Ephesians 2:11-22 -13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. … 19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and [...]]]> Saturday, May 19, 2012 – Psalm 23; Numbers 11:16-17, 24-29; Ephesians 2:11-22 and Matthew 7:28-8:4

Ephesians 2:11-22 -¹³But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. … ¹⁹So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, ²⁰built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. ²¹In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; ²²in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

One of my joys of life is watching Mackenzie play with Legos. Those little building blocks that one by itself isn’t that significant, but each one built upon the other can make a pretty impressive structure. She enjoys “Pa Pa” helping her build her different structures. We have Legos, big and little that go back to when our boys were little and some we have bought rather recently. The forms of the Legos have not really changed over the years, only the structures that can be built.

Here’s a link to a website showing a church constructed completely of Legos.

http://www.amyhughes.org/lego/church/index.html

What I noticed that was missing was the choir. For me a very important aspect of any worship experience, yet I also believe the whole congregation is called to be part of Christ’s holy choir.

Tomorrow’s sermon at Community Presbyterian is about how each of us is called to be “in the world, but not of the world. But not out of it either.” Its main focus is on how God has set us apart for his holy work of being holy in the midst of all life. As our text today tells us we don’t do this alone, we’re called to do this alongside and with many, many others. I give thanks for all the saints of Christ’s Church, his body alive on earth and how I can work with each one of them in doing what Christ calls us to do. I work closely with those called to be the elders of the church, and with members who take on different projects. We work together with other brothers and sisters in Christ who work in and through other Presbyterian Churches, and others who worship is other parts of Christ’s body to do all Christ calls us to do.

As one Lego cannot make a building, so no one of us can do all Christ has called us to do. But connected one to another and another and others, we can do all that Christ calls us to do.

Today celebrate how Christ has set you a part for special work, but work not to be done alone but to be done alongside your many brothers and sisters in Christ.

Thanks be to God for saving us and setting us apart to be in the world, but not of it, but yet not out of it either. Amen.

O Lord, today I give thanks for my many brothers and sisters in Christ in Forsyth, in Missouri, in the USA, in the world that together we can show your love unto others and together you do work through us. Bless your body, The Holy Universal Church. Amen.

Psalm 23 – ¹   The LORD is my shepherd,

He leads, restores, prepares, anoints –

⁶   Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
my whole life long.

Ephesians 2:1-10 – 8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God – 9not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are [...]]]> Friday, May 18, 2012 – Psalm 49; 1 Samuel 2:1-10; Ephesians 2:1-10; and Matthew 7:22-27

Ephesians 2:1-10 – ⁸For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God – ⁹not the result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

What an awesome gift God has given us, the gift of salvation through grace. As I think of these words the hymn Amazing Grace runs through my mind. Did you know you can sing Amazing Grace to many different tunes. I found one to the tune of “House of the Rising Sun”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOZYfzQkFW4

That’s really interesting as Jesus is the one who rose and becomes our house of the rising “son”.

In our Psalm for today we read;

Psalm 49 – ⁷   Truly, no ransom avails for one’s life,
there is no price one can give to God for it.
⁸   For the ransom of life is costly,

Yes, the ransom for our life was costly. It cost our Lord, his life but it was given back unto him and thus back to us because the payment was more than enough. May our heart rejoice in God’s amazing love for us, as Hannnah rejoiced so long ago.

1 Samuel 2:1-10 – ¹Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is exalted in my God. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in my victory.

²“There is no Holy One like the LORD, no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.

On this day may we focus upon the awesome gift of salvation given to us through our Lord, Jesus Christ. Our enemy? Sin and death and Jesus conquered both. So what should we do in response?

Matthew 7:22-27 – ²⁴“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. ²⁵The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock.

O Lord, may we build our life upon the rock of our salvation, namely Jesus Christ. For it is through him that you have saved us and given us new life. Thanks be to you, O God, for the gift of grace, the gift of our salvation. Amen.

Psalm 68; Daniel 7:9-14; Hebrews 2:5-18 and Matthew 28:16-20

Today is the day of Ascension. The day we remember and celebrate that Jesus who had died and rose, ascended unto heaven to be seated at the right hand of God. The daily readings help [...]]]> Thursday, May 17, 2012 – Day of Ascension of our Lord

Psalm 68; Daniel 7:9-14; Hebrews 2:5-18 and Matthew 28:16-20

Today is the day of Ascension. The day we remember and celebrate that Jesus who had died and rose, ascended unto heaven to be seated at the right hand of God. The daily readings help us celebrate the fact that Jesus who suffered, now has the crown of all and everlasting honor, power and authority. Read each text or read just what I’ve pulled from each one.

Daniel 7:9-14 – ¹³As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. ¹⁴To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.

Hebrews 2:5-18 – Now in subjecting all things to them, God left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them, ⁹but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. ….¹⁷Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. ¹⁸Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

Here’s a hymn which helps us celebrate and remember his being crowned the King of all kingdoms. The only thing I’d change in the video presentation of this hymn is that I’d have pictures of people from all the different nations of the world. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdK4lzg8gsU

And then in the reading from the Gospel we hear what are some of the last words our Lord spoke to his disciples and thus to us, just prior to his being ascended into heaven.

Matthew 28:16-20 – ¹⁸And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Let us do just as he commanded. May we go forth today seeking to share the love of the one who died for us, was buried for us, rose for us and yes, as we celebrate and remember this day was ascended to us and given the crown of all glory and seated upon God’s holy throne in God’s heavenly kingdom.

Psalm 68 – ⁴   Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds —
his name is the LORD —
be exultant before him.

Let us pray. What a wonderful thing we hear, dear Lord, you have ascended on high to the throne of God. We know that you redeemed us and are also our Advocate with the Father. He will hear you and for your sake forgive us. We believe that you will come again in all your glory. But while we wait, bless us to do your will. Stir our hearts to joyfully anticipate your return. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. We ask this in your name, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, throughout all eternity. Amen.

Prayer attributed to Pastor Arnold Ruddat

Matthew 22:41-46 – 41Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: 42“What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” 43He said to them, “How is it [...]]]> Wednesday, May 16, 2012 – Psalm 9; Leviticus 26:27-42; Ephesians 1:1-10 and Matthew 22:41-46

Matthew 22:41-46 – ⁴¹Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: ⁴²“What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” ⁴³He said to them, “How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying, ⁴⁴‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”‘? ⁴⁵If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?” ⁴⁶No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

And our Lord asks us; “What do you think of the Messiah?” (Take a few minutes to think about our answer. What comes to mind first? What comes to mind a little later?)

My first thoughts; “Savior and Lord”. I know he died for all my sins, rose to give me new life and to make me holy. What comes to mind next is simply Jesus; Jesus smiling and laughing with his disciples.

Lastly, well not really lastly, but at least for now – love’ pure love, the purest love one can know.

So, what is your answer to the question; “What do you think of the Messiah?”

O Lord, thanks for sending our Son, the Messiah for through him we learn of your deep, deep love for us and through him we find new life, real life as you mean it to be experienced and lived. Thank you for your Son. Amen.

Psalm 9 – ⁷   But the LORD sits enthroned forever,
he has established his throne for judgment.
⁸   He judges the world with righteousness;
he judges the peoples with equity.

Today, I invite you to simply hear Jesus’ interpretation of his Parable of the Sower.

Matthew 13:18-23 – 18“Hear then the parable of the sower. 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil [...]]]> Tuesday, May 15, 2012 – Psalm 66; Leviticus 26:1-20; 1 Timothy 2:1-6 and Matthew 13:18-23

Today, I invite you to simply hear Jesus’ interpretation of his Parable of the Sower.

Matthew 13:18-23 – ¹⁸“Hear then the parable of the sower. ¹⁹When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. ²⁰As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; ²¹yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. ²²As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. ²³But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Now if you are at all like me, which I suspect you are, you can see yourself in each of the first three and not in the last one. I know of times I hear God’s word to me, but do not understand it. At other times, I hear God’s word to me and rejoice in it, only by afternoon to have forgotten it. And I know of many times when the cares of the world have choked God’s word. In each of these situations, God’s word that had the potential to produce a great harvest in me has not.

As I’ve said in other devotions, we can’t change the past but we can change the future. So, let’s make it our goal today, to hear God’s word and allow it to produce a harvest thirty, sixty or a hundred fold.

Today and every day hence forth, let’s nurture our soul so that we can be open to the abundance of seed which God scatters upon us.

O Lord, thanks for pointing out how we fall short of your plan for us. May we seek to focus more on you and your word to us and be open to how you can use us to produce a harvest for thy kingdom. Amen.

Psalm 66 – ²⁰  Blessed be God,
because he has not rejected my prayer
or removed his steadfast love from me.

Matthew 13:1-16 – 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5Other seeds fell on [...]]]> Monday, May 14, 2012 – Psalm 124; Leviticus 25:35-55; Colossians 1:9-14 and Matthew 13:1-16

Matthew 13:1-16 – ³And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. ⁴And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. ⁵Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. ⁶But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. ⁷Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. ⁸Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. ⁹Let anyone with ears listen!”

Yesterday, I was given some seeds to plant in our yard – 2 pecan nuts, a small bag of Texas Bluebonnets and a couple of others. The gal who gave them to me, has offered to help plant them.

Now I could take all the seeds and simply scatter them into our back yard, but if I did this I doubt if many, if any of them would grow. Pecan nuts would get eaten by a couple of the many squirrels who live nearby and enjoy the food I put out for the birds already. The Bluebonnet seeds would get eaten by some of the many birds and the other two seeds which I’m not sure what they are – can’t remember, I’m sure would get eaten or dry up for lack of moisture. This is what I believe would happen if the seeds were only scattered. We only have a little soil in our back yard and then good old Missouri rocks.

But if I enlist the aid of my member who gave me this gift upon her return from a trip to Texas, more than likely at least some of the seeds would sprout and grow and maybe one day we’d have a pecan tree or two and some Bluebonnets in the Spring time (not sure if they’ll really take off in Missouri with our colder winters and rain in more abundance than Texas. Enough of all that).

The point of the parable and all my ramblings is that if we prepare and nurture the soil and then plant the seeds our odds are really increased that we’ll be successful and have an abundant crop of flowers or food.

Today, I encourage us all to nurture our soul so that we can be open to the abundance of seed which God scatters upon us and then allow God to produce a harvest 30, 60 or a 100 times over.

O Lord, thanks for your parables that spoke to the people of your days, at least to the ones who had ears to hear, and speaks to us today, at least those of us who open our very souls unto you. Amen.

Psalm 124 – ¹   If it had not been the LORD who was on our side ….

⁸   Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.

We’re entering the season for graduations. I heard the first in our area was taking place last night. At many of these ceremonies; from High School, to college, to graduate schools, Robert Frost’s poem The Road Less Traveled will be [...]]]> Saturday, May 12, 2012 ­ Psalm 149; Leviticus 23:23-44; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18 and Matthew 7:13-21

We’re entering the season for graduations. I heard the first in our area was taking place last night. At many of these ceremonies; from High School, to college, to graduate schools, Robert Frost’s poem The Road Less Traveled will be shared.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood

and sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveller, long I stood

and looked down one as far as I could

to where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

and having perhaps the better claim

because it was grassy and wanted wear;

though as for that, the passing there

had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

in leaves no feet had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –

I took the one less travelled by,

and that has made all the difference

Our Lord Jesus Christ said to his disciples and now to us; Matthew 7:13-21 – ¹³“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. ¹⁴For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Friends in denying ourselves, in taking  up our cross, in seeking to follow Christ we’ll be traveling the road less traveled, we’ll be traveling the hard road that leads to life.

A lot of our life today is built upon instant gratification; fast food, movies on demand, buy now – pay later. Instead of doing some of the hard work, often the easy road is taken.

Today, we’re invited by our Lord to take the road less traveled, the hard and difficult road but yet the one that leads to real life. May each of us this day, hear Christ’s call and seek to follow him.

O Lord, thanks for showing us the way. May we turn around if our journey is taking us away from you and your way, and guide us to your everlasting way and may we walk upon it day by day. Amen.

Psalm 149 – ¹   Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.

Matthew 7:1-12 – 1“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. 2For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. 3Why do you see the speck [...]]]> Friday, May 11, 2012 – Psalm 148; Leviticus 23:1-22; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 and Matthew 7:1-12

Matthew 7:1-12 – ¹“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. ²For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. ³Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? ⁴Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? ⁵You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.

⁶“Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.

⁷“Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. ⁸For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. ⁹Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? ¹⁰Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? ¹¹If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

¹²“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.

Today the reading from the Gospel gives us a buffet of nuggets from our Lord, Jesus Christ. This a a 4 or 5 course dinner from our Lord, each course significant to our faith journey.

The first “do not judge”. I’ve shared this before, that Phyllis (now my wife) once wrote me – this was back when I was a freshman in college – to take the 2 X 4 out of my own eye, before attempting to take the splinter out of hers or anyone elses. The 2 X 4 in my own heart? I was really judgmental of others. If they didn’t believe as I did or fit into my notion of how things should be, then they weren’t saved. Short and sweet of it, I was playing God. Once I identified my 2 X 4 and asked God to help me remove it, life got much better and many relationships improved. During that time the question I should have been asking myself is, ‘would I want God to judge me by the standards I was using with others?’ Answer would have been and in many ways still is, no.

Verse six is one of the courses that I’m going to have to chew on for a while – ⁶“Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.  For I’m not clear on what our Lord is saying to us.

Then we have the main course where we are invited to seek, to ask, that we might find. It’s sort of like an invitation to play hide and seek with God. As we go about our day, we are to seek God where God can be found, ask of God questions we have about life and then wait upon the Lord who will give us an answer. In the picture of Jesus standing at the door; I get the sense that it is us that is knocking and Jesus stands on the other side. But we are the ones who have to reach out and open the door, for the door knob is on our side. This day, seek, ask, knock and open the door that Jesus might abide with you and help you hear the answers of life.

Then the dessert of this passage is the golden rule: ¹²“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.  If everyone lived by that rule, the world would be a much healthier place. If I always lived by this word, my world would be a better. I invite you to write these words of our Lord upon your mind and your heart, that throughout your life you may strive to do as he said, doing to others as you would have them do to you.

O Lord, so much is a few verses. Help me today to digest your word to me and to abide by your words of life; not judging others, seeking to take the 2 X 4’s out of my heart, and striving in all things to do to others as I would have them do to me. Help me do these things this day. Amen.

Psalm 148 – ¹   Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
²   Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his host!

(All pics [...]]]> On Leap Day this year, an EF-2 tornado came through Branson and several small towns around the Ozarks and the town of Powersite, Missouri suffered extensive damage to trees in their area. A group of volunteers from the church assisted in their tornado clean up efforts by helping cut and removing downed trees.

(All pics enlarge when you click on them.)

The Building & Grounds Committee held a church work day on a sunny Saturday in April. Several people volunteered to help spruce up the church with paint around the new windows that were installed.

(All pics will enlarge if you click on them.)