Joy Lutheran Church, Ocala, Florida

If you served in the military since 1910 or were a student in the last 30+ years, you know the weight of backpacks. Many of you were in the military. The backpack, knapsack or rucksack or many other names they were called through the years weighed anywhere from 40-150 pounds depending on when you served and what your job was. They were necessary for carrying personal possessions, rations, and other things you would need for your job. The average backpack of a 12-year-old student weighs 40 pounds and they have to lug that around all day too. I often witnessed those young people practically bent in half rushing, (or trying at least) down the hallway to their next class. Those in the military and in school toted heavy, but seemingly necessary cargo to complete their tasks at the time.

I think a lot of us are like those mentioned above. We go through our days feeling burdened by encumbrances of our daily lives. It could be our job or lack of a job. Maybe it is a loved one struggling with health issues or even yourself. It could be financial troubles or troubles with housing. There are so many issues that plague us throughout our lives that weigh us down and make us feel there is no hope.
Sometimes venting to someone about your problem helps you feel better. It can lighten your load but only until you encounter the next bump in the road. You can do more venting in hopes that will help you, but that is a cycle which can go on and on and unlike those in the military or school, it is unnecessary.

The best solution is to “give it to God”. That is what He wants us to do. His unconditional love for us is so strong, He wants to take care of us. It may not happen in the way you expect, but be watchful of the way God chooses to help you. He may completely take away your burden. He may send others to help you carry your load. He may make the hard things feel lighter and doable. He wisdom will lead you in the right direction if you will listen and surrender to the help offered to you. That 40-150 pound backpack full of worries you have been carrying alone will be lifted from you. What a blessed relief. You may then be free to do the things you were meant to do. Thanks be to God!

School is back in session. Let’s say prayers for the love, learning and safety of our students’ return to school.

Patty

Last night, Rich and I joined some church members to serve dinner to the residents of the local Dismas House. We enjoyed a homemade meal of chili, cornbread, salad, brownies, and ice cream. It was a delicious feast. 

If you are not familiar with St. Dismas, let me refresh your memory. Dismas was probably the first saint admitted to heaven. He was the thief who hung beside Jesus on the hill of Calvary. He was the one who pleaded for mercy for Jesus who had committed no crime. He was the one who opened his heart and admitted his guilt to Christ and asked to be saved.  

And, Jesus, as we can all count on, accepted his confession and assured him that he would find a place in heaven that very day. God loves all his children unconditionally. 

St. Dismiss is the patron saint of prisoners, penitents, and all who need a second chance. There were four residents eating dinner with five church guests plus the house director. The conversation was cordial and interesting but not stilted or embarrassing. We didn’t ask why the men ended up in jail, but the men were willing to talk about their hopes for a new chance at life. 

These men made mistakes, no one trying to minimize that reality. However, they earned their release by serving their sentences and deserve a chance to live a fulfilling life. Sadly, when they are released with a few dollars in their pockets and nowhere to live, if there is no family to help, they are starting that new life with a distinct disadvantage.  

Dismas Houses around the country offer a safe haven to those ex-convicts who qualify to live there. They received housing, food, guidance and love. The community assists with food and other types of help. The residents may be living there for a long period of time until they feel confident enough to go out into a world that often hates them for their crimes. 

Dismas reminds us that mercy is never out of reach with God. When Dismas reached out to Jesus, his conversion was not polished, public, or long prepared; it was honest, humble, and immediate. That is why he speaks so powerfully to anyone burdened by regret. He shows that holiness begins with turning toward Christ, even at the eleventh hour. What a powerful example to people who need hope for the future. 

What about our part in this process? Christians who claim a true relationship with Jesus Christ have an obligation to act with Christlike mercy to all those whom they meet. A smile or wave to someone who looks or acts differently than we do, can make that person’s day. The men at table last night were not neat and tidy. They had just come back from difficult and dirty jobs. They did not all speak correctly. But they are God’s children. Just like you and me. And God loves them unconditionally-all the time-no matter what! Amen and Alleluia! 

Terri 

Today commemorates Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), an influential Cistercian Abbot who I find at times inspiring and other times appalling.  He was the son a Burgundian nobleman who at age 25 joined the new reformed monastic order of the Cistercians. After only three years he was sent to establish a new monastery which he named Clairvaux (Clear Valley). Bernard was a deeply contemplative  man practicing an austere form of monasticism. But unlike the stereotype of a monastic as someone who only spends hours at prayer, he was exceedingly active in the world. He was one of those kind of people who gets-things-done. In his lifetime he was involved in founding some 60 monasteries. 

Bernard inspired other people. They were often attracted by his dynamic personality. However, you didn’t want to get on the wrong side of him. He could be ferocious in attacking anyone he regarded as a heretic. He also was the prime preacher of the disastrous Second Crusade.

No one but our Lord is perfect. I have learned not to dismiss a person’s contributions because they are flawed. Bernard wrote extensively. His works include much poetry that today is captured on hymns. This is one of the hymns attributed to Bernard as translated by Edward Caswall.

    Jesus, the very thought of Thee,
    with sweetness fills my breast,
    but sweeter far Thy face to see,
    and in Thy presence rest.

    Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
    nor can the memory find
    a sweeter sound than Thy blest Name,
    O Savior of mankind.

Read 1 John 3:1-3  and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs were creations of Walt Disney. Can you name the Dwarfs? Bashful, Sneezy, Sleepy, Dopey, Happy, Doc and Grumpy.

Speaking for myself, I believe I would struggle to be around Grumpy all the time. Have you ever met or perhaps even lived with a grump? They are not always fun. They don’t usually see the “glass half full.”  Whatever their reason for grumpiness and snarling (pain, misery, illness, genetics, mean-spiritedness, general pessimist etc.), it sure is difficult to smile and enjoy the present when grumpy is snarling nearby. The Bible mentions in Proverbs 17:22 “…a joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bone.”

Laughter, light heartedness, smiling are spirit lifters. Watch what happens when you smile at someone, even a stranger. Try it in the grocery store. Purposefully, push your cart with a smile on your face and see if a smile is returned.

Laughter is like an antiseptic. It can begin the healing process and as a side note: it can be contagious! Laughter will generate a smile quickly and physiologically it will release endorphins to stimulate well-being. That’s powerful! Where in the world did this FREE state-of-the-art gift come from…. from our Lord who loves us unconditionally. Yes, He even loves grumpy, but He’s encouraging “Happy” to appear and given us the ability to smile and laugh as a “good medicine.”

Proverbs reminds us that a crushed spirit, a grumpy outlook will only bring a sour outcome of “drying up your bones.” So, go ahead allow a smile to form and then a chuckle and know that a good ol’ belly laugh is healing you and a gift approved from your God who loves you unconditionally.

Hi ho hi ho, it’s off to laugh I go!

Jill

Navy men really had a “bro code”. Here’s an example. If a guy was being an annoying wise acre, one would say to another, “take care of my lightwork, wouldya?” Meaning, the annoying wise acre isn’t worth my time.

When it comes to our faith, much of what we fret about is “lightwork”. The burden is really just that – light. Finding our safe space is one of our angels’ favorite assignments. Raises, promotions, even making ends meet are of little if any consequence. Putting trust in God inside and over us frees us to take care of our lightwork.

Savor God’s plans for your life, because they can only be the best plans! Emit the light, love, and vision that is divinely appointed and ascribed to you. Look for opportunities to plot your course, steer your ship, and direct the screenplay come to life. You deserve to be bathed in holy waters, to breathe in the Holy Spirit. Choose to be uplifted. Do not chastise or deride the person who has way too much space in your head. They are “lightwork”. Be about the business of heaven and bask in the radiant, unconditional love that is freely bestowed by God’s good pleasure.

Pastor Art

“To be your presence is our mission here.”  Oh yes, this is the mission of our congregation, of our larger church body, and of Christians throughout the world.  It’s also a thoughtful and beautiful hymn.

Who is the composer of the meaningful words? Delores Dufner is an American sacred music composer.  Born in 1939, she is a nun of the Order of Saint Benedict at Saint Benedict’s Monastery in Saint Joseph, Minnesota.  She is also on the faculty of Saint Benedict’s College and Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota.   In 2017 she received the Christus Rex award from Valparaiso University.

The music to our lovely  hymn is ENGELBERG, composed by Charles V. Stanford.  Charles, born in Dublin in 1852, died in London in 1924. 

The text reflects the message of 1 Corinthians 12:1-13, in which Paul speaks of the gifts of the Spirit.  Brothers and sisters, we are all blessed with the gifts of the Spirit, yet each of us with our own kind.  Whether it be wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, prophecy:  all gifts are given for the common good. 

“We are your heart, O Christ, your hands and voice.” Ponder and enjoy.

Judy

Have you heard that expression, “That was a piece of cake?” Do you think that applies to your life? Has your life, up to this point, been easy as a so called, piece of cake?  Easy? Smooth sailing? No bumps in your rode of life? I have not yet met anyone who makes that claim.  A verse from the New Testament got me wondering.  Romans 5:3-5 “There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! “ 

I just love that the Bible has THE ANSWERS. All the troubles, woes, and worries are our building blocks. With our Triune God, the magnificently Holy three in one, Father, Son and Holy Spirit we are NEVER alone.  How unconditionally loved are we! We are being built up, toughened to handle the world around us, strengthened to endure our worries and woes, and humble enough to accept God’s gracious love.  Jesus died for ALL of our sins and forgives us ALL of our shortcomings. Watch us grow in Him. While you are being patient and alert to whatever God’s plan is for you and trusting our Lord, go ahead, have a piece of cake!

Jill

Once again, in my continuous purging of my closets, I ran into this little piece. At the time I saved it, I didn’t know what I would ever use it for, but God knew it was worth sharing in my future. Here it is.

BUZZARD
If you put a buzzard in a pen that is six feet by eight feet, and is entirely open at the top, the bird, is spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail.

BAT
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

BUMBLEBEE
A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless is it taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself

PEOPLE
In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat and the bumblebee. We struggle about with problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up. Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, but faith looks up. Author Unknown

Through God’s unconditional love for us He shares many times His willingness to help us in our times of need. In Paul’s letter to the Philippians 4:13 shares these words from God. “I can do all things through Him that strengthens me”. Ask the Lord for help and don’t remain trapped in a place where you can’t escape. Look up and seek Him. Thanks be to God!

Patty

Personal Note: this blog is a repost of a special event in our family. I wanted to update all our dear readers about the answer to our prayer. Our oldest son will celebrate one year of sobriety at the end of August. He is so happy that I cannot explain the change except to put it in the hands of God and the serenity of a clear head. I continually thank God for His unconditional love and support in my life and yours. God Bless you, Terri. August 2026. 

When my dear mother died in 2013, while cleaning out her desk, I found her personal prayer list. It was several pages, handwritten in neat Palmer method, on the type of notepad that you receive from a charitable institution when they ask you for a donation. (Mom kept them all!)  

This list was inclusive. If I asked her to pray for someone, she wrote down the name and the why of the request. If a friend asked, she did the same. If someone she didn’t know asked for prayers, again, the same. Each morning, when she said her prayers, she held the list in her hands and looked at each name, putting them in the hands of God.  

She often followed up to see how the prayer recipient was faring. And, to take them off if warranted. My mother set such a wonderful example for me of service to God and others. She never bragged about what she was doing. It was done in the privacy of her room and in contact with the God she loved with all her heart. (And, as we all know, loved her with all His heart.)  

I was thinking about my prayer list this morning. I have tried to write down the names of those I want to bring to God’s attention. Sometimes my list is in good shape and sometimes I resort to just asking God to bless and take care of all the people in need of help. I need to work on that list.  

However, we recently had an answer to a long-running prayer request – more than 30 years! It is a request that Rich and I have been making together and separately for one of our dear children. Last night, our son made an announcement that he had come to a decision. We could tell from the sound of his voice and the smile on his face, that he was happy, really happy for the first time in a long time. We rejoiced with him and gave thanks to God who loves us all-unconditionally-all the time-no matter what.  

This past Sunday, Reverend Jill gave us this quote as she ended her homily: God gives us three answers to prayer, “Yes,” “Not yet”, and “I have something else in mind”. He always answers. Keep praying.   

God loves you unconditionally! Amen!  

Terri 

Clara Maass (1876-1901) came from a very poor, German immigrant family. Inspired by the great Florence Nightingale, she studied nursing. She volunteered and twice served as a nurse with the U.S. Army. It was while she was with the Army in Cuba that she became one of 19 volunteers who allowed themselves to be bitten by mosquitos believed to be carriers of yellow fever. The last time she was bitten she contracted the disease and died from it ten days later. 

While I was in seminary I worked at a postal service contract station. In 1976 the Clara Maass commemorative stamp was issued.

People would ask me, “Who is this?” I’d proudly explain, “She was a Lutheran nurse who died after participating in the experiments to discover if mosquitos transmitted yellow fever.” Someone replied, “She was stupid to do that.”

Are people stupid to risk their lives to help others? It’s not easy to answer. I don’t know what I would do if I had to make the choice of risking my life to save someone else. I do know that every situation I can think of requires some sacrifice in order to help others. How grateful I am of the sacrifices people made for me.

I read stories of great Christians like Clara Mas and Florence Nightingale and am amazed at their compassion for others. It inspires me to be a better person by considering the needs of others and doing what I can to help. I hope you find inspiration in them.

Read Hebrews 13:16 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne