Claimed, gathered and sent

I had the privilege of preaching on Sunday. The gospel was from John where Jesus asks Peter three times, "Do you love me more than these?" He then charges him to feed my lambs etc. On the heels of that, Sunday night we got word that our pastor was resigning and taking a call in CT. Then Mon. morning I read this post, written by Henri Nouwen which seems so timely. Laying Down Your Life for Your Friends Good Shepherds are willing to lay down their lives for their sheep (see John 10:11). As spiritual leaders walking in the footsteps of Jesus, we are called to lay down our lives for our people. This laying down might in special circumstances mean dying for others. But it means first of all making our own lives - our sorrows and joys, our despair and hope, our loneliness and experience of intimacy - available to others as sources of new life. One of the greatest gifts we can give others is ourselves. We offer consolation and comfort, especially in moments of crisis...

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Unholy Sinners The grace of the gospel, which is so hard for the pious to comprehend, confronts us with the truth. It says to us, you are a sinner, a great, unholy sinner. Now come, as the sinner that you are, to your God who loves you. For God wants you as you are, not desiring anything from you - a sacrifice, a good deed - but rather desiring you alone. "My child, give me your heart" (Prov. 23:26). God has come to you to make the sinner blessed. Rejoice! This message is liberation through truth. You cannot hide from God. The mask you wear in the presence of other people won't get you anywhere in the presence of God. God wants to see you as you are, wants to be gracious to you. You do not have to go on lying to yourself and to other Christians as if you were without sin. You are allowed to be a sinner. Thank God for that. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer - from Life Together 108 from A Year with Dietrich Bonhoeffer Carla Barnhill, Ed., HarperSan Francisco, 2005

We don't know what to do or say in the midst of what seems like a world gone mad. As friends, neighbors and co-workers ask the question, "What is going on in our world,?" this statement by Bishop Hanson states it eloquently. April 16, 2007 ELCA Presiding Bishop's Statement on Virginia Tech Tragedy With the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) community and the nation, we mourn, we pray, and with the Psalmist we plead: "Out of the depths, I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice!" (Psalm 130:1) As family and friends grieve the deaths and injuries of loved ones, we claim the promise of Christ's Resurrection. Campus ministries, congregations and leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are offering support and spiritual care to the local community. Through the deep wounds of this tragedy, let us renew our resolve to live together in peace. "Holy One, you do not distance yourself from the pain of your people...

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Henri Nouwen hit the nail on the head when he wrote this: Reading Spiritually About Spiritual Things Reading often means gathering information, acquiring new insight and knowledge, and mastering a new field. It can lead us to degrees, diplomas, and certificates. Spiritual reading, however, is different. It means not simply reading about spiritual things but also reading about spiritual things in a spiritual way. That requires a willingness not just to read but to be read, not just to master but to be mastered by words. As long as we read the Bible or a spiritual book simply to acquire knowledge, our reading does not help us in our spiritual lives. We can become very knowledgeable about spiritual matters without becoming truly spiritual people. As we read spiritually about spiritual things, we open our hearts to God's voice. Sometimes we must be willing to put down the book we are reading and just listen to what God is saying to us through its words. Subscribe to Weekly Reflect...