Prayer: The heavens are yours, O Lord, and remind us of the mighty works you do. Amen.
Reading: Deuteronomy 4:19 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: If you haven’t already done so this summer, take the opportunity to go outside on a starry night and lay down in the cross in an opening in the woods, a clearing, or a field and stare into the sky. Look up at the havens and see the moon and the stars and remember God and the hosts of heaven as you do. You may even want to meditate on the words of Psalm 23 and imagine the Good Shepherd watching over you. Viewing the heavens and reflecting on creation while watching the stars can be a moving experience. You’ll undoubtedly feel God’s presence in His creation. You may even feel humbled as you think about your place in God’s universe. The stars in the night sky should be a reminder that this summer, you should grow in your love and knowledge of the one who created you and worship Him. The awesomeness and majesty of our Lord should be apparent as you take time to “lie down in green pastures.” Use your experience as a reminder that you should at all times worship God. --Chad Hershberger
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Prayer: O Lord, we are so glad we can come to you with our cares and concerns. Then with trust in your unfailing love, we may yet be able to sing. Thank you for your goodness to us. Amen
Reading: Psalm 13 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: You really have to wonder how the Psalmist can go from utter despair to a song in 6 verses, but that is Psalm 13. Yes, if you skipped reading the text today because it's a WHOLE chapter, go back and read it. It's only 6 verses long. Six packed verses going from feeling forgotten to knowing unfailing love; enemies triumphing to trusting; sorrow to rejoicing. I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me. (v. 6) The Psalmist asks how long the Lord will forget him? Not that long. Not at all really. Well, then sing. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to live each day gratefully knowing eternal life is with you now and forever. Thank you always. Amen
Reading: Romans 6: 12-23 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: According to our reading from Romans today, we are to be freed from sin, enslaved to God and sanctified. And in the end? Eternal life! Which in a sense is an end without an end and, come to think of it, has already begun. We can either live our days ashamed of all we have done wrong in the past and whatever we will do wrong each day or we can remember eternal life with God is already happening with his Spirit in our hearts. Of course, we hope eternal life in heaven will not have the pitfalls and problems of our lives here. I don't know about you but I really could do without all the trouble we seem to create for ourselves and each other. Meanwhile, let us live for righteousness, be sanctified and count on the eternity side of eternal life going smoother than most days here. Eternally grateful for that and so much more. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Here I am, Lord. Ready to follow your instructions and trusting you will provide. Amen.
Reading: Genesis 22: 1-14 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Our Bible story for today is Abraham taking Isaac to be a sacrifice to God. It starts with God's instructions to Abraham who followed them up all the way to the point where God provided a ram to sacrifice instead. Certainly Abraham breathed a sigh of relief; along with all of us who have heard the story since. Abraham obeyed as if this really was going to be what he would have to do. But, reading closely, there is a hint of Abraham's trust in God beyond asking him to do the unthinkable. Abraham said to the two men who traveled with them, "Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you." That's right. Abraham said, "...we will come back to you." (v. 5) Then when Isaac began to wonder where the lamb for the burnt offering was going to come from, Abraham replied, "God himself will provide the lamb." (v. 8) Twice Abraham said, "Here I am." Both times he received instructions from God. We here God's call and also answer, "Here I am.". Abraham knew and we know, the Lord will provide. --Ruth Gates Prayer: As you welcome us always, may we welcome others into our lives and times. Then we are welcoming you in our hearts, too. Amen
Reading: Matthew 10: 40-42 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: I am behind in my writing and really need to make the most of my time while riding the bus home from work today. However, when you ride the bus regularly you start to get to know people and they want to talk. Today my afternoon bus friend wants to talk about his diabetes, his rent going up and his 91 year old co-worker in the soup kitchen. Truth be told, I am intrigued about the 91 year old who still works at a soup kitchen. I want to be that person! Tell me more. I will listen and not get much writing done today. Perhaps that is how I can welcome someone today. Listen when I really don't have the time. Listen when I have other things to do. Listen to someone who may not have anyone to talk to. Most people on the bus do tend to look lonely. Today's lesson tells us when we welcome others, we welcome God. (I managed to write this once my bus buddy got off at a stop before mine. He said he'll see me next time. Come to think of it, I guess he welcomed me today. And we both welcomed God.) --Ruth Gates Prayer: We look to you for help, Lord. Our strength comes from you. Amen.
Reading: Exodus 15: 1-3 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Have you ever been in a situation where you are standing at the edge of a raging sea and your enemies are approaching and you don’t know what to do? Well, Moses knows just how you feel! As Moses was fleeing with God’s chosen people, they came to the Red Sea and with God’s help, were able to part the waters and flee to safety. Can you imagine being an Israelite? Look at what all they have gone through. Times were definitely not easy for these people of God. And yet, in this passage, Moses and the Israelites are singing to God. They are raising their voices in praise. When you are having a difficult time, how do you react? Do you try to find the positive in your circumstance or do you grumble and have a “Woe is me” attitude? When you approach the raging sea, do you look to God to help you part the obstacles, or do you sit down and dig your heals in the mud? In good and bad times, we need to remember that God is great and strong. He is our song and our salvation. He is bigger than any army or kind. We can lean on God for strength no matter what. Our God can do anything! --Chad Hershberger Prayer: God to whom we pray, help us learn from all we pray to you and remember it always. Amen
Reading: Psalm 86: 1-10 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: It happened again. I turned to the Bible text for today and there in the margin was a handwritten note, "CML - Prayer - 2013". We must have read and discussed this Psalm during Family Camp that summer. There are no other notes excepts two big stars beside the chapter number perhaps to draw my attention to this Psalm as a "go to Psalm for an especially good prayer". Well, the first ten verses do pack in words like hear, answer, guard, servant, trust, mercy, joy, lift, forgiving, good, love, worship and glory. Definitely a prayer to make special note of and how awesome that happened at Camp Mount Luther. Would I have remembered it otherwise? Looking forward to going to Family Camp again this July. Wondering what will get starred in my Bible this time? I hear the Bishop will be leading the Bible studies. Years ago I met her as B.J., a pastor in the area and she was our neighbor in Maple Village. She is simply a friend in faith but this year I may have to footnote "CML - 2017 (with Bishop Collins!)" Come be a neighbor in Maple Village, learn about the Water of Life and mark up your Bible so you remember. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Living God, as we die to sin, make us alive in Christ. Amen
Reading: Romans 6: 1b-11 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Reading the text for today a few times, I began to notice the words death and dying over and over and over. The words life and living were there, too, but the death:life ratio was about 2:1. The point of the beginning verses of Romans 6 is to be Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ. Apparently Paull needed to tell us about the death part twice as much as the life. Well, sin is hard to overcome. So maybe we need to be doubly reminded how important it is to let go of it. However, the feelings of peace of being alive in Christ will far outnumber, maybe even double, the difficulties of dying to sin. So, is it 2:1 or 1:2? (I never was good with math.) --Ruth Gates Prayer: Dear God, may our reality reveal you at work in our lives. Amen
Reading: Genesis 21: 8-21 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Reality TV has to be fake. Do people really act like that in real life? With camera crews following them? Surely it's all for luring viewers and selling commercials. I only need to land on a reality tv show for 10 seconds and I am already rolling my eyes saying, "Oh puh-lease!" Then we read the 21st chapter of Genesis and it's like an episode of Real "Housewives" of the Old Testament. Sarah and Hagar are fighting. Abraham is caught in the middle. There are two sons yet only one of them is referred to by name. To find out the other son's name you have to go way back to chapter 16. But why bother? Looks like the nameless son is going to be a goner soon anyway. Yet, things turn around. Reality Bible. Why do I have more patience for Reality Bible than Reality TV? Probably because God is revealed and at work in the Bible stories. Truth be told, there is a lot of drama in my own life. Things that others might watch and say, "Oh, puh-lease!" If a camera crew was following me, my only hope would be that somehow it would be revealed that God is at work in Reality Ruth, too. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Lord, help me to figure out what you want today.
Reading: Matthew 10:24-39 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: There sure is a lot in this story that scares, confuses, and challenges me. This is one challenging text. Jesus teaches the disciples that they will face opposition in their ministry. And we know that they did. Not just opposition but down right stubborn antagonism and deadly hostility. The only corrective in this situation is absolute trust and total commitment. That commentary didn’t make the passage any less challenging, did it? Absolute trust and total commitment are generally qualities we vest in ourselves. Absolute trust in myself and total commitment to my objectives. Well, that may be a little strong. But don’t we tend to trust ourselves more than we trust others? And our strongest commitment is to that which is important to us? Today, we are challenged to trust God and be committed to what the Lord wants. Pretty tall order. But there it is. So, how about just one effort. In the next 24 hours be mindful of this: What is just one thing God wants me to do today? Then do it. --Jim Bricker Prayer: Loving God, teach us to be wise and build upon your way. Amen.
Reading: Matthew 7:24-27 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Friends welcomed my wife and me into their vacation cottage many years ago. After getting settled in, they took us out on a boat ride tour on the nearby Ottawa River. My friend piloted the boat around pointing out sweet spots for fishing, the power plant discharge area, and many beautiful homes along the shoreline. After a little while he said, “But there is one house, Andrew, I have to show you…” He steered the boat towards the opposite shore and when we got close enough he pointed. “There, doesn’t that remind you of the wise man that built his house upon a rock?” There was a massive formation of exposed, but solid rock on the shoreline. In the middle of it, and high above any danger of flooding, you could clearly see a much smaller house. There was no way that house was going anywhere. The image poses the question, how are you building your life? Are you building so that it will actually withstand the trials and troubles? Build upon God and the unshakeable Word and it will. If we are sitting comfortably and safe, are there those that you can reach out to and invite into safety or help get to their own safe home building? --Andrew Fitch Prayer: Gracious and giving God thank you for all you have created. Let us come to you with praise all of our days. We thank you for always loving us. Help us spread your message to all. AMEN
Reading: Psalm 100 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Psalm 100 has always been one of my favorite Psalms. I might have chosen it when I was young because it is a short one, but since then I have found great meaning in the words. I love how it talks about praising God and about God’s enduring love. Singing praises to God is one of my favorite things we do at camp. We sing after every meal, during worships, and at campfires. We also share God’s love very well at camp, and have done so for many, many years. It is a great reminder that God’s love does endure and God is faithful to all generations. Let us continually praise and thank God. --Charlene Rineer Prayer: Gracious God, we thank you for choosing to save us and make us your own. We love you for teaching us a deep spiritual patience for difficulties in live that you can transform into a growth and change for the good. Amen.
Reading: Romans 5: 1-8 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: The chain of progression or a string of consequences is what Paul describes happens to us after the realization of whose we are. God does not leave us the way we were. Justification comes first, sanctification happens second. Seeing the process is the meaning of life. The second part is an answer to “Why me, God?” Personally, I think God must have seen something in me that I don’t. God loved each of us before we knew how much we needed the attention. --Andrew Fitch Prayer: Heavenly guest, help us to hasten to prepare for you with us and take the time to hear your message. Amen
Reading: Genesis 18: 1-15 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: As I read the story of the three visitors to Abraham and Sarah, I wondered how fast I could get a meal on the table if unexpected guests arrived. The easy way would be to order take out or pizza delivery. This, however, was not an option for our Biblical host and hostess. Instead, Abraham had to run to the herd, pick out a calf and give it to his servant who hastened to prepare it. Meanwhile, Sarah quickly measured flour, kneaded and made cakes. Sometimes when service is slow in a restaurant, customers jokingly, or perhaps impatiently, comment, "Did they have to go out back and kill the cow?" Well, that is exactly what Abraham had to do. Something tells me the three visitors did not grumble like restaurant patrons. They understood the time it takes even with haste put into preparations. That was fast food in Old Testament times. Whatever time it takes, perhaps most important is the message shared in the visit. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to know all the things that you want us to do for you and your Kingdom. Guide us to turn away from the flashy things that might distract us from your good work. Amen.
Reading: Matthew 9: 35-10:8 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Sitting on the fluffy shag carpet of his room, Stephen looked all around him for the sword for the soldier he had been marching toward the castle. An assault was slowly progressing but the teddy bears were putting up a bigger fight than was expected. “This could take a long time,” he thought. “Oh well, I have plenty of time. The bear brigade will eventually give in to defeat…” Time passed. “Stephen! What are you doing? You were supposed to be dressed and ready by now! Oh my we are going to be so late…We have STUFF TO DO!...” We can all get distracted and lose focus. These Bible verses should remind us that there is very important work to do—good work to do. God’s work takes time and we have to make sure that we are setting aside time for worship and serving in God’s name, sharing the good news, being generous and sharing, helping and healing… We need to be reminded that there is Kingdom stuff to do. Let’s get to it! --Andrew Fitch Prayer: Let water rain down upon the seeds that are sown, God, and may we see the fruit of our work. Amen.
Reading: Mark 4: 20 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Camp is God’s good ground. It is the place where campers come to grow in Christ and strengthen their faith in their Lord and create new relationships with others who believe in Christ. The ground at camp is very fertile. As our staff really gets started next week, and we welcome our first groups of campers, there will be days that our counselors will be unsure if they got into the right line of work this summer. They may have a camper that has behavioral problems or a whole cabin of kids who just don’t seem to want to listen. They may even pulling out their own hair! Or, they may feel like they are having problems teaching the kids about the faith and that the Bible lessons are not just getting through to them. We all know that is an important part of their job but they may feel like they aren’t doing what they are supposed to be doing because the campers just don’t seem to get it. But we will rest assured that our job this summer is to plant seeds. We share the faith, tell Bible stories, and impart wisdom of important lessons to our campers. It is God’s job to water those seeds and for your work to bear fruit. We may not see that fruit while are campers are here, but we know that our work is important and will bear fruit in time. The campers we serve this summer will remember their summer camp experience and will put into practice what they have learned. It may take time, but our efforts and God’s influence will bear fruit in time. Please pray for the 2017 Summer Ministry Team this weekend as we get into full gear on Sunday. Pray that God will water the seeds that we sow and that our work will bear fruit in God’s time. --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Lord, help me to rejoice in your creation and your love for me.
Reading: Psalm 8 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: This one takes me back nearly 50 years. We knew that the exam for one of our Old Testament courses in seminary would ask us to write a Psalm from memory. (Psalm 23 was excluded.) So, I memorized Psalm 8. For no particular reason. But how I have been blessed by that psalm. On those very clear nights when it seems like I can look up and see forever, I am remined that in all that immense, endless beauty of suns and stars, and moons and planets, God thinks I’m special. “Just a little lower than God.” (It was just a little lower than angels in the translation I used 50 years ago.) Wow! Wow! Wow! It would seem like one could get a swelled head in this experience. But, this psalm keeps us in our place, I think. We experience God’s immense love and grace for us in the midst of the unfathomable universe. It is quite a humbling experience. I hope it is clear tonight. Go outside and lean back in a chair for a little while—look up. O Lord, our Sovereign , how majestic. --Jim Bricker Prayer: Leading Father, may we always remember to put your first as we put things in order in our lives. Amen
Reading: 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Anyone who knows me knows I have a thing about getting my ducks in a row. I actually learned the phrase from my mother-in-law who is extremely good at getting her ducks in a row. Mine don't always line up so well. But I try and usually things go better when they do. As Paul says farewell in his 2nd letter to the people of Corinth, he lists a few things he wants them to remember to do. The first is, "Put things in order." I think Paul is telling them, "Get your ducks in a row." Obviously Paul knows it just goes better when things are put in order; when the ducks are in a row. Perhaps the thing to put first is God. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Creator God thank you for creating the heavens and the earth. Thank you for creating the water and the land. Thank you for creating the plants and the animals. Thank you for creating humans who can love you and tend your creation. Help us be good stewards of all you have given us. AMEN
Reading: Genesis 1:1-2:4a (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: “And God saw that it was good.” I have many times sat and marveled at God’s wonderful creation. Sometimes it has been on the beach and sometimes it has been in the woods. The times I love best in the woods are early mornings as everything starts to wake up. At the shore I love to see the sunsets. I also love taking walks in the woods or on the beach and observe the creatures in their natural habitats. I am just amazed at how beautiful everything is, and how it all works together. God saw that it was good and we have the task to keep it good. I also believe we have the task to take time and enjoy the goodness of God’s creation. --Charlene Rineer Prayer: Gracious God, we thank you for choosing to save us and make us your own. We love you for teaching us a deep spiritual patience for difficulties in live that you can transform into a growth and change for the good. Amen.
Reading: Matthew 28: 16-20 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Even on such a beautiful and glorious day, the brokenness was there. “The Eleven” – Judas had handed over the Messiah to the soldiers. The scars remain. The Holy Trinity has scars. Our crucified God has scars. To many in the world, that might not seem like a god, or even THE God. Indeed, the God that choses to come among us and lift us up, absorbing our violent hatred and turning into love, swallowing up death and breathing out an alive vocation—that is the truest and realest God above all false gods. It may be hard to understand the Trinity, but it isn’t hard to understand that God would have to do some pretty hard and unusual things to save us from ourselves. So, the Creator created a permanent loop for us to follow out of our own destructive paths. It might not seem very “Godly” to non-believers, but it is the only path that works. The unbreakable loops of the Trinity swing low into our sin and death, pulling and breaking it apart with the love and life that defines God. --Andrew Fitch Prayer: Forgive us as we forgive others, God, and help us to forget those transgressions. Amen.
Reading: 2 Corinthians 5: 16-21 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Every day, as you wake up and start afresh, it’s important to remember that God’s mercies are brand new. God looks at us with new eyes each day. We, too, should learn to live in the present and appreciate the newness of each day. But, let’s be honest: it’s hard to forget the past. The collection of memories that we have sticks with us, especially conflicts with people- which is inevitable when you live in community with people for the summer. You have probably heard the phrase, “Forgive and forget.” It might be easy to say that you forgive someone, but it is often hard to forget what happened. Painful events stick in our memories. Paul tells us that we knew Jesus in human form shouldn’t keep view Him in that way. He was crucified and raised back to life—changed into something new and exalted as our Savior. Likewise, when we come to Christ in faith and repentance, we are also transformed—made into a new creation. This means we should walk in harmony with others on staff who also believe in Christ. We need to look at the new in them instead of the old. So yeah, we need to forgive and do our best to forget. That’s how God sees them—with new eyes and new possibilities. One summer at camp, the staff was studying scripture and told that there is great power in telling someone that they are forgiven. Not only is it powerful for the receiver of the words, but also for the forgiver. Later that summer, an event happened where a few of the counselors did not follow the rules. I had to confront them. They admitted their mistake and I told them I forgave them. It was a powerful moment for both parties. As we deal with conflicts, it is wise to remember that those who are in Christ are a new creation. We should look at each other with new eyes, even when we’ve had conflict with them. We need to not only forgive, but forget! --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Lord, help me to enjoy creation today.
Reading: Psalm 104:24-34 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Here we go again— “When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth.” Just Tuesday in these devotions we experienced God’s spirit resting on the folks in the desert. Here is it again in what amounts to another creation story. When God spends forth creative spirit all the critters of the earth are blessed. Even the Leviathan which God formed just for the sport of it. That always makes me chuckle. God does things just for the heck of it!! But that’s not the main point. God’s creative spirit hovers over and through all the world in which we live. And gives life to everything. The other day I was on the way to physical therapy on a back road and I had to stop because there was a male ring neck pheasant and two hens meandering across the road. Just taking their time, not concerned a bit that I was watching them. So, here’s one for you: Why do the pheasants cross the road? Because God’s spirit renews life and there was food on the bank on the other side of the road. And, so Jim could experience God’s spirit in the beauty of the pheasants. God’s spirit renews the face of the earth. Enjoy!! --Jim Bricker |
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