Claimed, gathered and sent

Just finished watching the movie "Christopher Robin" on Netflix. It was fun and sad and wonderful--and it got me thinking. Profound Pooh says, "Doing nothing often leads to the very best of something." Contemplative prayer and silence do not come easily for an extrovert like myself. Thanks to my spiritual director, I have been challenged to incrementally embrace silence before I begin other devotions. At first, 3 minutes seemed impossible. After a while, 3 minutes flew by. Now even 5 minutes is doable. It seems easier to hear God's voice.  Ultimately, how can we expect to grow in our relationship with God if we don't ever stop to listen?  Doing nothing is hard, but Pooh, I do agree that, " Doing nothing often leads to the very best of something" just as it did for Christopher Robin.  Picture

This is the reflection that was sent out to the members and friends of St. Timothy Lutheran Church. It is on the second lesson. Second Reading: Revelation 21:1-6 1 I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,  “See, the home of God is among mortals.  He will dwell with them;  they will be his peoples,  and God himself will be with them;   4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes.  Death will be no more;  mourning and crying and pain will be no more,  for the first things have passed away.”   5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Om...

This is the sermon I preached on Sunday, May 12 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church. The text was Rev. 7:9-17.  The book of Revelation is one that is easy to shy away from. We get side-tracked with beasts and horsemen on different color horses, an apocalyptic end of the world as we know it and on bad theology we pick up in movies and books. The thing is, the title of the book is not the Revelation of JOHN, but rather as its first few words say, “the revelation of Jesus Christ.” This book is all about Jesus, so rather than avoiding it, say a pray before reading and embrace it. John wrote this book much later than other New Testament books were written. It was a time of great persecution for Christians under the Roman emperor Domitian. Many were martyred; thereby being added to the heavenly court. Revelation is a book of symbols, filled with hope to encourage these beleaguered Christians. Who are these gathered for worship in Revelation? They are an assortment of people from...