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September 6 Worship

8/31/2015

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The story of Helen Keller is remarkable.  It's amazing how she was able to develop despite her disability. Not being able to hear can impose limitations on a person's ability to function and enjoy life overall.

In our Gospel reading for this Sunday (Mark 7:24-37), we read of a man who was both deaf and mute. His friends bring him to Jesus and his condition is restored to wholeness.  His life is changed.  Here is the account:

"They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him.  He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue.  Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, 'Ephphatha,' that is, 'Be opened.'  And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly."   Mark 7:32-37

This man was helpless by himself to be healed.  In the story, it is also mentioned that there were people who brought this deaf and mute man to Jesus.  I would ask you to reflect here on what it means to bring someone to Jesus for whom you know there is brokenness.   In addition to someone who is ill, it might be one who has lost one's job or one who has experienced a relationship that has broken down.  Think of what Jesus might offer this person and how this person's life might be changed through an encounter with the Lord.

I believe, too, we must also hear Jesus saying to us, "Be opened."  Amid all the noise of our world and our attention on earthly things, we need to listen for what God might be speaking to us as well as being attentive to the cries of others.  I hope you can spend some time meditating on these words and may God's blessing be upon your worship this Sunday.

Pastor Marty
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August 30 Worship

8/24/2015

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Rituals and traditions abound in our lives, whether in our families or in the church.  Some of them may have become "sacred" and are considered a must do and get passed down to the next generation.  Consider the traditions you might have with celebrating the holidays in your family.  It might be terribly difficult to change any of them!

Our Gospel reading for this Sunday (Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23) brings us to Jesus dealing with human traditions.  The Pharisees and scribes had criticized Jesus' disciples for not washing their hands before eating.  There are religious overtones here as opposed to concerns about hygiene.  Eating with dirty hands would defile a person.

We note how Jesus responds here: "Listen to me, all of you, and understand; there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile. For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly.  All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."   Mark 7:14-23

Yes, it's all about the heart.  We all need to look within ourselves to the potential that we have for evil.  No one is exempt.

The good news here is that our lives can be under control.  It is the love of Christ that can control us.  His influence can make the difference in terms of our outward behavior.  But our hearts must first be right with Christ.

I invite you to meditate upon these words of Jesus and may God's blessing be upon your contemplation and worship this Sunday.

Pastor Marty



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August 16 Worship

8/10/2015

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Where do you seek wisdom?  Do you find it within yourself?  From your own experiences?  From friends you trust?

This Sunday, we are invited to a banquet given by Wisdom as we find in our reading from Proverbs 9:1-6.  Wisdom becomes personified in these words:

"Wisdom has built her house,
she has hewn her seven pillars.
She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls from the highest places in the town,
'You that are simple, turn in here!'
To those without sense she says,
'Come, eat my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.
Lay aside immaturity and live,
 and walk in the way of insight.'"

Wisdom might be the highest form of knowledge regarding how to live. You simply don't live foolishly. You come to make smart decisions.  You don't necessarily think short-term, but long term.  You do what matters for the kingdom of God.  You seek wisdom from God.

There may be many sources for which we turn for wisdom. However, nothing compares to what we find in Scripture - particularly in the book of Proverbs.  It is here that Solomon gives much practical advice on how to live God's kind of life.


I would encourage you to analyze your own life and see if you need to become wise in terms of what you are doing.  You might want to begin reading the book of Proverbs to note what Solomon suggests.

May God's blessing be upon your study of thse words of Scripture and your worship this Sunday.

Pastor Marty



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August 9 Worship

8/3/2015

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There comes a time I believe for all of us when weariness starts to come upon us - to the point where we no longer want to continue on in life.   It might be that we feel nothing will change for the better in our families or we feel that our dreams just will never materialize.

This Sunday would remind us that you and I are not alone.  The prophet Elijah was human just like you and me.  He faced a discouraging time in his own life after he was on a spiritual high.  Here are the words from our text:

"Elijah went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree.  He asked that he might die:  'It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.' Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep."   1 Kings 4 - 5a.

Elijah, after having shown victory over the god Baal on Mt. Carmel, was on the run as King Ahab's wife, Jezebel, was out to kill him in revenge.  Elijah may have been caught up in despair, but this is not the end of the story, where he is just in a hopeless state.  It was God who intervened.  An angel came and provided food for Elijah.  Here is how it's stated:

"Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, 'Get up and eat.'  He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked  on hot stones, and a jar of water.  He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, 'Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you..'"  1 Kings 19:5b - 8

Yes, God can intervene in our lives to turn things around.  This will be the theme I will explore this Sunday.  You might be afflicted with weariness right now; or if not, you can be prepared for when it will come.  May God's blessing be upon your reflection of this text and your worship this Sunday.

Pastor Marty
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    I invite you to reflect on these words of Scripture in preparing for worship.

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    Pastor Marty Pauschke

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