Weekday Devotions for 11/30/2015

Pastor Al Debelak's Weekday Devotions. View this email in your browser Weekday Devotions Redeemer Lutheran 11/30/2015 edition Weekday Devotions By Redeemer Lutheran on Nov 30, 2015 05:50 am The Reign of God as light. Comments to: adebelak@redeemerluth.com The Reign of God as light - scatters the darkness. That seems advent-like. This Reigning light is like truthfulness. It does not allow for lies the fester and bring death. Instead, as soon as a lie is spoken or people begin living within the grasp of the many lies that are able to secure so much control of the world - it is exposed. I think some political candidate fear the light. They had investigative reporting - they accuse truth-finding as the work of demons - they live the lie of acting as though they are victims and they represent all the victims of thorough journalism. No matter where we go in the world, the powers that oppress and the powers that control are utterly powerless unless they can keep their people living within the darkness of their cultural and religious lies. The Reign of God as light is not a 'churchy' power. It is the power of the Spirit of God's Reign of truth the never ceases to expose lies and half-truths (that are also lies). God of New Life and All Hopefulness, whenever the lies of the world attempt to distort your gracious Reign make us people who boldly open up the way of truth in the world. Amen. Read in browser » Recent Articles: Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Copyright © 2015 Redeemer Lutheran Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a member of the Redeemer community Our mailing address is: Redeemer Lutheran Church 1555 South James Road Columbus, Oh 43227 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

Weekday Devotions for 11/20/2015

Pastor Al Debelak's Weekday Devotions. View this email in your browser Weekday Devotions Redeemer Lutheran 11/20/2015 edition Weekday Devotions By Redeemer Lutheran on Nov 20, 2015 05:50 am The Reign of God as provocation. Comments to: adebelak@redeemerluth.com The Reign of God as provocation just does not give up sticking its vision and life right in our faces. The Spirit provokes us to come and live within the fullness of life that has been promised and will come to be. You see, a party is being thrown right now. It is an adventure in grace and mercy and love and kindness with strong accents of justice and peace. It is happening - we are invited to take part. In the midst of a violent world, the Reign of God as provocation bends in toward us to tell us another way to be alive in this world. It reveals how love can and does transform hatred and how forgiveness does create a whole new world. Sure we don't always believe that, and yet, the provocation never ceases. We can expect to be provoked and given the opportunity to enter the life of this Reign. O God of New Life and All Hopefulness, in the midst of days when our hearts reflect the values of the world around us continue to crack open our hearts with your Reigning and Real Presence. Amen. Read in browser » Recent Articles: Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Copyright © 2015 Redeemer Lutheran Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a member of the Redeemer community Our mailing address is: Redeemer Lutheran Church 1555 South James Road Columbus, Oh 43227 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

Weekday Devotions for 11/19/2015

Pastor Al Debelak's Weekday Devotions. View this email in your browser Weekday Devotions Redeemer Lutheran 11/19/2015 edition Weekday Devotions By Redeemer Lutheran on Nov 19, 2015 05:50 am The Reign of God as provocative. Comments to: adebelak@redeemerluth.com The Reign of God as provocative has a way of testing us - pulling at us - rattling us - shaking us up. It is not to the point of being in despair. And yet, it can be quite a profound shaking. The coming of the Reign of God into our midst can rattle our bones - just as the wind of God rattled the bones in the valley of dry bones. We are stirred up by the vision of God's Reign that is capable of falling down upon us and transforming the day. I love the book of Acts for this reason. In many of those stories, God's Reign is provoking faithfulness among people who do not know what is to come next or who may be afraid of what they think will come next. Like a wildfire we are moved and find ourselves in a new place and living under a new reality. It is all quite amazing. O God of New Life and All Hopefulness, as you revive us and we step out into a life we did not anticipate or do not control, we are handed new life. Blessed are you for giving us newness in the midst of that seems so unchangeable. Amen. ,., Read in browser » Recent Articles: Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Copyright © 2015 Redeemer Lutheran Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a member of the Redeemer community Our mailing address is: Redeemer Lutheran Church 1555 South James Road Columbus, Oh 43227 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

Weekday Devotions for 11/18/2015

Pastor Al Debelak's Weekday Devotions. View this email in your browser Weekday Devotions Redeemer Lutheran 11/18/2015 edition Weekday Devotions By Redeemer Lutheran on Nov 18, 2015 05:50 am The Reign of God as provocative. Comments to: adebelak@redeemerluth.com The Reign of God as provocative keeps us from being settled into life as we have it. There are always questions raised or comments made that move us off the center we tend to love so much. It is good to be moved off center - it means we are having to see life from another perspective. That, is always good. When our presuppositions are tested or drawn into question, we may learn how to love more deeply and reach out more boldly. I have heard over and over again that people who travel to other countries and get to know the viewpoint of those people are often people who are open to diversity and change. This helps in regard to being less judgmental. The Reign of God as provocative is part of the way we learn to experience the wonder of God's creation. O God of New Life and All Hopefulness, teach us to move out of our own circles and dance with those we often ignore or fear to know. Amen. Read in browser » Recent Articles: Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Copyright © 2015 Redeemer Lutheran Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a member of the Redeemer community Our mailing address is: Redeemer Lutheran Church 1555 South James Road Columbus, Oh 43227 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

Weekday Devotions for 11/17/2015

Pastor Al Debelak's Weekday Devotions. View this email in your browser Weekday Devotions Redeemer Lutheran 11/17/2015 edition Weekday Devotions By Redeemer Lutheran on Nov 16, 2015 09:56 am The Reign of God as provocative. Comments to: adebelak@redeemerluth.com The Reign of God as provocative will egg us on - always and forever. We all know that too often we can be content to stay just as we are. It is too easy to want the world to line up as we would like things to go. And then, this Reign of God - this vision - this promise, nudges us and challenges us to change. Ah! That is how this Reign works. The Reign of God as provocative bids us to lean and the enter into a life that we had not planned to enter. I often use the image of being tickled for such an action. The Reign of God can bug us - disturb us - pull us out of our skin so that we will somehow turn in a new direction - intonew life. O God of New Life and All Hopefulness, come and bring your life right into the lives we plan for ourselves and let the boat be rocked. Amen. Read in browser » Recent Articles: Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Copyright © 2015 Redeemer Lutheran Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a member of the Redeemer community Our mailing address is: Redeemer Lutheran Church 1555 South James Road Columbus, Oh 43227 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences