What is your name?

June 23, 2013
Luke 8:26-39


What is your name? How did you get your name?

I have friends who when expecting their first child they each picked out a name for the baby. If the baby was a boy, the dad would reveal the child’s name which had been placed in a sealed envelope and he was the only one who knew what it was. And if the baby was born a girl the mom’s name for her was sealed in a separate envelope that only she knew. This tactic for naming your child takes some trust in one another doesn’t it. Their first born was a boy, and therefore named by his dad.

My husband had no choice in the naming of our children. Ever since I was old enough to imagine being a mom and having children, I had picked out the names Hannah Elizabeth and Zachary. My poor husband had no say in the matter. We were blessed to have a boy and a girl. Hannah is 7 and Zachary is 10.

What does your name mean? Was it passed down to you? Does your name describe you? Does it define you? Does is belong to your family or passed down from one generation to another? Sometimes even our nicknames are more defining than our birth names. There is a lot that goes into one’s name.

Names have a lot of meaning in our gospel text for this morning as well.

Last week we heard the disciples wondering who Jesus was after he calmed the storm. This is contrasted today with the man possessed with demons, cast out by his family and community but yet knows who Jesus is – The Son of man most high.

This man who runs around his town doing wild things, out of control, possessed by demons, living on the margins, naked with only broken chains hanging from his wrists and legs – His name is Legion. Legion carries a definition meaning a very large number especially in terms of people. This is an accurate description of this man who in the only one to greet Jesus.

Of course Jesus is in a land in which it is very unlikely he as a Jewish Rabbi along with his 12 disciples would go to let alone be welcomed in. This is not a surprising stop for Jesus though is it. We have heard of Jesus doing things like healing on the Sabbath , talking to the woman at the well, Jesus is constantly going to places, being with people that are on the margins, that cause him to “break the rules”. Today proves to be no different.

The man Legion appears to be exactly why Jesus has come. The man knows Jesus and the demons knowing that they have no authority over Jesus begin to negotiate with him. They request to be sent into the swine in order to avoid the abyss.

What are the demons in our world today. All one needs to do is turn on the local, the national, or the world news and you will begin to see the darkness people live in today. A child needs a lung transplant and is held up because of rules. Bombs are planted at the finish lines of marathons, people enter schools with guns intending to hurt our children, senseless acts of murders, death, pain and suffering of all kinds litter our news and our lives.

Our world is broken and sometimes feels like everywhere we look it breaks more and more. We all have places in our lives that keep us from deepening our relationship with God. That’s what demons do. That’s what the darkness is. The things that keep us from knowing and seeing God. The things that take our energy away, keep us from sharing the Good News. What are the chains that bind you, the church, the community?

It is at these times, that we need to be reminded of who we are and whose we are. It is in this kind of darkness that we need to cling to our name which is Child of God. You are a child of God, created in the image of God, baptized into the family God. In our baptism we died to our self and became alive again in Christ. Christ lives in us and we in him. This is a big deal! This is good news in a world full of hurt and suffering. In a world where craziness is all around us.

Jesus breaks into my darkness, your darkness, our darkness and brings hope, healing and spirit and new life. He sets us the captive free. He drives out the darkness.

We think that at times we can hide from God. That we can take a break from following Jesus, but Jesus is always seeking us. God always has our backs. We can’t hide, but most of all we don’t need to hide.

Once Jesus drove the demons out of Legion, the man was completely healed and clothed and made new. He wanted to go with Jesus, but what does Jesus tell him he needs to do instead? Jesus tells him, “return to your home and declare how much God has done for you.” You see the people of the land were terrified after they say what had happened to the man. That Jesus had come and transformed the man. They were scared and ran away after telling Jesus he had to leave their land.

Sometimes people are afraid of the authority Jesus has over the evil in the world and they run away from him. Sometimes we get stuck in our own ways and forget that Jesus’ way is better. And sometimes we are just too afraid to face the changes that come with the radical transformation that Jesus’ offers our lives.

We are no different than the man who has been renamed and claimed by Jesus and so the request to go home, and declare how much God has done for you, is a request of us too. We praise the one who breaks the darkness indeed, but let’s not forget to tell others. Let’s be proud of who we are. Let’s remember whose we are and not be afraid to tell others too about all that God has done for us. As we sang this morning God of grace and God of glory From the fears that long have bound us free our hearts to faith and praise. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage.

Be courageous in your faith. Be proud of your name for you are a child of God that has a story to tell and world waiting to hear it.

Let us pray,

God we give thanks for sending your Son Jesus to live among us. To break into our darkness and show us the way out. We praise Him for showing us that to be named a child of God is not only worthy of praise, but is Good News that is intended to be shared. Open our hearts and minds so that we might tell others about all that you have done for us. Thank you God!

Amen.

Transition time...

Well since the Spring semester ended a couple weeks ago I have not posted too much here on my blog. It has actually been nice to have a little break.

Today marks the last day of teaching for me. I will always be a teacher; that will never change, but as far as a classroom teacher is concerned, it seems as though my days in the classroom are quickly coming to an end. I have been teaching at the North Woods School home of the Grizzlies since January 28th. I started in the high school wing teaching 7th, 8th & 11th grade Language Arts and also advisor for 1/3 of the graduating seniors. I was done in the high school on April 12th and started in the elementary wing (5th Grade) on April 15th.

On June 1 (well technically June 2nd because the 1st is a Saturday) I officially begin my seminary internship. I have been waiting a while for the right opportunity to arrive and here it is. This internship means that I leave the classroom and finish up my seminary education. I could have taught another 12 weeks this fall in 2nd grade, but it really is time to finish up what I started three years ago.

I am looking forward to internship. You know that most of the time it is advised that people don't return to their "home" congregation and often that is in relation to Jesus' experience when he returned to his home town and it didn't go so smoothly. Although I certainly feel like I am "going home" when God calls, we can only trust that call. I am not worried or anxious about this placement, actually just the opposite. I feel much at ease and very ready to get to work.

I have been cleaning the classroom with the kids. Packing up my belongings. Saying goodbye to fellow teachers and looking forward to having tomorrow off!

This marks a time of transition for me. I love change so this is very welcomed in my life! My blogging has been focused on social media and school mostly, and now it will transition as well, into the life of a intern. Maybe you will join me on this adventure, maybe you will read from afar and maybe this will just be a journal of my own, whatever it is I am ready!

This ad which was placed in the local newspaper by my internship church makes it real. They have welcomed me, they respect me, they appreciate me and their hospitality is very encouraging!

House For All Sinners and Saints Stewardship Video

Just released today:

Does our theology keep us from seeing others?

The picture of the day from Naked Pastor and the following question:

Does theology prevent us from understanding others? From seeing that we are all deeply connected?




Check out the blog post here.

Pentecost! My favorite... red & the Holy Spirit!

I have always wanted to have a flame come out of the baptismal font and this year it happened! There was a lot of positive comments and people felt the power of the image and symbolism!


5/19/13
Pentecost Sunday
Acts 2:1-21
John 14:8-17, 25-27



There is a prophet among us…..
Look do you see them?
Look to your right…
Look to your left….

There is a prophet among us…

Yes it is you. Each of you a prophet!

Now don’t get up and run away … let’s explore

“What does this mean?”

Today we celebrate the Festival of Pentecost. Before the first Pentecost, this day was set aside as a Jewish festival called the Festival of Weeks that took place 50 days after the Passover.

Christians today celebrate Pentecost as the day God breathed the Holy Spirit into His disciples and this marks the beginning of the organized church, as we know it today. This is why some churches celebrate with birthday cake at fellowship time, as you saw the children celebrate a moment ago. The color red, candles, balloons, baptisms, fire and wind are common elements as we retell the story of the first Pentecost, but also take time to remember and tell of our own Pentecost’s and wondering together what the Spirit is currently calling us to right here and now.

Listen again to the first part of our reading from Acts. This time from Eugene Peterson’s The Message Bible:

When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.

People in the streets are confused and bewildered having no idea what is happening. They are suddenly hearing of God’s great works in their own language. Something they have never heard or been able to understand before. This is crazy, they must be drunk, what does this mean people are asking each other…

Then Peter to the rescue. Of all disciples to stand up and speak to the crowd – Peter. Peter the one who just denied knowing Jesus three times 50 days ago…

Something major has just happened… gale forced winds, flames of fire dancing on the heads of all spreading from one to another like a wildfire.. God’s voice being understood by all! This is something to celebrate!

Although we love to remember stories from our past, this is one story that hasn’t ended yet. This Pentecost story lives on today and tomorrow, This Pentecost story is stilling taking place here and now.

We have a story to tell. The moment we were baptized – we died to our old life and were born into a life with Christ – We were sealed by the Holy Spirit. In our baptisms we were gifted the Holy Spirit, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the sprit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence, both now and forever.

This is something to celebrate! But what does this mean? What does this all have to do with me and you being a prophet?

Prophesy – it is necessary to be clear that I am not talking about fortune telling or future telling, but simply proclamation and truth telling. When we received the Holy Spirit we were set into the middle of a story. We became a main character in God’s story. A story that began way before we came into the picture but a story that has always had a place for us. A specific place for each of us. God’s story without you and without me is incomplete. And on the first day of Pentecost for the first time, but not the last, God’s story was being heard and understood by all of God’s children and this story hasn’t stopped being told or created and continues to be written and proclaimed.

The truth telling that we are called to is what it means for you and I to be a prophet. One who goes out and tells the Good News. Shares God’s story.

What does this mean you might be wondering… I am too shy to tell my neighbor, I can’t … I’m afraid.. I don’t know what to say…

Did you know that sharing God’s story can be done without words? You’ve heard the saying, “Share the gospel and if necessary use words.” That’s right, we can proclaim the glory of God, share God’s story spread the flame of the Spirit in what we do, how we act, how we spend our money, spend our time and how we are as a community of believers.

Sharing God’s story isn’t about inviting your neighbor or friend to worship (although it is nice for you to invite others!) what I mean is that as a community of believers from Our Savior’s Lutheran Church we have an entire community and surrounding communities that are waiting to hear God’s story. That are waiting to be touched by the Spirit’s flame – the flame that you carry. That flame that you can hide and tuck away of you can share and spread.

Who are our neighbors? Who needs a friendly smile? Who needs a home cooked meal? A friend? A phone call?

You see Pentecost isn’t about what happens here in this building. This worship space that we are very comfortable in. Pentecost is about calling us out of this building into a world, a community a neighborhood that is waiting to hear God’s story.

We are called out of our comfort zone into a community that belongs to Christ that we have been called to be prophets in. The Spirit leads us, guides us, and gives us the words. We just have to be open and trust that God is good!

We experience Pentecost’s all the time. Change, growth, new opportunities in our church community and in our own lives. Pentecost is not an ending but a beginning to something great and extraordinary! Our Savior’s has experienced many Pentecost’s over the years and I believe that the Spirit is at work once again here and now on yet another Pentecost.

What do you think it means when you hear, “Very truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than me, because I am going to the Father.”

Greater works than Jesus? The guy who healed the sick, gave sight to the blind and raised people from the dead… what could be greater than that? And if he is going to the Father than this is impossible!

The great and powerful Holy Spirit is given to us so that together as a community of believers we can engage each other, our community and the world in the telling of God’s story which is the ultimate gift we could give anyone. We tell the story; the Holy Spirit takes it from there.

Each smile, kind word, helpful gesture, visit to the lonely, gift to the poor is the telling God’s story. We don’t have to be afraid because all the time, God is good!

We have been equipped with a divine guide. This divine guide is in us, it is in our words, our actions, our breathe. The divine guide has been washed over us in our baptism and breathed into us, as it was the disciples. With each natural breath in and out…. We can offer this world, peace, justice, mercy, grace and love. We can be a calm wind. A kindling flame. A rolling wave through the breath we take in and let out. Let the diving guide lead you to great works. Let the spirit in you, out so to fill in the cracks, so to bring together all the pieces that are scattered in this world.

How does the spirit lead you? Is the spirit in your locked up or is it like fire burning in the pit of your belly ready to get out and spread like a wild fire – consuming everyone and everything in its path with the love and grace of God. Is your spirit blowing in the wind trying to find its way? Or maybe your spirit is floating on top of those rolling waves just wanting to find rest while wondering where you might find that flame that once was.

How will the breathe you breath in and let out fill the cracks of this world? Who will you share God’s story with? Are you ready for a Pentecost journey? I know I am and although the Spirit is visible here today in many ways shapes and forms, the Spirit is up to something great and extraordinary right here at Our Saviors! Are you ready?

We can be ready together because we know that God is good ! All the time! All the time God is good!

Let’s try this together ….
P: God is good!
C: All the time!
P: All the time!
C: God is good!


Amen.

welcoming schools

I came across this website as I have been thinking about how schools (in Northern MN) can be more welcoming and sensitive to gender identity. I am talking elementary grades. MN just took a huge step forward and in August anyone who chooses to get married will have the right! Yeah Minnesota!

So how about our schools. What are we doing to support, encourage, love and welcome children that are struggling (or is it we that struggle and not them??) with sexual orientation, gender identity and all the emotions that go with it.

Here is the article and a link to a website called Welcoming Schools.

It's Pentecost Video