Southwood Lutheran Church

USE it on Wednesday.

This week Chip preached on the spiritual fruit of Goodness. You can hear his sermon here.

Today I read a quote from Pastor Tim Keller who said that the good news of the gospel is that:

"human beings are more broken and sinful than they could ever imagine, and more loved and cherished than they could ever dare hope."

He says:

"Christ gives us a radically new identity, freeing us from both self-righteousness and self-condemnation. He liberates us to accept people we once excluded, and to break the bondage of things (even good things) that once drove us. In particular, the gospel makes us welcoming and respectful toward those who do not share our beliefs."

Ultimately cultivating the spiritual fruit of Goodness is about seeing what God has done for us, and then refusing to let anyone else miss out on the power of that message. The good "things" that we do are a response to the greatest thing that God did for us.

How is goodness being cultivated in you? Have you already stopped to thank God for His goodness in your life which allows you to seek goodness elsewhere?

Pastor Sara

Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven

“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.” (Psalm 103:1 NKJV)

Would you like to spend the night in the home of one of England’s greatest hymnists? Reserve a room at the elegant Berry Head Hotel in Brixham, on England’s southern coast. Years ago, this was the home of Henry Lyte, author of “Abide with Me,” “Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken,” and “God of Mercy, God of Grace.”

For twenty-three years, Henry Lyte pastored the local church in Brixham, on the “English Riviera.” How Henry and his wife, Anne, acquired this elegant estate is something of a mystery, but it was most likely provided for them by the King of England in appreciation for Henry’s ministry. The estate was at water’s edge, and there in the tranquility of that house and grounds Henry wrote most of his sermons, poems, and hymns.

Despite frail health and weak lungs, Henry established a Sunday school of eight hundred children in Brixham. In addition to preaching and tending his flock, he ministered to sailors on the docks and wrote his hymns and poems. In 1834, he published a small book that included this now-famous hymn, based on Psalm 103, “Praise My Soul the King of Heaven.”. It was later chosen by Princess Elizabeth, now Queen Elizabeth II, for her wedding hymn in Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947—the one hundredth anniversary of Lyte’s death.

Lyte died in 1847 from tuberculosis. After Anne’s death, Berry Head passed to the Lyte daughter, Mrs. John Hogg, and it remained in the family until 1949, when it was converted into a hotel.

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
To his feet your tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore His praises sing;
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King.

Praise Him for His grace and favor
To His people in distress;
Praise Him still the same as ever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless:
Alleluia, alleluia!
Glorious in His faithfulness.

Father like He tends and spares us;
Well our feeble frame He knows;
In His hand He gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Widely yet His mercy flows.

Angels, help us to adore Him;
You behold Him face to face;
Sun and moon, bow down before Him,
All who dwell in time and space.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace.

(By: Henry F. Lyte, 1793-1874)

(from Then Sings My Soul, vol. 2 by Robert Morgan)

HEAR it on Sunday, USE it on Monday

On Sunday, our Youth Director, Chip, talked about Goodness as a fruit of the spirit. Listen to his message here. I liked how he began at the beginning with the creation story in Genesis 1. When God made us, he made us in his image....and he called it "very good." And this morning, I found this great devotion on 97secondswithgod. It's a great picture of how, when you peel back all the layers, our DNA is just as God proclaimed it....good.

Genesis 1 - The Butterfly

I used to think I was broken. I used to pray these long, rambling prayers in which I asked God to fix me. To take all the shattered pieces and put them back together. And at some point I felt like He said, "No."

It wasn't a mean no, but rather an honest refusal to do something that couldn't be done. Because ultimately I wasn't broken. God's image in me was too deep and too true and too powerful to break. Despite what I did, what was inside remained true. I may have dimmed it or hidden it under layers of sin, but it was still there, glowing and waiting. Ever waiting.

Genesis 1 talks about that. In a matter of two verses, God repeats three times that we are made in His image. I think He repeats it so often because He knew we wouldn't believe it. But it is true.

I once heard a guy named John Lynch touch on this point. I think I may have written about this before, but he basically said that if you took the DNA of a caterpillar it would return results that said "butterfly." Regardless of what it looked like, regardless of what it felt like, the caterpillar was a butterfly at the core. That could not be changed.

I think the same is true of us. We were made in His image. Sin is not more powerful than God. Sin cannot destroy what God has set in place. We are all butterflies. Even if we don't know it and we're living caterpillar lives.

Youth Mission 2 of 3: Growing through Serving

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! – Philippians 2:5-8

During our recent mission trip to Idaho 38 high school students, college students and adult leaders from Southwood contributed over 1,000 hours of service to Camp Lutherhaven and the local community of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Most of the projects involved intense manual labor and were done during the heat of the day. Most of the
time was spent cutting and nailing wood, clearing a rock trail along the beach, digging a septic trench, landscaping and staining wood. Perhaps the project that we had the most fun with was the day-camp that we ran for 30 children from the Coeur d’Alene Native Reservation. For an entire day, these children got to experience Camp Lutherhaven. They played games, sang songs, made crafts and swam in the lake along the beach. Many had the time of their lives. Several of our students were paired up with a student from the reservation and acted as their “buddies” that day. There are many great stories and memorable moments from that day.

During our trip our students and adults learned what it truly means to be a servant. Many of the tasks required a humble attitude and “sharing the attitude of Jesus Christ” as the verse from Philippians encourages us to do. The service projects definitely bonded our group together and strengthened our relationships with the students from South Dakota as well. The leaders at Camp were very impressed by the work ethic and attitude of our students and adult leaders. Overall our group grew a lot in their relationships with one another, with the people we served, and most importantly in their relationship with Christ.

Chip

Walk Like Jesus

Here's a little story I told our Day Campers yesterday (click here for some pictures of Day Camp). Their theme for the week is Walk Like Jesus, and I had the privilege of sharing a story with them about someone whose walk with Jesus helped me in my own faith life. It's not a very flattering depiction of me....but the unflinching truth of what I did makes the response to it all the more remarkable. So here it is....

On an overnight bus ride home from a high school track meet, my friend (who will remain nameless and blameless) and I decided to put Melody, a sophomore who seemed to us a bit of an upstart, in her place. I'm not going to sugarcoat it....the plot we hatched was just plain mean. It was intended to humiliate her....it was despicable.

We looked through our own bags and talked to some of the girls around us to assemble a goopy, sticky, messy concoction...a combination of mousse, gel, shampoo, shaving cream, Cheez Wiz, and more. Under the cover of darkness (mean, cowardly acts often require some such protection) we walked to the back of the bus and smeared the whole nasty mess into Melody's hair. We were hours from home, and she had no way to clean it out.

I told our campers this story yesterday, complete with a demonstration of the goop in the hair (on my son, a willing participant). The kids erupted in laughter at the smearing of the goop in the hair, and I pointed out that laughter was the exact response of a lot of the kids on the bus....except for Melody. I asked the kids, "How would you feel if you were Melody?" and "What would you do?" I heard lots of real answers, "I'd be mad. I'd be sad. I'd cry. I'd want to get you back."

Melody probably felt a lot of those things too....but her response to my bullying marked her as a disciple of Christ. Jesus said,

Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap you best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff....Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! (Luke 6: 27-31)

Melody was never anything but kind to me after the goop in the hair incident. She made an effort to talk to me, to build a relationship with me, to be my friend. She invited me to her house, and over time I learned that her family did devotions together and prayed together regularly...something that was foreign to me. Looking back now, I suspect that the night she got home from that long bus ride, her parents prayed with her and for her....and maybe even for me....they were that kind of people. I’m sure they guided Melody and called her to love her enemies…even to make them her friends. Melody became one of my best friends. We talked about faith, and she helped me study the Bible. But more than anything else, she gave me a living breathing picture of what it looks like to be a follower of Christ. Her walk with Jesus changed mine, and that's what being a disciple is all about.

Kim

Fairest Lord Jesus

“And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. (Rev. 21:23 NRSV)”

Fairest Lord Jesus is a wonderful hymn about Jesus Christ. It is a great hymn to lock away in your memory so that you can draw upon it’s treasury for the rest of your life.

Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature,
O thou of God and man the Son:
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
Thou my soul’s glory, joy, and crown.

The lines provide a glorious commentary about Jesus. He who rules all nature, who is divine, yet human, is the object of our love and honor, and is the glory, joy, and crown of our lives.

Fair are the meadows, Fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring:
Jesus is fairer, Jesus shines purer,
Who makes the woeful heart to sing.

Jesus far exceeds the beauty of the woodlands in the spring, and shines purer and puts a song in our hearts.

Fair is the sunshine, Fairer still the moonlight,
And all the twinkling, starry host:
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer,
Than all the angels heaven can boast.

Jesus shines with greater brilliance than the combined light of the sun, moon, and stars. He shines brighter and purer than all the angels in heaven. What a tremendous description of the radiance of Jesus.

Beautiful Savior! Lord of the nations!
Son of God and Son of man!
Glory and honor, Praise, adoration,
Now and forevermore be thine!

The final stanza climaxes an expression of unending praise and adoration to Jesus, the Lord of all nations. It reiterates the recognition of his divinity—Son of God—and his humanity—Son of Man—and ends with ecstatic praise for God’s gracious gift of his son Jesus Christ.

This hymn text is a beautiful commentary about Jesus. He rules nature, far exceeds the beauty of the woodlands in the spring, and shines with greater brilliance than the combined light of the sun, moon, and stars. He shines brighter and purer than all the angels in heaven. What a powerful description of the shining characteristics of Jesus.

(by William J. Reynolds, The Chorister, Jan. 2002)

Fruitful Living

This devotion appeared in my email this morning. We are about half way through our Summer Series on The Fruit of the Spirit. Take a moment during this halfway point and ask yourself: How is my life becoming more fruitful? Remember this Sunday's fruit is Kindness!

Faith@Work July 10, 2008 Fruitful Living

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." – Galatians 5:22-23

What's the purpose of fruit on a tree or a vine? Most of us would respond, "Well, it's there for me to eat and enjoy." That's a pretty natural response. Most of us love fruit. But in nature the purpose of fruit is to help spread the seeds of the tree or vine. The purpose of fruit is to attract birds and other animals that will eat the fruit and carry the seeds and "drop" them elsewhere. Fruit fundamentally exists to multiply the plant.

This is a vitally important concept in understanding the fruit of the Spirit in the Christian life. All too often when we think of that fruit, we think of things that we get to enjoy – love, joy, peace, patience. But that would be a fundamental misunderstanding of the fruit of the Spirit. When it comes to that fruit, we are not the consumers; we are the fruit-bearers, the ones who bear the seeds of God's love and transforming power wrapped up in the succulent sweetness of a changed life.

An apple tree does not bear apples for its own enjoyment, nor does a grapevine bear grapes so that it can enjoy them. Nor do we bear the fruit of the Spirit for our own enjoyment. These manifestations of the Spirit's work in our lives are tools for mission. They are created in us by the Spirit to impact the lives of others for the sake of the Gospel.

I know this to be true in my own life. In my spiritual journey it was the fruit of the Spirit in the lives of three other guys that drew me to Jesus. Their lives were different, and I tasted of the sweetness of Jesus in them. God had changed their lives, and I wanted mine to be changed too. Because the Spirit was bearing fruit in their lives, the seeds of God's love captured my soul.

Do not miss this fundamental reality of the fruit of the Spirit. When Paul say, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control," he is not talking about feelings that the Spirit is going to give you for your enjoyment. He is talking about the very life, the very character of Jesus Christ being manifest in your life.

Bringing It Home:
1. Whose maturing life in Christ has blessed your life? Whose maturity in faith has fed your soul? Why not let them know about it with a phone call or note of gratitude?
2. Have you been aware of God at work in you, blessing others through your maturing character? If not, spend some time in conversation with God around Galatians 5:13-26.

Prayer
Father, I thank you that my journey of faith has been blessed by the growing maturity of others. Would you help me to be a seed-bearer for you, feeding others with the sweetness of a transformed life? Help me, by your grace, to live in such a way that others sense your Spirit at work through me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Jeff Marian
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Burnsville, MN

Give Me A Clean Heart

“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

God has called you into service for His kingdom. Even though you may feel that you are unworthy or incapable, God knows the true you. You may feel that you do not have what it takes to be a servant of God; self-judgments like “I’m too weak” or “I can’t do that” often hold us back from fully accepting that plan that God as for us. Fortunately, God judges us by faith and character, not by appearance. And, since only God can see what is in the hearts of us, only he can accurately judge us. We spend hours each week getting ready for work, social outings, and even worship services, but how much time do we spend on grooming our inner character? Everyone can see your face, but only God knows what is on the inside.

In the 16th chapter of 1 Samuel, we see Samuel on the search for the next king of Israel. God has told Samuel to go and see Jesse of Bethlehem: “I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king." (1 Samuel 16:1 NIV) Samuel sees each one of Jesse’s sons and thinks that each successive young man is the one called to be the next king; but God rejects each one of them: Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The Lord has not chosen these." So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" (1 Samuel 16:10 NIV)

Jesse brings out his youngest son, David, who is out tending the sheep: Then the Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one." So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power. (1 Samuel 16:12-13 NIV) God knows who we really are and what He wants us to do for His kingdom. It is up to us to be sure that our hearts are ready and our character is up to the task. God will take care of the rest. (adapted from a devotion by Gary Dickinson, Ginghamsburg Church, Ohio).

Give me a clean heart so I may serve thee.
Lord, fix my heart so that I may be used by thee.
For I’m not worthy of all these blessings.
Give me a clean heart and I’ll follow thee.
I’m not asking for the riches of the land.
I’m not asking for the proud to know my name.
Please give me, Lord, a clean heart that I may follow thee.
Give me a clean heart, a clean heart and I will follow thee.
Give me a clean heart so I may serve thee.
Lord, fix my heart so that I may be used by thee.
For I’m not worthy of all these blessings.
Give me a clean heart and I’ll follow thee.
I’ll follow thee.
Sometimes I am up and sometimes I am down.
Sometimes I am almost level to the ground.

Come To Me All Pilgrims Thirsty

"With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." (Isaiah 12:3 NRSV)

The Bible has much to say about wells and they are mentioned hundreds of times. Water was a precious and sometimes scarce commodity in oriental lands and many a fierce battle was fought over the possession of wells (Gen. 26:17-21). Various words are used in the Hebrew for wells, the distinction of which is not carried over into our present translations. Among these several words for "well" there are three outstanding ones. There are first of all, man-made wells. Jacob's well was one of these. It was dug by father Jacob himself (John 4:12). It sometimes went dry in the rainless season. It meant hard work to lift the water from its depths. Its water could not permanently satisfy (John 4:13).

The second word translated "well" means a spring or fountain. It did not depend upon rainfall or surface drainage for its supply, but was fed by deep subterranean springs which kept up a constant flow in winter and in summer, in wet seasons and in drought. These wells Jesus compares to the well of salvation and to which Isaiah refers in our text. To drink of these wells means eternal satisfaction. He that drinks of that water shall "never thirst" (John 4:14).

A third well is mentioned in Scripture and means a "cistern" or a pool which collects water for a time, but soon dries up. Such wells are called "broken cisterns" (Jer. 2:13). Its water is unfit to drink and fails when most needed. Man-made wells and broken cisterns only increase the thirst, but those who have drunk of the fountain of life know true satisfaction. It is found only in Jesus Christ. "For with you is the fountain of life" (Ps. 36:9 NRSV).

"The last invitation of the Bible is to come and "take the water of life as a gift.” (Rev. 22:17).

"Come to me, all pilgrims thirsty drink the water I will give.
If you knew what gift I offer, you would come to me and live."

"Come to me, believers burdened; find refreshment in this place.
If you knew the gift I offer, you would turn and seek my face."

"Come to me, believers burdened; find refreshment in this place.
If you knew the gift I offer, you would turn and seek my face."
(text by Delores Defner)

There's A Wideness in God's Mercy

Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me. (Psalm 69:16)

Frederick Faber was born on June 28, 1814 in Yorkshire England. He was originally ordained into the Anglican Church but later became a priest in the Roman Catholic faith. Recognized as a man of personal charm, he was an eloquent preacher with a great gift of persuasive influence. He died on September 26, 1863 in London, England at the early age of forty-nine.

“There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy” is part of a thirteen-verse poem entitled Come to Jesus authored by Frederick. It began with the words, “Souls of men, why will ye scatter like a crowd of frightened sheep? Foolish hearts, why will ye wander from a love so true and deep?” The text was first published in a collection of Hymns in 1862. The present version uses only stanzas 4, 6, 8 & 12. One of the omitted verses is worthy of interest:
But we make His love too narrow with false limits of our own;
And We magnify His strictness with a zeal he will not own.

There are some meaningful spiritual concepts expressed in Faber’s text that are worthy of our contemplation, such as the line, “There’s a kindness in His justice which is more than liberty.” The final stanza is also a beautiful expression of truth:
If our lives were but more simple, we should take Him at His word;
And our lives would be all sunshine in the sweetness of our Lord.

From 101 More Hymn Stories by Kenneth W. Osbeck.

There's a wideness in God's mercy, Like the wideness of the sea;
There's a kindness in his justice Which is more than liberty.
There is no place where earth's sorrows Are more felt than up in heav'n.
There is no place where earth's failings Have such kindly judgment giv'n.

There is welcome for the sinner, And a promised grace made good;
There is mercy with the Savior; There is healing in his blood.
There is grace enough for thousands Of new worlds as great as this;
There is room for fresh creations In that upper home of bliss.

For the love of God is broader Than the measures of our mind;
And the heart of the eternal Is most wonderfully kind.
There is plentiful redemption In the blood that has been shed;
There is joy for all the members In the sorrows of the head.

'Tis not all we owe to Jesus; It is something more than all;
Greater good because of evil, Larger mercy through the fall.
If our love were but more simple, We should take him at his word;
And our lives would be all sunshine In the sweetness of our Lord.
(words by Frederick Faber, 1814-1863)