July 2025

The Twelve Disciples

Read: Matthew 10:1-23

HELP WANTED: Itinerant Galilean preacher seeks twelve missionary companions to share in the proclamation of the Word of God. Will be called to : find lost sheep, heal the sick, proclaim good news, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast our demons, work without pay, travel lightly, face wolves, be wise as serpents and innocent as doves, be flogged, judged, dragged disgracefully through public streets, give up even family for the cause, withstand the hatred of others, endure persecution, and to be faithful unto death.

REWARD: Salvation.

SEND RESUME TO: Jesus of Nazareth. Don’t call us – he’ll call you.

I marvel at the struggles that faced the early disciples of Jesus, not only the twelve we hear about, but also the thousands and thousands that faced persecution and death rather than give up their faith. Their personal freedoms were few – their faith was strong.

Now, look at us. Our personal freedoms are many – yet it seems that our faith is weakening. We seem frightened to speak of Jesus because it is not the “in” thing to do. We seem wary of sharing our faith because others will think we are strange. We reason that we will say or do something wrong, so we refuse to get involved in reaching out to others.

What made the disciples of old so great was not their perfection, not even their better that average lifestyles. What made them great was that they were willing to risk everything so that the name of Jesus might be made known to all who would hear. They fumbled, bumbled, risked, failed, and even doubted; yet they refused to be sheepish about the message of salvation.

Let this be a witness for you and for me. Let us be stronger. Let us pray to be bolder. Let us to seek out the lost with vigor. Let us pray to be filled with the Spirit of God that has led women and men in faith for thousands of years. Let us pray to our almighty God that we might lay down our fears and dare to live as though we actually believed that even death cannot overcome us. We are the children of God forgiven, redeemed, and sanctified be the saving grace of Jesus Christ our risen Lord!

PRAYER THOUGHT: Offer up today a prayer of thanks for the countless witnesses of the Gospel who risked their lives to tell the wondrous story of God. Pray that their strength might be yours as well.

Pastor Doug

June 2025

See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them....   -- Revelation 21:3

The book of Revelation offered a vision of the completion of God’s intention that had been working itself out since the beginning of creation. In contrast to those who would suggest that God will carry off the faithful to heaven and leave the evil earth behind, Revelation saw an earthly fulfillment of God’s purposes. The home of God was among mortals and not vice versa. It began in Genesis with God overcoming chaos, symbolized by the waters, and ends with a time when chaos will be ended --  “and the sea was no more.”

The promise of God from the beginning was for all peoples, and, though for a time, God chose a special people, it was always for the purpose that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3b). Despite periods of intense nationalism, the Hebrew prophets continued to proclaim a vision of universalism as God’s intent. While Israel wrote the history of God’s vision, they were not seen as the only people whom God claimed. “Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my heritage” (Isaiah 19:25; see also Isaiah 56:7; Amos 9:12). John made clear that Christians also must not lose sight of God’s love for all peoples and all nations. The prophecy of Isaiah 65:17, “For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind,” is echoed in Revelation as a reminder that God has been in charge all along and will complete the divine intention by bringing history to a fulfillment.

The seemingly chaotic path that we have traveled was necessary for God to preserve our dignity and freedom, but it was never beyond God’s ultimate control. In Genesis 1:7 some of the waters that symbolized chaos were deliberately left to be part of creation but were prevented from overwhelming creation. “So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome.” Such chaos, though it was necessary for our development, did result in pain, suffering, and death. Finally, however, God “will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” Our hope lies, not in the avoidance of pain and suffering, but in our trust in God who has ordered this creation for us. This hope is not for us alone but for all of creation, which from the beginning God pronounced “very good” (Genesis 1:31).

Our Hope, Jesus Christ. Pastor Doug