January 31st Reflection - The Rock - by Bill Lynch

Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

 ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
 ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
 ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
 ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
 ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
 ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
 ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Reflection - The Rock
I could tell it from my vantage point high above Jesus, his disciples and the crowd. I could tell it was time for Jesus to get away from it all. I could also tell that as Jesus approached me along with his disciples that this was going to be a little different from the other times Jesus would visit with me. Jesus was going to do more than just pray to the Father... Jesus was going to prepare the disciples and teach a lesson that he wanted to be taught throughout the ages to come.

There is always some conversation and contemplation on the journey to me high upon this mountain. When people make the journey from below to my perch on this mountain; I can hear the talk and the conversation. Then I hear the pause, the silence, when each person or the group of people need to take a break on the walk and catch their breath. I can tell that conversation leads to contemplation. I can tell that the journey to my perch on this mountain is a journey that draws the individual and the group into harmony with nature, in harmony with one another and in harmony with God. On the hike to my perch, people really reflect and think about things.

And here they were. Jesus paused and sat upon me like he has so many times and the disciples gathered at the feet of Jesus to see what this little journey away from the crowds was all about. There was mystery in the air and there was the excitement of a new teaching about to be told.

As Jesus sat upon me I could take it all in. Jesus taught the disciples now and the disciples throughout time, a little bit about God's love. God loves the crowds. God loves the people... all the people. God loves not only the person but the crowd. And God shows compassion and love towards his people. The Father's intentions were always that all people would come to believe in him and place all of their trust, hope, future and their lives into the Creator's hands. The Father, the Creator, the Redeemer, the Holy Spirit always, always, wants unity and fellowship and relationship with the individual, the people, the crowd... yes God's Chosen.

God loves the people and has witnessed the fall into sin. These people are born into a sinful world as sinful beings and can't help themselves. Even though many think that they can work their way out of this; God knows they can't. So, here we have Jesus. Here we have Jesus the One God sent to save the crowd from sin, death and the devil. Here we have Jesus with a lesson of love. A lesson of how hope in God and belief in God's active work of Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Man.

So, Jesus teaches the disciples about the crowds... the crowds that are broken down to their last hope. The crowds that have tried and failed to save themselves... the crowds that yearn for a blessing from God... the crowds that look to Jesus for salvation... for a Messiah. Jesus teaches the disciples to love the crowds of the crying, the poor, the meek, the merciful who have been taken advantage of in this cruel world of sin. Jesus teaches the disciples to love the crowds of the peacemakers who see no peace, the pure in heart that are ridiculed for their belief in God, the persecuted and hated people of this fallen world.

Yes, Jesus teaches the disciples then and today to love the crowds of people that hurt. Jesus teaches the disciples throughout the ages to love the crowds and the people and teaches about God's love and outpouring grace to these crowds of people, of individuals. Jesus teaches about the blessings of God. The hope for the future. The wonder of a God that would send his Son into the world to take on the sin that lead these crowds into the condition in which they now exist, to save them and graciously give them and all the crowds, all the people, all the individuals, eternal life with Jesus in heaven.

And then Jesus rose from my perch high on that mountain and the disciples and Jesus took off on the hike back to the valley, in love with God, to love the people. To love in action and word. Jesus and his disciples took off after that teaching from my perch to act out the love of God towards all the people, all the crowds and to each individual.

Prayer
Lord, thanks for the pause to sit at your feet and to learn from Jesus. Thanks for hearing the blessings the love and the awesome grace you have shown to me and to all people. As I go with you this day may I love as you have loved, may I act as you have taught me to act, may I respond in love towards the people, the crowds, the individuals, as you have acted... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

January 30th Reflection by Bill Lynch

Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

 ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

 ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

 ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

 ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

 ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

 ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

 ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Reflection
We can take comfort in God and in following Jesus as our Savior. We are richly blessed. In the situations that we live that are tough to handle, we can know and believe that God has a promise and God has a blessing waiting for us. Not because we deserve a blessing, but rather because of Jesus.

God's Son, Jesus, came into this world to live the tough life. Jesus did not live like a king. Jesus did not live like the rich. Jesus lived like the common people of his day. But, Jesus was different. Jesus came as God with an active message from God. Believe in God in Jesus and you will be saved. Repent and turn from a life of selfishness, a life of sinful acts and follow the Savior.

At this moment life doesn't turn instantly wonderful in the way we think of it with our worldly minds. We still sin, we still get sick, we still endure accidents and even death. But, a dramatic change has taken place. We have the blessing of a Savior in Jesus who lived and died upon a cross and rose again to live eternally. And in this action of God we too become Children of God. We run to be baptized, we run to follow and learn from Jesus. The Word of God is opened up to us to see Jesus in the Old Testament and in the Acts of the Apostles. We learn and yearn for Jesus teaching and learn and yearn to do the will of God in this world, in this time and in this place. Yes! We believe! And... yes we are blessed! Richly and wonderfully blessed in all circumstances one way or another.

As Christians, we may be mocked or ridiculed for our belief in what seems to make no sense to the world. But, as Christians, as Children of God that believe in Jesus our Savior, we focus on the radical change that the results of the cross brought into this world. An instrument of pain and death has become a symbol of new life. New life as a result of Jesus becoming our sin and putting that sin to death and rising again to new life from the tomb. Yes... the cross and the tomb are transformed by Jesus alone into symbols of hope and faith to bring new life to all who believe. Yes we are heirs of the kingdom of heaven.

We are blessed! We belong to Jesus! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, as I pause this day and each day to thank you for the blessings you graciously give me in this new life in your Kingdom; may I respond in that same love to those you give to me today that may not believe. May I run to tell what you have done for all the people. May I run to act out the love you have shown because of what you have done for all the people through Jesus our Lord and our Savior... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

January 29th Reflection - It doesn't make any sense! - by Bill Lynch

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
   and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

 Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’

Reflection - It doesn't make any sense!
You know, it's not going to make any sense to many people. It's not going to make any sense, this faith we have in Jesus. They will argue with you on and on, but you won't be able to make any sense out of God's act of salvation by coming into this world as flesh in Jesus and spirit in the Holy Spirit, to save all people from death... eternal death and hell. You will get arguments about what is and isn't possible, you will get arguments about historical facts, you will get arguments about God, you will get arguments about various religions of this world. It's just not going to make any sense to many people.

And I'll be darned if God doesn't choose the oddest people to proclaim the Gospel. He takes the weak, the murderers, the prisoners, the sinners, the uneducated, the very people you would least choose, and gives them faith and they believe and they become the very ones that continue on in Jesus and follow Jesus right into eternal life and through the Kingdom of God day by day. When you're broken you're way more right than the people with all the power and brains of this world. When you're broken you know you need a Savior and that savior is not yourself. So, God picks you and uses you... yes you!

It's not going to make any sense especially to people who believe that they have this life, this existence, this place upon this earth all figured out. The people that believe that it's through their own efforts, their own control, their own power, their own wealth that saves them from it all. These people want signs and proof and wisdom of this world. It's just not going to make any sense... until... until... the Holy Spirit acts upon their broken lives and they hear the wonderful message of God in Jesus and they accept that message and believe that message to be true. That it's not about their efforts to save themselves but rather it's about God's grace to save us all.

And yes God saves us in an unbelievable way! God saves us through his Son, Jesus, hanging and dying on a cross for our sin. God becomes the sacrifice for our sin. And so much more than that! God in Jesus is raised. Jesus leads us into eternal life through his death.

"For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength."

It's not going to make any sense to many people. But it doesn't need to... once you believe... once you are given faith... once you turn and follow Jesus... it just doesn't matter if it makes any sense.

Prayer
Lord, take me broken as I am as I follow you. Use me to do your will this day. Use me to speak the wonderful Gospel of Jesus. Use me in your Kingdom. Yes. Lord, I believe... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

January 28th Reflection by Bill Lynch

Psalm 15
A Psalm of David.
O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
   Who may dwell on your holy hill?

Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
   and speak the truth from their heart;
who do not slander with their tongue,
   and do no evil to their friends,
   nor take up a reproach against their neighbours;
in whose eyes the wicked are despised,
   but who honour those who fear the Lord;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
who do not lend money at interest,
   and do not take a bribe against the innocent.

Those who do these things shall never be moved.

Reflection
Lord, I follow in your way with all my life.
   I seek to do your will.
I work to be the one that pleases you.
   I long to meet you face to face.
All that I may dwell in your presence daily.

I set my heart on your Truth.
   I deal with my neighbor in honesty.
I explain the actions of other's in kind ways.
   Yet, never take advantage of another.

Yes, there are two roads in life to trod.
   Sometimes I fail to follow the road of truth.
I need your direction and forgiveness when I stray.
   For I must respect and fear you Lord.

When I sin, I take the consequences.
   For to you I run in my despair.
I fall at your feet and repent and change.
   As I hear gracious words of forgiveness.

In all your blessings I give thanks.
   For you grant more than I deserve.
You are Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
   Truth and Savior and Deliverer.

Prayer
Lord, I seek to honor you and bring glory to your name. Forgive me when I fall short. Forgive me when I display sin for all to see. Forgive me when my actions embarrass you. Lead me and teach me all along the way you travel, that I may act and do what pleases you. For you alone are my Truth, my Savior, my God... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

January 27th Reflection by Bill Lynch

Micah 6:1-8

6Hear what the Lord says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. ²Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the Lord has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel. ³“O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me! ⁴For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. ⁵O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the Lord.”
⁶“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? ⁷Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” ⁸He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Reflection
Take a moment and reflect on the blessings that God has freely given to you in your life. Blessings such as family, children, shelter, health, renewal, transportation, friends, safety, warmth in the midst of cold, rescue in the midst of the storm, food... The list can go on and on.

God has only done good things to us. The evil things that have happened aren't a result of God. The fallen nature of this world is due to sin and some choosings of our own. God has always come to us in the midst of troubles that we have created in one way or another, or even come to us while we were in the midst of troubles we didn't create but found ourselves in the midst of, to rescue us and save us from ourselves, sin, death and the devil. God comes to save.

Sure, there is still death, and suffering and poverty and those times that we suffer, but that is not due to God's action. It may not even be due to your own action, but it's where you find yourself at certain times.

God turns around and witnesses our pain and suffering and comes to save. God comes to save and some day he will come to eliminate all of those evil things in life, but for now, God comes to save. We profess in the belief that Jesus will come again to raise the living and the dead to judge and deliver and take us into Jesus' Kingdom which will have no end. That's eternal life... that's the elimination portion... that's it.

But for now we live in a world of sin and evil. We live in a world of disease and death. We live in a world of poverty.

Now... once again... think of those saving acts of God in your life. God hasn't done anything to hurt you. God has always done those things to save and rescue you. Think of the blessings and how the blessings far out weigh the evils of this world. Think of how God has turned around from heaven and come to you in your place and your time here on earth. God has come to you! Yes... to you to save you!

And God doesn't expect anything in return but a response to what God has done for you. And that response is always something you are capable of doing right now at this moment and in this place. God doesn't expect you to give in return something that you don't have. God doesn't expect to be repaid for the blessings you have received. God's not looking for pay for even more blessing. What God expects is your response to his love in doing justice, loving kindness and walking with God.

Yes, all God wants is for you to be a disciple and follow and act out in the love that you have freely been given through Jesus. I can do this... you can do this... all people can do this.

Think of all the blessings of God. Think of how God turned from heaven and came to earth in Jesus. Think of how Jesus gave his life for you that you may have eternal life.

How will you respond? What will you do?

Prayer
Lord, it's my decision, it's my will, that I give my life to you. I believe! I give myself to you to follow in your way and to learn your ways for my life and what pleases you. Grow my faith, dear Lord. Your blessings are beyond anything I ever expected or deserved and your love is without boundary. In this I follow and live for you... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

January 26th Reflection by Bill Lynch

Matthew 4:12-23

¹²Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. ¹³He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, ¹⁴so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: ¹⁵“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— ¹⁶the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” ¹⁷From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
¹⁸As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. ¹⁹And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” ²⁰Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ²¹As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. ²²Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
²³Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

Reflection
So, let's get started Jesus. Let's get started and make it all happen. Let's gather some people together and go. Let's go do this thing, Jesus. John the Baptist is under arrest and that's your cue, Jesus, to get started. You have been announced by John the Baptist as the One and by God as your Son, so now let the Light shine. A Light of deliverance and salvation. But a Light that is so different from what the world expects that people are still confused today.

Jesus, you came to deliver through your Light all people. All people, not just a Chosen race of people but all people. Jesus, you came not as the physical conqueror of worldly kingdoms or to defeat powerful political enemies of a few, but you have come to save the people, all the people, from sin, death and the devil. Yes, Jesus, you have come to grant everlasting life to all people who believe and are baptized. You, Jesus are not what this world expected, but you are certainly what this world needs.

The despised, the rejected, the poor, the sick, the hungry, the sinful, the blind, the lame, the people with any and all levels and forms of barriers to the life that God had intended for all people are the very people that you have come to save. All the people!

So, as a disciple, I know you have come to me before you even met me. I know you have come to me and into my life before I was even born. You, Jesus, have come for me and I know it! So, when you call me to go; I go. When you call me to follow; I follow. It's that plain and it's that simple. No wonder the first disciples got up and left when you called. You had been with them before they even knew you.

It's time to go... it's time to follow... it's time to learn the teaching that only you have to offer.

Yes, Jesus, it's your time. Yes, Jesus, you are the Light of the world. Yes, Jesus, you are the Messiah that has come to grant eternal life.

That's so much more than some powerful ruler of a country. That's so much more than the king of worldly nations. That's so much more than many expected yesterday or even today.

Prayer
Lord, teach me your will and your way. Open my eyes and the eyes of those who seek something less than what you really have to offer. For you are much more than one that will save us from the Romans, you are much more than someone that will straighten out the corruption of the Temple, you are much more than one who heals... You, Jesus are the One to save all the people from sin, death and the devil. You, Jesus are the One to grant all people eternal life. Yes, Jesus you are so much more than I can imagine... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

January 22nd - "Error on page" - Reflection by Bill Lynch

Psalm 27:1, 4-9

¹The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
⁴One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
⁵For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.
⁶Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
⁷Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!
⁸“Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, Lord, do I seek.
⁹Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!


Reflection - Error on page
The first verse of this Psalm is my confirmation verse. I have been having trouble with my computer the past couple of weeks, but when it comes to having trouble writing my reflections it really bothers me! I know this seems trite but my confirmation verse and some of the remainder of this passage have come into play. Even as I write this reflection (which has taken me days to write!), things just don't work like they used to work just a couple of days ago. The mouse clicks aren't working correctly, the copy and paste is different. The verses that I chose to omit come across with verse numbers. I can't explain any of it!

Has this computer become my enemy? Have I been duped by some old software platform? Has my faithful and long held computer decided that enough is enough? I can't answer any of these questions. What I do know is that all of this simple stuff in the entire realm of life have cause me to take my eyes off of the real deal of writing the reflections in the first place.

"The Lord is the stronghold" - not some electronic gadgetry. The Lord is what I seek, not this irritating software with "Error on page." showing in the lower left hand corner. But maybe, just maybe that little message is telling me something. I live in a life of errors and in a world of sin. I live in a place and time that has faults. I live here but I don't have to stay here forever. I can focus on the Lord as my stronghold.

I seek to live and have a relationship with God. I seek to live in God's household. I seek the beauty of God and understand that this is what is real. Sure, for now I deal with a means of communication that is failing me, but that is only temporary.

There will be a time when I will see the face of God. And of this one thing I can be sure... that God alone supplies the needs of life and supplies them abundantly. So abundantly that I discover the real meaning of it all --- God is my Light --- God is my salvation --- God is my stronghold.

In this I find God's security and presence and beauty and joy and shelter. In God alone!

And once again I can rejoice in my confirmation verse...
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Not this darn computer!!!

Prayer
Lord, keep my focus on you and you alone... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

January 20th Reflection - The Light - by Bill Lynch

Isaiah 9:1-4
But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness
   have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
   on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation,
   you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
   as with joy at the harvest,
   as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden,
   and the bar across their shoulders,
   the rod of their oppressor,
   you have broken as on the day of Midian.

Reflection - The Light
Israel was under attack by Assyria and the land of Zebulun and Naphtali were of the first to fall in defeat of this invading country. So, likewise Zebulun and Naphtali were in "darkness" the longest. This passage is a passage of contrasts. Just think of the joy that must have been felt when coming out of that long darkness into the light of fellowship and joy of being back with those you love. We take peace for granted in the United States and just expect to live in peace and comfort and joy. After all the premise of the pursuit of happiness is one foundation to what we live for in this country. But what about places that don't live in peace? How they must long for the joy of the harvest. How they must hunger and wait for that light to shine in the darkness of no electricity.How they must yearn for peace and joy.

Yet, this passage also speaks beyond the present or the past ages of peace and war. We all experience some type of darkness. We all live in the shadow, or perhaps in the depths of the darkness of sin and death. We all have walked through our personal battles and need the Light. When Jesus comes to us and we see and believe; we can't help but notice the great Light he gives to us in life when we deserved death. We see the Light of God shine brightly before us and the love of God in action around us in Jesus. We see a God that comes to save us from our sin. We are in the Light and are happy to go and tell of this great Light that has come into the midst of darkness to save us and give us eternal peace.

So, let us rejoice with the people of Zebulun and Naphtali. Let us rejoice in the Light of Jesus the Christ, the Savior, our God, our Messiah that he has come to all and to each. Yes, let us rejoice in peace, joy and unity!

Prayer
Lord, come to those war torn areas of the world today. Show the people your great Light of peace. May they experience the contrast of darkness to Light that only you can bring into this world. Help us as your willing servants to follow your lead and to go and tell and act out the mission and purpose of your Light in this world... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

January 19th Reflection - Water - by Bill Lynch

John 1:29-42
 The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’
 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter).

Reflection - Water
I just love the way God created me! I really mean that! I just love how I can take on various forms and shapes and even be shapeless at times. I can take on the shape of whatever is around me or I can take on whatever shape God chooses for me to take. I live on forever. I come and go as God pleases or even as the winds of nature please. I seem to continue to live on forever... at least since the day God created me, I've been on this earth. I love the way God created me!

There was that one special day that I recall more than other days of me ongoing life. That day I was barreling down the Jordan river. I would move to the banks of the river and back to the center, I would go over and around stones and the life in that river was abundant. But, as I approached those men standing in the river, I knew something special was about to occur.

Yes, that day I was in the river and above the river both. I was in the river moving quickly and swiftly towards both men and I was above the river all fluffy and with a vantage point that I could see the whole thing develop before my eyes as I looked down.

So, as I quickly approached the men in the river, I noticed from above the river all of the people standing and watching this event unfold. All of the people on the banks of the river! Some of them preparing to step into the river with this one man named John. Other's were just waiting for a turn to be in the river with John, but a man, yes, even a relative of John named Jesus was in the river with John. I could see all of this from my heavenly vantage point above the river at the same time I was approaching the men from within the river.

John put Jesus into me. John took Jesus and I ran over, around and a little within Jesus. I was all over Jesus as I enveloped him. I was above Jesus, I was around Jesus, I was all over Jesus. It was as if Jesus was buried by me in death. And I really think it was at this moment that I realized that this man named Jesus was so much more than a man. This man named Jesus was taking on the death of all of the people on the banks, all of the people of Israel, yes all of the people on this earth that God had created. I buried Jesus in myself that day and Jesus took on the death of all people. In that one moment Jesus took on the death of the world. That one moment when Jesus was under me. If Jesus had remained under me for too long he surely would have stopped breathing. But Jesus didn't stop breathing that day.

As John raised Jesus from me, I clung to Jesus with all of my might. I ran down his face and clung to Jesus. I stayed in Jesus' hair for as long as I could until I changed into vapor and ascended into the heavens above to be in a different form. The form of myself that could watch this whole thing develop from above. But, for all of my might, I clung to Jesus as long as I could in my liquid form.

And as I clung to Jesus, a dove descended from my vapor form above. A dove of God the Holy Spirit. A dove showing that this Jesus was God. This Jesus was more than just a man. This Jesus was not only the Son of Man this Jesus was the Son of God, in flesh and with all of the people of the world. This Jesus had just taken on the death of the people by going under my liquid form and being buried in me. This Jesus didn't need a baptism as John called it, but this Jesus, this man, this God, chose to be baptized by John. This Jesus, chose to go under the water and die to a new life for all the people and all the sin of this world. This Jesus, did all of this on purpose and for good reason.

This God knew that the people of this world could not be saved by their own actions. The people of this world need salvation. They were destined to die for their sinfulness, but this Jesus, this God, took on that sin that day and died in their place. He died under the water of baptism to be raised to new life for and in the place of these people.

Yes, the people still needed to be baptized. For this Jesus had shown them the gift God had given to them in baptism. These people still needed to believe. For if they do not believe all that they see is man and water and sky. They won't see the life they have been given. A life free from sin. Free from sin, not without sin. Jesus was the one without sin. But Jesus took on the sin of the people and died in that sin for the people that they my live free from the sin. Jesus did all of this and I was there.

And when I realized what had happened... that's where I love the way God created me... you see... I am all over this earth. I shouted with all of my might with a shout of joy for all the people of this world. Yes! Jesus Son of Man, Jesus Son of God, has come to save all creation from sin, death and the devil! Yes, Jesus was under the water in the death of the people's sin but arose to give new life to all! Yes! Jesus is our Savior!

And being who I am... my shout went out from the oceans, from the thunder clouds, from the rivers, from the ponds and the lakes, from the ice packed polar caps, from the snow peaked mountains, from the great waterfalls, from the caves full of hidden steams and rivers, from the sparkling mountain falls, from the plains filled with snow, from the tree branches laden with snow, from the flowers dripping with water, from all over the world my shout went out that the world is alive and a Savior has come to all of us!

And even more... one day... some day... this Jesus will return! I will wrap his feet in my heavenly form and he will come again for all people and his Kingdom will reign... forever and ever and ever!

I love how God created me and I love playing a part in that great moment of baptism of Jesus that great and awesome day! And I look forward to that new new day to come!

Prayer
Lord, may I like all of the forms of water shout out praise and honor and glory to Jesus, my Savior, my Lord, my Messiah... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

January 17th Reflection - The Messiah! - by Bill Lynch

John 1:29-42
 The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’
 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter).

Reflection - The Messiah!
Messiahs come and go, one after another; messiahs that claim to be the answer to the troubles of this world, messiahs that say they can save us or have the answer to all of our problems. Messiahs that I create, that you create, sometimes even messiahs that we make ourselves out to be that will save us from sin or some trouble of our own such as illness, homelessness, pain, suffering, poverty, hunger. We think we have all of the answers sometimes and we find and we follow some messiah that we are convinced will save us, sometimes even if that messiah is ourselves.

But these messiahs aren't Jesus. These messiahs are fabricated due to our wants and needs. We can't make up messiahs. Only God can send The Messiah. Only God can choose The Messiah. But, how are we to know the difference?  This passage holds the clue on how to know The Messiah.

"And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’"

God will show us The Messiah, the true Messiah will be made known to us and shown to us by God. Jesus is the Messiah... the Spirit descended and remained on Jesus. God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), God the Holy Spirit --- All One. Yes, Jesus is The Messiah because the Father sent Jesus and the Spirit is with Jesus. Jesus is The Messiah, the only Messiah. All the rest of the messiahs we make up or follow are only futile attempts to resolve and solve temporary earthly problems that we have. It's Jesus that was sent by God into this world that saves us and takes us and folds us into his Kingdom which surpasses this world, this time, this space and adopts us as God's children as family into the eternal Kingdom of God.

This Jesus, is The Messiah that we can leave it all behind and follow into God's Kingdom. This Jesus, is The Messiah, that was sent by God the Father to save us from sin, death and the devil. This Jesus, is The Messiah, that takes us into the Kingdom of God in history, right now in our lives and will fulfill that Kingdom of God when Jesus comes again. This Jesus, is The Messiah we place all of our hope, trust and faith in. Yes we place our very lives in this Jesus, The Messiah. This Jesus is The Messiah!

This Jesus, is The Messiah that takes away the sin of the world. Jesus, takes away the sin of the world by becoming the Lamb that was sacrificed once and for all time, for the sin of this world. It's not the power of bombs or armies or prestige, or money, or anything that we can create that defeats sin; it's only through the power of Jesus, the Lamb, The Messiah that takes away the sin of this world.

John was called to do the earthly thing. He was called to baptize with water that we all can understand. John called the people out of the wilderness to come to him and repent of sin. John calls us to come to the wilderness and prepare ourselves for the coming of The Messiah, Jesus Christ, our only Lord, our only Savior. John was called to a divine call in a worldly place to lead us to Jesus, The Messiah. And Jesus comes! Jesus comes and the Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus. Jesus is The Messiah and we can see it through the eyes of John and those who stood in history at that time of Jesus baptism by John.

Yes, we too can see this Jesus, The Messiah, and we too can now be baptized in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. We are graciously offered this baptism and we grow in faith to believe in all that God has done through the Father, through the Son and through the Holy Spirit.

Yes, we are called! We too are gifted by the Holy Spirit and we are sent with a purpose and a message of eternal life in the Kingdom of God into our world in which God has placed us. We too, leave all of ourselves with God and GO! We GO! following Jesus, The Messiah! We GO! not having found The Messiah due to our own actions; we GO! having The Messiah come into our world, our place, our river and shown himself and more than that, given himself as the Lamb that will take away our sin but also the sin of all the world. That's The Messiah! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Along and beside John the Baptist I cry these words, dear Lord... Come Lord Jesus... come... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

January 15th Reflection - God Piles On! - by Bill Lynch

1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Reflection - God Piles On!
God just piles it on. Yes, God piles on the blessings day after day. Yet being the sinful man that I am, I tend to not see the blessings and see the sin. All of the blessings that God piles on seem to be invisible most of the time. Yes, those blessings are there. The blessings are there every moment of every day, yet what do I see? I see the sin, the illness, the corruption, the sinfulness of this world and focus my attention on these things. I focus on the things that are wrong with this world and don't even notice the blessings that God piles on each moment of every day.

Yes, I see the corruption in the news of people that manipulate and use people. I see how the rich abuse the poor and how the poor take advantage of the rich. I see the violence and the war. I see the illness that can't be cured. I see the pollution and the greed of corporations out for a profit. I see the banking system that abuses the system and the stock market that gets all twisted and turned around through unfair trading and shady deals.

Yet, at the same moment, I miss the laughter of a baby, the unique snowflake, the water that nourishes the earth, the money that buys the groceries, the love of a couple one for the other. I miss the depth of the baptism, the unity of communion, the beauty of the song. I miss the smell of cookies prepared special for someone. I miss the kiss of my wife and the hug of a grandchild. I miss out on the growth of the plants and the taste and smell of the coffee. I miss all of the blessings of life that God graciously grants moment by moment.

In this passage of scripture, I see that Paul recognizes the blessings in other disciples of Jesus. I see that Paul is amazed at the wonderful gifts God has given God's people to use in their call to do the will of God. I see Paul encouraging the use of spiritual gifts of all kinds, all unique, yet all orchestrated together for the good will of God to reach out and bring all people into fellowship with God and in relationship with one another.

Paul has discovered the amazement of the reality of what God has done through Jesus. Paul has discovered the response that we all can have to the death and resurrection of Jesus that we all may be united with Jesus in his Kingdom, now and forever. Paul responds to the grace of God by noticing the blessings of God in this world and in the people that God has given to him to fellowship with and to love. Paul has been turned around by Jesus and lives a life full of the recognition of God's blessings rather than guided by the sinfulness and evil of this world.

Yes, God has turned Paul around, he has turned me around, and turned you around and turned all who believe around to see and focus on Jesus rather than focus on sin. Our focus is on Jesus now that we believe and give ourselves to God as disciples. Our focus is no longer on sin. Yes, we recognize the sinfulness of this world. We see it and we act against it knowing that God has blessed us with salvation from that very sin that we see and commit. Our focus doesn't lie on the sin. We repent of the sin and focus on Jesus. That's the turn God has blessed us with. That's the focus... the focus is on the cross and Jesus wonderful resurrection to life that we too have been granted by God.

Yes, Paul, we have been called. We are called first as a Christian. We are called to be disciples of Jesus. We are called to obey and follow the will of God. We are called to the Church that is God's Church, not our church. This is God's Church and we are called to follow Jesus in that Church of God because we belong to God. We have been set apart and sanctified, not by our works but by God's work. And we notice the gracefulness of God, given to all people in Christ. Jesus is in this Church of God throughout all space and throughout all time.

Yes, Paul we are thankful for what God has done. For Jesus has shown us the truth. And in speech and knowledge of the Truth we take this message, this Gospel message, to all those that God gives to us. We take this message out the door with us every day to speak this Gospel and to live out the Gospel in the presence of those we are sent to each and every day. Yes, Paul, God has transformed his people with Spiritual gifts and God will sustain all his disciples in every action and every moment.

So, turn it around. See the blessings and revel in the action of God through Jesus. Notice the sin but live in the blessings. Repent of the sin but live and respond in the gifts God has given to all of his disciples. Live life so that the world may know the grace and the gospel of God through Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior of all!

Prayer
Lord, as I see and hear the news of this world; open my eyes to your blessings and your gifts that I may use them to your glory in all I say and do. Send me into this world, having confessed and repented of my sin to focus on the gracious blessing of eternal life to be lived in your Kingdom that I may tell and act out the wonder and amazing response to what you have done for me and for all people through Jesus Christ... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen 

January 14th Reflection - God's Will - by Bill Lynch

Psalm 40:1-11
To the leader. Of David. A Psalm.
I waited patiently for the Lord;
   he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the desolate pit,
   out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
   making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
   a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
   and put their trust in the Lord.

Happy are those who make
   the Lord their trust,
who do not turn to the proud,
   to those who go astray after false gods.
You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
   your wondrous deeds and your thoughts towards us;
   none can compare with you.
Were I to proclaim and tell of them,
   they would be more than can be counted.

Sacrifice and offering you do not desire,
   but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt-offering and sin-offering
   you have not required.
Then I said, ‘Here I am;
   in the scroll of the book it is written of me.
I delight to do your will, O my God;
   your law is within my heart.’

I have told the glad news of deliverance
   in the great congregation;
see, I have not restrained my lips,
   as you know, O Lord.
I have not hidden your saving help within my heart,
   I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
   from the great congregation.

Do not, O Lord, withhold
   your mercy from me;
let your steadfast love and your faithfulness
   keep me safe for ever.

Reflection - God's Will
I wait upon you O Lord, I wait.
   I wait with no expectations for I am empty.
Hear my prayer O Lord and draw your gaze my way.
   I sing my song of praise to you and you alone.

A song of trust and love through faith.
   I draw all strength from you alone.
Your deeds are wonderful and powerful and mighty.
   Your mercies are great and have blessed my life.

Accept my offering I pray dear Lord.
   Not an offering of things or animals or riches.
Accept the offering of myself, my will, my way.
   Take my spirit and make it yours.

Deliverance comes in you and you alone.
   Your salvation is not a secret to be hidden.
You grace, I proclaim with all my spirit.
   For all joy is in you my God, my Maker, my Savior!

Prayer
Lord, you do hear... you do listen... you do respond! Thanks! As I speak, I pause to listen. I listen carefully and patiently for your Word, your will and your way. Lead me and teach me the way you desire. Take me beyond my human greed and wants to your divine love that I may live to your glory. Take my life and mold me and shape me into what you would have me be and have me do... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

January 13th Reflection - The Servant - by Bill Lynch

Isaiah 49:1-7
Listen to me, O coastlands,
   pay attention, you peoples from far away!
The Lord called me before I was born,
   while I was in my mother’s womb he named me.
He made my mouth like a sharp sword,
   in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow,
   in his quiver he hid me away.
And he said to me, ‘You are my servant,
   Israel, in whom I will be glorified.’
But I said, ‘I have laboured in vain,
   I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
yet surely my cause is with the Lord,
   and my reward with my God.’

And now the Lord says,
   who formed me in the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him,
   and that Israel might be gathered to him,
for I am honoured in the sight of the Lord,
   and my God has become my strength—
he says,
‘It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
   to raise up the tribes of Jacob
   and to restore the survivors of Israel;
I will give you as a light to the nations,
   that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.’

Thus says the Lord,
   the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One,
to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations,
   the slave of rulers,
‘Kings shall see and stand up,
   princes, and they shall prostrate themselves,
because of the Lord, who is faithful,
   the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.’

Reflection - The Servant
Who is this that has been called before birth? Who is this that has been given purpose before the coming from the womb? Who is this?

This is God's servant. Yes, one who is to serve the Lord God. This passage is often referred to as the 'Second Servant Song.' This Servant will be to Israel first of all. This is a person that is trained by God in advance for a purpose and to carry out a mission. This is a person called by God to save Israel, from and in Israel.

Oh, how this Servant seems to be Jesus. But, also; oh how this servant seems to be any and all of God's Children. God surely gave Jesus a calling. Jesus was before, during and after. We all need Jesus and the Father was prepared for our need of a Savior even before, yes during and surely after our fall into sin. Jesus was there for us and will always be there to be with us as the One chosen by the Father and gifted by the Spirit to save all creation and all God's people.

But, likewise, God has given you and me a purpose and a mission as well. But, what? We are placed into this time and space as God's servants, saved by Jesus, to tell those God gives to us of what God has done for all the people through Jesus. The Father sent the Son, Jesus, to die and rise again that we all may live in unity with Jesus in his Kingdom forever. Yes... forever.

This is a clear calling to you and to me. But God graciously gifts us through the Holy Spirit with unique gifts to carry out this call. God approaches this message from as many angles as there are children of God. So, the message... the Gospel... is declared into this world by each and by all of us in many and various ways by each and by all of us as God's servants in God's Church.

Yes, Jesus was called and we are called, gathered and enlightened to carry out the call of God as a Church and as God's servants through all space and time. Wow! God has it all together! Thanks be to God for this wonderful opportunity to be God's servant throughout all time. Thanks!

Prayer
Lord, make it clear to me and show me the times and the places that I am to act out your will and your way to and with those you give to me each moment of this day. For I am your servant... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

January 12th Reflection - Do you believe... really believe? - by Bill Lynch

Matthew 3:13-17
 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’

Reflection - Do you believe... really believe?
Do you believe? Do you believe or don't you believe? You do have a choice you know. God has given us a choice from the beginning. Adam and Eve both were given a choice. They could eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil or they could choose not to eat. God loves us enough to give us a choice. So, the question posed here is do you believe?

After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples and gave them what for. Did they believe the accounts of his resurrection from the dead? Did the disciples believe that Jesus rose from the dead? Did they believe in Jesus? Or were they just going to be stubborn? Was their faith lacking in what Jesus had told them all along. Jesus told them that he would rise again. Do you believe? Then Jesus went on to tell them to tell the account of his resurrection to all the world. Jesus went on to speak to their ability to choose to believe.

Mark 16:16 - "The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned."

So, do you believe? You can be baptized, but do you believe? We can go through the motions, we can be part of the ceremony, the sacrament, that awesome gift of baptism freely and graciously given to us by God... but we still must at some point believe. So, do you believe?

It's not just about some water and some words spoken by a pastor. It's about water and God's Word. God's Word with a capital W. The Word made flesh that dwelt among us. It's about some water, that we can relate to... and a promise from God that if we believe and are baptized we will be saved. Our lives will change. Our actions will change. We will be saved, not by our own actions... not even our action of coming forward for baptism or the actions of our parents or sponsors presenting us for baptism. We will be saved through God's mercy.

Titus 3:4-8 - "But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is sure."

Now... do you believe? It's your choice you know. God has given you this choice. So, do you believe?

And if you do believe... so what? So what about it?

Romans 6:1-11 - "What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus."

In the passage, of this day, Jesus was baptized. He wasn't baptized by John really... Jesus was baptized by God. When we are baptized, we aren't baptized by the pastor or some other person; we are baptized by God. This isn't just some words spoken by a person. This isn't just a cute thing that we do to babies or adults or youth that is picture worthy. Baptism isn't just about us. Baptism is about God coming to his people. Coming to them as a group of people and coming to them individually. God comes to us of God's own will, not our own will. It's not up to me to be baptized. It's up to God to baptize. Jesus was baptized by God and the heavens opened up to him and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in another earthly form, not because Jesus needed it... but because God chose to do this for us to see. God chose baptism.

Jesus, as God, chose John to lay his hands upon him and take Jesus under the water and to be baptized. John was the one doing the baptism. God was the one giving the baptism for all to see through John to Jesus. Therefore baptism isn't our little show to put on to the delight and picture taking of the parents and family, it is a divine intervention into the life of a people and a person by God!

Oh, how we need this baptism. We need this baptism that opens up the heavens and the Holy Spirit and the calling and the gifting of spiritual gifts that live and grow to impart our part into the very command that Jesus gave the disciples in Mark 16.

Mark 16:15 - "And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation."

What good news? The Good News that Jesus rose from the dead. The Good News that in our baptism we have risen out of the waters to a new life. A new life through which we are now alive in Jesus Christ. Alive forever! Alive because of the promise! We are now living eternal life. Yes we are now living eternal life even though we live this life in this sinful world and in our sinful being, God chose us to give us a choice! God chose us to give us a choice to believe or to not believe. So...

Do you believe? Do you believe that Jesus rose from the dead and that we along with our baptism are alive in Christ? Do you believe?

If you believe and are baptized then you are "delivered from sin, death and the devil to enter the kingdom of Christ and live with him forever." (Luther's Large Catechism-Baptism)

Oh how holy and mighty that simple water has become. That simple water that John used on Jesus... that simple water that you received in your baptism. That simple water has become holy through God's Word. This thing we call baptism is a gift from God. It's God's free choice to choose us.

But it's our choice to believe. We can believe in Jesus resurrection or we can choose not to believe and be condemned. Yes, God through the very words of Jesus has given us this choice.

So...

Do you believe?

Prayer
O Lord, it's our prayer that all people may be brought to believe in you. May all children of the world in all time be brought to believe that Jesus lived and died and rose again that we ALL may be delivered from sin, death and the devil and enter the kingdom of Christ and live with him forever.

Thank you Lord for choosing us to be yours.

Thank you Lord for granting me the choice to choose you as well. For through the grace of your loving action we are given the honor and choice to respond to the love you have shown to us through Jesus.

Bring all your children to baptism and bring all your children to face the choice you have graciously given to believe. Increase our faith as only you can do that we may believe and be baptized... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

January 1st Reflection - The Blessing of the Light - by Bill Lynch

Isaiah 60:1-6

Arise, shine; for your light has come,
   and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth,
   and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
   and his glory will appear over you.
Nations shall come to your light,
   and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Lift up your eyes and look around;
   they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from far away,
   and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms.
Then you shall see and be radiant;
   your heart shall thrill and rejoice,
because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you,
   the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
A multitude of camels shall cover you,
   the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
   all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
   and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.

Reflection - The Blessing of the Light
It's true! Jesus has a way of bringing people together. People of all places, of all nations and of all times. Jesus has a way about it all that unites families and individuals. We all come in curiosity to see what this Light is all about. We all get up and look. We all gather together and travel what ever distance it takes to see the light of Jesus. We gather in our homes, we gather in our churches, we gather in our times to seek and follow the light of Jesus.

And as we gather we see Jesus. We see Jesus in the love of God. Something special occurs in the gathering. We begin to follow Jesus and we take on the traits that God would have us take on and begin to radiate that Light to all the world in word and action. Yes, we begin to love one another as God has loved us through this wonderful gift of life in Jesus.

With our sins and our differences put aside, with our judgments and our prejudice and our selfish greed set aside; we come together with the one purpose of following the light of Jesus. Yes, we follow Jesus and listen to his Word and lovingly look to God for guidance in this world of sin and death.

We praise the name of God in Jesus, knowing that Jesus will come again to make that final stand against sin, death and the devil. We come together in unity and hope for what God has done through Jesus and what God has done through his Church and what God will do in all finality.

Look to the heavens and catch the glimpse of all Children of God coming together, gathering, around the throne. All people throughout all the centuries of time coming together at that great banquet feast when we complete that awesome prayer of "Come, Lord Jesus, come!"

Yes, Jesus has come! Look to that Light! Yes, Jesus is with us always and the Holy Spirit is here and now to gather us together, to call us, to gift us and to send us out in love in the name of Jesus. Yes... "Come, Lord Jesus come!" has flowered into reality.

"Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let these awesome gifts be blessed!... Yes, the Light has come and we are blessed! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, gather us in. Gather us together in your Light! Gather us and bring us together in the gift of your grace and love. Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let your awesome gifts be blessed... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen