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| Free Radicals (Luke 6:26-46) |
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Dear Members of the Our Savior Lutheran Church Email Prayer Chain, Please contact the church office if you have an update on anyone on the Prayer List below. Thanks you for your help. Free Radicals"Woe to you when all men speak well of you..."--Luke 6:26How deep does my arrogance run? So deep that the biggest reason I've not yet written the book I've got jangling around in my brain is that deep down I still actually believe a complete impossibility: that hidden between my mind and my keyboard are the magic just-right words that will get everyone to agree. On everything. Or at least, on everything as I have interpreted it. The words that will get Christians to start treating sinners as they treat themselves, and sinners to stop sinning. Phrases that will be so beautifully turned that neither liberal nor conservative will have aught to say about them. A book that will bring everyone together and that, most importantly, will not cause anyone to write me nasty letters, claim I am deluded, or call me an idiot. The irony, of course, is that my goal is already shot. The ideal itself is delusional, and pure idiocy. And as the saying goes, if you want everyone to like you, nobody will. So what should be the goal? Well, truth, sure. And being obedient to just be the vehicle through which God wants to impart a particular take on His Truth. But why is that so hard? I think it's because Jesus, Who already lived here before me, Whose words are already recorded for anyone to read, and Who called Himself 'the Truth,' gave us a version of how to walk on this planet that is so contrary, so impractical, so frustratingly (if I hope to be honest about it) radical. Beginning with what I already admitted at the top of this devotional, bear with me as I turn Christ's Great Sermon from Luke 6 into something of a dialogue... Jesus (vs. 26): Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for in the same way their fathers used to treat the false prophets. Me: Ew. Cut to the chase, why don't You. So I've set myself on the path of the false prophet, have I? Swell; I knew I couldn't trust myself. But Lord, anything else I say or write or do is going to lead to having enemies, people who are upset with me. What do I do about that? Jesus (vs. 27-28): Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Me: Oh. So it's an action thing. Pretty mind-boggling concepts. I can't help but notice You didn't say, "bash those jerks' heads in with rightness." Because that feels more natural, Lord. But assuming You're on to something, what does that look like? Jesus (vs. 29-30): Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Me: Yeah, ya see, the thing is, Lord... there's a lot of people who might take advantage of that. And what in the world are You saying that there might be people who want to hit me on the face? Is that what I signed up for in following You? I gotta be honest, it doesn't sound like a very comfortable, or even practical, way of living in this day and age, this country, this world. Can't you simplify it for me? Jesus (vs. 31-33): Just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way. And if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. Me: Wow, that just blows my mind, Lord. Of course You're right... what is there to separate me at all from anyone else, even the most vile of sinners, except how I react to situations and treat people? But don't You know how hard this would be? What am I saying... of course You do..., but... please forgive me for saying so, Lord, but it just feels like giving some bully my coat, shirt, or other cheek is somehow crazier, tougher, more insane in 2009 America than first-century Jerusalem. I hate asking, but if I'm gonna commit to this, I gotta know... what's in it for me? Jesus (vs. 35, 37-38): Love your enemies and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men... Do not judge and you will not be judged... pardon, and you will be pardoned... Give, and it will be given to you. Me: Man... and here I was thinking that I was the one who needed to come up with the words that helped us treat sinners as ourselves, and to what ends. You truly have covered all things and lived all things, Lord. Now, I just wonder, Lord, if I can really do this, even for the rewards You promise. Jesus (vs. 46): Why do you call me, "Lord, Lord" and do not do what I say? Me: Because it's so contrary, upside-down, and radical that it's seriously hard to trust... even to trust You, Lord. It just seems like there's so much to lose. Help me to be free. Help me to take this risk, to think not of myself, my safety, my comfort first, to love people as You love them. It's like You were fortunate to "have no place to lay your head." But still, despite my handicaps, I want to try, Lord... I want to try. REFLECTIONSNow here's a challenge -- but it's straight from the mouth of Christ: the next time you are wronged, hurt, or had something taken from you... can you give the person responsible even MORE of what they took? And believe you'll be blessed for it? And if not, why not?PRAYER REQUESTS -- Week of September 6, 2009* Indicates a new or updated prayer requestFOR THOSE WHO LOOK TO THE LORD FOR HEALING*Pastor Lee Berndt Recovering from surgery*Ava Young [Friend of Sharon Wahlbrink] Praising God that Ava is a 21 month old returned home at the beginning of the week and has no brain damage from the accident *Lt. Daniel Berschinski [Fellow soldier of Matt Keuker] injured in IED explosion, being treated at Walter Reed Nora Horecny Recovering from surgery Phil Ritz [Friend of Joe and Doris Deuth] recovering from a heart attack Joanne Leeming [Cousin of Karen Shorter] Healing from a stroke and Lymphoma Spencer Douglas Healing of his leg laceration and for pain management Steve Harrison [Father of Liz Nickel] Recovering at home Joe Kierstead [Relative of the Belza’s] Fighting metastatic lung cancer (prognosis poor) Hannah Dirkse [Friend of the Detroy’s] 18 yrs. old diagnosed with Leukemia David Cheek [Friend of Caron Fausel] Recovering from very serious injuries Sharon Cheek [Friend of Caron Fausel] Trying to deal with her brother, David’s injuries Molly Pierce [Friend of Chapin Fausel] suffering seizures and is undergoing testing to determine the cause Markus Puhakka Recovering from broken wrist and arm from a playground fall Jean Albers [Sister-in-law of Velma Claus] recovering from hip replacement surgery Christian Mehl [Son of Dave and Diane Mehl] undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma Bill Griffin Suffering from an infected foot that is not healing Frank Walker Recovering at home after extended rehab from injuries in a car accident Jim Trotter [Father of Aaron Trotter] heart concerns Susan Creel Taggart [Friend of Paul Nickel] recovering from spinal surgery Austin Speaker [Grandson of Billie and Harvey Detroy] recovering from hip surgery after an accident Phyllis Kenrieck [Aunt of Mark Whitsett] hospitalized in critical condition with health concerns Bob Wolke [Brother of Pat Otten] suffering from severe pain Ty Hassler, Jr. [Friend of the Lindgren’s] health and life concerns Orval Bestian [Brother of Shirley Atkins] heart problems Kay Mitchell [Friend of Barbe Lamkin] major health concerns Kim Hunter [Friend of Pat Kuecker] 37 yr. old suffering from multiple health concerns Karen Jackson [Friend of Melissa Nelson] waiting for a transplant Mary McKenzie [Friend of the Kaulitz Family] small child with a heart defect FOR NEW LIFE*For the birth of Elijah Zachary Perkins, on August 31, to Jodi and Mick Perkins, grandson of David and Ginny AdamsFOR THOSE WHO MOURN*For the family of Tammy Reynolds, co-worker of Pat Otten, who’s son was killed in a car accident.FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM CANCERThomas Davidson, Christian Mehl, Phil Sanders, Barbara Robertson, Lorna Benkendorf, Ruth Smith, Laura Webster, Lu Aiella, Jim Bush, Kay Mitchell, Leona Walker, Pam Russo, Brock Douglas, Joan Beck, Judy O’Neil, Kim Phillips, Karen Gardner, Roger, Sue Sexton, Jana Maher, Warren Mounts, Joe Howley, Judi Rice, Jack Quinlan, Mark Hayden, Joanne Leeming, Venessa Brady, Joey Eckler, Jim SiegfriedFOR THOSE SUFFERING CHRONIC ILLNESSBill Berger, Ben Hutto, Daniel Shorter, Bob Farley, Christopher, Lance Muessle, Erin Brady Worsham, Nick Zimmer, ReinhartFOR THOSE CONFINED AT HOME, A NURSING HOME OR REHABILITATION CENTEREldon Tappendorf, Dorothy Ordel, Mary Rose Crask, Jim Ashley, Ricky Hayes, Inge Kaulitz, Lydia Eggers, Mim Hawkinson, Nancy Heiden, Erna Kelley, Myrtle Wiggins, Glenna Goepfert, Elvera Weltzin, Jerry and Marge Tauscher, Isabella Tappendorf, Virginia Alexander, Helen, John Smith, Dennis KrauseFOR THOSE SERVING IN THE MILITARYMatthew Kuecker, Jason, Chris and Kim Wolter, Matt Fitzgibbon, Zachary Holland, Joshua Burkett, Roy Oberhaus, Don Wheeler, Lori Alix, James Marshburn, Tony Crespo, Donnie Tyler, Zachary Holland, Michael Alexander, Jeffrey DavisAnd the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. --1 Peter 5:10-11 In Christ, Paul E. Nickel Director of Christian Education Our Savior Lutheran Church |