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First Steps – February 27, 2023

There is an interesting sequence of events in Jesus’ life that is a little too close to home for me. Right after the raising of Lazarus (John 12:9+), many people flocked to Jesus because they wanted to be amazed. They heard what Jesus did with Lazarus, and they wanted to see it for themselves. The next day, Jesus entered Jerusalem as a coming king. Then in verse 20, there are some Greeks who went to Philip with a request to see Jesus. Obviously, they want to see for themselves the Jesus who raised Lazarus, who entered the city in glory, and, if lucky, maybe see Lazarus as well.

At first glance, perhaps Jesus is going to give them what they wanted for he responded, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” Awesome, thank you Jesus—we get to see the glory! However, the glory Jesus described is not something akin to Lazarus. Nope, it is his own death—one filled with suffering and pain.

The reason why it hits too close to home is that I can be like the Greeks. I want to be amazed by God. I want the wow, the splendor, the glory. Yet, the glory Jesus portrayed was obscurity, rejection, sacrifice, and obedient death. I’m not sure if the Greeks stayed around for this—we don’t know for sure (John’s Gospel doesn’t tell us). I bet they didn’t. I wonder if I would have stayed or jumped on the first train out of dodge.

What do you want from Jesus? A quick spiritual high, a continual mountaintop experience, the amazement and glory of God’s Beloved Son. I’m not sure someone ever fully witnesses those things without first walking a road to Calvary. Those things come for sure, but I’m not sure we see them until we first have held the obscurity, the rejection, the sacrifice, and the obedient death.




This Week’s Readings:
*Monday – Galatians 5, Galatians 6
*Tuesday – 1 Corinthians 1, 1 Corinthians 2, 1 Corinthians 3
*Wednesday – 1 Corinthians 4, 1 Corinthians 5, 1 Corinthians 6
*Thursday – 1 Corinthians 7, 1 Corinthians 8
*Friday – 1 Corinthians 9, 1 Corinthians 10, 1 Corinthians 11

Prayer Requests:
*Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not.
*Comfort those who are grieving and in distress.
*Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times.
*Guidance for those seeking to find their way.
*Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6


Week 1: Introduction and Letters 8 & 9

The Screwtape Letters
The Screwtape Letters
Week 1: Introduction and Letters 8 & 9
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Welcome to this week’s episode of the Screwtape Letters podcast, where we’re exploring the themes of fear and anxiety in Letter 8 of CS Lewis’ masterpiece.

In this letter, Screwtape urges his nephew, Wormwood, to use fear and anxiety as a means of distracting his “patient” from the truth of God’s love and mercy. Screwtape argues that by keeping his “patient” focused on his fears and worries, he’ll be less likely to see the goodness of God and more likely to fall into despair.

Lewis reminds us of the importance of faith and trust in God, even in the face of fear and uncertainty. He shows us how fear can be used as a tool of the enemy to distract us from the truth, and how we can overcome these obstacles by keeping our eyes fixed on God.

Join us as we dive deep into the wisdom and insights of Letter 8, and explore its relevance in our modern world. Gil and John will provide their unique perspectives and experiences, helping us to understand the power of faith and trust in overcoming the forces of darkness.

So tune in to this episode of the Screwtape Letters podcast, and let’s discover together the importance of remaining steadfast in our faith, even in the midst of fear and uncertainty.

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Celebrating Nan Konze’s Retirement!

On Friday, February 24, 2023, all were invited to a reception honoring Mrs. Nan Konze. “Miss” Nan has led our Preschool with so much love for the past nine years! Nan, thank you for loving so many little ones, as well as the teachers, the parents, and St. Paul UMC. Your leadership has been invaluable to the Preschool. We’ll see her as a fellow member, so please congratulate her!

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First Steps – February 20, 2023

A few days ago, I was asked to sit on a panel with four other preachers and answer a couple of questions. The first question was, “How do you remain non-anxious in a season wrought with anxiety?” Each of the panelists described how they manage themselves through disciplines like prayer, meditation, and the keeping of the Sabbath (Boundaries). Regardless of one’s practice of spiritual disciplines, the goal is to manage yourself more than to manage the environment. One can only control how one will respond or react to the chaos around them. By controlling one’s own anxiety, he/she can change the environment—not the other way around.

It is along those lines that I appreciate Eugene Peterson’s commentary on Jesus and prayer:

“The prayers of Jesus can never be isolated from the life of Jesus. Prayer is not a subject on its own. Prayer is not a specialist activity. In a symphony orchestra, some play the clarinet, some play the oboe, some play the violin, and some play the trombone. But in the Christian life, it is not that way: we don’t have some who visit the sick, some who sing the hymns, some who read Scripture, some who give money, and some who pray. In the Christian life we do not choose aspects, get some instruction and training, and then specialize in what we like or feel we are good at…Prayer is not something we pull out of the web of revelation and incarnation and then sign on to be prayer warriors. It is more along the analogy of breathing: if we are to live, we all have to do it…we don’t single out individuals and say, ‘She (or he) is a great breather.’ Prayer is woven into the fabric of life. Prayer is woven into the fabric of Jesus’ life. The notices of Jesus at prayer are part of everything else he does. None of his praying and none of his prayers can be taken out of context and studied on its own.”

I like the analogy of prayer and breathing. It is vital to life; it steadies the soul and grounds the person in the life of Christ.  Pray for inward peace and allow the Spirit of God to flow over you creating a calm spirit and a quiet mind.





 This Week’s Readings:
*Monday – Mark 11, Mark 12
*Tuesday -Mark 13, Mark 14
*Wednesday – Mark 15, Mark 16
*Thursday – Galatians 1, Galatians 2
*Friday – Galatians 3, Galatians 4

Prayer Requests:
*Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not.
*Comfort those who are grieving and in distress.
*Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times.
*Guidance for those seeking to find their way.
*Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6


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First Steps – February 13, 2023

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the interplay between generosity, greed, making money, and giving money.  Many times, Christ’s followers struggle with making money. Sometimes people feel guilty about prosperity.  It is interesting that the Bible never faults those who make money.  How they make money and how they spend money is a different story, but the making of it through honest and hardworking means is never faulted.  The opposite is true for it is seen as a blessing.  

The key is the heart—as it is with all things. Not the blood-pumping organ in one’s chest, but the seat of one’s desire, their identity. In Luke 12, Jesus put his finger on the heart of the issue [pardon the pun, I couldn’t help myself].  Jesus addressed the crowd by telling a story about the connection between making money, spending money, and one’s heart.
 
Read Luke 12:13-21.

The issue isn’t that the man’s fields prospered. The issue is that God ceased to be his supreme treasure. If God had been his treasure, what would he have done differently? Instead of saying, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry,” he would have said something like:

“God, this is all yours. You have made my fields prosper. Show me how to express with my riches that you are my treasure, and the riches are not. I already have enough. I don’t need a bigger and bigger safety net. I don’t need better food, better drink, or better parties. I do indeed want to make merry, but not at self-indulgent parties with rich retirees. I want to make merry with the people who have been helped by my generosity. I want the fullest blessing of giving.  Because you taught me, Lord, it is “more blessed to give than to receive.”

We are called to be generous which is never about a number or dollar amount. It is a lifestyle where one acknowledges God’s presence in the world and seeks to follow him by blessing others as one has been blessed. Find ways to bless someone this week!






 This Week’s Readings:
*Monday – Mark 1, Mark 2
*Tuesday -Mark 3, Mark 4
*Wednesday – Mark 6, Mark 7
*Thursday – Mark 8 Mark 9
*Friday – Mark 10, Mark 11

Prayer Requests:
*Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not.
*Comfort those who are grieving and in distress.
*Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times.
*Guidance for those seeking to find their way.
*Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6


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