Tag Archives: Life

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 9:53 am on August 20, 2015
Tags: , , Life   

Empty Shell — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

image

I have come to see the empty shell
Abandoned either for Heaven or Hell
Or some existence beyond our sight
And beyond our perilous fancies flight.

The face is clearly yours my friend
I know every crease from end to end;
But it lacks that certain animated tone
That uniquely separates life from stone.

I see the hint of a passing smile
Pasted on with makeup, thread and wire;
Could it be that death can bring joy
Or is this well-place wax a ploy?

I have so much to tell you now
If only you can hear somehow;
I suppose you are still here, still near
That even death will not interfere.

So hear me out while I have the chance
You have moved on to the eternal dance
Crossed through the gate from life to death
While we journey on….you will rest.

Tho’, that is not my thought of death
I do not think that you will rest;
Instead I sense your journey anew
Into places this earth just cannot view

You will see dimensions that redefine glory
When I see you there, you will tell a story
Of creatures, stars, and unearthly places
Not glimpsed by our eyes or felt by our senses…

You see, death will never be the end we dread
You leave us here — yes we say “You are dead”
But you live now in other places of glory
Death Be Not Proud – for life is your story.

So, I will miss you but, you do not care
One more time I reach out to brush your hair;
Then close the casket and say goodbye
If we must be born, then we also must die.

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on July 26, 2015
Tags: , , , Life, , ,   

Where? — Rev. David J. Schreffler

July 26, 2015
Sunday

“When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.”  John 6:5-10a

“The story of the feeding of the 5000 appears in all four gospels, but only John’s gospel says the loaves and the fishes came from a boy. Like the New Testament widow who put her last two coins in the treasury, like the Old Testament widow who used the last of her meal and oil to make bread for Elijah, this young boy gives all he had. These three people are nameless, yet their acts of faith, trust and generosity are still remembered.” “Thoughts by Pastor Lisa” website March 24, 2011

“Gandhi used the spinning wheel as both physical embodiment and symbol for radical change. Today, the foundation for social justice is healthy food — our “spinning wheel” for the 21st century.” Francisco Ramos Stierle

Jesus said to his disciples “Where…?” Where will the bread come from? Where will the food come from? Where will we find things for all of the needs that we have? Where? Where? Where? The answer for the feeding story comes in the form of the least likely source they could have thought of. Surely an adult, one of the disciples, or even a leader in the Synagogue would have an answer. Why did they not consider someone from the crowd? Because sometimes the most likely answer is right in front of us and we miss it — because it just doesn’t seem possible. But G*d is in the business of doing the impossible — one day’s oil lasting eight days — five loaves and two fish feeding 5000+ people. With all of the things that we do and don’t have, G*d can still work miracles — we just need to be willing to listen, and follow.

Pastor Dave