Monthly Archives: July 2015

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on July 15, 2015
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A Battle of the Wills — Rev. David J. Schreffler

July 15, 2015

“Peter said…”Lo, we have left everything and followed you. What then shall we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and the last first.” Matthew 19:27-30

“Christianity proposes a radically different point of departure for a new life. When we fail to make sense of our lives, the failure can be attributed much of the time to random and wayward emotions and also to the absence of virtue, to vices and moral formlessness. In the familiar human muddle, seriousness about willing one’s redemption looks like the way to make one’s life worthy again. What is involved is daring to let G*d and G*d’s will govern and discipline my life when I tend to botch the job. That is a matter of giving up my willing and giving G*d’s will the energizing role….” Paul L. Holmer (1916 – ) “For All The Saints”, volume IV (p. 204 – 205)

Giving our lives to Christ, and then demanding our own way, or trying to command the ship on our own is not “leaving everything and following Jesus”, as the disciples did. It seems to me that, being a disciple of Christ is going to involve a constant “battle of the wills” — G*d’s will vs. our own will. Now, that may sound easy, as if we can decide each and every day to follow Jesus — and our lives will be great. Well, for some people that may be true. But I am reminded of the battles that rage in my mind and in my body — for example the battle of wills between eating right, and eating what I want — the battle of wills between exercising and doing what I want. If it were so easy to eat what I should and exercising like I should, I would be much healthier and slimmer (not that my body type matters). But anyone who has made a vow on December 31st to make serious changes in their lives understands (by about January 15) how difficult it is to maintain the will to change.

Listening to the “will” of G*d and then making good on following that “will” is a calling we all struggle to follow. It requires listening each and every day to the voice of G*d who wants us to join our wills with the divine’s.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on July 14, 2015
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Yes, The Bible, But Not Just….– Rev. David J. Schreffler

July 14, 2015

“Jesus said to the multitudes, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be a scorching heat’; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky; but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” Luke 12:54-56

“Why…must the Bible lie alone in your study? Is not the spirit of the saints, the piety of the holy followers of Jesus Christ, as good and necessary a means of entering into the spirit and taste of the Gospel as the reading of the ancients is of entering into the spirit of antiquity? Is not the spirit of poetry to be got only by much reading of poets and orators? And is not the spirit of devotion to be got in the same way, by frequently reading the holy thoughts and fervent expressions of devout persons?” “A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life”, 1728 William Law (1686 – 1761) “For All The Saints” volume IV (p. 195-196)

What is Jesus saying to the multitudes? What is he saying except that understanding the ways of G*d requires the same devotion that we put into anything else that truly matters in our lives. The people of the first century were people of the land — thus they knew how to interpret all conditions that might affect their way of life. The same is true, Jesus says, in understanding and interpreting the ways of G*d, if we call ourselves “people of G*d”. Jesus was saying that there is an intuition to understanding how the events of our lives play out. Just as we know there often is a rainbow after a rain shower, if the sun shines in just the right way, so we might have our faith brightened if we read about people who have also experienced their faith in response to life experiences. Strong faith can be a combination of knowing and of intuition — intuition from living and learning.

So, we learn about G*d’s ways through the bible — and we learn about life from living with and experiencing life and faith with those who are also trying to apply G*d’s ways into their everyday lives. There are plenty of books today that can be companion reads to the bible — books about the saints, and books about people and their experiences with faith.

Pastor Dave