Monthly Archives: May 2015

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on May 25, 2015
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Worth Troubling About — Rev. David J. Schreffler

May 25, 2015

“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s will. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.” Matthew 10:28 – 30

“So long as we are hated, we are worth troubling about. The church that would give only a moral tone to secular movements can die of its own inanition. If the pagan forces of the world left us untouched, if they did not calumniate (defame) us, seek to destroy us, set up rival claimants to the soul, it would mean that we would have lost our influence, that our touch was gone, our stars did no longer shine.” Fulton J. Sheen (1895 – 1979) “For All The Saints” volume IV (p. 27-27)

Fulton J. Sheen – Venerable Fulton John Sheen (born Peter John Sheen, May 8, 1895 – December 9, 1979) was an American bishop (later archbishop) of the Roman Catholic Church known for his preaching and especially his work on television and radio. “So long as we are hated, we are worth troubling about.” Fulton Sheen goes on to say “The Church can still make the evil forces of the world angry.” One way that we know that we are making a difference in spreading the Gospel of Jesus is how much evil tries to slow us down if not try to entirely knock us off course. Jesus is teaching his disciples the fact that being people of “the way” is not going to be easy sailing. And yet, the Father does not forsake us or forget about us. Now that does not mean that in the midst of the storms of our lives we may feel as if we are sailing all alone. But Christ is always with us – and when evil forces step forward to try to sink us, we have the pleasure of knowing that Christ has won the battle already.

Recently my wife and I experienced the presence of evil in the midst of a family emergency. The effect and the presence of evil was so noticeable we knew what was facing us in the process of trying to seek help for this family member. But as we persevered, we found that evil was defeated through the presence of peace, prayer, and love. Evil does not like peace, prayer and love. Be an agent of peace, prayer and love today and make evil angry.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on May 24, 2015  

Pentecost — Rev. David J. Schreffler

May 24, 2015 — Pentecost Sunday

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.” Acts 2:1 – 4

“The power of the Holy Spirit was upon them… manifest in a violent wind and tongues of fire. But more significant than the pyrotechnics was the infusion of evangelical brilliance and energy. God the Advocate filled them and sent them out to preach and to teach with infinite wisdom, zeal and courage. The apostles… those ordinary guys… those cowards… those betrayers… those numb skulls… had become inspired evangelists, fearless missionaries, carriers of the new covenant, living witnesses to our redemption. In gospels from Ash Wednesday to Pentecost, we have observed the spiritual growth of the apostles. Miraculously they have learned so much and come so far. But how much have we learned? How far have we come?” The Reverend David F. Sellery, “This Week’s Focus” “As the Spirit gave them ability”.

The Holy spirit is able to give us many gifts, many abilities, and many opportunities. During the day of Pentecost, the disciples had gathered in one room for this celebration. But the celebration is interrupted by G*d – and G*d gives them a gift. These disciples, now Apostles, those who are “sent out ones” have come from being “Keystone Cops” to being “evangelists and fearless missionaries”. They have come a long way. And then Reverend Sellery asks the pointed question “How far have we come?”

We hear each Sunday about the Grace of G*d that comes through the person of Jesus Christ. It is because Christ has done this for us that we should be “out there” doing the ministry and living the lives that G*d would want us to do and to live. Many people are sitting on their gifts, I believe, rather than using them in ministry and putting them into practice on a regular basis. There are many competing voices wanting our attention, wanting us to be involved in many ways that do nothing for our learning and faith development. When we look at the Apostles as examples, we see people who seemed witless and incapable of understanding, who, upon receiving the Holy Spirit are changed – transformed into evangelists. The same Spirit can work in our lives as well.

Pastor Dave