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other discussion questions, or substitute other questions for the marked ones, at their discretion.
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“The Lord of heavenly forces is with us!”
Saturday, 4 November 2017
Psalm 46:1 (0) For the leader. By the descendants of Korach. On ‘alamot [high-pitched musical instruments?]. A song:
2 (1) God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
3 (2) Therefore we are unafraid,
even if the earth gives way,
even if the mountains tumble
into the depths of the sea,
4 (3) even if its waters rage and foam,
and mountains shake at its turbulence. (Selah)
5 (4) There is a river whose streams
gladden the city of God,
the holy habitation of ‘Elyon —
6 (5) God is in the city.
It will not be moved —
when daybreak comes, God will help it.
7 (6) Nations were in turmoil,
kingdoms were moved;
his voice thundered forth,
and the earth melted away.
8 (7) Adonai-Tzva’ot is with us,
our fortress, the God of Ya‘akov. (Selah)
9 (8) Come and see the works of Adonai,
the astounding deeds he has done on the earth.
10 (9) To the ends of the earth he makes wars cease —
he breaks the bow, snaps the spear,
burns the shields in the fire.
11 (10) “Desist, and learn that I am God,
supreme over the nations,
supreme over the earth.”
---
All through his life, Luther battled against awful low points. “The content of the depressions was always the same, the loss of faith that God is good and that he is good to me….Always and above all else, the one great objective aid for Luther was the Scriptures ….[He wrote,] ’The true Christian pilgrimage is not to Rome or
Compostela, but to the prophets, the Psalms and the Gospels.’” * In his later years, he wrote one anti-Semitic pamphlet that even admiring biographer Roland Bainton called a “vulgar blast,” adding that “one could wish that Luther had died before ever this tract was written.” ** Yet this flawed but faithful servant, like the apostle
Peter we studied in August and September, left an overall legacy of faith and fortitude that continues to challenge and inspire Christ-followers today.
• Luther based one of his greatest, most enduring hymns on Psalm 46. Let the message of his powerful lyrics sink deeply into your heart:
“A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing: For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe; His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal. Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing; Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing: Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He; Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same, And He must win the battle.” ***
Prayer: Lord God, you are a mighty fortress, one to whom I can turn amid whatever flood of mortal ills I face. Thank you that I can share with Luther the confidence that, in the end, you must win the battle. Amen.
* Roland H. Bainton, Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1950; paperback edition by Mentor
Books, pp. 282-283, 288.
** Roland H. Bainton, Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1950; paperback edition by Mentor
Books, pp. 297.
*** Two stanzas of the hymn in the familiar English translation by Frederick Hedge. For all four stanzas, and an alternate
English version, click here.
Family Activity: For us to fully live into God’s wisdom and grace, it is important that we know Scripture. Create a stack of Scriptures for your home. Gather and distribute colored index cards and pens or pencils along with a Bible to each family member. Ask each person to choose 3-4 favorite Bible passages and write them on his or her index cards along with his or her name. Collect the cards and keep them on the dining table. Before each meal, select a card, read the passage and pray for the person who chose it. Place that card on the bottom of the stack. If you have young family members, invite them to draw pictures describing a Bible story or to help other family members. Keep adding to your family’s stack throughout the year and see how many portions of the Bible you can memorize!
---
Dave Pullin
Dave leads our Technical Arts department, which provides live worship production for our church. In all of life, Dave has learned that the person is more important than the task and that the process is just as important as the product. The way we do things, and the way we treat others, is vital.
Refuge. That’s a concept that we don’t talk much about anymore. The idea of needing to retreat to an area of safety and relief seems a foreign and strange idea. If someone refers to retreating, it is immediately associated with weakness and failure, whether on the battlefield, in business, or in any other endeavor in life. And when retreat gets linked with failure, then we feel unable to ask for help for fear of being seen as weak and incompetent. So in response, we put on a facade and pretend like we have our act together and that our Facebook highlight reel is actually a complete depiction of our life. But it's not. And for some reason we’re afraid to let others know the truth. I know I am.
I once had a coworker who disliked the casual “how are you doing?” conversation starter we often give each other. His opinion was that we are never honest when asked that question, as everyone always says “fine!” or “good” or at the least “busy!" Think about it--how did you respond the last time you were asked how you were doing? My friend decided to slightly change the question and as a result started getting extremely different answers. He simply asked, “How is your soul doing?” That slight change somehow allowed him to penetrate through the thick exterior shells we often erect, and those he asked began to be rather open and honest with their answers. What he discovered is that most people are far from “fine” and everyone is fighting an invisible battle. Is there a battle which you are currently fighting? What are the things keeping you up at night with uncertainty and anxiety? What are the challenges in your life from which you need refuge?
We recently had some family portraits taken, which we haven’t had in a very long time, and I’m happy to say they turned out absolutely amazing! The thing is, those pictures look like we’re one great happy family without a care in the world, but those pictures don’t tell the full story of what’s going on in our lives. They don’t even tell the full story of what was happening that day. Don’t get me wrong--we are very fortunate and happy, but we have our struggles too. Ours is a blended family and my 14-year-old daughter is really struggling between households, especially with her relationship with me and her stepmother. Every day is a major battle, even on family picture day. There were definitely some pictures that you could easily tell she did not want to be there. And then we have an 11-year-old son with special needs who has no idea of the concept of danger, so we are constantly on high alert trying to make sure he doesn’t run out in front of a car, or pick up a piece of used gum on the street and put it in his mouth! It seems funny, and it is, at least for a little while. But life at our house is getting more and more challenging as we navigate some of these circumstances. Yet when people ask me how I’m doing, I still say “great!” But my soul is far from great.
My soul needs a retreat. My soul needs refuge.
Perhaps that is why this psalm resonates with me:
---
Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer
Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
• LaRue Wyatt and family on the death of her husband Don E. Wyatt, 10/24
• Clara Clark and family on the death of her husband Edward F. “Ed” Clark, 10/23
• Carrie Soper and family on the death of her husband Kurt Brannon Soper, 10/22
• Cricket Culp and family on the death of her husband Dean Culp, 10/22
• Family and friends of Delores Jean “Jeanie” Scott on her death, 10/22
• Sue Babson and family on the death of her mother Eleanor Dye, 10/21
• Michelle Hodge and family on the death of her mother Elaine Smith, 10/20
• Paula Slifer and family on the death of her father Paul Allan Cole, 10/20
• Glynn and Nancy Brown and family on the death of their daughter Lia Brown, 10/19
• Sherri Comfort and family on the death of her father Kenneth E. “Ken” Bowers, 10/17
---
“The Lord of heavenly forces is with us!”
Saturday, 4 November 2017
Psalm 46:1 (0) For the leader. By the descendants of Korach. On ‘alamot [high-pitched musical instruments?]. A song:
2 (1) God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
3 (2) Therefore we are unafraid,
even if the earth gives way,
even if the mountains tumble
into the depths of the sea,
4 (3) even if its waters rage and foam,
and mountains shake at its turbulence. (Selah)
5 (4) There is a river whose streams
gladden the city of God,
the holy habitation of ‘Elyon —
6 (5) God is in the city.
It will not be moved —
when daybreak comes, God will help it.
7 (6) Nations were in turmoil,
kingdoms were moved;
his voice thundered forth,
and the earth melted away.
8 (7) Adonai-Tzva’ot is with us,
our fortress, the God of Ya‘akov. (Selah)
9 (8) Come and see the works of Adonai,
the astounding deeds he has done on the earth.
10 (9) To the ends of the earth he makes wars cease —
he breaks the bow, snaps the spear,
burns the shields in the fire.
11 (10) “Desist, and learn that I am God,
supreme over the nations,
supreme over the earth.”
---
All through his life, Luther battled against awful low points. “The content of the depressions was always the same, the loss of faith that God is good and that he is good to me….Always and above all else, the one great objective aid for Luther was the Scriptures ….[He wrote,] ’The true Christian pilgrimage is not to Rome or
Compostela, but to the prophets, the Psalms and the Gospels.’” * In his later years, he wrote one anti-Semitic pamphlet that even admiring biographer Roland Bainton called a “vulgar blast,” adding that “one could wish that Luther had died before ever this tract was written.” ** Yet this flawed but faithful servant, like the apostle
Peter we studied in August and September, left an overall legacy of faith and fortitude that continues to challenge and inspire Christ-followers today.
• Luther based one of his greatest, most enduring hymns on Psalm 46. Let the message of his powerful lyrics sink deeply into your heart:
“A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing: For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe; His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal. Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing; Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing: Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He; Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same, And He must win the battle.” ***
Prayer: Lord God, you are a mighty fortress, one to whom I can turn amid whatever flood of mortal ills I face. Thank you that I can share with Luther the confidence that, in the end, you must win the battle. Amen.
* Roland H. Bainton, Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1950; paperback edition by Mentor
Books, pp. 282-283, 288.
** Roland H. Bainton, Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1950; paperback edition by Mentor
Books, pp. 297.
*** Two stanzas of the hymn in the familiar English translation by Frederick Hedge. For all four stanzas, and an alternate
English version, click here.
Family Activity: For us to fully live into God’s wisdom and grace, it is important that we know Scripture. Create a stack of Scriptures for your home. Gather and distribute colored index cards and pens or pencils along with a Bible to each family member. Ask each person to choose 3-4 favorite Bible passages and write them on his or her index cards along with his or her name. Collect the cards and keep them on the dining table. Before each meal, select a card, read the passage and pray for the person who chose it. Place that card on the bottom of the stack. If you have young family members, invite them to draw pictures describing a Bible story or to help other family members. Keep adding to your family’s stack throughout the year and see how many portions of the Bible you can memorize!
---
Dave PullinDave leads our Technical Arts department, which provides live worship production for our church. In all of life, Dave has learned that the person is more important than the task and that the process is just as important as the product. The way we do things, and the way we treat others, is vital.
Refuge. That’s a concept that we don’t talk much about anymore. The idea of needing to retreat to an area of safety and relief seems a foreign and strange idea. If someone refers to retreating, it is immediately associated with weakness and failure, whether on the battlefield, in business, or in any other endeavor in life. And when retreat gets linked with failure, then we feel unable to ask for help for fear of being seen as weak and incompetent. So in response, we put on a facade and pretend like we have our act together and that our Facebook highlight reel is actually a complete depiction of our life. But it's not. And for some reason we’re afraid to let others know the truth. I know I am.
I once had a coworker who disliked the casual “how are you doing?” conversation starter we often give each other. His opinion was that we are never honest when asked that question, as everyone always says “fine!” or “good” or at the least “busy!" Think about it--how did you respond the last time you were asked how you were doing? My friend decided to slightly change the question and as a result started getting extremely different answers. He simply asked, “How is your soul doing?” That slight change somehow allowed him to penetrate through the thick exterior shells we often erect, and those he asked began to be rather open and honest with their answers. What he discovered is that most people are far from “fine” and everyone is fighting an invisible battle. Is there a battle which you are currently fighting? What are the things keeping you up at night with uncertainty and anxiety? What are the challenges in your life from which you need refuge?
We recently had some family portraits taken, which we haven’t had in a very long time, and I’m happy to say they turned out absolutely amazing! The thing is, those pictures look like we’re one great happy family without a care in the world, but those pictures don’t tell the full story of what’s going on in our lives. They don’t even tell the full story of what was happening that day. Don’t get me wrong--we are very fortunate and happy, but we have our struggles too. Ours is a blended family and my 14-year-old daughter is really struggling between households, especially with her relationship with me and her stepmother. Every day is a major battle, even on family picture day. There were definitely some pictures that you could easily tell she did not want to be there. And then we have an 11-year-old son with special needs who has no idea of the concept of danger, so we are constantly on high alert trying to make sure he doesn’t run out in front of a car, or pick up a piece of used gum on the street and put it in his mouth! It seems funny, and it is, at least for a little while. But life at our house is getting more and more challenging as we navigate some of these circumstances. Yet when people ask me how I’m doing, I still say “great!” But my soul is far from great.
My soul needs a retreat. My soul needs refuge.
Perhaps that is why this psalm resonates with me:
-God is our refuge and strength in times of trouble.
-Be still and know that I am God
An interesting thing my coworker discovered was by making that slight change, he found that he had an increase in meaningful conversations and connections with others, and those encounters acted as a sort of healing refuge for both people. It makes sense that if God is our refuge, and if we are God’s instruments, then shouldn’t we be able to offer refuge to each other? I keep reminding myself that everyone I interact with is fighting some type of battle. I just need to get better at recognizing that and pay more attention. It’s time I start focusing more on the people around me rather than what is next on my task list. Perhaps that could be a way we find refuge in times of trouble. ---
Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer
Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
• LaRue Wyatt and family on the death of her husband Don E. Wyatt, 10/24
• Clara Clark and family on the death of her husband Edward F. “Ed” Clark, 10/23
• Carrie Soper and family on the death of her husband Kurt Brannon Soper, 10/22
• Cricket Culp and family on the death of her husband Dean Culp, 10/22
• Family and friends of Delores Jean “Jeanie” Scott on her death, 10/22
• Sue Babson and family on the death of her mother Eleanor Dye, 10/21
• Michelle Hodge and family on the death of her mother Elaine Smith, 10/20
• Paula Slifer and family on the death of her father Paul Allan Cole, 10/20
• Glynn and Nancy Brown and family on the death of their daughter Lia Brown, 10/19
• Sherri Comfort and family on the death of her father Kenneth E. “Ken” Bowers, 10/17
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©2017 Church of the Resurrection. All Rights Reserved.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
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©2017 Church of the Resurrection. All Rights Reserved.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
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