"Running in Faith" is an electronic devotional guide written by members of Abiding Presence Lutheran Church. Each week, writers use their personal interpretation of scripture to write an inspirational message they hope will help readers take their Sunday faith into weekday lives. Your comments are appreciated and, when related to a particular devotion, passed to the writer. We hope you will share these devotions with friends and coworkers. We are always happy to add new names to our e-mail list. Please contact us if you wish your name to be added.

Devotion for the week of April 4, 2004
Submitted by Rosemary S.
Palm Sunday

"I tell you, if these were silent,
the stones would shout out."
Luke 19:40

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday, the crowds cheered him. The Pharisees, on the other hand, were annoyed and wanted Jesus to make them be quiet. But Jesus replied that even if the people said nothing, the praises and hosannas would be heard. If you've ever seen the musical, Jesus Christ, Superstar, you'll remember this scene/song:

(Caiaphas)
Tell the rabble to be quiet, we anticipate a riot.
This common crowd is much too loud.
Tell the mob who sing your song that they are fools and they are wrong.
They are a curse. They should disperse.

(Crowd)
Hosanna Heysanna Sanna Sanna Ho
Sanna Hey Sanna Ho Sanna
Hey JC, JC you're alright by me.
Sanna Ho Sanna Hey Superstar.

(Jesus)
Why waste your breath moaning at the crowd?
Nothing can be done to stop the shouting.
If every tongue were still the noise would still continue.
The rocks and stones themselves would start to sing!

Was this perhaps the very first "Rock Concert". And what would those stones sing? Would they tell about other rocks or stones in the Bible?

Stones have power! A stone thrown by a small boy, who would someday be King David, leveled a giant. Stones were used to build altars and King Solomon used stones to build a beautiful temple for people to worship God. Jacob used a stone for a pillow. Moses struck a rock with a rod and water poured forth to quench the thirst of God's people, and a rock was brought for him to sit on when he tired of holding up his arms to keep the Israelites on the winning side against Amalek. Moses also brought the laws of God to the people on tablets of stone, not once, but twice.

After the devil tempted Jesus to turn a stone into bread, the following scriptures tell that the angels would protect Jesus, "lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. "Jesus is also referred to as the "Rock of our Salvation". In another story, Jesus spoke about the wise man who built his house upon a rock (or stone). Peter, who some people think is the one called "the most beloved disciple", was nicknamed "the rock". Stones are the key to building. The stone that was rejected became the cornerstone. (The Person who was rejected became the One on whom the Kingdom was built!)

But stones are also powerless. Saint and sinner alike were stoned to death. The stone which was rolled in front of the tomb could not hold in the Risen Lord on Easter morning.

As you walk around today, find a small stone. Carry it in your pocket or place it where you can see it as you go about your daily routine. Listen to what it has to say to you. Use it as a reminder that the love and blessings of God can never be silenced.

Loving heavenly Father, come into our hearts of stone and make them singing, shouting messengers of the Good News of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Amen

Devotion for the week of April 11, 2004
Submitted by David M.

"By God's great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you." ... 1 Peter 1:3b-4

"So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." ... Colossians 3:1-3

"The love of the Father is not in those who love the world---the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches - comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever." ... John 2:15b-17

Christ is Risen! Now what?

As we celebrate once again the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ this Easter, I would like to reflect on the significance of this event. What meaning does it have for us? And how do we live our lives differently because of it?

First, remember that YOU have already died, at your baptism, which is what the above passages from Saint Peter and Saint Paul remind us. What is this death? It is death to the old person, the person without access to the Father. And it is rebirth to the new person in the kingdom of God, the birth from above that Jesus refers to in his discussion with Nicodemus in John 3. But if nothing changes during this process of dying and new birth, then our baptism is useless. What has changed, or rather what should have changed? What we think about, what we do, what we say, what we believe in our current state all should be changed.

We are called to be IN the world, but not OF the world. Are we defined by our jobs, our houses, our clothes, our favorite sports teams, our political associations, our money? Or are we defined by our relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit that we pronounce belief in when we recite the creed? We know that nothing material lasts forever. You hear people say, "you can't take it with you", and yet we go on to live our daily lives with our minds set on things here below, rather than things that are above. Why is that? Insecurity. We forget our heavenly inheritance that St. Peter talks about. Instead, we wrap ourselves up in a security blanket which has been knit like a crazy quilt, pieced together with all of our accumulated possessions. And this blanket is heavy. So it weighs us down, so much so that we cannot raise our eyes to look at what should matter to us most, what should be the object of our desire - Christ seated at the right hand of God.

I believe most of us know the difference between these two approaches, but yet it is so hard to make that choice. One way is wide and easy, like taking a superhighway. The other is narrow, and difficult, like hiking over a rough terrain. The flesh clings to us, so we choose the path of least resistance. Only, when this world does pass away, those who have chosen the better part, doing the will of God, will be welcomed into that inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. This 'security blanket' many others have knit for themselves will hardly be of any value then.

So, during this Easter season, as we reaffirm our baptismal vows, let us ask our Father for the wisdom, the courage, and the perseverance to choose the right path now, that we may gain everything by it later.

Devotion for the week of April 18, 2004
Submitted by Pastor Dick H.

"This is the day which the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalm 118:24

EASTER!
Christ is risen.
He is risen, indeed.

Alleluia!
ALLELUIA!!
ALLELUIA!!!

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal;
Christ has burst the gates of hell.
Death in vain forbids his rise;
Christ has opened paradise.

His death is death's undoing.
Death's reign is ended.
Death is conquered.
Death is vanquished.
Death has no more power over us.

His resurrection is
Life's renewing;
Victory gaining;
Life obtaining.
Life eternal -
Life everlasting.

With high delight
Rejoice and sing.
With anthems glorious -
With hymns victorious -
With voices joyous -
Sing praises,
Be glad and give thanks.

Almighty God, through your Son you overcame death and opened for us the gate of everlasting life. With joy and thanksgiving, we praise you for giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Hallelujah. Amen.

Devotion for the week of April 25, 2004
Submitted by Vicar Mary M.

"The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ... Philippians 4:5b-7

When I worked as a camp counselor at Lutheridge in Arden, NC, I was given a book, "Children's Letters to God". The following are excerpts from that book. . .

"In Sunday School, they told us what you do. Who does it when you are on vacation? - Jane"

"Dear God, I read the bible. What does begat mean? Nobody will tell me. - Love, Alison"

"Dear God, Is it true my father won't get in heaven if he uses his bowling words in the house - Anita"

"Did you mean for giraffe to look like that or was it an accident. - Norma"

"Dear God, Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones why don't you just keep the ones you got now? - Jane"

"I went to this wedding and they kissed right in church. Is that OK? - Neil"

"What does it mean you are a jealous God. I thought you had everything. - Barb"

"Dear God, I am an American. What are you? - Robert"

"Dear God, It rained for our whole vacashun and is my mom mad! She said some things about you that people are not supposed to say, but i hope you will not hurt her any way. Your friend, but I am not going to tell you who I am"

"Dear God, I keep waiting for spring, but it never come yet. don't forget. - mark"

"I bet it is very hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only four people in our family and I can never do it.- Nan"

"Dear God, I am doing the best I can. - Frank"

"Dear God, i think about you sometimes even when i'm not praying. - Elliot"

It is amazing what children will talk to God about. What tiny little models they are for us! Trusting God with the daily stuff and lifting up their innermost hopes and dreams. As I read these little prayers, I smile at their crude honesty, and I sigh at their sincere longing for God's grace in the world. I am reminded that I am a child of God. You are a child of God. Jesus often refers to his disciples as little children. What a gift to be God's child and to turn our hearts and thoughts to God in prayer!

Lord God, . . . Amen