"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 October 3, 2004
Submitted by David M.

When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
On that very day their plans come to nothing.
Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
Whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and everything in them, who remains faithful forever." ... Psalm 146:3-6

Who do you trust? Trust seems to be a big issue these days, taking quite a front and center position in the current political debate. Both sides say, "Trust me. You can't trust the other guy. You can entrust the economy to me. You can entrust foreign policy to me." And so on. Yet there is also the current fight to keep "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, and "In God we Trust" on our money. Then you have CEOs of corporations, financial advisors, news organizations, and pollsters all vying for your trust. When it comes to our security, we seem to adopt "Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition". Can we really serve more than one master?

I suggest that even though we like to think and even say that we trust in God, in fact we don't. We are instead putting our trust in the princes of the world - political, economic, and cultural leaders. All of whom are those 'who cannot save'. We have bought into the post-Enlightenment stance that says that we can separate our existence into spiritual and secular realms, and there need not be an overlap between the two. This is Deism, which holds that even if there is a First Mover, as God is sometimes called, he does not intervene in our day to day lives, so we must plod our way along and make history come out right for ourselves.

Jesus says to us in Matthew 6:30-33, "If God so clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat? What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and all these things will be given to you as well."

So you just can't have it both ways. Because then what you are really saying is, "I'll trust God later, I need to trust something else right now." But the 'right now', the present, is the Kingdom of God for us as much as it will be in the future. Of course it is often difficult, when events around us can clog our path with obstacles. But if we believe that our God is a Father 'who remains faithful forever', the choice we make when choosing where to put our trust and our allegiance is an easy one. Every compromise we make to put other interests ahead of the teachings of God our Father and Jesus his Son is a defeat for us as disciples. While the ability to exist and function within society may require us to put a degree of trust in our friends, family, co-workers, and political leaders, our true allegiance is due to only the Triune God we recognize as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Because ultimately, by none other is there the promise of salvation.

Fear not, little flock, he goeth ahead. Your shepherd selecteth the path you must tread.
The waters of Marah he'll sweeten for thee. He drank all the bitter in Gethsemane.
Fear not, little flock, whatever your lot. He enters all rooms, "the doors being shut".
He never forsakes. He never is gone. So count on his presence in darkness and dawn.
   Paul Rader, 1921

Devotion for the week of October 10, 2004
Submitted by Pastor Dick H.

Again, over the weekend, I had the privilege of presiding in our congregation's worship services. Serving as presiding minister on occasion is a delight. I'm glad to lead the assembly in Word and Sacrament because it allows our pastor to do other things - in this case, to celebrate the marriage of our beloved Vicar Mary in South Carolina. Also, serving occasionally saves me from becoming 'rusty,' now that I no longer preside weekly. So, with joy and thanksgiving, I sing, "Hallelujah!"

But, whether I'm at the altar or in the 'pew,' "I give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart." I'm grateful at the core of my being, because you enfold my wife Barbara and me in your arms of hospitality, acceptance, care and love; and, thereby, you enhance meaningful community in Christ. You grant us a place of gathering, of singing praise and saying prayers together, of hearing God's Word, of communing at the Lord's table, and of going forth to serve the Lord. We are grateful.

This gift of a wholesome, healthy spiritual home in no small thing. When a parish pastor retires, you see, he or she suddenly faces an issue of belongingness. During years of service, a pastor and his/her family belong to the congregation served; membership is taken for granted. But, pastoral ethics suggest that a retiring pastor departs from the congregation served. Consequently, a question arises: What now?

A couple years ago, we faced this issue. Thanks be to God, it was resolved when we found Abiding Presence Lutheran Church and became part of it. Thanks be to you, God's people, for allowing us to live in community with Christian brothers and sisters.

Echoing the ancient psalmist, Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it this way in Life Together:
   Let him who has had the privilege of living a common Christian life
   with other Christians praise God's grace from the bottom of his heart.
   Let him thank God on his knees and declare: It is grace, nothing but
   grace, that we are allowed to live in community with Christian brethren.
      Amen. Hallelujah!

Lord God almighty, enable me to celebrate always your gracious gift of community in Christ. Help me rejoice as a thankful recipient of your grace, now and forever. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Devotion for the week of October 17, 2004
Submitted by Michael S.

Then shall the King say unto them at His right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger and ye took me in: ... Matthew 26:34-35 (KJV)

Dear fellow APLC members, this story came to me via the Internet. I do not know the author or if it is a true story or not. I came to Abiding Presence about 29 years ago, a stranger and I was welcomed. You are a close part of my life. And, at this time of my life, I have often reflected back on what I thought was good and what I would change if I could. In ten days I face surgery for the implantation of a pacemaker as a precautionary measure. this has given me even more cause to reflect. This spoke volumes to me and I want to share it with you.

The Mayonnaise Jar And The Coffee
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar...and the coffee ...

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a loud unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things -- your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions -- things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else -- the small stuff.

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children.

"Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities.

"The rest is just sand." One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Lord God, let us look to one another as friends with open hearts and minds. Give us the strength to love and be loved; give us the wisdom to accept ourselves and others as worthy of Your Grace and to share it freely. Amen

Devotion for the week of October 24, 2004
Submitted by Pastor Dan

The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not overcome it.
John 1:5

Having been born and raised in a warmer, more southern part of the country, one dimension of life in the northeast that I have never grown accustomed to is the increased diminishment of light during the autumn and winter seasons. It may be only a bit less sunlight than an hour a day. But I do notice the difference. Afternoon tea or coffee becomes more important. Early morning reveals that I am at times "motivationally challenged."

Sometimes this astronomical phenomenon affects my spiritual well-being. The world surrounds me with dimness, darkness, and diminishment of quality relations. Politicians intentionally try to scare whatever daylight is left in me. Perceived diminishment of life can become an occasion for despair or for highlights of hope.

The verse from John's Gospel is sublimely simple and filled with God's promise. Christ our light has entered the darkness. John's testimony points to Joseph Sittler's testimony: "Christ cannot be a light that lighteth every person coming into the world, if He is not also the light that falls upon the world into which every person comes." Sittler's testimony points to Gerhard Frost's testimony: "If I am asked what are my grounds for hope, this is my answer: light is lord over darkness, truth is lord over falsehood, life is ever lord over death. Of all the facts I daily live with, there's none more comforting than this: if I have two rooms, one dark, the other light, and I open the door between them, the dark room becomes lighter without the light one becoming darker."

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light. Amen
      Portion of a prayer attributed to St. Francis

Devotion for the week of October 31, 2004
Submitted by Helen Y.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, " He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in him will I trust." ...; Psalm 91:1-2

Four years ago, before Christmas, I fell, broke my right wrist and severely injured my finger joints. Emergency surgery was performed and all seemed well. Then, on December 22^nd, I was called by the doctor's office and told to enter the Medical Center because a serious infection was present and I was to be given intravenous drugs to counter this. I was not told until I was admitted that the infection had to be controlled by the following morning in order to allow an operation on my joints. The "window of opportunity" was fast closing.

When I entered the hospital room, I met Sally, a proud black woman in her 80's. We gradually came to be friends - praying together and asking God for help! By 6:00am the next morning, I was told it was safe to proceed with the second operation, and I was wheeled to surgery. I awoke hours later to soft singing and praying from somewhere! It was Sally who prayed for me, "Please, God, help Helen! Please bless her at this time." She also hummed beautiful, comforting Afro-American songs. God surely heard our prayers and by December 24^th the doctor signed my discharge papers. Sally too was to be released, since a nursing home had been found for her. We prayed and waited for the necessary paper work to be done.

Now another problem arose, Sally had been brought to the hospital by the police clad only in a nightgown and wrapped in a blanket. She needed to have warmer clothes. The nurses "found" a shower cap for her head, heavy stockings, and a cotton dress from the hospital supply closet, but Sally still had nothing warm to wear. Finally, one of the nurses came to dress her. This nurse had come to care deeply about Sally. When she dressed Sally in "gathered clothes", the nurse took off her beautiful red sweater and gently buttoned it on Sally. The nurse said, "Please wear this with my love. It was a gift to me several years ago and now it is my Christmas gift to you." With tears running down her cheeks, Sally could only take the nurse's hands and look into her eyes.

Although I had hoped to be home by this hour, I was granted the rare privilege of seeing Sally smile at me as the emergency team belted her onto the stretcher for transport. Her last words to me were, "God bless you", and mine to Sally, "Your faith moved mountains. God bless you!" Fifteen minutes later, I too was on my way - home for Christmas. As we rode through the icy streets, I felt humbled and joyful to have witnessed the true Spirit of Christ. God surely did move mountains and bless us all.

Thank you, God, for the gift of life and for all those who know the meaning of a gift given in love. Let us all who count ourselves Christians reach out and together, move mountains of problems for those we know and for those we have yet to meet. Amen