Tag Archives: perseverence

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on January 20, 2016
Tags: , perseverence   

Stretching Is Good — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

January 20, 2016

“The Israelites left the desert and moved from one place to another each time the LORD ordered them to. Once they camped at Rephidim,[a] but there was no water for them to drink. The people started complaining to Moses, “Give us some water!” Moses replied, “Why are you complaining to me and trying to put the LORD to the test?” But the people were thirsty and kept on complaining, “Moses, did you bring us out of Egypt just to let us and our families and our animals die of thirst?” Then Moses prayed to the LORD, “What am I going to do with these people? They are about to stone me to death!” Exodus 17:1-4

Change is rarely easy when the change is necessary – when the change comes from outside our own thinking. Though the Israelites were not happy being slaves in Egypt, still their needs were provided and they were cared for. However, the more they grew in number, the more Egypt would likely oppress them. So, it was necessary for G-d to send Moses to free them from slavery and set them on the path to freedom. And so they followed – though we could say they were reluctant to the change in environment – and their fears usually came out in the form of complaints. “We have no water to drink”. “We are tired of this manna”.

When You begin something new, like taking on a bible reading plan, it often comes with some complaining. “I don’t have the time to read”. “I just don’t understand it anyway”.

Starting something new is taking the step towards stretching yourself beyond your comfort zone. And just resolve yourself to the reality that you will struggle with some of what you read, you will not understand some of what you read, and you will be enriched by most of what you read.

“If you are tired of starting over, then just stop giving up.” This is one of my favorite quotes from the instructor on the exercise program my wife and I are currently following. And, as Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given, seek and you shall find.”

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on January 8, 2016
Tags: , perseverence   

Where Have They All Gone? — Rev. David J. Schreffler

(picture by Bill Hoover)

January 8, 2016

“Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:11-19

Ten lepers see Jesus coming into their village – and standing far off, as the lepers were required to do, they implore Jesus “Have mercy on us!” Looking at them, Jesus tells them “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And they ran off – and while they were running, they were healed.  It is a wonderful story of healing, but a different and truly unique story of healing. Jesus does not lay his hands on them, nor does he pray over them. He simply tells them to go, and they do, and while they are leaving for the Temple, they are healed. It is a healing of absence – it is absent of details, it is even absent of the presence of Jesus. It is unique in the healing stories of Jesus. But then the story takes a turn – for as they recognized that they were healed, only one of them, only one of the ten returns to Jesus to say “Thank you” (he actually drops to his knees and praises G-d). And Jesus says “Where have the others gone?”  As you are embarking on the effort to read the bible daily, you may have linked up with another person – or maybe several people – because there is strength in numbers. Having others to join you keeps you all honest, and focused, and on track. But, maybe some have already dropped out, and given up. And you are wondering, like Jesus, “Where have the others gone?”

Not everyone is able to do the right thing — the right thing being staying connected to Jesus, the Word made flesh. While ten may begin the journey, coming to read about Jesus every day, there will be times where you find yourself alone – feeling abandoned. Or, maybe you just feel as if Jesus is absent in this process. If you have promised yourself you are going to read the bible daily this year, you have embarked on a difficult and enriching journey. You may have started with company, and now you are alone in the forest that is G-d’s word. Often the things that are worthwhile doing are difficult – and as you know, it is in the process of the journey that we discover more about ourselves than we imagined we might ever learn. Stay engaged – stay in the journey – or as basketball coach Jim Valvano famously said “Don’t give up – don’t ever give up”.
Pastor Dave