Joy Lutheran Church Ocala, Florida

In my day school began AFTER Labor Day. First day meant new classmates, new teacher, and new school supplies. The real prize was if your parents bought you the fancy 48-count Crayola Crayons with a metallic gold crayon. Woo-hoo! It was nice looking at the pointy crayons in their assorted colors standing up in the box. 

As the year went on, crayons wore down, their paper wrappings were torn off, some broke, others just vanished. By year’s end it was a sad collection. On the last day most kids threw everything away including their crayons. Not me. I brought them home and kept them in a cookie tin. Worn and broken crayons still work fine.

Those crayons remind me of life. At one time we’re new and pretty sharp, but we wear down and get broken and some of us have parts missing. You get to wondering if you’re good for anything. But you discover that, like worn crayons, you’re still of use. God can use you.

I won’t ever put a roof on a church again, but I can still pray. For me prayer is like the gold crayon in the box. Even a little nub of it adds splash to life’s picture. The other day, for example, I prayed for the hungry, the lonely, the sick, those who are nearing death, and those who have already died.

Praying like that reminds me that one day I will be raised from the dead. I’ll be like a new box of crayons, only this time, they’ll all be gold.

Read Romans 6:5 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

A letter had arrived in the day’s mail. The family had gathered to listen. I watched my aunt struggle to read the German handwriting, stretching her limited proficiency in the language. I was still a child sitting quietly on the sidelines. Although I don’t remember details of that family gathering, I can still hear my aunt repeating, “But they have nothing!”

The time was shortly after World War II. The writers were apparently family who had stayed in Germany, when others immigrated to America. Now they were impoverished and suffering in East Germany. I listened while family members debated what to do. Would their loyalty be questioned, if these German Americans sent help into Communist East Germany? To put it simply, I don’t believe there was general agreement. And still I heard my aunt repeat, “But they have nothing!”

I think this may have been my first experience with compassion. To help out would not be convenient, it would be expensive. It was a step out of their comfort zone, but compassion necessitated a response.

Is this what the Apostle Peter speaks of, “Finally all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” 1 Peter 3:8

I pray that I will open my eyes to see need and to willingly respond with compassion. Only then can we share with others the unconditional love that our heavenly Father extends to us.

Judy

We all have our pet peeves, things that annoy and distract us.  I’d like to share something one of you shared with me.

 After worship, a congregant came up to the Pastor and went on and on complaining about cell phones going off, people chit-chatting, clapping after music, etc. The Pastor asked them to try something. “Next service, get a glass of water, fill it to the brim, and walk around the sanctuary during worship. Then give me your observation.” The parishioner did this, then reported back. “I didn’t notice anything except making sure I didn’t spill any water in God’s house.” 

Point being: if we focus on why we’re here, which is to worship and commune with our God, we might not notice the other distractions. 

I know it’s a silly, theoretical, implausible illustration, but I hope it helps. For me, closing my eyes during worship helps. There is no perfect scenario, and I will not be an ogre when it comes to appropriate worship conduct – with the following exception. 

I do not clap in worship. Music is not performance in God’s house; it is done only for the glory of God and not for affirmation or gratification. That being said, if someone can’t help themselves and is responding out of gratefulness and appreciation for the musical gift that was offered and the talent and practice behind it, I will not judge or “finger-wag.”

What distresses me greatly is when people loudly talk during the offertory. I think it is very disrespectful not only to the musician, but to God. The purpose of the offertory is to prepare us to receive the Lord’s Supper. 

We all have our personal piety. We come from a great variety of backgrounds and church traditions. I love the diversity among us! 

Keep the main thing the main thing, which is WORSHIP. Socializing is for before and after the service. 

Pastor Art

Ezekiel saw the wheel
Way up in the middle of the air
Ezekiel saw the wheel
Way up in the middle of the air

I loved singing this spiritual around campfires as a kid.  It’s the first thing that comes to mind when I hear the name Ezekial.  Or perhaps you remember hearing the song performed by Louis Armstrong or Johnny Cash.  Like many African American spirituals it’s firmly rooted in a Biblical story.

The story begins when Ezekial at 25 was exiled after the Babylonians captured Jerusalem. Prior to being uprooted from his homeland, It seems that he was set to become a priest.  But God had other plans for Ezekial.

Ezekiel spent five years in captivity facing despair. At 30, he experienced a powerful vision from God.  He saw four wheels—each composed of two intersecting wheels—allowing constant movement for the “living creatures.” These beings, later called cherubim, served as guardians of God’s holiness.

As terrifying as the vision was, it revealed God’s majesty, holiness, and authority.  Even during the Babylonian exile, it showed Ezekial that God is not limited to any location but rules over all creation, all nations. The vision of four wheels highlighted God’s omnipresence and omniscience.

Ezekiel went from despair to faith after encountering God.  He became a key voice for his generation. He recognized that God’s Word addressed their captivity and exile, offering comfort, insight, and victory if they repented.

The message was clear: though His people were in exile and their nation was about to be destroyed, God was still on the throne and able to handle every situation. The lesson for us today is much the same.  Through His marvelous providence, God moves in the affairs of all nations to work out His own unseen plan. Don’t ever underestimate his unconditional love for his children.

Judy

How exciting to announce a graduation!  How exciting to announce a promotion! How exciting to announce an engagement/or wedding date! How exciting to share a pending birth of a baby! (As you read this suggested list, can’t you feel yourself already smiling?) Good news is wonderful to give and receive.

Jesus told his disciples: Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” That verse was written by Mark and mentioned in other Gospels, but it is clearly meant for us, too. The early followers of Christ are not here to share the Good News.  It is clearly up to us, believing Christians, to share GOOD NEWS.

I just finished writing another book talk speech regarding the GOOD NEWS found in my book, The Small Town with a Big Heart. This book talk is entitled, The Good News.  Not only for my family, but many of you have good news happening in your lives right now.  Yes, I know the road of life can be filled with hazards, potholes and demons dancing in our way, but there is Good News. God NEVER leaves us.  We are NEVER alone. Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.”

As a follower, share that GOOD NEWS. Maybe to a friend on social media. Maybe to your neighbor who is feeling down. Maybe in a birthday card.  You are able to easily drop a quick note, sharing the Good News of our dear Lord who loves each and every one of us unconditionally. God wants us to share…go ahead, do it!

Jill

At times it seems like one bad thing after another happens to us and we wonder why.  What did we do to deserve this?  Why is God punishing us? When will these horrible things end?  But, in the big picture of life, when we look around, we always find those who are undergoing issues far worse than ours.

The people of the Holocaust and currently, those involved in wars in the Ukraine and Israel are people that come to my mind immediately.  Additionally, I think of individuals I have personally known who have endured horrible events, one trial after another, and kept on going, in spite of the ordeals they experienced. In each of the circumstances I am thinking about, none of them were their own faults. They did not make poor choices that led to their terrible outcomes. They just happened.

Why do bad things happen to good people? This is such a complex question and it seems there is no single universally accepted answer. Different philosophical, religious and personal perspectives offer various explanations. From a Christian perspective, one concept lies in original sin and the idea that suffering entered the world through human disobedience and as a result, pain and injustice are part of a fallen creation. On the other hand, Christianity also teaches us suffering can have a redemptive value. Jesus who was innocent, suffered and died and through His suffering, believers find hope and salvation. What a gift!

While this is the eternal goal that we as Christians strive for after our earthly lives end, while we are still on earth and enduring these “bad things”, maybe we can think that suffering is not always a punishment. It may serve a divine purpose that humans can’t fully comprehend until they reach their home in heaven. As Christians, we are encouraged to trust God’s wisdom and justice even when circumstances seem unfair.

The common theme among most religions I have studied is we need to rely on our compassion, human connection and support in helping others navigate difficult times and accept the help of others when we ourselves are suffering. God loves us unconditionally and gave us His Son to guide us through such times and into His loving arms to believe in His grace. Thanks be to God!

Patty

Do you have a favorite season? As soon as I make a choice, I remember some cozy characteristics about another season that makes me hesitate to make a firm decision. So, I am happy to enjoy all the seasons for different reasons and at different times. 

Since Labor Day has just passed us by, I am faced with the reality that summer is nearing an end for this year. I do enjoy summer. My time is not structured, and I am free to be lazy and take my time with my day. Retirement does have its pluses.  

I have been reading and knitting and doing some cross stitching. I have been able to sit on the deck and just look at the lake and the mountains in the distance and talk with God about anything that comes into my head. I watch the ducks and sand pipers and wonder why they do what they do. 

I will miss this view when we leave Vermont in a couple of weeks. However, God has graciously provided beautiful views for me and you in all the seasons, no matter where we are. There is always something to marvel at and meditate on-gifts from God. Yes, God who loves you unconditionally. 

Value each day, each place, each season as the gifts from God that they are. Don’t take them for granted. It doesn’t matter if you are on the shore of the ocean in the summer heat or on a subway beneath the earth while thunder rumbles above. Each day, each place, each season provides an opportunity to bring God closer to our hearts by praying, meditating and giving praise to the Almighty Creator.  That’s where He wants to be-in our hearts. 

Terri 

As a youngster I was always saying things like, “I wish it was my birthday” or “I wish it was Christmas.” My mother would say, “Don’t wish your life away.” That made no sense to me. When you’re a kid, you look forward to the special times–especially times with no school and no homework. Only later you realize that most of your time is spent in the ordinary days, and if all you wish for is the special days, you’ve wished away large parts of your life.

I associate my youth with hearing “September Song” by  Kurt Weil and Maxwell Anderson particularly these words.

Oh, it’s a long, long while from May to December
But the days grow short
When you reach September
When the Autumn weather turns the leaves to flame
One hasn’t got time for the waiting game
… Oh, the days dwindle down to a precious few
September, November

This comes back to me because I’m in the September or October of my life. The days are precious. What should I do with them? Say thanks to the people who have been a blessing to me. Try to be a blessing to people who need a blessing in life.

Jesus told a parable about a wealthy man whose farm produced a great crop. He built huge barns to store it in. The story ends with God saying to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?”

Use well the days God gives you. 

Read Luke 12:19-21 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

            I have liked covered bridges ever since I went to college in southern Indiana, where there are quite a few.  Parke County, Indiana has 31, the most of any county in the U.S.  My wife likes them also, and we have seen many of them on trips to Indiana and Vermont.  One of my favorites from college days is the Bridgeton bridge pictured below.  Most historical bridges were built in the last half of the nineteenth century, and we lose some of them every year.  Wind and floods have destroyed some, but today the biggest danger is alcohol in the form of drunken arsonists.  We try to support their preservation by being members of the Indiana Covered Bridge Society.

            Covered bridges vary in design, but almost all are charmingly attractive.  This is helped by the fact that they are usually in beautiful natural settings.  Often the bridge and the setting create an image that is better than either alone.  The pleasure is not only visual; the long, confined structure creates a “singing in the shower” type sound.  The clip-clopping of horses must have sounded great, but even driving a car through one with the windows down is a treat.  There is also a romantic appeal; the movie The Bridges of Madison County starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood was a love story, not only between the principals, but also with the bridges.  I’ve been told that in the old days many young men would train their horses to always stop in the middle of the bridges.

            Many people believe that the covered bridges were designed for aesthetic reasons, but like for many of our most beautiful structures, architect Louis Sullivan’s dictum “form follows function” applies.  The underlying bridges were made out of wood, and if exposed to the elements, they would have short lifetimes.  The purpose of the covering was to protect the bridge structure, and it worked well at only minimal additional cost.  There are covered bridges in China that have stood for many centuries.

            During our Christian journey we often feel vulnerable to the elements that besiege us and are in need of a protector.  Fortunately, we have one.  In Luke 13:34 we find a feminine, wonderfully protective image of God as a mother hen who gathers her chicks under her wings.  Many of the Psalms speak of God’s protection using some of the most beautiful language of the Bible; I can’t help but thinking of them as being the covered bridges of the Bible.  Some good ones are Psalms 121, 32, 57, and the always soothing 23.  One of the most comforting ones is Psalm 46; please read it and remember:  God loves YOU unconditionally.

Jim

Along with a Christian faith, there is room for science. Newton was not a heretic, any more than Luther. Understanding the universe doesn’t negate belief in God. The launching of the James Webb telescope happened to be on what we consider Jesus’ birthday, December 25, 2021. We are receiving data, proof that hundreds of billions of galaxies exist beyond our own. It is mindboggling to say the least. We are learning about our universe on the most fundamental levels. I have always been fascinated by outer space, the Apollo missions, “Star Trek”, the cosmos. Wondering at how God created the Big Bang synthesizes religion and science. Both are reality and truth, at least as we can understand before the end of all things comes.

It is important and I think helpful to hold these facts together as we strive and fail to understand that humanity is both the most evolved of God’s created beings and its’ most flawed. Space, planets, the stars – they are pure. Without conscious thought, to be sure. But still pure. I sleep better at night when I consider the moon and the stars in their courses and yet knowing also that God took the greatest chance – and delight at creating US, and watching US evolve. Everything that amazes us about this planetary home of ours, with life-sustaining matter and purpose, also amazes us about the vast distances across the universe. In the greatest of love possible, God placed himself among us to learn and expand.

Pastor Art