Joy Lutheran Church Ocala, Florida

Dominic de Guzmán (1170-1221) was a Spanish priest who founded the Order of Preachers also called the Dominicans. Dominic wanted the order to be devoted to prayer and study, but also to go out to preach to people. The Dominicans produced some amazing people like Thomas Aquinas, one of the greatest theologians ever, and Meister Eckhart, an influential mystic. As a Lutheran I never paid much attention to the Dominicans because they also produced John Tetzel, the great seller of indulgences opposed by Martin Luther, and Cardinal Thomas Cajetan who had been sent to examine Luther’s teaching and then helped to write the bull excommunicating him. Some Dominicans became leaders of the inquisition–not the brightest chapter in the history of the Christian church.

Nevertheless, there is one aspect of Dominic and his order that Lutherans should pay attention to: they went out to preach to people. They didn’t wait for people to find their own way into a church so they could be preached to. In short, they were evangelists. Evangelism is often the weakest aspect of a Lutheran congregation. We have solid theology, great preaching, wonderful worship. We are leaders in caring for people in need. But when it comes to telling people the Good News of Jesus Christ, we often seem to be speechless. I don’t know what the problem is exactly. Is the Gospel not worth telling? Do we want to keep it to our own private secret?

Whatever the reason, we would do well to follow the example of Dominic and share the Good News.

Read Romans 10:14-15 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

I’ve been having great lunches this week: cucumbers and tomatoes picked fresh from our garden, drizzled with some Italian dressing and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. And I’ve been having fresh-picked blueberries in my morning cereal. Everything’s really starting to come in.

You adorn the year with your bounty; your paths drip with fruitful rain. The meadows of the wilderness also drip; the hills are robed with joy. – Psalms 65:12-13

And doesn’t it taste that much better when you’ve done the work? Sure, you can pick up some vegetables at the local supermarket, and they’re fresh enough. Or you can visit your local farmer’s market and buy something tasty directly from the farmer who grew it. But there’s something really special about enjoying the fruits (and vegetables) of one’s own labor.

(A quick disclaimer here: My lovely wife does 85% of the work in the garden, but I help some!)
I find this metaphor in other aspects of my life. I enjoy something that much more when I’ve put in the work, as opposed to when it is done for me. The garage door opening quietly and dependably because I replaced the motor? I still get a thrill out of it, even though that was six months ago! The freshly-cut lawn? I still smile every time I come home and see it, and smell it when I get out of the car. And, perhaps most importantly, the special bond I have with people whom God has placed in my path, as I watch them grow in their faith. Even as they grow in their faith, I find myself growing in mine.

Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9

This is what we are called to do: to tend God’s garden. Prepare the soil, sow the seed, water and tend, and watch as He miraculously turns it all into a bounty. This is the time for the hard work. And when the Great Harvest comes, won’t it be so much more special because we had a hand in it!

We pray:
O great Master of the Garden, we answer your call for workers in the field. We ask You to help us understand what it is that You want us to do. We pray for the perseverance to complete the task, even though the work is hard and the reward may not be immediate. We know that You reward Your workers generously, and that the harvest will in its time be plentiful and sweet. Here we are: send us! We ask this through Your Son, the very Grain of Wheat who died so that He could bear much fruit in us. AMEN

Jeff Fiducia, shared by a friend with his permission.

(with acknowledgment to NYT bestselling author Matthew Kelly)

His book “Holy Moments” was gifted to me, and I “re-gifted” it to an  end table in our church narthex. If you attend or are a member of Joy, maybe you noticed it. Took a peek. Browsed through it. Borrowed and returned it. Other than one comment, “I found it interesting”, I don’t know its’ impact.

I suppose that’s the whole point of holy moments. Like casting seed onto the ground, or Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get. But they are easy to seek out; not requiring much time or effort on our part. It takes opening ourselves to the possibilities God may have in store. A holy moment can lead to someone visiting our worship service. A brief prayer spoken at Walmart or Dunkin can brighten someone’s day. We all want to be encouraged. Even the ones who seem to have their defense, their distrust, on high alert. Let’s face it: our faces don’t always say we’re a Christian. We don’t advertise it well. If we want people to know Jesus, turn to him, and RE-turn to him in church worship (or anywhere worship), we are at a crossroads. An historical tipping point, if you prefer. There may not be time to waste. It will entail dispelling any resistance to change, and any hanging on to the way it used to be (read: “should” still be). This is especially true in today’s culture of lies. Is there anything or anyone truer than Jesus?

Holy moments are the gift of hope. They cost nothing, but you never know what the cost of doing nothing will be. Maybe even the difference in someone wondering if their life is worth living. You never know what you’re going to get; but it will be covered in the embrace of God’s unconditional love.

(Maybe I’ll rename that box of Whitman’s or Russell Stover “Holy Moments) …

Pastor Art

The Summer Olympics are here!  Athletes train for years to compete at this highest of levels.  They have waited four years since the last summer Olympics and will wait another four for the next.  The pressure is on for a peak performance.  We feel their intensity and excitement, even from the recliners in our living rooms.

This reminded me of Paul’s message to the Corinthians, where he used the analogy of a race.  First century Corinthians were treated to the Isthmian games every two years.  The town of Corinth would be full of sports enthusiasts.  Athletic competition was a foundation of their culture.  So, Paul pulled from this image to make his point in chapters 8 and 9 of I Corinthians.  

“Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may win it.  Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath but we an imperishable one.”  1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Paul calls the Corinthians to show that same discipline when it comes to following Jesus.  Just as the athlete gives himself completely to win his race, we too should take our faith seriously, not just as a show like the Pharisee, but surrendering ourselves to the purpose of love and witness.  Our goal is not just a perishable wreath, but the imperishable love of our heavenly Father.  It is his gift.  Let’s live as if we cherish it. 

Hope you enjoy the hymn, I Surrender All.

Judy

When you pray the Lord’s Prayer, one line is…Thy (Your) Will Be Done. Do you mean that? Are you really asking for God to provide what is HIS WILL? Oh my, that is tough one! Sometimes or possibly many times when we pray, we end up “asking” for redemption, for peace, for renewed health, for “stuff,” for guidance, for mercy, for financial security, and so on. We absolutely could say in our prayers, …Heavenly Father, YOUR will be done. Specificity has its place but HIS will tops everything. His plan for you is to have you leaning and trusting in Him with full and complete faith. The glitch is we are human, we fail, we falter, we disobey, we want the reins. Just as an infant grows and learns, we, too, grow and learn of Him and His ways.

Bible Studies, church, devotions, so many ways to learn how to lean into Him and HIS WILL for you. Is this easy, a piece-of-cake? Not really, but each time you trust enough to say, “Your will be done,” your strength in Him will empower you. 

Our Father loves us unconditionally and is available 24/7 for us, no exception. Wrap your heart and head around accepting HIS WILL, and asking for the wisdom to discern what is HIS WILL for you.

Jill

When we are preparing to delve into uncharted territory (or waters), we enter with a certain degree of trepidation. To leave what is comfortable and secure takes considerable courage. I have never been much of a risk-taker. There is a great saying, “every day, you should do something that scares you.” It’s the thrill ride, quitting one job to take on another, petting a snake, going white-water rafting or zip-lining. The tricky part involves trust. How much do we trust, really, that the ride isn’t going to break down, that the new job will promise greater upward mobility, that the snake won’t bite, that you won’t drown, that the line will hold.

God’s Word gets kind of tricky. It says one thing to one person or nation, it says totally the opposite to another person or nation. We think we have carte blanche to make the Bible fit our own personal desires. Because, after all, we’re saved by grace through faith. We are baptized, so we shall be saved. God forgives all our sins. It gets kind of tricky when I, as a Pastor, utter those words at the beginning of worship when we use the order of confession and forgiveness. What gives me that assurance, that right, that authority? Is it so because my approval panel at seminary gave me the green light to graduate, receive a call, and get ordained? The tricky answer is, YES! I say tricky, because as a very flawed human creature, I have no worthiness where granting pardon and remission of sins is concerned. In MY eyes. But in the eyes of God, all of us flawed sinners-made-saints are worthy.

It gets kind of tricky, speaking the truth in love. Should we utter every harsh word that comes to mind? Of course not. For myself, and others too I suppose, the uncharted territory (or waters), the undiscovered country is knowing how and when to be graceful and loving when you are in those situations of potential conflict. Listening to understand, not to respond. Being open to the possibility that your interpretation of God’s Word may not mesh entirely with someone else’s. The one certainly we have is that God through Christ understands, forgives, and loves us unconditionally.

Posted in August 2018 by Pastor Art

This past Sunday had a hit parade of Biblical readings.  The reading from Samuel provides the basis for a rather racy and violent novel. But I don’t want to write about David and his actions. The portion from Ephesians offers us a beautiful, hopeful blessing for our everyday lives. But I don’t want to write about Paul’s letter to the people of Ephesus. 

I want to look at the young boy mentioned in the Gospel of John (John 6:1-21) as he tells us about the wondrous feeding of five thousand people with “five barley loaves and two fish.”  

Let’s pretend that we are that young boy. I always wonder about the minor characters mentioned in the Bible. They are us, aren’t they. We have no details about these people, but they play an integral role in the parables, stories and lessons of Jesus. They are the main targets of the lessons, are they not? 

So, the young boy is attending this major gathering of people following a new rabbi. Why? Did he hear his friends talking about the teacher? Was he an ardent follower? Did his parents know what he was doing? Or was he just passing by with the only food that his family would have for the week? Bringing the food home by way of this gathering which he stops to investigate because he is a curious young boy. 

I like to think that it is the latter case. Imagine how he would have felt when the apostles came to him and wanted his bread and fish. This is the food for his family. How can he jeopardize their health by giving the food to these men on the pretext that they can do something that will feed this crowd?  

I know in my heart that Jesus put him at ease. I don’t know if he spoke with him privately and assured him that there would be enough food for his family, but something happened. Because he didn’t object or run away. He put his faith in the hands of Jesus. He became an important part of this miracle. He also became a beneficiary; I am sure that he was able to bring a big basket of leftovers home for dinner. 

Whether this is the way it happened or not, the lesson remains that God loves us all unconditionally. He wants to feed us, clothe us and take care of us. We need to have faith in His endless love. Rest in it and have patience for the results. 

Here is the beautiful blessing contained in the reading from Ephesians 3:18-19:  I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 

Terri 

When I can’t think of a topic for a devotion, I thumb through my small journal where I write down interesting things I read. About a year ago I was reading the writings of Hadewijch of Antwerp, a Dutch mystic of the 13th century. We know nothing about her life, but her writings survive. The following is from a letter she wrote.

“And even if you do the best you can in all things, your human nature must often fall short; so entrust yourself to God’s goodness, for his goodness is greater than your failures.”*

I was taught that I always should do my best. On a good day, I believe that principle is still applicable to my life. On an honest day I admit that I often fail to do my best. Sometimes there is not enough time to do my best–and that is often because I didn’t start soon enough. Sometimes I’m just to lazy to do my best. There’s something more interesting or more fun to do so good enough will do. And on a completely truthful day I have to admit that my best just isn’t going to cut it. You don’t want me to bake a pie or draw a picture.

There’s comfort in the words of Hadewijch. God’s goodness is greater than our failure .I am human and often miss the mark. That’s what sin means. But Hadewijch reminds us of grace. I don’t do my best. My best isn’t good enough. God’s goodness is always greater than my best.  Thank God!

Read Psalm 145:9 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

From Porgy and Bess, Gershwin shared, “Summertime and the living is easy…” Well, those of us in Florida, know that sometimes the oppressive heat of summer is NOT easy. If instead we focus on the warmth coming from within us, we might feel how “cool” having Christ within can be.

Reading uplifting messages, listening to powerful sermons, tuning into a media message are a few ways to fuel that warmth from within. Having God within we are warmed in spirit, strengthened with His power and heated up to share the Good News.

If discouraging times befall you, and they will, seek the warm ember of His love that lives within your soul. Your mere thought of Him can ignite His warmth to begin glowing and spark a renewed spirit. How cool is that!

God loves you unconditionally. He does not leave you. He does not give up on you. He does not douse the warmth of His love burning within. He sizzles and sparkles ever ready to help, guide, encourage or just allow you to enjoy being His. The 60’s jargon of “cool” certainly applies to our beloved Lord. He is “cool” enough to encourage you to embrace the warmth of Him, the essence of Him.

Don’t focus on the outside temperature of our Florida summers, instead turn within to Christ’s warmth of hope, love and joy.

God is your warmth. He is cool enough to love you unconditionally!

Originally posted by Jill in July 2018

When you’ve been “churched” all your life, you can spot the “Marys and Marthas” in a congregation. (I’m still searching for the male counterparts – Mark and Martin, perhaps?). “Martha” is the busybody, the worker bee. “Mary” is the reflective, contemplative one; going to Bible studies, singing in the choir. There is room for both those who are active and those who come across as more spiritual.

I am not suggesting that there is a choice to be made between the two. We are endowed with both parts. Being active increases our endorphins and renews us. When we seek to be alone with God, we often come away from that prayerful interlude with love and compassion for the world. Too much spirituality might lead to escapism. Too much activity can burn us out, cause us to lose perspective. We grow as responsible Christians when we find an effective balance.

In prayer, we should ask God to address our needs so that we are better positioned to witness with our testimony and deeds, i.e. being both “Mary and Martha, Mark and Martin”. We were meant to be in community, in a congregation that exemplifies both activity and spirituality. Don’t let competing personas keep you from the body of Christ. We worship, honor, praise and serve God and the mission of His kingdom that He calls us to with His unconditional love.

Pastor Art