Claimed, gathered and sent

This is the sermon I preached last Sunday, the Third Sunday of Creation, at St. Timothy Lutheran Church. The gospel text was Luke 8:22-25.  We mostly read of Jesus and his disciples with crowds. It’s rare that Jesus has time alone to minister to his disciples, which is the scene before us. It is a crossing story. Crossings can be dangerous. Any decision to cross the unknown for the sake of transformation is fraught with danger. Jesus’ decision was to go to the foreign country of the Gerasenes. Let’s look a bit deeper and discern the choice, the crisis, the call, and the calm in this crossing story. The choice was to go across to the other side of lake (v. 22). Choices that do not have the potential of life threatening crisis within them are trivial and non-transformative. Television advertising gives us enough examples of trivial choices that fed to us as being truly revolutionary. Jesus’ choice was for the sake of spreading the kingdom of God. The exhausted Jesus slept in ...

This coming Sunday is Storm Sunday in the Season of Creation. Here are some thoughts about the gospel reading that went out to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church . I would love your input on this gospel text. Let's talk via email or the comments section of this blog.   Luke 8:22-25 22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they put out, 23 and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. 24 They went to him and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?”  The Sea of Galilee is a small lake and in Israel,...

Here are some thoughts on this Sunday's gospel reading for the first Sunday of Advent. It was sent to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church.   SCRIPTURE FOCUS  Gospel: Luke 21:25-36  [Jesus said:]   25 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves.   26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.   27 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory.   28 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”     29 Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees;   30 as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near.   31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the k...

When I hear this, I think of all those who have suffered so much from weather driven disasters, both overseas and in our own country. And then along with that, we have the gospel text for tomorrow: 15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.   16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you anothe r Advocate, to be with you forever.   17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.   18 "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.   19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.   20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.   21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them."   (John 14:15...

Last night Ray and I watched The Perfect Storm , a movie depicting a true story of a fishing crew's battle against the forces of nature. Their ship was minuscule compared to the huge waves that washed over it and eventually destroyed it. Contrasted with their struggle was that of a crew that called out, "Mayday" and were rescued. A while back as I read this passage its significance struck me. Jesus is portrayed as this amazing man who rescues his friends who struggle with their faith or lack thereof. They issued their own "mayday" to the Lord and he responded. Today this hits even closer to home as I struggle with storms of sleeplessness, pain, and emotions. "Lord, my boat is so small and your sea is so big." It sometimes seems like life's circumstances are whipping us around uncontrollably. We are not exempt from life's challenges just because we are people of faith, but God is with us in the small boats of our lives, in the midst of the sto...