“The Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way...'
“The seventy returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!'” Luke 10:1-3a, 17.
Go and return with joy! That's the rhythm of mission. It seems especially poignant right now. I'm writing the day before we board the bus to begin the journey that will take us to serve our neighbors in Berlin, Germany.
I wish I could say that I was ready to go, but, alas, a night and a morning of organizing and packing remains. Details, details...
But I am ready to serve! I love to serve. I'm not quite sure but I think this is the 14th mission trip I have been on. It is the 3rd one to a foreign country. Though the total numbers are a little fuzzy, with everyone of those trips I have returned with joy.
There has been joy over work accomplished, but far more joy over seeing Jesus in the face of others and in some way being Jesus to others. These are times of intentionally incarnating the love of Jesus. It is so fulfilling and uplifting. In fact one of the most common expressions of those I have known on mission trips is, “I received far more than I gave.”
It feels that good to serve in Jesus' name!
But we need not limit that experience to mission trips. Every day is a day in which you are in mission for Jesus. Every day is a day in which you can share the love and acceptance of Jesus. Every day is a day in which you can see the face of Jesus in your neighbor. Every day is a day in which you can practice loving the Lord you God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul and all your strength; and love your neighbor as yourself>
Every day! Even today! Even tomorrow!
You've been called to be children of God and ambassadors for the gospel. You've been sent! Now go, then return to share your joy!
In Christ's Amazing Grace,
Jeff Silvernail
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Nothing is Certain Except Taxes 3/24/10
This year was the first year in some years that we haven't had an accountant do our taxes. Fortunately in the intervening years the comprehensive on-line tax services have made the process relatively easy – even for those of us who have to factor in all of the clergy complications. Relatively easy – that is like a root canal is relatively easy with Novocaine. The pain is lessened but you still have to put yourself through it.
Like it or not, whether you expect a refund or not, we have to put ourselves through it because as the old adage says, “There is nothing certain except death and taxes.”
Mary Magdalene and the other women knew both realities. That had certainly dealt with their share of tax collectors over the years. You could curse them, hate them and maybe even try to avoid them but sooner or later you had to pay the piper. Now they knew it with death. No one wanted to hear Jesus talk about his death, not Peter or the others, and certainly not Mary.
Avoidance felt so comforting until the cold, hard reality of Friday stretched now to Sunday morning. Still, as unpleasant as the prospect was there were things that had to be done for a body – it was only right.
Luke 24:1-8 (The Message)
1-3At the crack of dawn on Sunday, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared. They found the entrance stone rolled back from the tomb, so they walked in. But once inside, they couldn't find the body of the Master Jesus. 4-8They were puzzled, wondering what to make of this. Then, out of nowhere it seemed, two men, light cascading over them, stood there. The women were awestruck and bowed down in worship. The men said, "Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up. Remember how he told you when you were still back in Galilee that he had to be handed over to sinners, be killed on a cross, and in three days rise up?" Then they remembered Jesus' words.
Jesus is risen! Jesus is alive – and that changes everything. Burial spices are forgotten – who needs them? Fearful disciples are filled with courage to tell the world about Jesus. The bad news of death is canceled with the good news of life for all who will receive it. The one who was buried is alive and has changed the world. Jesus continues to change the world. Jesus continues to change us and fill us with life, and make us ready for the coming of his Kingdom when I think he will settle that tax thing too.
Like it or not, whether you expect a refund or not, we have to put ourselves through it because as the old adage says, “There is nothing certain except death and taxes.”
Mary Magdalene and the other women knew both realities. That had certainly dealt with their share of tax collectors over the years. You could curse them, hate them and maybe even try to avoid them but sooner or later you had to pay the piper. Now they knew it with death. No one wanted to hear Jesus talk about his death, not Peter or the others, and certainly not Mary.
Avoidance felt so comforting until the cold, hard reality of Friday stretched now to Sunday morning. Still, as unpleasant as the prospect was there were things that had to be done for a body – it was only right.
Luke 24:1-8 (The Message)
1-3At the crack of dawn on Sunday, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared. They found the entrance stone rolled back from the tomb, so they walked in. But once inside, they couldn't find the body of the Master Jesus. 4-8They were puzzled, wondering what to make of this. Then, out of nowhere it seemed, two men, light cascading over them, stood there. The women were awestruck and bowed down in worship. The men said, "Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up. Remember how he told you when you were still back in Galilee that he had to be handed over to sinners, be killed on a cross, and in three days rise up?" Then they remembered Jesus' words.
Jesus is risen! Jesus is alive – and that changes everything. Burial spices are forgotten – who needs them? Fearful disciples are filled with courage to tell the world about Jesus. The bad news of death is canceled with the good news of life for all who will receive it. The one who was buried is alive and has changed the world. Jesus continues to change the world. Jesus continues to change us and fill us with life, and make us ready for the coming of his Kingdom when I think he will settle that tax thing too.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Being Neighbors, Our Response For Haiti 1-15-10
The initial reports on the 12th barely made the news, a 7.0 earthquake in Haiti. After all it was only a few days ago we heard of a 6. something quake off from California there caused only minimal damage. The days following though, unveiled the horror that had been unleashed upon our impoverished neighbor.
“And who is my neighbor?” So asked the teacher of the law to Jesus. He had already gotten his gold star, he gave Jesus a great answer to a question: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.”
“Do this and you will live,” responded Jesus.
I picture him beaming. Then the realization hit – that's a lot, too much even. There has to be limits. “Who is my neighbor?”
In response Jesus told the Parable of the Good Samaritan. (You can read the whole story in Luke 10:25-37.) Jesus concluded the parable with another question. “Who was neighbor to the one who fell into the hands of robbers.”
The teacher of the law responded, “The one who showed mercy.”
By now it is obvious that the poorest country in North America has suffered a cataclysm. Tens of thousands are dead and what little infrastructure Haiti had was largely destroyed. We, as people of faith ask, “What can we do?”
The US government is helping, corporations and entertainment figures are helping, but what can we do?
It is a great question because there is a vital role for the faith community. In fact, church related ministries are often the most effective at reaching the people in need and in assisting with recovery that will best meet the needs of the people – our neighbors. Often the highest percentage of your donation will be delivered. My own denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has promised that 100% of contributions to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund will go to help victims. I'm sure we aren't alone in this.
Our faith based relief agencies across multiple denominations were there long before the quake and we will continue to be there long after the gaze of the news media has moved on.
Here's is what we can do as neighbors. Bring a donation to your church this Sunday designated for Haiti. Your finance people will know what to do to see that it gets to the proper agency. If you can't come to church this week call your church office for instructions on how to give, or check the website of your church or denomination.
The ELCA's relief fund may be found at https://community.elca.org/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=538
Together, in showing mercy, we can be neighbors.
“And who is my neighbor?” So asked the teacher of the law to Jesus. He had already gotten his gold star, he gave Jesus a great answer to a question: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.”
“Do this and you will live,” responded Jesus.
I picture him beaming. Then the realization hit – that's a lot, too much even. There has to be limits. “Who is my neighbor?”
In response Jesus told the Parable of the Good Samaritan. (You can read the whole story in Luke 10:25-37.) Jesus concluded the parable with another question. “Who was neighbor to the one who fell into the hands of robbers.”
The teacher of the law responded, “The one who showed mercy.”
By now it is obvious that the poorest country in North America has suffered a cataclysm. Tens of thousands are dead and what little infrastructure Haiti had was largely destroyed. We, as people of faith ask, “What can we do?”
The US government is helping, corporations and entertainment figures are helping, but what can we do?
It is a great question because there is a vital role for the faith community. In fact, church related ministries are often the most effective at reaching the people in need and in assisting with recovery that will best meet the needs of the people – our neighbors. Often the highest percentage of your donation will be delivered. My own denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has promised that 100% of contributions to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund will go to help victims. I'm sure we aren't alone in this.
Our faith based relief agencies across multiple denominations were there long before the quake and we will continue to be there long after the gaze of the news media has moved on.
Here's is what we can do as neighbors. Bring a donation to your church this Sunday designated for Haiti. Your finance people will know what to do to see that it gets to the proper agency. If you can't come to church this week call your church office for instructions on how to give, or check the website of your church or denomination.
The ELCA's relief fund may be found at https://community.elca.org/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=538
Together, in showing mercy, we can be neighbors.
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