Southwood Lutheran Church

A Thank You from Iraq

I received this email from a Southwood member, Dan Moss, who is deployed in Iraq. Dan recently received a Military Care Packages prepared and sent by a team of Southwood members. Dan's message is below. If you have a message of encouragement for Dan and our other deployed service members, share it in a comment to this post. I will make sure they get your messages.

Pastor Ryan,

Thanks to you and the members of Southwood that sent the cookies, magazines and newspaper. We are still living in a tent so we really do have everything we need. But the reminders from home are great to see. I couldn't tell you the last time I read a newspaper. We are on the list to move into more permanent housing, but no move-in dates yet.

Our camp is pretty small, but busy. The mission is important, so visitors and media are common. We have a gym and a tent to watch movies, play ping pong and pool and play X-box, but that's pretty much the extent
of it. Thankfully, I guess, we work long days so there isn't a lot of free time. The weather is starting to heat up some. Got up to 107-108 earlier in the week. We still have about 20-30 degrees to go once summer hits us. Thankfully, I work at night so I get to miss the heat of the day.

Thank you again for the care package, and more importantly, for all of the thoughts and prayers that go out to me and all service members abroad.

1LT Daniel Moss
530th MP BN

Live Holy Week: Easter Sunday

Read Mark 16:1-8

Remember all those things of the past week? Now they’ve all been forgiven and wiped away. Those you hurt and those who hurt you are reconciled. The Easter Power is real and live-able. Don’t just remember Easter – live it!

Something strange happened. Just when everything was lost, all hopes dashed, there came a spiritual awakening. A new Kingdom began by God’s own doing. Jesus really was the Warrior-King like David - the greatest for all time King. Fear, sin and the threat of death haven't gone away, but their power over us is gone. Jesus’ way is a way that lives free in God’s Kingdom while living on an earth where most still live in fear. But now a new message of hope, faith and love overtakes us. The foundation of the new Kingdom of the heart and mind is here. Christ is victorious!

God's Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. It's a Kingdom of the heart, unseen yet infinitely powerful. Jesus has unleashed this new Kingdom in our world, and there is no stopping it. Throughout the 2000 years since Jesus died, thousands of countries and cities have been destroyed, yet the Kingdom of God living in the hearts of those who trust God in Christ Jesus not only survives but it thrives. About 300 years after the Roman Empire’s political machine killed Jesus, the Emperor became Christian. That didn’t happen by the weapon or the sword. It happened through the care of one another. We must each and together reach out to one person at a time. There is hope. There is newness at every death. There is freedom to be despite what others might do to you. Christ rose! He rose indeed!

Almighty God, you raised Jesus from the dead and have given us hope beyond hope. All that afflicts us -- our sorrows, the negative voices inside, hurtful voices outside, our cycles of sin -- all of these will not get the better of us. You have given us the way, the truth and the life through Christ. We have each other to lean on. We care for others and let them care for us. Together down the road of admitting wrongs, facing cycles of sin, finding a new path and trusting in Your forgiveness, we are set free more and more each day. All of this happens because of the cross of Christ. Let Your joy fill us this Easter. Amen.

Pastor Michael

Live Holy Week: Saturday

Mark 15:42-47

Remember a time when you suffered a great loss, a death, a job, an image of yourself? What happens when you feel the pain of loss?

It was custom to bury before the Sabbath. It was late Friday afternoon when Jesus died, the first day. At sunset, the next day would begin, not at sunrise as our days begin. Our Saturday is the Jewish Sabbath when no work is to take place. The Sabbath from Friday evening until Saturday evening would be the second day. Our Sunday, when we celebrate Easter, counts as the third day.

Joseph of Arimathea may be another device by Mark to bring to mind an Old Testament story starting in 1 Samuel 1:1. “Ramah in the hill country of Ephraim” is most likely Arimathea in Jesus’ time. A person who knew the Old Testament in Jesus’ day would immediately think of the entire story in 1 Samuel. This story in 1 Samuel begins their history of how God brought the Kingdom of David into existence, making them a nation as promised to Abraham thousands of years earlier. The story begins with tears and pleading prayers to God. Tears, pleading prayers and trust in God are what founded the Kingdom of David. The glory of victory on the battle field isn’t what makes a people come together. Trust in God and suffering service makes for a country or kingdom.

If you put two and two together this says, Jesus brings in a new Kingdom through his deep suffering, tears and prayers. His tears on the Mount of Olives, his deep prayers and his death by total trust in God is the real power that subdues enemies and brings a lasting peace and Kingdom that has no end.

At the death of Jesus, the people suffered a great loss. Everything they had hoped for was gone. They wanted a God-Warrior to save them from their enemies, a return to the good old days of King David. David was the great warrior on earth who paved the way for the Kingdom to grow. They thought Jesus would be that King when the Warrior-God destroyed their enemies. Now all of that was dashed and trampled into the ground. They were utterly shattered. Jesus is dead. The world goes on, lost in its endless cycles.

Have you suffered a recent great loss in the past year? Sometimes it comes out of the blue, sometimes it’s expected. Never does it come easy. We feel hurt, loneliness, disappointment, anger and bitterness. When this happens, all we can do is cry, plead to Go, and trust that something new will arise again.

Lord God, you know loss is a part of life. You invite us to die to ourselves so we may arise in newness with you. When the pain of loss comes, it hurts, we try to deny it, we become angry. Stay with us in our losses whether it be a job, pet, or significant person. Stay with us with Your listening ear until we come to accept the loss. Give us hope that something new will come. Amen.

Pastor Michael

Live Holy Week: Good Friday

Read Mark 15:16-41

Remember a time when fear, anxiety and anger overtook you? Does it help? Remember a time when you were just doing your job but it didn’t feel right? Have you been down far enough that your so called friends suddenly abandoned you?

The Jewish council charged Jesus with taking the place of God by claiming himself king. By king they meant the God-warrior who would defeat their enemies. The Romans, who had been burned before by rebellious Jews, did not want another rebellious leader to cause problems, especially during the week of Passover. So Jesus was judged by the Romans to hang on the cross for being an insurrectionist. The irony is Jesus probably never claimed to be the Messiah -- especially the religious/social/military kind of Messiah most expected back then.

From our eyes of faith, he is the king of kings, the Messiah. He would be the king that defeats all enemies. Every enemy in our world uses weapons and uses force as a shortcut to get what they want. But if the victor overthrows the enemy by using the same tactics as the enemy, the victor actually becomes the enemy. The cycle of abuse and force never stops. We need a Messiah that truly conquers all enemies for us. We can’t do it. We would be caught in an endless cycle of hate, war and fear. Jesus ends that cycle for us.

Why would Jesus fight fire with more fire? Jesus taught that if you want to defeat your enemies, make them your friends. Everyone wins when one decides to suffer for, forgive, and do the hard work of loving enemies. Jesus would defeat sin, death and the devil by not fighting with weapons of the world but by remaining true to God all the way to his end. Once he dies we find that his true Word continues being true even after his death. We find that not even death has the power to overcome this faith. We are given that same faith that overcomes death. Without the threat of death, we have no fears and no longer need to live under sin’s sting of death. Jesus’ way fights with a right spirit. Even though he dies, he really lives and so will we. Jesus nurtures. He doesn’t take life. He destroys the root of our enemies with agape love and therefore really defeats all enemies. He is the real Warrior-God who defeats our enemies. His only weapons are love and peace. They break the cycle, allowing us to live in the peace of God’s grace.

The irony is that the soldiers who mock and crucify Jesus as the King of the Jews unwittingly crucify the real King of Kings. The Temple curtain that separated God from people is torn in two. Jesus gives up his spirit, breathing his last. The centurion, a non-Jew, confesses he is the Son of God. Sin, death and the devil are defeated. All are free from death, sin and despair. But at the time no one knew it.

Lord God, you know how our anger destroys our ability to make good choices. We would sooner seek revenge and fight back or run away when someone attacks us with words or armies. You call us to take up our cross and follow you. Give us the ability to see through another’s anger and speak your Word to the hurt, fear or loneliness that invariably lies behind the anger. Give us Your strength to stand up to anger and not let it overtake us. Give us Your strength to stand up to anger and speak your Words of healing. Amen.

Pastor Michael

Live Holy Week: Maundy Thursday

Read Mark 14:66-15:15

Remember a time when you promised you were going to do something but knew full well you wouldn’t come through? Who did you leave high and dry? What would that be like?

Peter promised to be there for Jesus, “I will never leave you, even though all the rest do.” Jesus wasn’t so sure. He knew Peter too well. A part of Peter must have known too.

Peter tried. He carried a sword and used it to defend Jesus to the death believing they’d be victorious. For a moment he thought, "This is it!" Remember, the last battle was to be taken into Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives (Garden of Gethsemane) by God into Jerusalem. The triumphant ride into Jerusalem commemorated this belief. Earlier this week, we celebrated Palm Sunday to remember this time and what it means. Back then, many hailed Jesus as that warrior of God. Peter must have thought the war to end all wars was about to begin with Jesus in the charge. But when Jesus had him put the sword away, it had to be confusing. Jesus wasn’t going to bring the Kingdom in by force. Jesus was willing to be arrested and endure all that the arrest entailed. Peter apparently didn’t count on that. He became scared and ran like all the rest.

Have you ever been left high and dry? Have you thought you had someone’s support but when it came to supporting you, they chickened out? Have you ever said you were going to do something but didn’t follow through?

Lord God, you once said we should never swear, as in never make any promises, because we really aren’t in charge. Teach us to follow through on whatever we say we’ll do. Let your Holy Spirit lead us to apologize and make amends when we let someone else down. Teach us to rely on you when we are left hung out to dry, alone. Let your Holy Spirit be our support when all those around us fails us. You are the only sure thing in life. Amen.

Pastor Michael

Live Holy Week: Wednesday

Read Mark 14:43-65

Remember a time when someone you trusted betrayed you? What would it take to not fight back when hurt badly like Jesus?

Jesus was betrayed by a kiss from Judas. This was an intimate betrayal. If you were a disciple, the traditional greeting to your teacher would be a kiss.

It was night on a hill covered with olive trees. Jesus could easily have slipped away from the mob unnoticed. Instead Jesus stood his ground because he was innocent. Jesus had no reason to fear against unjust attacks. Jesus will stay true to God, allowing suffering at the hands of those who didn't understand, those who were there to gain favors, and those who acted out of their anger.

The disciples were not that faithful. One drew his sword to fight and injured a man (Peter, according to John's gospel). Peter would have been just in doing so by worldly standards. Instead, Jesus had him put away the sword and healed the cut ear. Jesus’ way is to nurture and heal, not to oppress and kill even if that means he will die at the hands of those who would kill and oppress him. Jesus will not fight back. He remains true to God, letting God decide if he should survive or die at the hands of those who would oppress and kill. Jesus was arrested.

In front of the Jewish council, Jesus was accused of taking on the name of God (Yahweh, which means “I Am.”) This is punishable by stoning according to Jewish law (Lev 24:10-23). It’s never been clear to me if Jesus’ answer to the question of whether he is the Messiah means “I am,” as in the name for God or if he means “I am” as in he is God. If he was speaking in Hebrew the listener could take the answer either way.

Many of us would rather not take the time to explore what someone means. We’d rather take it at face value, believe the worst about them or write them off as not worth our time. The council chose to take it against him and sent him to the Roman authorities for permission to have him killed.

In front of Pilate, Jesus will not defend himself. He will face the anger and the political/religious machine that sees him as a threat. Jesus would have to be crucified with all the other insurrectionists rather than being stoned according to Jewish law.

Jesus was betrayed by all his disciples, turned against by the leaders of the church at the time, and sentenced to death for inciting the people in Jerusalem. He allowed it to happen. Remember a time when someone you believed in and trusted betrayed you? Have found that not fighting back when attacked verbally helps the attacker heal? Instead of being defensive, try extending your care through a non-reactive listening ear that verbally names the feelings in the other.

Almighty God,
Lord, you allowed bitter people drunk on power to arrest, torture and kill you. You choose to be faithful to us despite our sinfulness. You acted out of obedience to faith well beyond our understanding. Lord, we believe...yet help our unbelief. Teach us to nurture and exercise our faith. Form us into people who will be there for those who are angry and hurting. Amen.

Pastor Michael

Live Holy Week: Tuesday

Read Mark 14:22-42

Remember a time when someone did you a favor but you didn’t know it because it really hurt at the time?

The Passover Meal in the time of Jesus was the combination of two religious holidays, the Unleavened Bread and the Passover. The Passover was about being passed over from death and led out into the desert to journey with God. The Unleavened Bread was a feast of all the left over breads from the year before. New breads were being made and stored for the following year. Together they say something incredible. Just as the leftover Unleavened Bread is all eaten to make room for the new, Jesus becomes our daily fresh new start. Every day we have God’s forgiveness to help us do and face what we must.

Passover uses the purifying blood and the roasted lamb. Each member of the family must be dressed and ready to travel a long way. Four cups of wine are shared. The fourth is the cup of promise and joy. Just as the wine of promise is shared, so is the death of Jesus a shared joy of promise. Just as those who ate at the Passover were dressed for travel, we too are figuratively ready to be sent out in caring service to live in the wilderness of God’s grace. The old passes away, the new joy in Christ comes. Jesus reinterprets the Passover. It becomes our Holy Communion.

The death of Jesus really hurt, especially when each of the disciples denied him. Each abandoned him in his greatest need. That had to hurt the disciples, as it did Jesus. But through this experience, something new was born. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, we are given eternal life and set free each day by God’s forgiveness.
The moment it seems the world is crashing in, God’s favor turns it into new life.

Did someone ever do you a favor you didn’t like at first?

Let us pray,
Loving God, you lived among us, showing us a new way. Set our minds to trust in you so that when bad things happen, that trust will not be broken. Show us how you turn the most horrible thing into a fresh start. Carry us through the tough times until we can walk again. Amen.

Pastor Michael

Live Holy Week: Monday

Today begins a week-long series of readings and devotions for Holy Week. Read more about living holy week here.

Read Mark 14: 1-21

Remember a time when you gossiped behind someone’s back? What happened? Betrayal hurts. What do you do now in similar situations?

When Jesus was anointed, he was confirmed as God’s chosen. Instead of staying in a clean righteous place, Jesus stayed with a man who had suffered from leprosy. Instead of being anointed by some great prophet, scribe, or high priest, he was anointed by a harlot. Simon’s house and the woman with the jar showed generosity and blessing. Jesus meant the world to them. Their attitude of appreciation is very different from the scribes, some of the people, and even Jesus' disciple, Judas. These people were more concerned with proper actions and showing off rather than with nurturing, generosity, and blessing.

Jesus’ nurturing brings peace and growth. The others who would sell the perfume for money to help the poor would do good, but they dismiss the love the woman shows for Jesus and set people against one another-- not the way of Jesus. Judas would sooner betray Jesus than live according to his more messy way of nurture. Betrayal hurts everyone, nurture grows everyone. Have you felt betrayed?

Let us pray,
Lord God, sometimes our priorities get confused. We are more concerned with how we measure up than with nurturing the faith in someone else. Open us to receiving blessings from unexpected places. Remind us how gossip hurts everyone involved. Teach us to confront gossip by not listening to it, by not participating in it and by checking it out with the source out of respect. Let your ways of nurture and peace, flood our hearts. Amen.

Pastor Michael

Live Holy Week: Palm Sunday

Today begins a week-long series of readings and devotions for Holy Week. Read more about living holy week here.

Read Mark 11:1-10

Remember a time when you were excited about something that wasn’t true? Jesus entering Jerusalem was exciting at first until reality hit.

The expectations were high in Jerusalem. Zechariah 9:9 understood that the last battle would be on the Mount of Olives where Jesus began his ride. In this battle, God's enemies would be defeated and would assimilate to follow God. After this victory for God, the great earthly king could then ride into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey. The donkey symbolizes not humility, but peace. The expectation was that God would take care of his people's enemies and that a King David-like ruler would restore the former earthly Kingdom back to its glory and wealth.

On the one hand people were expecting God to take care of their enemies. But at the same time, they were taking shortcuts and doing the job themselves through uprisings. Jesus is not what they expect.

Jesus trusts God with his enemies even though it will mean his own death. He is the true peaceful King who trusts God completely. He does not fight back, allowing himself to be arrested and killed. He does this partly for his enemies, like the Roman centurion at the foot of the cross, so they may turn back to God for grace and forgiveness. Jesus relies on God and in so doing Jesus becomes the peaceful King of all.

But the peaceful way of God means the sacrifice of one’s life for his enemies. Few expect or really want this kind of peace from God. When Jesus died, the disciples were disappointed. They didn’t understand God’s way of conquering evil through suffering service. Their expectations, everything they thought was true, were shattered. Have you ever felt that way?

Let us pray,
Lord God, taking up our cross and following you is difficult. You desire our whole selves and call us to care in difficult, messy situations. Give us a servant’s heart, one that cares for others and even our enemies. Enable us to pray and let go of our own or another’s anger and bitterness. When we are disappointed and things don’t turn out the way we want them to, then lift us up and remind us you are in charge and we will be okay. You defeat all our enemies, the negative voice inside as well as those who seek to harm us. You defeat them by your cross of peace. Make us a part of your healing and peacemaking. Amen.

Pastor Michael

Holy Week - Live It

The difference between remembering and living Holy Week is like the difference between store-bought and homemade bread. Store-bought bread doesn’t take much work, and it tastes pretty good. Homemade bread requires some planning and preparation. You have to purchase ingredients, mix, knead, rise (rise again) and bake to get homemade bread. But the work is worth it! The aroma is heavenly and the savory delight melts in your mouth.

This year, will you simply remember Holy Week and Easter? Or will you live out what Holy Week means, work to understand the cross of Christ, and enjoy the sweet aroma of Jesus’ victory over death at Easter?

Remember It:
Holy week begins on March 16th with Palm Sunday, a celebration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Maundy Thursday means Commandment Thursday. It is the day we remember when Jesus told us to love one another as he loves us. We ponder the mystery of his last supper, prayer, arrest and court proceedings. Good Friday is the day we ponder the mystery of Jesus going to the cross. The entire week we pray every day and work hard, digging a little deeper so we may go beyond remembering and truly live out the meaning of these events. Holy Week ends at sunrise on Easter Sunday.

Live It:
Do the work of living out Holy week with daily readings. Every day March 16 - 23 I'll post here with a passage from scripture, questions for reflection and a prayer. Make it your daily devotion during Holy Week. See you on Palm Sunday!

Pastor Michael