God Pause for Sunday

We are all created EQUAL......

Tuesday, March 20

Read Galatians 3:19-29
There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (v 28)

GOD EQUALIZES

Back in the days of Camelot, young King Arthur had an idea. He would gather up all the strongest, bravest men in the kingdom and he would band them together in a special brotherhood. He would call them knights. They would slay dragons for him, and they would advise him in matters of war and peace.

Arthur planned to convene the group for meetings in the castle from time to time, but he was bothered by the fact that all large tables built in the kingdom were rectangular. This, he realized, would lead to friction among the knights, since each would expect to be seated near the head of the table, on the right (or at least on the left) hand of the king. What to do?

Arthur solved the problem by making his table round, so that everyone seated at the table would be equal - none sitting higher or lower than the king. In fact, Arthur himself never sat at the table. Not only was there no head of the table, but no one sat at either the right hand or the left hand of the king.

And so it became a table of peers. Everyone seated at the table was exactly equal in rank. No one was greater or lesser at the round table.  (I love this analogy!!)

Tables were apparently rectangular in Jesus' time, too. People were always tsk-tsking him for socializing with tax collectors, women of ill repute, lepers, paralytics and other social misfits. Critics of Jesus were usually members of the temple elite - the scribes and Pharisees who ran the religious hierarchy - but even Jesus' own close friends got into the dispute from time to time, questioning his attention to the misfits and arguing among themselves about which of them would have the best seat at the table.

What they all missed in their self-aggrandizement is that the Table of Grace is round. There is no head other than God. There are no higher or lower places at the table. No seat is better or more prestigious than any other. There is room at the table for people of all colors, for rich and for poor, for women and men, for young and for old, for everyone born. And no one has the right to treat anyone else at the table as if they don't matter.  (A great lesson for all of us to remember!!)

Dallas Cronk

God Pause for Sunday.........

"My Hope is Built on Nothing Less," LBW 293 & ELW 596 (Click to view the hymn text below.)
Nine years ago I, like many others across the country, awoke to the news that an airplane had crashed into one of the towers of the World Trade Center. As I live on the West Coast, it was just after six o'clock a.m. when the second plane hit the other tower. I remember the fear I felt as I drove to work that morning. By that time another plane had hit the Pentagon, a fourth plane had crashed in Pennsylvania and we had no idea if there was more to come. That morning we gathered as a church staff in the sanctuary to pray. It was not something we did regularly, but that was certainly not an ordinary morning. We prayed for our nation. We prayed for our world. We prayed for peace and courage. We prayed for hope.

The hymn, "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less," reminds us that in the midst of a world in which acts of terror can strike fear in our hearts, God is still at work.

"In every high and stormy gale my anchor holds within the veil. On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand."

That day and the rest of that week, it felt like the ground was shifting underneath us. Since then we have learned to live with fears of terrorism and heightened security. This hymn reminds us that our ultimate security is in Christ Jesus who gave his life to forgive our sins and redeem this world. We stand securely in Christ, trusting in his care at all times.

Most gracious God, we thank you that you are the solid rock on which we stand when the ground shifts beneath us, whether due to world events or our own mistakes. We thank you for holding on to us securely and helping us to have hope in you. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Andy Taylor
St. Andrew Lutheran Church, San Diego, Calif.
Master of Divinity, 1986

"My Hope is Built on Nothing Less," LBW 293 & ELW 596 1 My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; no merit of my own I claim, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. Refrain On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand. 2 When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace; in ev'ry high and stormy gale my anchor holds within the veil. Refrain 3 His oath, his covenant, his blood sustain me in the raging flood; when all supports are washed away, he then is all my hope and stay. Refrain 4 When he shall come with trumpet sound, oh, may I then in him be found, clothed in his righteousness alone, redeemed to stand before the throne! Refrain

God Pause for Sunday

Jesus says that everyone who belongs to the truth listens to his voice. True listening involves also doing what he tells us to do. Jesus' most repeated topic is the kingdom of God. His next most frequent subject is money and possessions. He tells us we can not serve both God and money. He says, Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. It has been said that if you want to know what people really value, look at how they spend their money. What would an analysis of our expenditures reveal about us? Would it say that Christ is the king of our lives? Would it say that we are listening to the voice of Jesus?


O Lord, help us to listen to your voice and empower us to do your will. Give us the courage to put our treasure in those places where we would like our heart to dwell. Guide us and direct us to live as those who follow you as our king. Amen.

Paul L. Larsen
Christ the King Lutheran Church, New Brighton, Minn.
Master of Divinity, 1973

John 18:33-37 (NRSV)
33 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"
34 Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?"
35 Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?"
36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here."
37 Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

God Pause for Sunday

A friend who is a camp counselor taught me the phrase "Listen up!" When she uses these words she is not just getting the attention of her campers. She means, "Listen to God." In a world of noise and distraction, of banter and buzz, Isaiah whispers a profound word for those patient enough to take time to listen for God. What we will hear, the prophet promises, is an extraordinary word of God's nearness and God's faithfulness.


God of power and might, help us draw near and listen to your voice amid the shouts and boasting of this world. Where we have been too full of speech, quiet us. When we substitute our own verbosity for your words of promise and grace, help us to listen up. We remember today those who have taught us your ways, and we name them before you now; for Christ's sake. Amen.

Patricia Lull
Former Dean of Students, Luther Seminary

Isaiah 55:3-5 (NRSV)


3 Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.
5 See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.

God Pause for Sunday

On occasion, we actually realize the truth about ourselves. Too often we easily shrug off our iniquities as small infractions; we're as not as bad as the other guy, or not as bad as we could be. Yet sometimes when everything has piled up and it seems inevitable that people are going to find out that our lives are not as well put together as we try to outwardly show, we finally break down. In the moment that we finally take a good, long, critical look at ourselves we discover WE are the ones who have messed up. Then there is only one thing to do: call upon God.

We find ourselves here when the world, and our own word, seems to condemn us. But thankfully those words are followed by a word that we crave to hear, and hopefully hear often: "You are special, not because of what you do, but simply because you are mine." That word is the one that brings refreshment.

God, you know I have messed up. It seems like I do that pretty well. But I remember your promise that no matter what, I am still your child. You promised to never take that away. It looks like I have to hold you to that, God. Amen.

Matt Dobyns
Desert Cross Lutheran Church, Tempe, Ariz.
Master of Divinity, 2008



Jeremiah 14:7-19 (NRSV)
7 Although our iniquities testify against us, act, O Lord, for your name's sake; our apostasies indeed are many, and we have sinned against you.
8 O hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler turning aside for the night?
9 Why should you be like someone confused, like a mighty warrior who cannot give help? Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not forsake us!
10 Thus says the Lord concerning this people: Truly they have loved to wander, they have not restrained their feet; therefore the Lord does not accept them, now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.
11 The Lord said to me: Do not pray for the welfare of this people.
12 Although they fast, I do not hear their cry, and although they offer burnt-offering and grain-offering, I do not accept them; but by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence I consume them.
13 Then I said: "Ah, Lord God! Here are the prophets saying to them, 'You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you true peace in this place.'"
14 And the Lord said to me: The prophets are prophesying lies in my name; I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds.
15 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name though I did not send them, and who say, 'Sword and famine shall not come on this land': By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed.
16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword. There shall be no one to bury them--themselves, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their wickedness upon them.
17 You shall say to them this word: Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease, for the virgin daughter--my people--is struck down with a crushing blow, with a very grievous wound.
18 If I go out into the field, look--those killed by the sword! And if I enter the city, look--those sick with famine! For both prophet and priest ply their trade throughout the land, and have no knowledge.
19 Have you completely rejected Judah? Does your heart loathe Zion? Why have you struck us down so that there is no healing for us? We look for peace, but find no good; for a time of healing, but there is terror instead.

God Pause for Sunday

Do people who become Christians really know what they are getting into?


They come to our church because we are welcoming and friendly, because our greeters smile, because our youth have fun. They come because our music is beautiful and inspirational. They come because the word is out that our pastor's sermons are really meaningful and lively. They come because we are spiritually peaceful and they want this. Perhaps they come to your church for these reasons too. But do they really know what they're getting into?

This hymn asks that question. Because following Jesus changes us. Following is more than sitting in a chair or pew, singing quietly for our own benefit. Following is getting up and walking in Jesus' footsteps. Are you interested in being changed -- not only at the resurrection, but this afternoon, tonight and tomorrow? Follow Jesus into the crowds and you'll never be the same.

Here we come, Jesus, wanting safety, peace and quiet. And here you meet us, anxious to whirl us into a wild dance of love, healing and reconciliation. We want to never be the same again, but we hesitate because where you go and how you dance scares us! Teach us to trust your lead, Lord Jesus, and become the music with you. Amen.

Chris Kramer
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, The Dalles, Ore.
Master of Divinity, 2007

"Will You Come and Follow Me?" ELW 798 (Also known as The Summons in the Catholic Church)

1. Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?

Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

2. Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

3. Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?

4. Will you love the "you" you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

5. Lord your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In Your company I'll go where Your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

God Pause for Sunday

From Luther Seminary:
Saying thank you was probably one of the first things your parents ever taught you. A relative handed you a piece of candy or gave you a compliment and your parents were on top of you: "And what do you say?"

Most of us reached our pinnacle of thankfulness when we were four, which is why I will be your parent today.

When someone lets you squeeze into congested traffic, what do you say?

When you have to pay your taxes, what do you say?

When you realize that God created you, brought you into being and gives you every breath you take, what do you say?

When you walk, see, cry, laugh and love, what do you say?

When you look around the table at the loved ones gathered, what do you say?

When you realize that the God of all creation cares about you and died on a cross for you,
what do you say?

Dear God, thank you. Amen.

Peter Geisendorfer-Lindgren

Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Maple Grove, Minn.

Master of Divinity, 1983


Psalm 26 (NRSV)

1 Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and mind.
3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you.
4 I do not sit with the worthless, nor do I consort with hypocrites;
5 I hate the company of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands in innocence, and go around your altar, O Lord,
7 singing aloud a song of thanksgiving, and telling all your wondrous deeds.
8 O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell, and the place where your glory abides.
9 Do not sweep me away with sinners, nor my life with the bloodthirsty,
10 those in whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me.
12 My foot stands on level ground; in the great congregation I will bless the Lord.

Today I am thankful for............my Lord, God, powerful and holy One and the prayers that keep me close to him.

God Pause- Taste and See

A quick lesson from God Pause this Sunday as I am wishing for communion and praying for thanks.


"O taste and see that the Lord is good." (Psalm 34:8)

Psalm 34: 1-9

Bread of Life, we give you thanks for all the ways you nourish us. Help us to feast on your love in community and welcome all to the table.
Amen.
My husband's family shares a love of food. He is an avid follower of the Food Network. His brother is always on the lookout for "the best" restaurant, recipe or product. His mother prepares meal plans days in advance of our visits. All of this makes sharing meals with them tremendously enjoyable. They really savor their food and help me appreciate mine.

In the same way, the body of Christ can help us to savor and appreciate the feast of love that God lays out before us. We are fed and nourished by Holy Communion, the words of Scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit. But when we share the joy of these things with others we are much more richly blessed. The body of Christ helps us to savor God's goodness and invite others into the feast.
Amy Zalk Larson
Campus Pastor, Luther College
Master of Divinity, 2000

Psalm 34: 1-9 (NRSV)

1 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.

3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.

5 Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.

6 This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble.

7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.

9 O fear the Lord, you his holy ones, for those who fear him have no want.

God Pause

Every day I receive a daily devotional in my email inbox through Luther Seminary called God Pause. I love receiving it in my email because my days vary so much in work and activities that I don't necessarily have 30 min of each day to spend doing daily devotionals, and I don't want to carry around a book with me all day to try to find time for it. However, each day there is certainly enough downtime to open my email and devote a quiet moment to thought and prayer. While some of you may think this is the slackers way out, it works for me.

I've save the ones that speak to me in one way or another, and I thought I'd share a few here from time to time. I thought this was perfect for today, as I am finding myself wanting a lot lately- new fall clothes, new upholstery for the furniture, a new job, a new workout routine, etc. The 23rd is one of my favorite Psalms, but I've never, ever broken it down to the individual verses. Who isn't always wanting for something? Am I trying to fill myself with things rather than God? How can I devote more of myself to his purpose rather than to internet shopping?

Psalm 23:1
The Lord is my Shephard, I shall not want

When given the assigned texts for this week I had to ask if today's reading was the entire twenty-third Psalm or just the first verse? To my disappointment, I was told it was only the first verse. It would have been much easier to write about the Lord leading me beside still waters to take a nap in a lush green pasture, instead of a single verse ending with "I shall not want." I do want...all sorts of things, all the time. That is why I/we need the first five words of Psalm 23, "the Lord is my shepherd." More than the words, we need the guiding presence of the One to whom they refer ("the Word"). When we are led by the Spirit we are not only free from sin and death, we can even experience freedom from our wants. (Well, except for the flat-screen TV I want, but God wants me to have that, right?)

Heavenly Father, leading Spirit, shepherding Savior, help guide me toward the things I need and that only you can give; eternal nourishment, rest and forgiveness. Amen .
Andy Jolivette
Associate Director of Admissions, Luther Seminary
Master of Arts, 2008