Looking for an earlier Watchword?
- What Are You Afraid Of? - What Are You Afraid Of?: Fear. Fear hits us all, maybe differently in you or in me, but, nevertheless it’s part of our lives, it’s part of how we function in this complicated and difficult time of life. What are you afraid of? The disciples, crowded into that boat on the sea of Galilee, and in the midst of a storm, cried out in fear for their lives. They saw no way to be rescued. The storm was too fierce, the waves too high, the wind threatened to capsize the boat. Then, there was Jesus, coming to them, walking in the midst of their storm. Too often, when we are fearful, we feel we are alone. But, the Word of God is both a command and a promise. The promise is that we are not alone. We are to wholly lean on Jesus’ name and know that He is with us. Continue reading
- The Inner Space - The Inner Space: We have seen pictures from spaceships of the vastness of the universe, even as far as science can help us see. When we think of the infilling of the Holy Spirit we can only come to the one conclusion that it is only in the spirit realm could God, so infinitely great, live within each of us, who are so very small. We have no choice but to be awed by the power and the glory of God’s Spirit within us…within us! I think about John Glenn on that very first manned space flight; a trailblazer in science and a devoted public servant on Earth as well as in the heavens. What was it like to be thrust into space, trusting the science to put you there and to return you safely back to Earth? To behold what God had created, up close and personal, far beyond the ability of we earthbound folk. Continue reading
- Patience, Prudence - Patience, Prudence: I stood at the counter while a somewhat frustrated staff member processed my credit card to pay for my copay at the doctor’s office. Her comment was that the system had been slow all day and it was “maddening”, her word. I’m not sure patience is in short supply so much as there seem to be multiple opportunities to lose it. Prudence, also known as good judgment, wisdom, and calmness in considering our affairs. The Lord tells us to relax, not to worry. He reminds us that our weakness as an opportunity to grow in our faith. Continue reading
- Unwrap Yourself - WATCHWORD: 38 Then they came to the tomb. It was a cave with a heavy stone rolled across its door. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, said, “By now the smell will be terrible, for he has been dead four days.” 40 “But didn’t I... Continue reading
- In Their Shoes - In Their Shoes: So often we read scripture and while we sometimes imagine what life was like in those days, can we imagine their thoughts, how they felt, the decisions they struggled with? That is hard. At the time of His crucifixion and Resurrection there were certain principals cited in Scripture: Mary, mother of Jesus; Mary Magdalene; Peter, John, Barnabas, Matthew and Andrew. In this imagined conversation at this critical time in all of their lives, Andrew speaks to us: He’s dead! We thought He would live forever. He was to be our Savior, our new King who would lead us to freedom. Just this week we saw Him bring Lazarus back to life…why could He not save himself? I don’t know what to do! I don’t know where to go! I don’t know what to believe. He made so many promises, and now He is gone! How about you and I? Do we struggle with the markers of our faith? Markers like the Virgin Birth, water to wine, the healing of lepers, the raising of Lazarus, and, finally, The Resurrection? Do we stand by those? Continue reading
- Good Being - Good Being: This passage from Matthew is part of the Sermon on the Mount, a series of lessons by Jesus that would come to shape the lives of the disciples and their ministry. In like manner, these lessons are intended to shape our lives as Christians, followers of Christ, the Lord. This particular lesson, with love your enemies at its core, is hard to grasp. But when He completes this lesson and tells us that we are to be perfect, even as our father in heaven is perfect, now we have a problem. All our lives we have been taught that only God is perfect, and now being instructed by our Lord that we also are to be perfect. Well! How do we even get our mental arms around that thought, let alone "be perfect"? Continue reading
- Storms - Storms: It seems to me that this year we have had an increase in different kinds of storms; floodings, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc. The talking heads often refer to global warming, and that is part of it, I am sure. In a recent Our Daily Bread, Arthur Jackson reminded us of a record rainfall that proved fatal for 20 people in the town of Waverly, Tennessee. He told us about a skillful and compassionate helicopter pilot, Joel Boyers, who saved so many by his bravery. We’ve all encountered storms in our lives and God has brought us through them. Even now many are struggling, dealing with sharp points of difficulties, yet, because of our faith, we have come to rely on God as our refuge and our strength, our shelter in the storm. Continue reading
- Alone but Not Alone - Alone but Not Alone: Joni Erickson Tada wrote and performed the song, Alone but Not Alone, that made its way to the top of the Christian music charts and into a movie by that same name. When I listen to the words and the music of that song I cannot help but be reminded how true it is. God is with us, God is for us, God loves us. There is no doubt in that. At a most crucial time in the life of Jesus, as a man walking the earth, facing eminent crucifixion, He asked God the Father to give all believers the Holy Spirit, as a Friend and Guide. And so, in reality, we may feel we are alone, but if our faith is strong, there's no question that our Helper, the Holy Spirit, is there with us. Continue reading
- A Basic Lesson - A Basic Lesson: How to pray was a lesson that Jesus taught his disciples, but I’m not sure how well we have learned it. Let’s say we are in a class taught by Jesus and He spent a lot of time instructing us on how we should pray. He talks about praying in secret and the fact that our Heavenly Father knows all of our secrets. He cautions us on repeating prayers over and over again, and challenges us to pray from the heart. Then he hands out a sheet and tells you it’s a quiz. The first question is: I told you to pray along these lines. What are those lines? It is in the privacy of our inner relationship with God that our prayers strengthen and heal. We should have no motivation other than to know our Father in Heaven. In truth it is impossible to carry out our life as followers of Christ, as his disciples, without times of secret prayer. So be it. Continue reading
- Time to Clarify - Time to Clarify: The Bible isn't interested in making people happy. Instead, the Bible focuses on joy. Happiness is something we feel because of our situation or circumstances. We are happy because something made us happy, but we are joyful because of something right and true within us. Somehow, happiness never seems to cross our minds when adversity knocks on our door, and yet, there are times when our spiritual joy and our trust in our Lord, carries us through those times. You know that silly saying, ‘I feel your pain’? Well, once through adversity, you can honestly say you have been there. You are that friend that jumps into the pit with you because he knows the way out. That’s empathy, My Child. Continue reading
- Be His - Be His: A month ago, a Watchword was about an ancient clay lamp that my uncle Harold had uncovered and brought back from an archaeological dig in the holy land. Prior to that experience he and his wife had been missionaries in China for more than 10 years. I wonder what kind of a person deliberately gives up the life they have known in order to follow their faith in Christ. We sometime refer to ourselves as “disciples of Christ”, but I wonder. Our Lord makes His disciple His very own possession. Jesus says “You shall be witnesses to me.” The entire commitment of the disciple is to seek to be a delight to Him. Could we say that? Continue reading
- God’s Perspective - God’s Perspective: Have you ever gone through a confessional? You know how it works, you slip into this phone-booth-size room, sit on a bench in front of a screen which obscures the Priest who is hearing you confessing your grievous sins. Then he, and most assuredly it will be a he, will tell you what you must do to earn forgiveness for your sins. Forgive me, Lord, but, “earn forgiveness”? Really? I do believe that was one of the stumbling blocks for Martin Luther. Let me check his 95 Theses. Yep, there it is, Christ died for my sins, paying for them in full…or words to that effect. Continue reading
- There I Am in the Midst… - There I Am in the Midst: As I write this, one of our brothers in our Bible study group is in the hospital with a serious medical problem. It occurs to me that while our friends are not with us, and we do miss their contribution to our discussions, the fact is every person sitting around our weekly table is an integral part of our group and clearly illustrates what Jesus has told us, about different gifts contributing to the whole. We miss our friends, and their contributions to our discussion. But mostly we all marvel at the truth in Christ’s Word that “Where two or more are gathered in My name, there I will be as well. Continue reading
- Go The Extra Mile - Go The Extra Mile: In Jesus time, it was common practice, and Roman law, that if a soldier told someone to carry his pack, the Jew would have to drop everything he was doing and go out of his way to obey. Jesus used this fact of daily life as a parable to teach the principal of charity and generosity. Jesus says, “Not only do I want you to carry it one mile, I want you to carry it an extra mile.” If you think about it, the principle applies to every area of our lives today—in our relationships, within our community, at home, in our work and church-life, but also in our giving of material goods and our wealth. Christ calls us to go the extra mile, going above and beyond what is asked of us. Something for us to think about. When have we gone the extra mile? Continue reading
- Modeling God in Our Image - Modeling God in Our Image: Wyoming prairie, just outside of Hulett. It is 10:30 at night, not a light in sight. I lean back in a camp chair and stare at an amazing firmament, an array of stars so bright and so full, that it forces thoughts of gratitude and praise to the creator God. A show so perfect that the intrusion of an airplane, in the far distance, seems an offense.We are just beginning to grasp the vastness of the universe. The universe is so huge that it defies our limited language. And to think that this was all created by God, defies even more the point where we have a hard time imagining. And then, imagine further, here we are, a speck of dust. No, a freckle on the speck. No, a half of a freckle on a speck of dust of the universe. That’s us. Hard to imagine, right? Continue reading
- Christian Character - Christian Character: Over the years, I have attend two Lutheran churches, both follow the same liturgy, the same lectionary, sing some of the same hymns, and, of course, pray to the one and only God. However, in one, we have had women pastors, while in the other, there was no way that that would happen! I believe that every Society must have its rules. Christ himself founded a church, and there was a certain focus and structure. But that is the beginning of an evolving problem. If a given church communicates to the outsider that God works almost exclusively through the machinery/structure they have erected, and then rejects all other machinery which does not bear their label, we can’t be surprised if such exclusiveness results in losing membership in the pews. Continue reading
- God-In-A-Box - God-In-A-Box: When your seven-year-old granddaughter tells you that “God is dead” and that is what she learned in her church, how would you respond? You probably would have been taken-aback, as I was. But what are we learning in our churches today? What are we teaching? What are the “rules” governing baptism, communion, kneeling or not kneeling, the “proper” costume, who can preach and who cannot, etc. Are we defining “Christians” as those who follow all the rules? What? With all those rules, do we need Christ to die on that cross? Rules, structure, organization, denominations, churchiness…I wonder if we have packaged God by our own designs, to the point where we obscure the Almighty? Continue reading
- Spite and Malice - Spite and Malice: My son taught me a card game that was fun to play and, at times, required strategy. It is called Spite and Malice, an intimidating title if there ever was one. But that title is not a recommended character description for a follower of Christ. Spite is the desire to hurt, annoy, or offend someone. Not a good mind-set. Malice, on the other hand, may be worse, if you are into difference shades of darkness. Malice is a mind-set to intentionally do evil. If you look on the other side, the positive side on those two ideas, you get a picture of the good attitude and actions of a person who loves the neighbor as themselves. Continue reading
- Living Water - Living Water: There are many references to “living water’, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the Zechariah 14 prophesy, we have “On that day…”, meaning on the Day the Lord comes. Then we have the inclusiveness of Gentile and Jew, in the reference of the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, meaning all who believe, in all seasons, at all times, encompassed in the prophesy of the Holy Spirit. The idea of The Word being living water is further expanded in the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. What are we to make of this living water? As we believe in Jesus as Lord, and seek to live our lives according Christ’s teaching, how are we applying the living water that flows from the Spirit, within each of us? Continue reading
- Seeds - Seeds: I love the story of William Beal, posted in a recent Our Daily Bread devotional by Kenneth Petersen. The short version is this -- in 1879, Beal, a professor of botany, filled 20 jars with various seeds, then buried them deep in the soil. The professor was conducting a seed viability experiment that would span centuries. While we don’t know the shape or the content of the seeds we may be planting, never underestimate the truth of the statement to tell the world about our relationship with Christ and, when you must, use words. The lesson that the disciples were learning, was that their role, and ours as well, is to plant the seed, the word of the Lord, in the good soil that’s available, and trust God to work with that. We never know that the word we shared will take root, or when that may happen. Continue reading
