remember your baptism

The Congregation helped me remember my baptism before I left on Sabbatical

Psalm 138

Leader: I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart, before the whole world I will sing your praise.

Congregation: We will bow down before You O Lord and praise your name for you constantly show us your love and your faithfulness.

Leader: When I called, you answered me with you presence and make bold and stouthearted.

Congregation: May all the leaders of nations praise you, O LORD, when they hear Your words and see how they guide my ways.

Leader: May they sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.

Congregation: The Lord looks upon the lowly and the proud and knows all their desires and the secrets of their hearts.

Leader: Though I walk in the midst of trouble you preserve walk with me, guide me, and show me your ways.

Congregation: The LORD purpose for my life will be done and I will not abandon your ways, for your love O LORD, endures forever—

Lectionary 17

Luke 11:1-13

How dare I speak to God?
How dare I ask
For my needs
---- petty in their selfishness
---- often more out of my greed
---- than need
Ask
---- says the Lord
Ask, Seek, Knock
Be bold and brazen
Before the Lord of Host
Be bold and Brazen
Before the God of Love
Be bold
and receive in love
what the Lord has given
---- in love
Be bold in Prayer
Be bold in Love
---- and inside
---- deep inside
You will begin to know
You will begin to hear
---- this God of
---- love

The way we change

Sunday July 29th, Genesis 18: 20 The LORD said, "Abraham, I have heard that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah are doing all kinds of evil things. 21 Now I am going down to see for myself if those people really are that bad. If they aren't, I want to know about it." Try as we might, we can’t convince God to our way of thinking, God checks things out personally. Try as it might, the church is not the final word on God’s judgment, or it’s blessings either, that too is up to God personally. That doesn’t mean we don’t bring our concerns to God, quite the contrary, that should be a part of our being every waking moment, as well as a lot of the sleeping moments. What often changes is not God, but rather our perception of who God is and what God wants.

Looking through the cross

Monday July 30th, Genesis 18: 32 Finally, Abraham said, "Please don't get angry, LORD, if I speak just once more. Suppose you find only ten good people there." "For the sake of ten good people," the LORD told him, "I still won't destroy the city." We have a hard time fathoming the depth of God’s grace. As the story goes, it was not even ten. What was happening was Abrahams growing awareness of just how gracious God was. Was it God that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah or was it that God allowed Sodom and Gomorrah to destroy themselves? Truth be told, we will never know for sure. As we read the stories of old through the lens of the cross, even this looks to me as if it could be a story of grace.

Live in Christ

Tuesday July 31st, Colossians 2: 6-7 My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving. The more difficult and complicated I can make God’s message, the more easily I can manipulate the people who listen to me. It feels good, it fills my ego, but if I am honest to myself, I have to admit it is wrong. Paul’s counsel is simple and straightforward. Christ is yours, live in Christ knowing you won’t be let go of, trust the God within you, it is not rocket science, live as Christ would have you live and let others see. You are in Christ. Be in Christ. Live in Christ. Or as we say in our mission statement, Praise, Nurture and Serve.

In Christ

Wednesday August 1st, Colossians 2: 11-15 Entering into this fullness is not something you figure out or achieve. It's not a matter of being circumcised or keeping a long list of laws. No, you're already in—insiders—not through some secretive initiation rite but rather through what Christ has already gone through for you, destroying the power of sin. If it's an initiation ritual you're after, you've already been through it by submitting to baptism. Going under the water was a burial of your old life; coming up out of it was a resurrection, God raising you from the dead as he did Christ. Being in Christ is “Being” in Christ. O the work the Church puts into keeping the in people in and the out people who may be different from the in people, out. As Christians we are not ruled by the rule of Law but by the rule of Grace. God loves you, not start acting like it.

How to pray

Thursday August 2nd, Luke 11: 1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." 2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: " 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.' " All in all, it is a very simple prayer. Father, means God is Close, the word used is Abba or Papa. This is a God where you just want to sit in his lap and fall asleep. An yet we also consider God and God’s name to be holy, and for which we show loving respect. God’s kingdom is among us, sometimes we forget that and we ask in the prayer that when we do forget, that God reminds us so we can have the joy of living in the Kingdom here and now. Let us not live in want but have all we need and be content with all we have. Give us the strength and wisdom to forgive others and learn to live in harmony because we all know all the sh-t for which God has forgiven us. And when we start going down the wrong path, do whatever it takes to get us turned around, whether it be others intervening, a gentle tug or a whop up side the head. Amen.

Now, as I was saying.............

Friday August 3rd, Luke 11: 5 Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.' 7 "Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. 9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. It sounds like we are being told to be obnoxious before God. It think the point is to be persistent. Make life a process of being aware of the connection with God. Make your life a process of keeping up your end of the communication. Don’t stop talking to God. Pray unceasingly. What put that way it seems like a lot of work. Remember that everything you think, do and say “Is” a prayer. You simply have to ask yourself the question, “is this a prayer I want to be praying right now?”

Snakes anyone

Saturday August 4th, Luke 11: 11 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" My three youngest children wanted a pet snake when they were younger. They didn’t get it. Not because snakes are so bad, but I just didn’t see them as much of a pet. I also didn’t like the idea of a pet living in a small cage, it didn’t seem like much of a life to me. So I made a choice, one my children were not happy about, but a choice made out of love for my children non the less. It is not always that God dislikes our desires, it just may be that it is just not good for us right then. God acts in love also. Even when disappointed, just trust that God acts in love.

visitor

The visitor was not afraid of my wonderful wife or the little schnauzer

Bear and moose on the deck at the same time

even bears should take time to smell the flowers

Interesting year and a half

It has been an interesting year and a half. Last year my stepdaughter’s boyfriend came and asked permission to marry. He was nervous when he asked us and we were more than happy to say yes. He then went to her father to ask him. He rang the doorbell and when he went in, there was her father fully dressed after getting back from SWAT training. The timing may have been a bit rough but he asked any way and received a warm welcome. In April, the church annual meeting approved my sabbatical. In August, my stepdaughter’s fiancé had open-heart surgery to replace part of the aorta. In September, my stepdaughter went back to school and her fiancé went bear hunting. In September my youngest daughter quite school. In October, my youngest daughter told me she was pregnant. In February, my youngest daughter told me she wanted to get married and I said yes. In March, my youngest daughter had a 2 pound 2 ounce baby boy. In May, my new grandson got out of the NICU. At the end of May, my stepdaughter graduated from college. In early June, she was interviewing for jobs and getting ready for her wedding in early June. While on her honeymoon, she got a job at the NICU. In June, my youngest daughter turned 17. Last Saturday my youngest daughter got married. My Grandson is up to 10 plus pounds. Next week I leave for three month Sabbatical. End of July, my new son in law leaves for basic at Ft. Sill. I look forward to some down time. Pictures of weddings and babies at my family blog. Sabbatical T-shirts at www.cafepress.com/coslc I will continue to put meditations on the blog and will be back the end of October.

Psalm 15, opening litany

Psalm 15 (New International Version)

Leader: LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?

Congregation: It is the one whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on others.

Leader: LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?

Congregation: It is the one who despises the vile intents within each of us and shows honor to those who fear the LORD, the one who keeps an oath even when it hurts.

Leader: LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? Who is the one who will never be shaken?

Congregation: It is the one who lends money without usury to those in need and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

Leader: Welcome to Worship at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church.

Congregation: Where we are Inspired by God’s Love to Praise, Nurture and Serve.

Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Congregation: And also with you.

Prayer of the Day for the 22nd

Dear Lord, it is so simple. We are called to love God and love others and to spend our lives discovering on ever widening vistas just what that means. Help us to hospitable to others this week as was Abraham. Help us to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear the word this week as did Mary. Help us to live our lives in simple devotion as we go about the life God has set before us. Amen.

Offertory prayer for the 22nd

We thank you O Lord for all the beauty that surround us. Help to live our lives soaking in the beauty of your kingdom and the beauty of living our lives at your feet. Please accept these gifts we pray and help us to use them with wisdom and prayer to bring your message of Grace to a world steeped in law and longing for love.

Listening

Lectionary 16
Luke 10:38-42

If I just keep busy
---- (listen)
busy enough
---- (listen)
then I can avoid that commitment
---- in this life
that makes me uncomfortable
---- in this life
and leads to life
Listen
---- said the voice of God
---- on the mountain
This is my Son
---- said the voice of God
---- as Jesus stood in the water
---- and the dove came down
Follow
---- said the Christ of God
---- to a people longing
---- for life
and too busy to find it
---- (This is my Son
---- my beloved
---- Listen to him)

Entertaining Angels

Sunday July 22nd, Genesis 18: 1 The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. 3 He said, "If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant." "Very well," they answered, "do as you say." It has been a long time. The promise to Abraham and Sarah was made almost a lifetime ago it seemed, but Abraham was not bitter. Indeed, Abraham lived in that place where most of us live, fluctuating between resignation and hope. On this day, some strangers stop by. Abraham responds out of who he is, a welcoming and hospitable person. The welcome was warm and gracious. This is the beginning of the story that leads to Sodom and Gomorrah. There the towns’ people wanted to have their way with the strangers, the antitheses of hospitality. It has is interesting how we can turn a story about hospitality into a Biblical mandate to practice inhospitality to the homosexual community. Some have entertained angels unaware.

Never the same

Monday July 23rd, Genesis 18: 9 "Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him. "There, in the tent," he said. 10 Then the LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Some religions call it Karma. Showing hospitality does not always bring hospitality in return. Life is always as simple as A+B=C. But hospitable people, families, churches and communities often find hospitality returned to them. Welcoming the stranger into your midst requires that you are not committed to remaining static. Welcoming the stranger into your midst will bring change to your life or the life of any organization. And just as the life brought to Sarah would mean her life would never again be the same, so too, the new life in your organization will mean you will never again be the same. Some find that scary, others just laugh.

All you can do is laugh

Tuesday July 24th, Genesis 18: Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?" 13 Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD ? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son." There is some news where the only response one can muster is to either laugh or cry, and they both come from that wonder and mis-belief that has one foot in our deepest hopes and the other in our deepest fears. Is anything too hard for the Lord? It appears not. But for Sarah, with one foot in the nursing home and the other in the nursery, laughter was her only choice.

Emmanuel

Wednesday July 25th, Colossians 1: 15-18 We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body. We can speculate all we want but we will never totally know God in Heaven. The gift that has been given to us is the Emmanuel, God with us, the one we call Jesus. To know Jesus is to know all we need to know about God. Jesus’ message? Love God, Love others! That is what life is all about. It is not Gognito Ergo Sum, I think therefore I am, it is Amo Ergo Sum, I Love therefore I am. And love is not just a feeling, it is a verb. That may call us on different paths of action, and indeed often does, but never confuse the path with the purpose.

No Bouncers

Thursday July 26th, Colossians 1: 26-29 This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it's out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's glory. It's that simple. That is the substance of our Message. Some have said that the gift of Jesus was to make us all honorary Jews, Children of the Promise. Contrary to Pope Benedict, Jesus did not make the Catholic church the bouncer of heaven. What Jesus did was to let the world know there was no bouncer in heaven. No bouncer, no cover charge, no closed sign, no limits, just a call to love and to spend your life finding out each day what that means.

Inhospitable hospitality

Friday July 27th, Luke 10: 38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" Sometimes all that hospitality can make us inhospitable. It is then we know the focus is on “me” not “thee.” I am sure the meal and the preparations were nice. I even think Mary could have practiced a bit of hospitality here and helped her sister. There is a fine and fuzzy line between serving and self-serving.

Don't "do" Church

Saturday July 28th, Luke 10: 41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." At what point does “church” become work? At what point does it cease to be fun? At what point do committees and programs operate for the sake of committees and programs? Whatever you do in church, don’t just “do” church. Worship is a must.

worse than beets

I happen to like beets, but I also think everyone on Washington should read this cartoon. Click on "I Vote, bring them home" on my links to the left and send this cartoon to your legislators.

Pope restates 'defects' of other Christian faiths in document

By Ian Fisher - Wednesday, July 11, 2007

ROME: Pope Benedict XVI has restated what he said were the "defects" of Christian faiths other than Roman Catholicism, sparking anger from Protestants who questioned the Vatican's respect for other beliefs.
"It makes us question whether we are indeed praying together for Christian unity," the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, which represents Protestants in more than 100 countries, said in a statement. The Vatican document repeated many of the contentious claims of a document issued in 2000 by the Vatican office on orthodoxy, which Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger headed for more than two decades before being elected pope in 2005.

The document released Tuesday focused largely on the Vatican definition of what constitutes a church, which it defined as being traceable through its bishops to Christ's original apostles. Thus, it said, the world's Orthodox Christians make up a church because of shared history, if "separated" from the "proper" Catholic tradition; Protestants, who split from Catholicism during the Reformation, are considered only "Christian communities."

The document repeated church teaching that the Roman Catholic Church alone is the mediator of salvation, though other beliefs can be its "instrument."
"These separated churches and communities, though we believe they suffer from defects, are deprived neither of significance nor importance in the mystery of salvation," the document read. "In fact the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as instruments of salvation, whose value derives from that fullness of grace and of truth which has been entrusted to the Catholic Church."

It was unclear why the Vatican issued the document now, especially since it largely restated earlier, if contentious, statements of church doctrine. The document from 2000, called "Dominus Iesus," prompted angry reactions from other faiths, which accused the Vatican, and Ratzinger specifically, of being unnecessarily divisive.

The stated purpose of the new document was as a "clarification" of doctrine amid much disagreement among Catholics about the legacy of the Second Vatican Council, a three-year conference that ended in 1965 and changed many church practices.

Last week, Benedict made a similar argument in liberalizing the use of the old Latin Mass, largely set aside since the council endorsed holding Mass in the local languages of the world's billion Catholics.

Critics said the decision could further divide Catholics and raised questions about Benedict's commitment to the changes made during the Second Vatican Council.


Pastor Dan Comments: I contintue to stand by my belief that anytime we draw a line between "us" and "Them" Jesus is standing with "them" and we are on the wrong side of the line.

Lectionary 15

Luke 10:25-37

Crouched amid my humanness
I venture out
---- boldly
and I understand
---- intellectually
the meaning of the commandments
the meaning of life itself
that I am to love (LOVE)not just in what I feel
---- (THE LORD)
but even in what I don’t feel
but still do
it sounds easy
it sounds good
and it is surely a wisdom
I will pass on
---- and on
-------- and on
to the third and forth generation
of those who………….
I will pass it on
---- (WITH ALL THAT YOU ARE)
the meaning of life
the meaning of the commandments
I only wish “they” would know these words
And understand what “I” understand
---- (AND LOVE)
and maybe “they” would not act like
---- look like
-------- talk like
that
---- (YOUR NEIGHBOR)
then the world would be a better place
and all would be sweetness and light
---- (AS YOURSELF)
if they would just learn to love
(AND JESUS SAID,
“GO AND DO LIKEWISE”)
-------- ?like me?

Opening litany for the 15th

Psalm 25

Pastor: I lift up my soul to You, O Lord and I Put my trust in You. Do not let me be ashamed or those who try to destroy me come out on top.

Congregation: Yes, let no one who hopes in the Lord be put to shame, but put to shame those who hurt others without a reason.

Pastor: Show us Your ways, O Lord. Teach us Your path.

Congregation: Lead us in Your truth and teach us Your Ways. For You are the God Who saves, and we wait for You to guide our lives.

Pastor: Remember Your loving-pity and Your loving-kindness, O Lord. For they have been from old.

Congregation: Do not remember our sins from when were young, or our sinful ways we live today. But do remember us through Your loving-kindness O Lord, for You are good

Pastor: Good and right is the Lord who teaches sinners in ways righteousness and leads those without pride into what is right, and teaches them way to live the Kingdom life here and now.

Congregation: All the paths of the Lord are loving and true and we will strive to live lovingly and prayerfully in the path The Lord has set before us

Pastor: Welcome to Worship at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church.

Congregation: Where we are Inspired by God’s Love to Praise, Nurture and Serve

Pastor: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Congregation: And also with you.

Not rocket science

Sunday July 15th, Deuteronomy 30: 11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" We often make the Christian life difficult. There are rules and regulations, do’s and don’ts, catechism to memorize, and sometimes even sermon notes for the confirmation class. The tougher we make it, the more we are in control, not God. Without a bit of difficulty, us clergy types might be out of a job. The true it, it is not rocket science. It involves living out a loving relationship with God the Creator, One another as Community, and the Creation from which we were formed. It involves being will each day to have your eyes open to some new dimension of what that might be and trusting in God to help show you new ways to show that loving relationship. It involves walking one day at a time as the children of God, knowing that the gift of salvation is yours through the grace of God.

Seems too easy, let's study it some more

Monday July 16th, Deuteronomy 30: 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. The church has been studying the issue of homosexuality for many years. Studies have been presented and voted on, legislation considered, scripture interpreted and on and on and on. In the mean time, we continue to be a church that practices exclusion, at least for pastors. For the most part it is our generation that is struggling with the issue. Ask most kids of high school age and they will look at you like you have just asked a stupid question. If two people love each other and want to live in a mature and committed relationship it is a good thing. If two people want to have an excuse for cheap sex, it is not a good thing. The choice of who is up to them. The word of God is near you, it is not hard except for when we try to find some way around it. Love God, Love others, walk daily in discovery of what that means.

It looks dark down there, let's go!

Tuesday July 17th, Colossians 1: 13-14 God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He's set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating. And we still keep repeating those sins. That is our life, living forgiven and living as sinners, each and everyone of us. The way Luther said it was that we are at the same time saints and sinners. What God did was rescue us from dead-end alleys, our job it to learn what it means to walk in the light. It is an adventure each and every day and it is amazing how often we turn the corner and head down toward those back alleys again. That is when God tries to turn our focus back toward the light. Sometimes we listen.

Big "I" = little "g"

Wednesday July 18th, Luke 10: 25 Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. "Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?" Most of us have met someone with an “I” problem. This religion scholar was a good guy, a smart guy, someone who wanted to walk as a child of God. He just wanted to be in charge of the process. That is the biggest hurtle we all face. What must I do to get eternal life? Nothing!!! It is that “I” thing that most often keeps us from living it now. It is the temptation in the garden raising its head one more time. Just eat of this tree of knowledge and you can be like god. The only god the “I” thing gets us is the small ”g” god. Walking as a child of God, accepting the forgiveness and grace brings us into company with the big “G” God. Remember this formula: big “I” = little “g”; little “i” = Big “G”.

No big "I's"

Thursday July 19th, Luke 10: 26 He answered, "What's written in God's Law? How do you interpret it?" 27 He said, "That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself." 28 "Good answer!" said Jesus. "Do it and you'll live." The answer was correct. The trouble is that it is hard to love God with all you passion if you have an “I” problem, because your passion is reserved for yourself. It is hard to love you neighbor as yourself if you have an “I” problem because no neighbor could measure up. “Do it and you’ll live” contains no big “I’s”

Hmmmmmm

Friday July 20th, Luke 10: 36 "What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?" For Jesus, neighbor is redefined from a geographic designation, one who lives close to my house, to an opportunity designation, one God has placed close to my heart. The geographic designation is easy if we move into the right neighborhood, send our children to the right private schools, go to the right church etc. It would all work out so well if God didn’t keep putting “those” people in our way. Hmmmmmm

Makes Life, Life!

Saturday July 21st, Luke 10: 37 "The one who treated him kindly," the religion scholar responded. Jesus said, "Go and do the same." There, that doesn’t seem so hard now does it? Well it is not hard to understand, implementing is something else again. As William Sloane Coffin put’s it, “It is one thing to cry with the prophets of old to let justice roll down like an ever present stream, it is quite another to design the irrigation system.” For most of us it takes a life time. For the children of God it is what makes life, well, life.

Opening Litany for the 8th

Psalm 66:1-9 (New International Version)

Pastor: Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of God’s name and bring glorious praise!

Congregation: We will say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that those who work against you work in the dark and cringe at the thought of you.

Pastor: All the earth bows down and sings praises to your glorious name. Come and see what God has done and how awesome the works of God for humanity!

Congregation: The sea has been turned into dry land and the children of God passed through the waters on foot and lived. Come let us rejoice in God’s love.

Pastor: God rules forever and watches over the nations in all they do. Let not the self-righteous or rebellious rise up against God’s love for all humanity.

Congregation: We will praise our God in all that we think, say and do, and will let the sound of praise be heard throughout the land.

Pastor: Welcome to Worship at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church.

Congregation: Where we are Inspired by God’s Love to Praise, Nurture and Serve. And where we live out this mission when we as individuals and as the collective Body of Christ as we Praise God in Worship, Song and Prayer.

Pastor: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Congregation: And also with you.

Prayer of the Day for the 8th

Dear Lord, You are Lord of my life. I believe that You have created me and all that exists. Lord, You have given me and still preserve my body and soul with all it’s powers. I thank you that you have provided me with food and clothing, home and family, daily work, and all I need from day to day. I also thank you that you have protected me in time of danger and guarded me from every evil. All this You O Lord have done out of fatherly and divine goodness and mercy, though I do not deserve it. Therefore will thank and praise, serve and obey You, O Lord my God. This is most certainly true. Amen!

(from Luther’s small catechism, meaning of 1st article of the Apostles Creed)

Offertory Prayer for the 8th

We thank You O Lord and rejoice in all you have given us in this life. We come before you to joyously give back to the work of the kingdom a portion of that gift that we have worked with our hands. Lead us Lord as we go out into the world and bring your message that the Kingdom is Near. Amen.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Calls for Increase in Children's Health Program

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), joined leaders of 20 other national religious organizations in a letter to leaders of the U.S. Congress June 7, urging expanded funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program(SCHIP).

The religious leaders joined the People Improving Communities through Organizing (PICO) National Network, and the National Council of Churches USA (NCC) in their call for action. They asked U.S. Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Finance Committee chair, and U.S. Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), majority leader, to help produce $50 billion in legislation to expand SCHIP.

PICO and NCC have generated more than 9,000 letters from faith communities to the Senate on SCHIP, according to a PICO news release.

"We speak from a broad range of religious traditionsrepresenting many millions of families in urging you to craft SCHIP legislation that will help our nation see a day when no child goes without treatment or relies on an emergency room for his or her primary health care," the church leader wrote.
"We ask that you fulfill the commitment Congress made to include $50 billion over five years in additional funding for children's health. The faith community worked extraordinarily hard to see that the Senate and House included $50 billion in new funding in the budget resolution. We want to see these funds used to support a strong SCHIP reauthorization."

PICO is a national network of faith-based community organizations working to create solutions for problems faced by communities. PICO works to increase access to health care, improve public schools, make neighborhoods safer, provide affordable housing, redevelop communities and revitalize democracy. More than 50 religious denominations and faith traditions, including the ELCA, representing more than 1 million families, are part of PICO, according to its mission statement.

"With your continued leadership we see a day when all children in our nation receive the health care they need to grow into healthy and productive members of society," the leaders concluded in their letter.

The 6th Sunday after Pentecost

Luke 10: 1-20

Wonders and Joys in the name of Christ
We all look for the wonders and joys
In a world full of hurt
---- pain
look for wonders and joys
in a world full of (my) needs
sent with nothing into the world
to heal
sent with nothing
except the God of love
to heal
and our Lord saw satan fall
as the people trusted
Fall
As they healed in the name of Christ
And begin to raise his ugly head again
When they said
---- look what I did
Wonders and Joys in the name of Christ
In the name of Christ

From Preacher to Pastor

Saturday July 14th, Luke 10: 5-6"When you enter a home, greet the family, 'Peace.' If your greeting is received, then it's a good place to stay. But if it's not received, take it back and get out. Don't impose yourself. 7"Stay at one home, taking your meals there, for a worker deserves three square meals. Don't move from house to house, looking for the best cook in town. 8-9 "When you enter a town and are received, eat what they set before you, heal anyone who is sick, and tell them, 'God's kingdom is right on your doorstep!' No pastors in Cadillac Escalades or private jets, this is down to earth kingdom work. My father greeted the new pastor in town at the local coffee shop and asked to speak to him outside. Once outside he wanted to know what the “h” he thought he was doing dressed like that. He reminded the new pastor that this was a farming community and if he walked in the coffee shop in a coat and tie, they would speak nice to him, but not honestly. He went home to change into blue jeans, T-shirt and everyday shoes. That day he moved from preacher to pastor, and thanked my father for it.

Harvest time

Friday July 13th, Luke 10: 1-2 Later the Master selected seventy and sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he intended to go. He gave them this charge: "What a huge harvest! And how few the harvest hands. So on your knees; ask the God of the Harvest to send harvest hands. 3"On your way! But be careful—this is hazardous work. You're like lambs in a wolf pack. Don’t ever forget that you are in the middle of the wolf pack. And don’t ever forget that the wolves don’t always look like wolves, often times they are dressed up in sheep’s clothing. When someone comes to the Lord, remember, you are simply gathering what God has placed before you to do. And go in pairs, it helps keep you honest and that way everyone has someone to pray with.

Think Globally, love locally

Thursday July 12th, Galatians 6: 9-10 So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith. It is not about running around frenzied and trying to save the whole world, it is about loving ourselves as the children of God and loving others as the children of God. No evangelism plan will work if it is not God’s plan. Our job is to lovingly harvest, starting in the fields closest to us and working outward from there. Don’t forget, the local fields are the toughest.

Do you "Get" it?

Wednesday July 11th, Galatians 6: 7-8 Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. That real life, that eternal life is something that starts now and is brought to perfection in the life to come. Most of us spent our lives living in lots of directions other than the one God has for us. Sooner or later we will “get” it, but for most, we “get” it after most of our life is over. That is where grace comes in. As my children get older and more of the get off on their adult life, getting married, having kids etc., it is fun to watch them “get” it. Sure would be nice if God could watch more of us “getting” it. Most of us however spend most of our lives in that adolescence “it is all about me” life.

You will either live your mission or someone else's

Tuesday July 10th, Galatians 6: 4-5 Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. One of the tasks the confirmation class goes through before being confirmed is to write their own mission statement. I use the material in “The Path” by Laura Beth Jones. If you haven’t looked into it, do so. If we are each focusing on who God has called us to be and what we are called to do in the creation, we, as well as those around us, will be happier. Very few adults have their own mission statement. For them it is getting by as best you can. One thing to remember is that each and every one of us lives according to a mission statement, written or unwritten. God calls us to live our mission however, not just a cog in the wheel of someone else’s mission in life. If you don’t know what that mission is, get a copy of “the Path” and get started.

Children, children, Children

Monday July 9th, Galatians 6: 1-3 Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived. Laws are always about someone else. That is why it is so hard to get realistic ethics laws passed in hallow halls of government. What God calls us to do is to govern ourselves first and foremost. And the standard by which we are judge ourselves governed is how well we stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed and share their burdens. It is what we are to be doing as individuals. It is what we are to be doing as cities and states and nations. Most of our energy is about controlling someone else so we can go on and on in our uncontrolled opulence. I looked forward to that point where my children would enjoy giving at Christmas more than getting. God is still looking forward to that in us.

Peace will come

Sunday July 8th, Isaiah 66: 12 for this is what the LORD says: "I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees. 13 As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem." Peace will come, not by our hand, or the weapons we carry in them, but from the Lord who created all people and declared creation good. Peace will even come to Jerusalem, not through walls and security forces and the rockets red glare, but through the one who returned to her to face the cross and bring to all, on both sides of rockets, security forces and walls, salvation and forgiveness. The Lord will come and bring peace to her children who only want to fight. Perhaps we want to grow up and stop fighting now and work for this plan for peace that comes from God, not against it.

Lost Lake Breath of Life Run

Pat & Christalyn Simpson from Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church

UPCOMING: The Lost Lake Breath of Life Run is Aug. 25, starting at the Primrose Campground outside Seward. The 16-mile race covers the Lost Lake Trail and raises money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Entries postmarked or made online by 11:59 p.m. Friday are $100. After that, the cost is $200 for entries received by Aug. 3. Go to http://www.lostlakerun.org/ for details or to sign up.


THE COURSE: Last year's winners, Jerry Ross and Kristi Waythomas of Anchorage, finished in 1 hour, 41 minutes, 41 seconds and 2:01:40, respectively. The 16-mile mountain run climbs 2,100 feet before descending sharply to the finish line. Last year, it drew 442 runners, who helped raise money to fight cystic fibrosis.

By MELISSA DeVAUGHN
mdevaughn@adn.com

Anchorage Daily News: June 27, 2007)

Marsha Vincent can rest easier now that new life has been breathed into the Lost Lake Breath of Life Run. Vincent is the founder of the popular 16-mile cross-country mountain race that spans the Lost Lake Trail outside Seward. She's worked 15 years to make the race one of the top events for Alaska cross-country runners and one of the biggest fundraisers in the state for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Now she has passed the responsibility of organizing the race to an Anchorage couple. Like Vincent, Patrick and Christalyn Simpson have been touched by the deadly, genetically-inherited disease that robs its victims of the ability to breathe and live normal, active lives.

The Simpsons have two children with the disease, one of whom died at age 18 in November. "Our goal in the first year is to (run the race) just like Marsha did it," Patrick Simpson said. "To keep the integrity and quality that she worked so hard to establish."

Still, there are a few changes for this year's race, which takes place Aug. 25 and is limited to 600 participants. The biggest is the addition of a team category, allowing four-member teams. Simpson said he hopes the team concept will not only get more racers signed up but will encourage more fundraising -- a minimum of $5,000 per team is required -- for the CF Foundation.

"Their $100 registration fee goes toward that total, so it's actually $4,600 they'll need to raise," Simpson pointed out. "But it's easier than it sounds, especially with sponsorships, which teams can get (easier than individuals)."
Another change is the way runners can enter. Because Lost Lake is so popular, the race can fill up fast. This year, Simpson said, any spots remaining after Aug. 3 will be put on eBay for auction, with bids beginning at $300.

More than anything, Vincent is glad the race will continue. In September, Vincent decided to step back from organizing the event that had consumed much of her life over the last 15 years. But she worried that the $60,000-70,000 the race raises each year might vanish -- money that helps support further CF research. She acknowledges she is lucky -- her two sons are in their 30s and managing their CF. But others, such as the Simpsons' son Zachary, aren't so lucky. Depending on the severity of the disease, many do not live past their high school years. Some won't even reach their first birthdays.

Zac Simpson was the 2005 South High prom king his senior year, a talented musician and a fan of soccer, particularly World Cup soccer. In 2004, he was presented with the Spirit of Youth award and selected as the Children's Miracle Network Champion for Alaska. He packed a lot into his short 18 years. "When (Zac) died, I asked Pat, 'Are you sure you want to keep doing this?' and he looked at me and said, 'Marsha, it makes me more determined than ever to keep going,' " Vincent said.

In organizing this year's race, the Simpsons created Lost Lake Run, Inc., in January, which formally recognizes the event as a nonprofit. Vincent will serve on the board of directors. In fact, Simpson said they could not run this year's race without Vincent, and have created the Marsha Vincent Award for the most successful fundraiser. "We have an infrastructure in place that will allow the race to run smoothly," he said. "It's still going to be a running-centric race, runner-based, so we can draw the top athletes."

Yet the race also will ramp up its fundraising efforts. Over the past 15 years, Lost Lake has donated nearly $600,000 to research efforts. "I think Pat's direction is a good way to go with the race," Vincent said. "Because he's been involved in the (Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis) walk, he has connections and experience with that. He saw a good way to encourage people to get more sponsorship with the teams, and I think people will like it." Also, Vincent said today's participants -- whether they cross the finish line in less than two hours or take all day walking the trail -- are more conscious of where their entry fee goes.

"I think people like to know that they are doing something they love, but they are also helping," she said. "It seems a more humanitarian way." Pat Simpson said about 150 racers have signed up, and 20-30 more sign up each week. Many participants wait until later in the summer to sign up. "A lot of the elite mountain racers, they wait and see how their season is going," she said.
Those who wait until after Friday will for the privilege. The $100 entry fee doubles after Friday.

As for Vincent, she's not sure she will be at this year's race. She might go to Fox Island for a weekend getaway instead. "It's bittersweet," she said. "It's hard to let go. But Pat and Chrisalyn are doing a great job. I'm really comfortable with them taking over."