praying in the garden

Good morning brothers and sisters,
Since we're following the theme of prayer this week, you'll notice we're skipping around a lot. We move way ahead in the story of Jesus to the night of his last supper with the disciples and his arrest. Jesus spent time in prayer before his arrest. He prayed that his path might not go through the suffering and death he was preparing for. His prayer also helped him prepare for that path by allowing him to talk to his father and claim the choice that led to the cross. That way, when the soldiers came to arrest him he felt like he was following a choice rather than being forced into suffering.
May your prayer today strengthen you for the path ahead,
Sam

Luke 22:39-46

³⁹He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. ⁴⁰When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” ⁴¹Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, ⁴²“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.” ⁴³Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. ⁴⁴In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. ⁴⁵When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, ⁴⁶and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”

veterans and our service

Good morning sisters and brothers,
As you begin your day today, I'd invite you to spend a little time reflecting on the service of our veterans including those currently serving. We dedicated today to thanking our veterans, active duty and reserve military personnel for their courage and dedication to protect our country. The Town of Irondequoit hosts a service of recognition for Veterans' Day this morning at 10:45 on the lawn of town hall. I'll be there to offer prayer, and if you're free you might want to join me. Whether you're at the service or not, please remember our veterans and those who serve now in your prayers.

In our reading for today Joshua moves from remembering the past to giving Israel a choice for their future. He invites them to choose to serve God or to serve other gods. God gives us the same choice each day: will we serve the Lord who gives us life and who comes to us in Jesus Christ, or will we serve other gods? Will we serve the gods of money and power who claim our attention in the headlines? Will we serve the gods of the rat race that call us to endless striving to validate our existence with material possessions? Whom will we serve today?

God bless,
Sam

Joshua 24: 14-24

¹⁴“Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.

¹⁵Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

¹⁶Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; ¹⁷for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; ¹⁸and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”

¹⁹But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. ²⁰If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good.” ²¹And the people said to Joshua, “No, we will serve the Lord!” ²²Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” ²³He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” ²⁴The people said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and him we will obey.”

Christ or the world

Good morning/afternoon brothers and sisters,
Paul sets out two choices for his readers: set our minds on Jesus or follow the ways of the earth. Notice, that doesn't mean that all people who follow Christ will agree on everything, only that our focus is on what Jesus calls us to do. We see daily examples of the way of the earth, the focus on what is ours and how to get ahead. We see those examples, but we are called to turn away, to hope, work, invest and pray for something better.
May you feel Christ's presence today,
Sam

Philippians 3:15-21

15Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. 16Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.



17Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. 19Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.