Devotion for March 28

“For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you”… I Corinthians 11:23

The ruins of Corinth are not as spectacular as those of Ephesus. Nor are they as extensive as those of Delphi. But there is something profound about them. Standing before the Bema where Paul was judged by the proconsul of Achaia, Gallio, and where, tradition suggests, he himself stood to preach before multitudes, we shared communion. And the moment, graced by a solo hymn, came alive with the Holy Spirit.

We have much to thank the ancient church at Corinth for. Among the gifts we receive through Paul’s letters, is the treasure of Holy Communion. For us as Lutherans, the Words of Institution come from Paul in I Corinthians 11. Only the words of Christ can transform the bread and wine into his presence. Paul’s handing on these words has come through the centuries to us. Among the ruins of Corinth, before the Bema, we broke the bread and shared the wine… and heaven touched the earth for our small band of pilgrims.

For me, this became one of the highlights of our trip. Writing this, I can almost feel the stones beneath my feet and sense the Bema behind me; I can hear the hymn in that clear soprano voice and meet the eyes of those who were there.

In the Bible, the word “remembrance” used in our Communion text means so much more than to “think back on.” Barrowing from the Old Testament use of the word, we know it is a “re-living” of that moment. We are there – with Jesus in the Upper Room; we are there with St. Paul in Corinth; we are there with the heavenly host who have shared this meal through the centuries. We are there.

I am looking forward to my first celebration of Holy Communion at St. Mark. I expect for just a moment to be transported back to Corinth. Oh, I know that will wear off soon enough. But for now, I’m anticipating that sensation, that remembrance. That’s what I pray for you today. That there are those heaven sent moments when you are spiritually ushered into the presence of Jesus, Paul and the saints.

Devotion for March 14

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Acts 13:2

That’s when it all began. The remarkable life of Saul – soon to be known by his Gentile name, Paul – took flight from that wondrous moment in worship. This began the first missionary journey of Paul. He travelled with Barnabas to Cyprus. According to tradition, when the world began to meet this bandy-legged, balding, and short man, there wasn’t much to be impressed by. And this relatively unknown rabbi, with his brilliant mind, passion for Jesus the Risen Christ, and openness to non-Jews of the Roman Empire, would turn the world upside down. And it happened in a moment of worship.

It still happens today. Not long ago a young man, father of three, sat in worship and felt the Holy Spirit tug at his heart. He can’t remember much about the sermon, but he can remember the very moment when his heart was moved and he knew he was called to the ordained ministry of the Lutheran Church. I don’t know if he’ll turn the world upside down. I do know that worship has the power to change lives because the Holy Spirit speaks to the listening soul.

And a young woman sat in church listening to the message when the Holy Spirit spoke to her, she says, as clear as the ringing of a bell. Confirming her inner restlessness, the Spirit of the Living God urged her to look beyond her present job. Now she is a successful business woman. I don’t know if she will turn the world upside down. I do know that worship was the place and time for her to hear the Spirit’s voice and risk a major career change.

This Lenten Season I’d like to invite you to listen in worship. Listen beneath and within the words and songs and prayers for the speaking of God. You might not change the world, but the Holy Spirit might just change your world.

Devotion for March 7

The wind blows where it chooses… So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. John 3:8

The prairie wind blew in gusts, bending the short pine tree outside my window and, bowing it, pointed its needles east. The wind crested and fell like waves haphazardly beating against the dock. Although they had predicted its coming, I was still startled at the strength of the blowing. I found myself captivated by the raw strength of it.

The Spirit of God moves across the landscape of the human heart. We cannot know when it comes or to where it will lead. But it blows in raw strength encouraging the faint-hearted, comforting the broken-hearted and enlivening the empty-hearted. And the human soul bows before it pointing to the overwhelming love of God.

Jesus knew the overpowering Spirit of God. This is the One that rested on him at his baptism; led him into his wilderness confrontation with Evil; and lifted him in courage to the Tree of Death that God would transform into the Tree of Life on that first Easter Sunday. He is the One born of the Spirit who then adopts children into this eternal family.

Lent is the marking of his obedience. Lent is our own meager bowing before the eternal Spirit of God’s sacrificial love in Jesus Christ. We remember his self-giving – and reflect on our selfishness. We remember his spiritual clarity – and acknowledge our spiritual confusion. Most of all, we remember his persistent and insistent love – and recall our limited reflection of it. And, as we do so, that heavenly Spirit blows – and we move just a bit closer to Him.

Spirit of God, blow across my life that I may bow humbly before the Living God of Love. Amen

Devotion for September 7

Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him… Psalm 37:7

This has been a short week – but I have filled it with enough activity for an eight day week! Just yesterday I had one person in the office, another pacing in the St. Mark gallery and a third on the way.

It’s fall – and that means start up time at the church. The programming for this fall is optimistic to say the least. As a team, the staff and I have developed a new approach to our Wednesday programming. This has added a layer on my weekly preparation and execution. I’m both excited and challenged by it.

The problem is that all that busy-ness has a way of crowding out my quiet time with the Lord. I need to be reminded to set aside enough time to be still before God and wait. But it’s hard to be patient in such a busy time. I settle myself down and then expect the Holy Spirit to show up immediately. Instead, the God who gives me what I need instead of what I want, calms me by delaying. Sometimes I think God intentionally waits for us; waits for us to settle down and be ready to hear or just experience him.

I am reminded of my wife, Chris, who will begin to talk to me and then simply go silent. When I ask her why, she smiles and tells me that she is just waiting for my attention. It irks me… but she is right. The truth is that I often only “half-hear” what she has said when I’m busy doing other things and trying to listen to her.

I don’t want to “half-hear” God. So, this week I’m taking the psalmist to heart and trusting that the Lord will meet me as I wait.

May God slow us down so that we can truly meet our Lord.  Amen

Devotion for May 26

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout… so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but shall accomplish that which I propose… Isaiah 55:10-11

Words have power. Human language can shape our perceptions, alter our attitudes and behaviors and influence generations. Think of some of the historic addresses that still have power to stir us. I remember memorizing the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln. Scribbled on an envelope, Lincoln was not the keynote speaker of the event. But his few words shaped, not only that memorial event but our American psyche. Think of the recent declaration from President Obama on the successful completion of the mission to seize or assassinate Osama Bin Laden.

On a more personal level, the words we say to one another have the power to hurt or heal, bless or curse. Tell a child often enough that they are inadequate and they will feel that way for the rest of their lives. Affirm a child and you will build a positive self-image that can equip them for healthy living.

But human speech cannot effect what it declares… influence and shape over time, to be sure but not accomplish what it declares. The Bible is clear that what God says happens. The Holy Spirit takes the written Word of God (the Bible) and transforms it into the declared Word of God that will not return to God empty; that is to say that God will make changes through it.

When I get discouraged at the seeming lack of faith in our society, I cling to this promise of God. The Word of God has power and will not be deterred. In the midst of controversy or lethargy, God’s Word shall prevail – please take heart in this spiritual truth.

Lord, let your Word dwell in me and I in it. Amen

Devotion for May 19

…For you have been taught by God to love each other.  1 Thessalonians 4:9

A few years ago a writer for the Atlantic Monthly magazine posed the question: Can we be good without God? After a significant reflection on the human condition and the power of faith to shape both our perceptions of life and the choices we make, he concluded that the answer was no: we cannot be good without God.

Since then, I have had a number of occasions to discuss this idea with others. As we reflect on what is good and what is bad, what is right as well as what is wrong, there seemed to be only two alternatives. The first was that each individual was an authority to himself. The second was that there was an authority outside of a person to which she was held accountable – God.

If the first alternative is real, as some vehemently suggest, then there is no real definition of right and wrong, good or bad. Each individual has the right and authority to self-define them. The problems with this alternative are multiple. Let me suggest two: in cross-cultural  studies a clear set of universally held definitions of “right” and “wrong” have been identified. Without an all pervasive Spirit, we are left wondering how such universal truth could be developed; a second problem is that, with no external source of “good and bad” we are left to a very low standard of conduct – do what you want but do no harm to others.  Few of us would agree with that.

So, St. Paul celebrates the power of God to teach us love. His affirmation of the Christians in Thessalonica speaks of the positive power of faith to lift our moral standards to active care and integrity. Now that’s worth sharing. Amen

Devotion for April 14

…we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:18

Their love is an invisible but very real force between them. Oh, you can catch a glimpse of it if you pay attention. But you’ll only see the signs of it… not the love itself. The look in his eyes when she is talking; the small smile that changes her face when she glances at him and the ease with which they walk together and talk together are all signs of the love they know is real. But you cannot really see it.

Love is like the wind. We really cannot see the wind. We see it’s passing as the trees sway and the grasses undulate. We feel it brush our hair or tug at our clothing.  We can even hear the sound of it – but we cannot see the air’s movement.

The presence of God is like that. For those who know God, there is nothing more real. We feel his presence; know the touch of God’s healing Spirit or the inspiration that comes unbidden as we open ourselves through the reading of the scriptures or in prayer. We recognize the presence of God’s Holy Spirit when people around us sacrifice for others or go out of their way to provide care and support to someone else. We catch glimpses of the by-products of God’s actions in the good that comes from seemingly empty or tragic circumstances. Our hearts soar in the rhapsody of magnificent music or the painted sunset.

We look for the invisible. It’s the only way we can catch sight of forever. And that is the longing planted deeply within each soul. Our hearts are restless ‘til they rest in Thee… so said a great theologian.

O God, as I approach Holy Week, let me rest in Thee. Amen

Devotion for January 13th

You are the light of the world… Matthew 5:14

What a remarkable moment it was. Stacy had come to St. Mark with her fiancé, Taylor, to look for a church in which to have a wedding. After they worshiped with us, we met and they selected St. Mark. Both were received into member/discipleship a few months later. Then we learned that Stacy had never been baptized. I met with them and invited her to consider it – and acknowledged my mistake for not having brought it up before being received. She was eager and ready to do so. I waited for her to simply tell me when.

That’s when it got interesting- and fun! Stacy told her mother about her up-coming baptism and her mother, having never been baptized, asked if she might be baptized with her daughter. Of course I agreed. All that would be required, I told them, was a public affirmation of their faith.

So, last Sunday, at our late service, mother and daughter were baptized. The daughter had led her mother to the sacrament. The Holy Spirit had led them both to faith. And our congregation celebrated with joy the work that only God can do! When the baptismal candle was lit with the words of Jesus quoted above, the light of God’s love shone brightly in them and through them.

There are those who suggest that the Christian faith no longer had the power to transform lives. They miss the mark by a long shot. God is still at work. The Holy Spirit is working in the hearts and minds of countless people around the world – some of them, right in our midst. But if we do not have confidence in this truth, we will overlook them and miss the miracles. I am so glad to be a part of the Christian Church and see the power of God at work in our world. I hope you can see it too.

Lord Jesus, thank you for being present among us. Open our eyes to the miracles you are already doing. Amen

Devotion for October 14

The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. John 3:8

Tuesday afternoon at 4:47 the windows of my office grew dark. The north view of the trees and shrubs simultaneously came alive: the wind rocked the tree tops, the needs and leaves were sent scattering in swirls and, in the distance, there was a thunder clap. The once still afternoon graced with sunlight and calm erupted in motion; and I knew it was the wind. Not because I could feel it or even hear it, but because of the dance of those needles and leaves.

Jesus says that those of the Spirit are like that. Unlike our usual picture of the church: ordered, serene and predictable, the Christian born of God is like the wind: disruptive, dancing and mysterious.

It made me think. When was the last time I saw the church dancing, disruptive and mysterious? It dawned on me that I have seen it happen: a child dances down the aisle on Saturday night because the songs of praise overwhelmed her and she couldn’t sit still; members/disciples disruptive in joy as we celebrate the new Discipleship Center being more than we had dared hope; the mystery of a young couple worshiping with us who said to me, “We were impressed. This is a church we’d like to be a part of.” And we know it is all the touch of the Holy Spirit – the wind of God.

I hope you can see some of God’s wind in your life, your worship, and your faith. I think one of the great sins of the Christian Church in the western world has been that we have been too staid, too predictable, too boring. So, please join me in praying for the disruption of joy that is God’s Spirit – and wouldn’t the world notice us then?!

Lord, forgive me when faith and church seem so boring… and help me experience and share the wonder of your Holy Spirit. Amen