Reading: Proverbs 18: 2
Reflection: Do you know someone who likes to talk? He or she may go a “mile a minute” not letting anyone get in a word. Perhaps you know someone like that. Perhaps that someone is you. Compulsive talkers don’t listen. When there is a pause in their speech, it is usually to think of what he or she will say next. Because their talk is endless, they don’t think before they speak. They spout off everything on their mind, and often times it is hurtful to others. Someone once told me that, “Words are like toothpaste. Once they are out of the container, they cannot go back in.” Once something is said, it cannot be put back in the mouth. Only apologies or explanations can heal the wounds that words make. How can we prevent hurting someone with our words? We can think before we speak. Putting thought behind your speech is important. Things can be said that hurt those around you. It can cause schisms and can lead to unpleasant circumstances. You’ve probably heard this advice before. But, you may not have put it into action. It was once said by someone that, “If I stop to think before I speak, I won’t have to worry afterward what I said before.” That is good advice to live by. Perhaps it will be what it takes to change your ways. We should always think before we speak so that our speech will be seasoned and pleasing to God. Doing so may save us from awkward situations. Doing so could also help preserve our relationships. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director
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Reading: John 13: 34-35
Reflection: Jesus told us to love one another just as He loved us. How much did he love us? He stretched out His hands and died for our sins. I think there are different kinds of love we can show one another. Loving a spouse is a different kind of love than loving a parent. Loving your children is a different kinds of love than loving a sibling. Having love for our fellow Christians is different from loving an enemy. But no matter what type of love you feel for your fellow humans, it is important that we love one another. We should show each other respect and care for one another's needs. We should, most importantly, love God because when God's love is in our hearts, love will not fail. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Reading: Ephesians 5: 8-13
Reflection: As Christians, we need to stay in Christ's light and let our light shine before others. God created the light and led by light and is the light of life. We need to stay in God's light and be a light to our fellow man, spreading the Word of God. Sometimes it may be hard, but it is an important task that we should all take seriously. Stay in the light! --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Reading: Job 34: 31-33
Reflection: We can all learn many lessons from reading about Job. Job had a great faith in God and was put to a huge test to see just how strong his faith was. In this portion of the story, we can learn a lot from him. We are told here that confession is admitting that we are wrong. Repentance is not doing it again. Elihu tells Job that with God's help, he can turn his life around. So can we. Repent and ask God today to help you to turn away from something you may be doing that is against God's teachings. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Reading: Malachi 3: 1-4
Reflection: One of my favorite selections in Handel's Messiah is "But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming?" It is based on this scripture verse, which is from the last book in the Old Testament. This is the book right before Christ comes in Matthew's gospel. And while there is a great amount of time between when Malachi and Matthew took place, it is interesting that such a passage would be placed in God's Word right before Jesus comes to earth. "Who shall stand when he appeareth? For He is like a refiner's fire and he shall purify..." Just as Christ came to earth as a child and purified the chosen people, so will He come again. And then, who shall stand when he appeareth? --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Reading: Isaiah 40: 1-5
Reflection: When I was in college, I caught a broadcast on television right after Thanksgiving called "Handel's Young Messiah." Basically, it was a modern version of Handel's great oratorio complete with drums and keyboard synthesizers. I enjoyed the show and went out and bought the record album a few weeks later. Since then, I have greatly enjoyed Handel's Messiah in any form. I have several recordings of the work, including more modern renditions. How can one not enjoy a rousing chorus of the "Hallelujah Chorus!" Two years after I watched that show on television, I had the opportunity to participate in a "Messiah Sing-A-Long." The audience got to sing the choruses of Handel's great work and soloists provided some of the singing. It was a great event. Handel based his "Messiah" on several biblical passages. In this first one, Isaiah is telling us what God has said: Comfort my people and make way for the Lord's coming. He is foretelling of Jesus Christ's birth. The glory of the Lord will appear for all to see, just as God has promised. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Discussion:
Reading: Hebrews 11- 12: 2 Reflection: For those of you who don't like Halloween, I say, "What a difference a day makes!" Today is a day set aside to remember the saints. I remember marking the observance as a child at church. Once a year we would remember our members who had died in the previous year. They were the saints of God who were now in heaven with our Father. On this day, remember the saints, not only those who have died but those who are living. Each of us who believes in Christ are saints. For all the saints..... --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Watch the video below from the funeral of President Gerald R. Ford. I admit that I am fan and frequent student of the president, having read much about this man and his presidency. While I may be a bit biased toward Ford, I picked this video because what can be grander on this All Saints Day than listening to "For All the Saints," sung at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. The song starts about a minute or so into the video. |
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