August 25, 2022 – Matthew 4:3, The Funny Shape of Faith

“The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” Matthew 4:3

“How long do you follow your New Year’s resolutions? Or maybe you don’t make any resolutions so you won’t have to worry about breaking them! When our lives get crazy-busy or just plain hard, we crack. Our resolutions and good intentions get shaky. Maybe we keep on doing something we know is wrong. Our faith might feel wobbly, too. Once we cave in, what’s left? Well, actually, a lot. Jesus, who knows what it’s like to be tempted, is there for us even in the toughest of times, with forgiveness, strength, and a new start.” Laurie Hanson. The Funny Shape of Faith: Devotions for the Rest of Us (Kindle Locations 209-212). Kindle Edition.

Satan’s Cookies

Satan tried to offer Jesus food that any of us would have taken in a heart beat – especially having fasted for 40 days. It must have sounded like the best food ever offered to Jesus – I like to call it Satan’s Cookies. Imagine if Satan could bake – imagine how delicious his cookies would taste. The problem is, those cookies would be empty calories, truly empty food, empty promises, empty emptiness.

In his state of hunger, Jesus turned to the thing that feeds us more than any physical food – the word of G-d. Jesus came back at Satan again and again with the word that offers us Living Water and the Bread of Life.

Every Sunday we receive the bread of life in Holy Communion. Unfortunately too many of us treat that holy food as if it is also empty calories. We do not allow it to continue to fill us throughout the week. But the promises that the bread and wine symbolize are not empty – they are promises as real as the presence of Jesus in the bread and wine. It is holy food that can sustain us day after day. Remember, when life is beating you down, the Holy food we receive on Sunday offers us nothing less than the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation.

Let us pray,

Lord of the heavenly banquet, I need you day after day after day. See to my deepest needs and provide me the strength I need in times of weakness. Amen.

Pastor Dave

August 24, 2022 – John 14:12, The Funny Shape of Faith

“The one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12

“Martin Luther fought to correct a distorted view of God and faith. His namesake, Martin Luther King Jr., launched a civil rights revolution in America. Both of these men had opponents who tried to stop them and their radical ideas, but the movements they started continue on even today. When Martin Luther and Martin Luther King Jr. saw what was going wrong in the church and society, they worked to bring change. With Christ at work in us, we can do the same.”  Laurie Hanson. The Funny Shape of Faith: Devotions for the Rest of Us (Kindle Locations 207-209). Kindle Edition.

Hey Martin, You Clown

 Both Martin Luther and Martin Luther King Jr were people of revolutionary ideas and movements – and they both changed the world. Oh people tried to put them in their places. Martin Luther had a contract put on his head by King Charles V. Martin Luther King Jr was constantly living within a society who hated him – and eventually killed him. But they both had a higher calling – a calling above the normal calling.

I remember in seminary one of my classes the professor asked us to bring to class a visual image of how we saw our calling. I brought in my trumpet – suggesting I was trumpeting the good news of Jesus, or at least making a joyful noise. Another class member brought in a clown’s nose. He said even if we are making a fool of ourselves (from the perspective of so many), we are bringing the good news of Jesus to the world.

If you feel foolish talking about your faith, join the long line of people who have felt foolish being “clowns” for Jesus – some have given their lives for the privilege of preaching Christ crucified.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, what work will you seek from me that may make me feel foolish or feel really challenged? I wonder how I will handle my enemies and opponents. Today I ask that you walk with me, because I can do all things through you. Amen.

Pastor Dave