to forget God’s benefits. Thankfully, the psalm writer tells us exactly what those benefits are, no diploma required. God forgives us. God crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies. God is slow to anger and abounding in mercy. Those are benefits that all of us need. All of the time. It would be a little bit funny if when we baptized people, we baptized them “with all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto,” but thankfully we don’t. Instead, we invoke the name of the Lord and we say out loud the ways that God has been faithful to generations before us. We remind the gathered community of God’s abiding love, so that we might “forget not God’s benefits.” Sometimes we need reminders throughout the day that God’s love is always with us, so let this be your reminder for today: God’s love is alive and on the move. God has crowned you with lovingkindness and tender mercies. (This will help ease the sting of not getting that free coffee. Or so I was told by a friend.) –Sarah Hershberger Prayer: Loving God, we are so thankful for all of your benefits; for your lovingkindness and tender mercies, your slowness to anger and your abundant mercy. Please help us to remember your goodness every day, so that you are our guiding light. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. Reading: Isaiah 58:9b-14
If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in. If you refrain from trampling the sabbath, from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; if you call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs; then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. Reflection When was the last time you had Sabbath? And I mean a real Sabbath—24 hours uninterrupted by your job or house work. And let me up the ante: vacation time doesn’t count. I’m talking about a regular old Saturday or Sunday. When was the last time you had Sabbath? We American Christians are not good at Sabbath. From what I’ve seen, we seem almost incapable of resting. Maybe it’s our regrettable “protestant work ethic;” whatever it is, we fill our lives with activity after activity, labeling them either “necessary work to make ends meet” or “leisure time.” I’ve seen how a lot of people spend their day off and nothing about mowing the lawn or repairing the gutters or going grocery shopping seems restful to me. Rest is central to the divine life. After God created, God rested. Did God need rest? Of course not. But God did anyway. When God does things God doesn’t need to do, we should sit up and take note. Maybe God is setting an example for us. Maybe God is committing an act of grace. Now, there are a great many workaholics out there who would proclaim, “Yes! Sabbath is a good idea! Actually, Sabbath improves productivity! Give an employee a day off each week and they are a better worker during the week!” But that completely misses the point of the Sabbath command. In his important book Sabbath, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel says, “The Sabbath is not for the sake of the weekdays; the weekdays are for the sake of the Sabbath. It is not an interlude but the climax of living.” Heschel argues that we do not have Sabbath so that we can work better; rather, we have Sabbath to remind ourselves that we are not our work. Your life’s work should not mean that work is your life. Walter Brueggemann writes that Sabbath “is a visible insistence that our lives are not defined by the production and consumption of commodity goods” (Sabbath as Resistance: Saying No to the Culture of Now). Despite what our economy might lead you to believe, your value is not in what you produce. Through Isaiah, God promises that if we observe the Sabbath (24 hours of rest without work of any kind), then “I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth.” Doesn’t that sound good? Don’t you want that? If you observe Sabbath, you will ride upon the heights of the earth because you will suddenly become free of the anxious burdens of expectation, performance, and perfection. If we take Sabbath rest, we will come to see our value lies not in what we do, but in who we are—God’s beloved. And if we take a Sabbath rest, we will come to see that our neighbor’s value lies not in what he or she does ,but in who he or she is—God’s beloved. So I encourage you: adopt a Sabbath practice. It doesn’t have to be Sunday, but set aside one day a week, one 24 hour period where you abstain from work of any kind. And then we can ride on the heights of the earth together! --Jim Vitale Prayer God of Sabbath rest we give you thanks than you create space for us to stop and remember that we are not cogs in the wheel of production but rather your beloved children. Help us to do as you command, to take a Sabbath rest and rest in you. Amen. Reading: Joshua 1:1-9
After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord spoke to Joshua, son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying, “My servant Moses is dead. Now proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the Israelites. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and the Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, to the Great Sea in the west shall be your territory. No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Reflection The leader is dead. The Israelites have followed Moses through the wilderness and now there is a “new sheriff in town.” Joshua is commanded by God to take up Moses’ work. I’m not sure how I would feel if I were Joshua. Moses was a bigger-than-life figure. And now Joshua’s been chosen as Moses’ successor. God tells Joshua to follow the teachings of the scripture and his way will be prosperous. I know we are to trust God, but if I were Joshua, I’m sure I would have my doubts. These are big shoes to fill, and God’s work is big work to do. But guess what? God also tells Joshua that God will be with him always. God encourages Joshua to be strong and courageous. God will go along. It will be okay. Joshua had to head out in faith. He had to do the hard work, knowing that he was not alone. He had to pick up the mantel and continue the important work that had been started. It was his turn now. And God would go with him. --Chad Hershberger Prayer As we pick up our mantels to follow you, God, help us to be strong and courageous. May we feel your presence in the hard times as we do the hard work. Go with us. Guide us. Let us do your work. Amen. Reading: Luke 12:49-56
“I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It is going to rain’; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat’; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? Reflection Divisions are a reality in our world today. No doubt about it. You turn on the news and some kind of horrific thing has occurred yet again. Deaths, shootings, riots, political unrest and war rage about us on a daily basis now. So we turn off the news and hopefully turn to our Bibles for some good news, and then we see today’s reading. Jesus says, “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” It seems we cannot escape division and unrest of some sort, on some level in our lives. We have to live here on this earth, together with many people we disagree with or find fault with, and it is not always easy. Even those who are most near and dear to us will hurt us or let us down. In those times we turn to Jesus. We turn to prayer, and we pray for those who we are in conflict with. We pray for a better tomorrow and pray that healing can begin. All the while, we trust in God. While people on this earth will deceive us, betray us, and let us down, we know where we stand with God. We are baptized, beloved children of a God who is always there for us. Trusting in the steadfast love of our savior, we continue to find grace and acceptance through all of life’s struggles. --Amy Shuck Prayer Heavenly Father, as we struggle with divisions and hurts that run very deeply, may we always turn to you for guidance and grace, and trusting in your mercy, we pray for those who persecute us or speak out against us. May we come to you always and know that you hear us and understand us. Amen. Reading: Hebrews 11: 29 - 12: 2
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace. And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Reflection This continues our reading from last week. Remember how the beginning of this chapter had a definition of faith? Then, we have a long list of examples of faithful people. And we are reminded that we are part of these generations of God’s family. So often, we read about this great cloud of witnesses that came before us. Have you ever thought that not only are you part of that cloud, but also all of God’s followers here on earth? We are not in this alone! And Paul tells us that we are to run this race with our eyes on Jesus who will perfect our faith. I know I need this reminder often. It’s a marathon not a sprint. And we have lots of well-wishers to help us in our quest. --Chad Hershberger Prayer The race is long, Lord, but we know you are with us. Continue to give us strength, energy, and perseverance to keep running. Amen. Reading: Psalm 82
God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk around in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. I say, “You are gods, children of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, you shall die like mortals, and fall like any prince.” Rise up, O God, judge the earth; for all the nations belong to you! Reflection Human beings like to think of themselves as godlike - able to do whatever they like. From ordinary people to "powers that be", we set ourselves up as little gods. We often see this arrogance in others. We ought to look closer and see it in ourselves. Either way, among the gods, all will die like mortals, and fall like any prince. (v. 7) So the Psalmist calls, "Rise up, O God, judge the earth; for all the nations belong to you!" (v. 8) We need to get out of God's way in the divine council. We need to get out of our own way walking around in darkness. With the true God, there is justice to the weak and the orphan; rescue for the weak and needy. (from v. 3 & 4) Instead of living as among the gods, let's live as among God's people. --Ruth Gates Prayer Dear God, help us remember you alone are God. Amen. Reading: Jeremiah 23:23-29
Am I a God near by, says the Lord, and not a God far off? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the Lord. I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, “I have dreamed, I have dreamed!” How long? Will the hearts of the prophets ever turn back—those who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart? They plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, just as their ancestors forgot my name for Baal. Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? says the Lord. Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? Reflection The eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were a time of great upheaval and excitement across the West. This is the time known as the Enlightenment, perhaps better labeled as the Age of Reason (see Meic Pearse’s outstanding history book of the same name) because it was a time when people championed rationality and reason above all else. Science, the observation of the natural world, was originally a task undertaken by theologians. Isaac Newton is a great example of this, being as much a theologian as he was a scientist. But during the Age of Reason, people began to separate out faith and science, looking for an understanding of the natural world as far away from any conversation of God as possible. People started to become Deists, those who believed in the existence of God, an almighty creator or authority, but who were unwilling to claim anything further about this deity. People began to seek out what Peter Gay labels as “Newton’s physics without Newton’s God.” It was around this time that the Christian apologist William Paley coined the now famous analogy of the watch and the watchmaker. He argued that the intricacies of all creation, the mechanics of physics, the complicated workings of biology, the reactions of chemistry, all point to the existence of a creator. All creation, the wheeling of the planets, the growth of trees, the passing of the seasons, is like a great and complicated watch which God, the divine watchmaker, set in motion. This argument was originally meant to bolster belief in God amidst a growing class of intellectuals who no longer believed in a God. Unfortunately, it had the opposite effect. While this analogy still champions belief in God, it reduces God to mere provenance: God sets the universe in motion and then steps away to let it “do its thing.” We are still living out the ramifications of the Age of Reason and it is into this particularly agnostic culture that Jeremiah’s words resound: “Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word speak faithfully.” And the faithful word of God is this: “Am I a God near by, says the Lord, and not a God far off? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the Lord.” Despite what philosophers have extrapolated from scientific findings, our God is not a God far off. Our God is a God close by, a God who fills heaven and earth. God is not some watchmaker who set the universe in motion and then stepped away from it. God is rather at the center of everything that has ever been created: the base of all creation is the atom; the heart of the atom is the nucleus; within each nucleus lies protons; inside the proton is quark; and within the quark, is God. God—the heart of all creation. --Jim Vitale Prayer We thank you, God, that you are not far off, but near; you are closer to us than we are to ourselves. Remind us always of your closeness. Amen. Reading: 1 Peter 4: 7-11
The end of all things is near; therefore, be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. Reflection Change is a scary word. At times we get comfortable with life as we know it; making it a little bit different often comes with anxiety. But change can be good. It can be exciting and put a newness in our lives that gives us a fresh outlook on our surroundings. We rearrange from what is to what will be. Saying goodbye is sometimes tough to do. Okay, it is almost always tough to do. Saying goodbye to those who have helped shape your life, been by your side, and helped you through the good and bad is something none of us probably look forward to. But eventually we all have to say goodbye. Move on. Make a change. But with prayer and faith in God, we know that endings are new beginnings. We know God will watch over us. Today, our camp staff are getting ready to say goodbye to this summer. Each year during my camp career, this time of year was hard, mostly because of the people I needed to say goodbye to. I knew I would miss them. But now I know that camp friends are lifelong friends. Many of the friends I made at camp as a camper, counselor, and now director still are my friends today. And they are some of the best friends in the world. In this time of transition, may we be thankful for what we have. Let us not take for granted what has been given to us, especially God’s grace. We’ve come a long way! We go forth knowing God is with us. We carry our memories as we head out into new waters! And so, we end this summer with this verse from the last book of the Bible: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen.” (Revelation 22: 21) --Chad Hershberger Prayer Thank you, Lord, for endings and beginnings. Amen. Reading: Luke 12:32-40 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. “But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.” Reflection One of my absolute favorite moments in all of Monty Python and the Holy Grail finds a knight in his castle speaking to his grown son. The knight gestures toward a great, open window and says grandly, “One day, lad, all this will be yours.” And then the son replies, “What? The curtains?” It gets me every time. But sometimes I think that we’re not unlike that rather clueless son. Jesus looks out over the great kingdom of God, sweeps his hand before him and says, “One day, little flock, all this will be yours.” And we say, “What? The curtains?”
So often when we think about heaven, we think of clouds and angels and feasts and getting to see our loved ones who have died. But that, in a sense, is looking at the kingdom of God and seeing only the curtains. There is so much more to the kingdom that the Father is giving us. This week’s gospel reading urges us to make ourselves a little less clueless about this kingdom. Jesus tells us make ourselves ready for the coming kingdom of God. Interestingly, he points to only one concrete action: “sell your possessions and give alms.” Luke’s gospel is all about how God comes to help the poor (both the economically poor and the spiritually poor). The kingdom of God is not just a paradise; it’s a place where all that has been wrong is made right. The kingdom of God is the place governed both by God’s justice and God’s mercy. So, when we tend to the poor, we give to others a foretaste of the justice and mercy that God has and will give to us. When we help the poor, we live as though God’s kingdom is already here. So brush aside the curtains and look out!—God’s kingdom of justice and mercy is waiting for us! --Jim Vitale Prayer God of mercy and justice, keep us alert to your coming kingdom and teach us to live as though it were already here. Amen. Reading
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore, from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.” All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16) Reflection Some might call this the “faith chapter.” I often refer to this passage when I want to try to define the word “faith.” Faith—the assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen. Or, put another way: knowing that what we believe is not entirely visible. And then, we have a long list of examples of people who lived that faith in the Bible. Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob are mentioned, as is the covenant that God made with Abraham that his descendants would be many. During the past two summers, we looked at the story of Abraham and his many descendants in our curriculum, “From Generation to Generation.” God made a promise to Abraham and that promise stretches all the way down to us. God is faithful to God’s faithful people. During this last week of camp for 2022, I can’t help but think that campers and staff this summer have added to this faith story. As they have encountered God in new and exciting ways, their faith has been strengthened. Their relationships with God have strengthened. I’ve been told by campers this summer that they feel God’s presence most at camp. And that leads to stronger faith. As faithful children of God, may we all hold on to the assurance of God’s promises, even when we may not see them. May we, like Abraham, Sarah, and all our ancestors, receive God’s approval and hold on to the hope that God gives us through faith. --Chad Hershberger Prayer Loving God, prepare a city for us to live as your faithful people. Give us courage and assurance as we strengthen our faith in you. Amen. Reading: Psalm 33:12-22
Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage. The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all humankind. From where he sits enthroned he watches all the inhabitants of the earth-- he who fashions the hearts of them all, and observes all their deeds. A king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save. Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and shield. Our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. Reflection “A king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save.” Today the psalmist boldly claims that everything we thought we knew is false. It’s common sense that the greatest kings are great because they have big armies. It's common sense that the greatest warriors are great because they are strong. It’s common sense that the best animal to take into battle is the mighty war horse (or at least it was when the psalmist was writing). But the psalmist says that an army can’t save a king. Wait what? Strength cannot save a warrior. Huh? The war horse is a vain hope for victory. Come on now. What is the psalmist getting at? The psalmist is drawing our attention back to the one thing that can offer of salvation: God. The king’s army might give him power, but it cannot keep him from death. The warrior’s strength might get her through the battle, but she will still die eventually. A swift warhorse might win you victory, but it cannot save your soul. Ultimately, the only hope that we have does not come from anything in this world but from God alone. And the good news is that our God is trustworthy. Our God delivers the soul from death, the psalmist writes. Our God keeps us alive in the famine. Our God is our help and our shield. So place your hope not in earthly things but in God alone. --Jim Vitale Prayer Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. Amen. Reading: Genesis 15:1-6
After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness. Reflection Having now seen the images from the James Webb Telescope which revealed even more galaxies and stars than ever before, to me this passage now takes even more meaning than ever before. God instructs Abram, “Look toward the heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Abram couldn’t. The stars that can be seen with the naked eye are countless. Now with telescopes, we realize there are even more that we can’t see. Which now makes me look back to what God said - “Count the stars.” Obviously, Abram took that as the stars he could see. Perhaps in the back of God’s mind was the thought, “And, by the way Abram, there are stars out there you can’t even see.” Abram believed the Lord (that Abram’s descendants would be as many as the stars) and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Abram believed a count beyond what he could count not even knowing it was beyond his even being able to see all there was to count. We say things like “Count your blessings,” or “I’m counting my blessings.” We name them one by one; but what if we also realized there are blessings we don’t or aren’t even able to see. Beyond count. Believe that. --Ruth Gates Prayer Dear God, we see your love as we can but there is always more. Help us believe. Amen. Reading
“If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18: 15-20) Reflection A few years ago, I took a weeklong course on conflict resolution from the Lombard Mennonite Peace Institute. We looked at this verse and used it as a framework for our work of learning to better handle the disputes that come up in the life of church. At camp, we’ve been practicing what we call HOT Communication for a long time now. It started as “Clean Communication” and has morphed int “HOT Communication” standing for honest, open, and transparent communication. When we have an issue with someone, we go talk to them. We try to resolve the problem face-to-face, not talking behind others’ backs. If we need help, we engage a mediator to help us talk through the problem. The staff and I had conversations this summer about how our world needs more HOT Communication. We need to have the difficult conversations and come to win-win agreements. We need to be open to listening and understanding another’s point of view. And we need to find common ground. How might you practice HOT Communications in your life? How might those changes make your life better? Is there someone who you have a conflict with right now? Make a point to go talk to them and try to resolve it. --Chad Hershberger Prayer Be with us in conflict, Lord, and help us to speak love in truth. May we learn to speak more honestly, more opening, and more transparent with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen. Reading: Luke 12:13-21
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.” Reflection I have heard stories of families that are torn apart over inheritance. Siblings who no longer talk because they didn’t think the distribution of their parents’ assets were fair. In many cases, that was even because of wishes of the deceased. Money destroyed these familial relationships. Jesus talks a lot about money in the Bible. This is another passage where money is a topic. And we are told money should not be our focus. Our focus should be on storing up our godly treasures. What are those treasures for you? --Chad Hershberger Prayer We pray to you, God, to help us be in right relationship with you. Guide us as we store up treasures that are worthy of our calling as your child. Amen. Reading: Colossians 3:1-11
So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all! Reflection What if? What if you saw that Christ is all? What if you saw Christ in all? Christ is all. God created all. Christ is God’s son. Therefore, Christ is all. At least, that is how I understand it. And perhaps how Paul saw it as he wrote to the Colossians. Know Christ is all. Christ in all. There is no longer Greek and Jew; etc., etc. Christ in all. In every person you encounter. Every person you love and every person not as easy to love. The person you have known forever and the stranger on the street. See Christ in all. And remember. Christ in all also means in you. Christ is all also means what you do. We can be the face of Christ to someone today. We can be Christ’s hands and feet in the world. --Ruth Gates Prayer Raise us, God, as Christ is in us and Christ is in all we do. Amen. Reading: Psalm 49:1-12
Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together. My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp. Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me, those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? Truly, no ransom avails for one’s life, there is no price one can give to God for it. For the ransom of life is costly, and can never suffice that one should live on forever and never see the grave. When we look at the wise, they die; fool and dolt perish together and leave their wealth to others. Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they named lands their own. Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; they are like the animals that perish. Reflection I am not aware of anyone having successfully bribed Death. No one has ever made so much money that he or she never died. That is the general thrust of this week’s Psalm: rich or poor, wise or foolish, one way or another, death comes for us all. I have recently been listening to Bob Brier’s series of lectures titled “The History of Ancient Egypt” (Great Courses, 2013). Brier meticulously details all the things Pharaohs brought with them into their tombs: gold, jewels, beloved pets, mummified bodyguards and soldiers, and, in one instance, a massive ship. All these things were buried with the pharaoh so that he might be able to enjoy in the next life all the things he loved in this one. Interestingly, however, Brier comments that the vast majority of these tombs were robbed. The great pyramid of Giza was constructed by the Pharaoh Khufu in 2570bc and was certainly robbed by 2500bc. Often times, the workers who constructed the tombs were the ones who robbed them because they knew where everything was. Can you imagine the look on Khufu’s face waking up in the next world only to find that all his stuff had been stollen!? Despite our best efforts, we cannot take it with us when we die. This is a hard truth with which we must all—even pharaohs—reconcile. But that’s not the final word on death. The psalmists writes, “Truly, no ransom avails for one’s life, there is no price one can give to God for it”—and certainly that is true for we mortals. But we have a savior, God in-the-flesh, who came and gave his life as a ransom for us. While we all must face death, death does not have the final word. God, in God’s mercy, has the final word. And God has chosen to give us life. --Jim Vitale Prayer Gracious God, we spend so much of our lives accumulating things that have no eternal significance. Free us from the things which distract us from you and remind us of your love which endures forever. Amen. |
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