Daily Archives: January 23, 2015

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 5:00 pm on January 23, 2015  

I Would Prefer Not To… – Rev. David J. Schreffler

I stare at the wall
Each crack a friend;
The blood red bricks
Run on without end.

The wall welcomes me
its silence I crave;
In stillness I linger
Day after day.

This brick is broken
That one in pieces;
There is no end –
it never ceases.

As darkness envelopes
My wall of misery,
Soon I will leave
With one discovery.

Day after day
That I live, I strive,
To write and to say
What I need to survive.

I would prefer NOT
To lose hope; so I must,
Remember I was bought
With the Cross of Christ.

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:39 am on January 23, 2015  

Un-Roof the Roof – Rev. David J. Schreffler

January 23, 2015

“When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them.” Mark 2:1ff

Oh to enter into the Nave of the church on a Sunday morning to see that every pew is filled – that there is no room even to stand – and that the crowd continues into the Narthex – even out the door. As a pastor, it warms the heart to think that one day this might become the reality in your congregation. And yet, this is not why we preach the word – to develop a huge following. We preach the Word because so many in our society need to Hear the Word – need to have some contact with Jesus.

In the text mentioned above, there was a man whom his friends determined needed to see Jesus – and these friends were “determined”. The news of Jesus and his healings had spread so rapidly that where ever Jesus went, a huge crowd followed. When it was reported that he was at home, or in a home, the locals came out “en masse”. Being blocked from getting access to Jesus, the friends “Un-roofed the roof” (that is what the Greek says). Once inside, the man benefited from seeing Jesus, hearing Jesus, being with Jesus.

Do you have a friend who “needs” Jesus? Do you know someone who would benefit from hearing, seeing, or being with Jesus? You can “be” the Word simply by living out the life of a Christian. Or, you can invite them to come to Church – Pray with them – share the Word with them. Sometimes we all need a friend who is willing to “Un-roof” our lives and let the blessings from Jesus flow down.

Pastor Dave