It's Good To Have a FRIEND TSOC 113010

TSOC 113010 It’s Good to have a Friend
Tuesday
November 30, 2010

Peter sings, “It’s good to have a friend.”
http://www.petermayer.com/AUDIO/MB/GoodToHaveAFriend.mp3

As the “story of Christmas” begins to unfold on a daily basis it’s good to add some
Spice into the mix. There is a book called the Wisdom of Sirach which didn’t make it into the 66 canonical books of the Old & New Testaments. However, in this book there are wise sayings. I am particularly fond of a line in chapter 6 verse 16,

A faithful friend is an elixir of life; and those who fear the Lord will find him.

I like the notion that a fried is the elixir or tonic or spice of life!

Peter sings, “It’s good to have a friend.”

Just stop for a moment and think about a friend of yours. Recall how he or she has been spice in your life. Conversely, spend a moment reflecting on how you have been a friend to another.

I have some cloves on my writing desk. I love the aroma they bring. I think of how on Easter Saturday I put the cloves in hot cross buns to represent the wounds of Christ.
My hands then give off a scent that is inviting and enticing. The cloves “stick out”
among the sweetness of the cross of icing.
In fact, the very name for cloves come from the French word for “nail.” You can learn more about cloves by checking out
http://www.food.com/library/clove-325

Jesus said, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends” (John 15:13). What Jesus is talking about is spicier and deeper much deeper than “friends” on Facebook. Jesus is talking about love which is passionate and contagious.
I think Jesus “nails” it when he reminds us that love is the spice we are looking for.

Peter sings, “It’s good to have a friend.”

In the “story of Christmas” which is unfolding in front of us on a daily basis you and I are called to befriend the friendless. We are invited to be friends in an amazing love story.
I hope and pray you accept the request to be a friend today.

Peter sings, “It’s good to have a friend.”

Joyfully,
Rtg

The Story of Christmas

by Peter Mayer

New colors dancing on evergreen branches
You feel a change in the wind
Brings new light to your eyes once again

A year full of meanwhiles, hard times, good smiles
Suddenly the yuletide is near
Creeps in quietly, soon undeniably catches your heart
You’re part of the story of Christmas

Chorus
Joyful day
A star to guide you, a song to remind you
The Joy will stay
Long past the turn of the page
In the story of Christmas

Ribbons and strings, cold frozen streams
Forgotten dreams running wild
When every Mother and Father is a child

The song of an angel, good cheer to a stranger
The ones you’ve known all the way
Coming back to the heart of the matter to scatter the whistles and
bells
You’re telling the story of Christmas
Chorus

GUIDING STAR TSOC 11292010 Monday

TSOC 112910 Guiding Star
Monday
November 29, 2010

Peter sings, “A star to guide you”

Abram was the Donald Trump of his day. Genesis 13:2 says, 2Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
The only problem in Abram’s mind was that he didn’t have an “apprentice” namely, a son, an heir to inherit the family business. So, once again he was singing the blues and complaining that everything would be grand if he only had a son when God dropped by for a visit in a vision. Here’s how Genesis 15 tells the story,
2But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3And Abram said, "You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir." 4But the word of the LORD came to him, "This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir." 5He brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness.
This my friends was the beginning of the Original Stars and Promises Tour!

Now here’s the deal. Abram and his wife were old. They had their AARP cards (Association of Aramean Retired People). They used them to get discounts on tent supplies, sheep dip and bbq sauce. But, God kept promising that they would have a child together. This promise backed up with the collateral of constellations of stars seemed like great foolishness. But, someway, somehow they believed (after laughing about it on numerous occasions). They laughed so hard they had to get elastic bandages to wrap their ribs which hurt from laughing, chuckling, guffawing and giggling again and again at the prospect of becoming parents at 100 (Abe) and Sarai (90). But, that’s what happened.
And they named their son “Chuckles” or in Hebrew Isaac which means, “laughter.” You can read all about it in Genesis 21. One thing to remember about the comedy of the Gospel is that God often has the last laugh!

Peter sings, “A star to guide you”

Here we are many years later. We don’t live in the fertile crescent. Nor do we often sleep under the stars. However, every once in a while we catch a glimpse like those stargazers did 2,000 years ago. It might just be for a split second or moment in time. We get the sense that God is up to something new when we become of aware of astrological “post-it” notes across the sky.

Peter sings, “A star to guide you”

A question for you today is this, “where are you being led?” As part of “the story of Christmas” how are you following the star? Think of Advent as a time of holy mapquesting, there is “a star to guide you.”
It’s exciting isn’t it?

Joyfully,
Rtg

PS the Star at the top of the devo is a “recycled” star. It was made at Camp Arcadia
http://camp-arcadia.com/ God continually “recycles” so called “junk” to make new and remarkable things. The “theological” term for this righteous recycling is REDEMPTION

This past summer Peter and I presented God Standard or Gold Standard: Studies in Proverbs. You can learn more about that Bible study by check out

http://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/item.jsp?clsid=197636&productgroupid=0&isbn=0806696001

In 2011 Peter and I will be at Camp Arcadia from July 9-16. Our theme for 2011 is
Passages4Passages


The Story of Christmas
by Peter Mayer

New colors dancing on evergreen branches
You feel a change in the wind
Brings new light to your eyes once again

A year full of meanwhiles, hard times, good smiles
Suddenly the yuletide is near
Creeps in quietly, soon undeniably catches your heart
You’re part of the story of Christmas

Chorus
Joyful day
A star to guide you, a song to remind you
The Joy will stay
Long past the turn of the page
In the story of Christmas

Ribbons and strings, cold frozen streams
Forgotten dreams running wild
When every Mother and Father is a child

The song of an angel, good cheer to a stranger
The ones you’ve known all the way
Coming back to the heart of the matter to scatter the whistles and
bells
You’re telling the story of Christmas
Chorus

STORY TIME TSOC 11282010 First Sunday of Advent

TSOC 112810 Story Time
First Sunday of Advent
November 28, 2010

Peter sings, “You’re part of the story of Christmas.”

It’s “story time.” I remember as a child when I would hear those words my heart would feel happy. I liked “story time” because it took me to places familiar and unfamiliar. We sat in a circle and took magical trips to distant lands in distant times with kings and queens and giants, talking animals and happy endings. We heard about where we came from and also where we might go in the future with time travel, space ships and magic carpets.

Peter sings, “You’re part of the story of Christmas.”

Welcome to h2o devos. If this is your first time making the journey with us I want you to know that you’re part of a virtual congregation that spans the globe. If you’ve been on this trip before, “welcome back” Peter, Cynthia and I are delighted that you’re making your way to Bethlehem, the House of Bread via daily devos and podcasts. This is a time of year that you and I get to “dance with the stars and promises.” The good news is that there is no voting, no judges, no scores, but we all get to join in a fabulous dance revue finale on Christmas Day filled with a flash mob of heavenly hosts praising God and singing.

Peter sings, “You’re part of the story of Christmas.”

Peter has an amazing way of declaring the good news that we are in this story of Christmas. As you know a story has basic elements like narrative, plot, foreshadowing, usually some crisis, characters (that’s where you and I come in) action, setting, place, time, some more crisis (that’s where you and I come in again) and of course, resolution/denouement (that’s where you and I come in again and again.)

Now, just so you know that we’re taking this “You’re part of the story of Christmas” stuff seriously you can drop us a note at h2o.devos@earthlink.net to share your feelings, thoughts, pictures, reactions, hopes, disappointments and dreams.

2000 years ago St. Paul sent a text message to the folks living in Philippi http://www.bibleplaces.com/philippi.htm

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
2I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. (Phil 4)

Peter sings, “You’re part of the story of Christmas.”

This coming week we’re going to add ingredients into the story like spice, spoons, stars and sparks. It’s great to be with you once again because it’s STORY TIME.

Joyfully,
rtg



The Story of Christmas
by Peter Mayer

New colors dancing on evergreen branches
You feel a change in the wind
Brings new light to your eyes once again

A year full of meanwhiles, hard times, good smiles
Suddenly the yuletide is near
Creeps in quietly, soon undeniably catches your heart
You’re part of the story of Christmas

Chorus
Joyful day
A star to guide you, a song to remind you
The Joy will stay
Long past the turn of the page
In the story of Christmas

Ribbons and strings, cold frozen streams
Forgotten dreams running wild
When every Mother and Father is a child

The song of an angel, good cheer to a stranger
The ones you’ve known all the way
Coming back to the heart of the matter to scatter the whistles and
bells
You’re telling the story of Christmas
Chorus

h2o devos team- rtg, Cynthia Lett Tanner, Peter Mayer

heavenly metal by delia stewart

All Saints Sunday- 11 07 10 SPRING FORWARD, Fall Back, SPRING FORWARD AGAIN

All Saints Sunday
November 7, 2010
Spring Forward, Fall Back, Spring Forward Again

Pastor Ronald T. Glusenkamp

20Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
"Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21"Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.
"Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
22Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. 23Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven;
for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
24"But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
25"Woe to you who are full now,
for you will be hungry.
"Woe to you who are laughing now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.
27But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The prayer for All Saints Sunday says it so lovely and elegantly, “Almighty God, you have knit your people together in one communion in the mystical body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” So, please join hands with those next to you and look them in the eye and know, sense and feel that we are knit together with the saints of the church, past, present and future.

Today’s sermon/message can be boiled down or dehydrated into the title for today,
Spring Forward, Fall Back, Spring Forward Again. It is of course a connection to the time change that took place last night. But, more importantly it is about cosmic time being changed because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Way back in the Garden of Eden when God breathed into the nostrils of humankind, woman and man became living beings. In other words they SPRANG FORWARD. And then due to some fast talking by the serpent and basic disobedience and sin, humankind, Adam and Eve FELL BACKWARDS.

Bruce Springsteen sang,
When I look at myself I don’t see
The man I wanted to be
Somewhere along the line I slipped off track
I’m caught movin’ one step up and two steps back



As you know this season of Stewardship we have been talking and walking our way up to Consecration Sunday, November 14th. It is our goal our desire to FOLLOW JESUS. And because we follow Jesus we can FACE THE TRUTH. So, that is why and how we are able to name, to confess, to boldly state that although we SPRING FORWARD into following Jesus, sometimes because of as Luther said, “the devil, the world or our flesh” we FALL BACK. Life as you know is often moving “one step up and two steps back.”

FACING THE TRUTH means that as we declare on Ash Wednesday, “you are dust and to dust you shall return.” This morning we read the names of those who have died since last year’s ALL SAINTS SUNDAY. As you look at their names and hear the names you can see and sense how they FOLLOWED JESUS.

We recall today how we have been “knit together” with them because of Jesus. So our goal is to FOLLOW JESUS as he leads us and guides through “the valley of the shadow of death” and to green pastures. Listen to how we are called to live
27But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you

That my friends is to SPRING FORWARD AGAIN. It is to acknowledge that we are KNIT TOGETHER. This isn’t some “pie in the sky” thing but as Beth Lewis said last week, a call that is “counter-cultural, radical and reforming” to FOLLOW JESUS. And that has something, in fact everything to do with how we use our time, our talents and our money. We have been blessed. We have been greatly blessed. Now, I know there have been times when the economy was better, when there were more jobs and more stability.
I also know that to FOLLOW JESUS means that we share our gifts with one another.

As you know I love musicians like Sting and Bono. Bono says in one of his songs, “so much more to ask of you and of ourselves.” I am asking you to pray this day and every day how you might SPRING FORWARD AGAIN into recognizing and sharing our gifts. I am asking you to FOLLOW JESUS. I am asking you to FACE THE TRUTH that Jesus is calling us to be connected stay connected and re-connect with the riches and treasures of knowing that we are forgiven and redeemed children of God.
Amen