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The God Pause for Monday, 29 May 2017 - The Lutheran Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Scripture: Acts 2:1-21
14 Then Kefa stood up with the Eleven and raised his voice to address them: “You Judeans, and all of you staying here in Yerushalayim! Let me tell you what this means! Listen carefully to me!
15 “These people ar en’t drunk, as you suppose — it’s only nine in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken about through the prophet Yo’el:
17 ‘Adonai says:
“In the Last Days,
I will pour out from my Spirit upon everyone.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my slaves, both men and women,
will I pour out from my Spirit in those days;
and they will prophesy.
19 I will perform miracles in the sky above
and signs on the earth below —
blood, fire and thick smoke.
20 The sun will become dark
and the moon blood
before the great and fearful Day of Adonai comes.
21 And then, whoever calls on the name of Adonai will be saved.”’[Acts 2:21 Joel 3:1–5(2:28–32)]
“In the Last Days,
I will pour out from my Spirit upon everyone.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my slaves, both men and women,
will I pour out from my Spirit in those days;
and they will prophesy.
19 I will perform miracles in the sky above
and signs on the earth below —
blood, fire and thick smoke.
20 The sun will become dark
and the moon blood
before the great and fearful Day of Adonai comes.
21 And then, whoever calls on the name of Adonai will be saved.”’[Acts 2:21 Joel 3:1–5(2:28–32)]
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Pentecost was a Jewish festival that marked the fiftieth day after Passover. For God's people it became a time to remember God's giving of the law through Moses on Mount Sinai.
On the fiftieth day of Easter we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, and we hear the first sermon in the book of Acts. If you ever need a boost when thinking about what's possible in the church, in your own faith communities or wherever, just read the book of Acts! It's filled with signs and wonders and reminders of what God is still up to in the world.
After Christ's death, resurrection and ascension, the disciples waited around for ten days for the promise to arrive. Jesus told them to stay tuned for God's new thing. I wonder if the disciples were sad after the ascension. Then Jesus returned to them when God sent the Spirit.
God, on Pentecost you poured out your Spirit on all nations. Help us to break down the walls and barriers that divide us. Amen.
Wolfgang W. Laudert, '11
Pastor, Christ Lutheran Church, Staten Island, N.Y.
Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem.
6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.
7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?
9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretans and Arabs--in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power."
12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"
13 But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.
15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning.
16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 "In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.
21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' [New Revised Standard Version]
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The God Pause for Sunday, 28 May 2017 - The Lutheran Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States "Rise, My Soul, to Watch and Pray" (LBW 443)
"Rise, My Soul, to Watch and Pray" (LBW 443)
1. Rise, my soul, to watch and pray;
from your sleep awaken;
be not by the evil day
unawares o'ertaken.
Satan's prey oft are they
who secure are sleeping
and no watch are keeping.
2. Watch against the world that frowns
darkly to dismay you;
watch when it your wishes crowns,
smiling to betray you.
Watch and see, you are free
from false friends who charm you
while they seek to harm you.
3. Watch against yourself, my soul,
lest with grace you trifle;
let not self your thoughts control
nor God's mercy stifle.
Pride and sin lurk within,
all your hopes to shatter;
heed not when they flatter.
4. But while watching, also pray
to the Lord unceasing.
God alone can make you free,
strength and faith increasing,
so that still mind and will
heartfelt praises tender
and true service render.
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The year 2013 arrived, and there were to be no more Air Force generated PCS moves. In the words of a Green Day song I asked to be played at my retirement service, I did have "the time of my life." Now today my ministry combines occasional preaching around Alaska (including remote locales like Shishmaref and Nome), with JTB-flavored letters (that's "John the Baptist"--sorry, still hooked on acronyms from those Air Force years) to editors and congresspersons on behalf of our poor and huddled masses.
In closing, I invite you to read, re-read and prayerfully reflect on this hymn, especially the first two verses.
And may God's grace and peace be with you, wherever today's pause refreshes you on your life-long journey! Amen!
Chaplain, Lt. Col. Keith Muschinske, USAF (retired), '89
Eagle River, Alaska.
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The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
-------
Pentecost was a Jewish festival that marked the fiftieth day after Passover. For God's people it became a time to remember God's giving of the law through Moses on Mount Sinai.
On the fiftieth day of Easter we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, and we hear the first sermon in the book of Acts. If you ever need a boost when thinking about what's possible in the church, in your own faith communities or wherever, just read the book of Acts! It's filled with signs and wonders and reminders of what God is still up to in the world.
After Christ's death, resurrection and ascension, the disciples waited around for ten days for the promise to arrive. Jesus told them to stay tuned for God's new thing. I wonder if the disciples were sad after the ascension. Then Jesus returned to them when God sent the Spirit.
God, on Pentecost you poured out your Spirit on all nations. Help us to break down the walls and barriers that divide us. Amen.
Wolfgang W. Laudert, '11
Pastor, Christ Lutheran Church, Staten Island, N.Y.
Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem.
6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.
7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?
9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretans and Arabs--in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power."
12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"
13 But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.
15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning.
16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 "In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.
21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' [New Revised Standard Version]
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The God Pause for Sunday, 28 May 2017 - The Lutheran Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States "Rise, My Soul, to Watch and Pray" (LBW 443)
"Rise, My Soul, to Watch and Pray" (LBW 443)
1. Rise, my soul, to watch and pray;
from your sleep awaken;
be not by the evil day
unawares o'ertaken.
Satan's prey oft are they
who secure are sleeping
and no watch are keeping.
2. Watch against the world that frowns
darkly to dismay you;
watch when it your wishes crowns,
smiling to betray you.
Watch and see, you are free
from false friends who charm you
while they seek to harm you.
3. Watch against yourself, my soul,
lest with grace you trifle;
let not self your thoughts control
nor God's mercy stifle.
Pride and sin lurk within,
all your hopes to shatter;
heed not when they flatter.
4. But while watching, also pray
to the Lord unceasing.
God alone can make you free,
strength and faith increasing,
so that still mind and will
heartfelt praises tender
and true service render.
-------
The year 2013 arrived, and there were to be no more Air Force generated PCS moves. In the words of a Green Day song I asked to be played at my retirement service, I did have "the time of my life." Now today my ministry combines occasional preaching around Alaska (including remote locales like Shishmaref and Nome), with JTB-flavored letters (that's "John the Baptist"--sorry, still hooked on acronyms from those Air Force years) to editors and congresspersons on behalf of our poor and huddled masses.
In closing, I invite you to read, re-read and prayerfully reflect on this hymn, especially the first two verses.
And may God's grace and peace be with you, wherever today's pause refreshes you on your life-long journey! Amen!
Chaplain, Lt. Col. Keith Muschinske, USAF (retired), '89
Eagle River, Alaska.
-------
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
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