A Light to My Path (Psalm 86:1-13)

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Our Scripture for the week ahead is Psalm 86:1-13:

“Hear me, LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you. You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, LORD; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me. Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead.”

Question for Reflection:

The Psalmist asks God for an “undivided heart.” Given the beginning fo the Psalm, how do you think the Psalmist’s heart might have been divided?

Who Is My Neighbor? (Workcamp 2017 Updates)

If you haven't been following the prayer and trip updates from Workcamp 2017, updates and prayer for the week are below. Praise God for the way our youth are loving their neighbors!

Sunday

We are have had a great visit in Cincinnati!  We got in safe and sound Friday evening (which is not take for granted after last years technical issues:). Yesterday was a great day of riding roller coasters and water slides at King's Island Amusement Park in beautiful 80-degree weather. We ended our evening yesterday with a time of devotions and fellowship playing games.  

Today we are up early packing up about to make the next leg of our journey to Crossville, TN! When we get there we will move into our luxurious classroom floors that we will be sleeping on all week:) This afternoon the youth and adults will meet their work crews for the first time and find out what work they will be doing all week. 

Prayer Focus for Today
Prayers for safe travel
Prayers for peace for the adults as they learn about the work projects they are supposed to be leading this week (whether or not they have the skills)
Prayers for peace for the youth as they meet their crews. 
Prayers for Crossville and especially for our neighbors (what we call the residents of the homes we work in) as they are about to have 5 teenagers enter their homes for a week! 

Monday

Yesterday was a great day! All Calvary youth got in safely (those who didn't travel with us on the bus). Everyone is in good spirits after meeting their work crews and even the adults don't seem too overwhelmed by the work they will be leading. Monday morning is always a great morning filled with lots of energy and excitement as the crews head off to their homes for the first time! 

Some stats from this camp:
330ish campers
17 churches represented. 
30 homes

The Cumberland Homestead Elementary School gets its name (and some of its buildings) from President Roosevelt's New Deal. As the Great Depression hit many families migrated out of the mountains looking for work and relief.  the Federal Subsistence Homestead Corporation was the program that built the homestead providing homes and jobs for those who meet the requirements based on character, skill, and commitment. 

Prayer Focus for Today:
Prayers for a fun, productive and safe work week! 
Prayers for peace for the youth as they meet their neighbors. 
Prayers for good weather for the week!
Come Holy Spirit, Come!! 

Tuesday

Happy Tall Sock Tuesday!

I hope you are all sporting your tallest socks today!  Yesterday was a great first day.  Lots of great work getting done and the beginning of many new relationships!  Tuesday always feels like it's the longest day of the work week. Motivation can be tough as it seems like you have all week to get the work done and there isn't the adrenaline of Miracle Friday pushing you through the heat.  So in a sense, today is the toughest day to get through.  Please be praying for perseverance and continued good spirits!  


Prayer Focus for Today:
Prayers for perseverance to get through the work day. 
Prayers for bonding between crews and their neighbors.
Come Holy Spirit, Come!! 

Wednesday

Hello and Happy National Pig-Tail Day!

The campers are working just a half day today and wills be returning to the school at 1pm. Calvary will be heading to Fall Creek Falls State Park for the afternoon and are looking forward to some good hiking in the hills of TN!  Later this afternoon we will make the very anticipated Walmart trip!  We will end our day with a volleyball tournament where Calvary will have several teams challenging the "undefeated" Reach team!  

The sunny forecast has been great and if you can keep praying for the rain to hold off the rest of the week that would be great! If you want to get a little greedy in your prayer life and want to ask God to turn the temp down a bit (with humidity it has been feeling closer to 100 each day) that would be great.  We are very thankful for AC and that we have plenty of water!  

Prayer Focus for Today:
Safety at our work site and for our travels today. 
Prayers that God's creation will speak to us today! 
Come Holy Spirit, Come!! 

Thursday

Workcamp is flying by for us, it is hard to believe that it is day 7 already! We had a great half-day of work yesterday and then an adventurous afternoon exploring the beautiful trails and water falls of Fall Creek Falls state park. We ended the night with our own team 'Merica defeating the previously "undefeated" Reach team in volleyball! 

Today is an exciting day as we are approaching the finish line on many of the houses.  There will be a few crews who will be finishing up today and it will be hard to say good bye to their neighbors already. Today is also the culmination of Reach's spiritual program.  Please keep tonights evening program in your prayers as there will be time and space for anyone to accept or re-commit to Christ. Lastly, the graduated seniors will be sharing their stories with us tonight in our youth group devotions to end our night.

Prayer Focus for Today:
Safety at our work site. 
Prayers for our neighbors and the relationships being built. 
Prayers for the evening program and our youth group devotions! 

 

Friday

Yesterday was a great day!  God was visibly moving through the camp and especially in our youth! Thank you for your prayers!

All the work crews are out and working hard to finish all of the projects.  Miracle Friday is so named because we have the confidence that God will provide whatever is needed to get the work finished today. It is always awesome to see how He shows up today in little and big things! 

Friday is also the day when most of the worksite injuries and accidents happen as everyone is a little tired.  Please pray for wisdom and safety!

Prayer Focus for Today:

  • Safety at our work site.
  • Prayers for good good-byes to our neighbors and crews. We are thankful for the gift of relationships.

Thank you for all your prayers and support and make sure you high five someone today, after all it is National High Five Day!!

Love Your Neighbor (Ecclesiastes)

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On Sunday we talked about the Hevel (smoke, vapor, non-permanence) nature of things. The Teacher in Ecclesiastes urges us to take this smoke for what it is - it’s temporary, it’s not the big deal you might think it is. Daniel Kahneman in his book /Thinking, Fast and Slow/ says it this way: “Nothing in life is as important as you think it is, while you are thinking about it.” When we try to give the smoke too much weight, we introduce worry and conflict into a situation and/or relationship. This often happens with both our physical neighbors and our figurative ones. When we hastily escalate an issue or problem, we “chase after the wind” instead of resting in the gift of God (which for the Teacher in Ecclesiastes is joy and thanksgiving in the present moment). As you work at loving your neighbor today, remember that the things that separate you and your neighbor are smoke. Instead of chasing down that argument that won’t satisfy, rest in the opportunity that God has given you to love and enjoy each other today, no matter what your temporary differences might be. 

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About the Author

Isaac Gaff is the Managing Director of Worship and Creative Arts at Calvary UMC  

Deeper Dive Podcast (Ecclesiastes)

Since Randy and Debbie are out this week and it's hard to have a conversation solo, I've added a link to a contemplative audio art piece that help influence the sermon from Sunday. You can find that piece here. The audio below is just a simple audio explanation for those getting this in a podcast app.

About the Author
Isaac Gaff is the Managing Director of Worship and Creative Arts at Calvary UMC

Teach Us to Pray (Ecclesiastes)

In the middle of the Book of Ecclesiastes, the Teacher stops to offer some advice about prayer: 

“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.” (Ecclesiastes 5:1–2, TNIV)

As with most things in Ecclesiastes, the Teacher is incredibly sharp with his advice on prayer (he’s essentially saying 'shut up'). But even in his sharpness, he illuminates an aspect of prayer that often goes unexplored – silence or listening. I love this account of Mother Teresa on prayer:

Dan Rather, CBS anchor, once asked Mother Teresa what she said during her prayers. She answered, "I listen." So Rather turned the question and asked, "Well then, what does God say?" To that Mother Teresa smiled with confidence and answered, "He listens." *

As you pray today, set aside some time to simply be quiet and still before God. If it’s not a regular practice for you, it will be a little awkward at first; but stay with it. Silence can be intimidating at first, but take a cue from Mother Teresa and rest in the confidence that God is listening right along with you.

About the Author
Isaac Gaff is the Managing Director of Worship and Creative Arts at Calvary UMC

* Just Like Jesus, Max Lucado, p. 71.

Sunday Worship (Ecc. 1:1-11, 12:11-14)

This week we'll be exploring Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 and 12:11-14.  

These are the words of the Teacher, David’s son and king in Jerusalem
Smoke, nothing but smoke. [That’s what the Teacher says.]
There’s nothing to anything—it’s all smoke.
What’s there to show for a lifetime of work, a lifetime of working your fingers to the bone?
One generation goes its way, the next one arrives, but nothing changes—it’s business as usual for old planet earth.
The sun comes up and the sun goes down, then does it again, and again—the same old round.
The wind blows south, the wind blows north. Around and around and around it blows, blowing this way, then that—the whirling, erratic wind.
All the rivers flow into the sea, but the sea never fills up. The rivers keep flowing to the same old place, and then start all over and do it again.
Everything’s boring, utterly boring— no one can find any meaning in it. Boring to the eye, boring to the ear.
What was will be again, what happened will happen again. There’s nothing new on this earth.
Year after year it’s the same old thing. Does someone call out, “Hey, this is new”? Don’t get excited—it’s the same old story.
Nobody remembers what happened yesterday. And the things that will happen tomorrow?
Nobody’ll remember them either. Don’t count on being remembered. 

The words of the wise prod us to live well. They’re like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd. But regarding anything beyond this, dear friend, go easy. There’s no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so you’re no good for anything else. The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you. And that’s it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it’s good or evil.

Each Sunday you can find the live stream here or watch the archive here. 

A Light to My Path (Ecc. 1:1-11, 12:11-4)

Our Scripture for this coming week is Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 and 12:11-14:

These are the words of the Teacher, David’s son and king in Jerusalem
Smoke, nothing but smoke. [That’s what the Teacher says.]
There’s nothing to anything—it’s all smoke.
What’s there to show for a lifetime of work, a lifetime of working your fingers to the bone?
One generation goes its way, the next one arrives, but nothing changes—it’s business as usual for old planet earth.
The sun comes up and the sun goes down, then does it again, and again—the same old round.
The wind blows south, the wind blows north. Around and around and around it blows, blowing this way, then that—the whirling, erratic wind.
All the rivers flow into the sea, but the sea never fills up. The rivers keep flowing to the same old place, and then start all over and do it again.
Everything’s boring, utterly boring— no one can find any meaning in it. Boring to the eye, boring to the ear.
What was will be again, what happened will happen again. There’s nothing new on this earth.
Year after year it’s the same old thing. Does someone call out, “Hey, this is new”? Don’t get excited—it’s the same old story.
Nobody remembers what happened yesterday. And the things that will happen tomorrow?
Nobody’ll remember them either. Don’t count on being remembered. 

The words of the wise prod us to live well. They’re like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd. But regarding anything beyond this, dear friend, go easy. There’s no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so you’re no good for anything else. The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you. And that’s it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it’s good or evil.

Question for Reflection:

These verses from the beginning and end of Ecclesiastes are often difficult to read, but they resonate with our life experience to some extent. What do you most identify with from this text?

Love Your Neighbor (Ps 22:24 and Romans 8:14-19)

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As we talked about Sunday, compassion is both the catalyst and engine that helps us reach out beyond ourselves and our already existing groups of relationships to love all those around us (our neighbors). Compassion for those we already know and love is a great way to begin to cultivate the practice of compassion/action, but compassion inside a closed circle is compassion in it’s infancy – as we turn our compassionate gaze toward those we do not easily identify with, our compassion begins to grow and mature toward the compassion Jesus demonstrates for us in his ministry, death, and resurrrsction. Consider these words of his from the sermon on the mount as you pray and go about your day:

43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48) 

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About the Author

Isaac Gaff is the Managing Director of Worship and Creative Arts at Calvary UMC

Deeper Dive Podcast (Ps 22.24 and Romans 8.14-19)

Lori Bultemeier and Isaac Gaff talk about:
- the differences between embarrassment, humiliation, guilt, and sham
- Jesus' healing ministry
- Jesus' action in the Book of Hebrews
- and of course, a great Babyfold story

Listen in your device's podcast app – Apple version here and Android version here or use the desktop-only player below.

Questions or discussion? Click here to comment.

About the Authors

Lori Bultemeier works with kids and families in the area of spiritual care and formation at the Babyfold. She is also a Deacon in the IGRC conference of the United Methodist Church and calls Calvary home.
Isaac Gaff is the Managing Director of Worship and Creative Arts at Calvary UMC

Teach Us to Pray (Psalm 22:24)

Psalm 22:24 says: 

For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; 
he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.

As you pray today, know that nothing is off limits with God. He does not look away, even in our darkest moments. Even our wonderings about the “why” of our current situations are very much at the center of ancient prayer.  Our confession from Sunday was based off Psalm 143 and is a great pattern for praying through the “whys” of suffering.

Hear our prayer, O Lord;
Turn your ear to our need
In your faithfulness and righteousness answer us!
We are tired of enemies.
We are tired of being chased from one conflict to another.
We are tired of arguments that do not satisfy.
Hear our prayer, O Lord;
Turn your ear to our need.
For the enemy has pursued us;
He has crushed our lives to the ground
He has made us sit in darkness.
Why, O lord, must there always be controversy?
Why do we always have to be fighting, wrestling, struggling?
Hear our prayer, O Lord;
turn your ear to our need!
Answer us quickly, our spirits are failing!
Show us a better way;
Your ways are all justice and righteousness
Teach us your ways,
Your ways are all peace and truth.
Teach us to do your will;
Cover our spirits with your spirit
Bring us into your ways.
Let your spirit lead us to a level path.
In the name of Christ,
Grant us your steadfast love.
All glory be to him, ever seated at your right hand. Amen.

About the Author
Isaac Gaff is the Managing Director of Worship and Creative Arts at Calvary UMC

Sunday Worship (Psalm 22:24, and Romans 8:14-19)

This week we'll be exploring Psalm 22:24 and Romans 8:14-19.  

Psalm 22:24

For he has not despised or scorned
    the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
    but has listened to his cry for help.

Romans 14-19:

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

Each Sunday you can find the live stream here or watch the archive here.  

  

A Light to My Path (Psalm 22:24, and Romans 8:14-19)

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Our Scripture for this coming week is from Psalm 22:24, and Romans 8:14-19

Psalm 22:24

For he has not despised or scorned

    the suffering of the afflicted one;

he has not hidden his face from him

    but has listened to his cry for help.

 

Romans 14-19:

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

 

Question for Reflection:

Have you ever thought about suffering/glory as part of your inheritance as a child of God? If not, how does suffering/glory unite us with our co-heir (brother) Jesus?

Love Your Neighbor (Jonah 4:1-11)

The ending of the Book of Jonah reminds us that we are creatures who are defined by both doing and being. Even though Jonah did the right thing (delivering God’s message to the Ninevites), he refused to let the right thing remake and refashion his soul in the process. Throughout the history of God’s people (both Israel and the Church), we have tinkered with trying to divide actions and beliefs, head and heart, doing and being. Christian history is a see-saw battle to elevate one over the other. But Jesus encourages us to hold onto all of them with both hands and pull ourselves toward the life of God - a life that is fully action, fully belief, fully head, fully heart, fully doing, and fully being. All of them work together; all of them are connected, all of them at rest with each other. When we wrap our arms around this kind of wide embrace, we’re able to complete what Jonah did not. Our obedience opens up a chance for our souls to share God’s excitement when those who are lost return home. As you pray for your neighbors today, ask God to begin to move both your hands and heart toward love of neighbor.

About the Author
Isaac Gaff is the Managing Director of Worship and Creative Arts at Calvary UMC

Teach Us to Pray (Jonah 4:1-11)

As mentioned earlier in the series, Nineveh was considered a great enemy of Israel (Jonah’s home country). Jonah’s fear of Nineveh was a major contributor to his run from God’s call to speak, but Jonah’s resentment for Nineveh runs deeper than fear only. In this last section of the story, we see Jonah’s seething bitterness for the people of Nineveh – a bitterness that ends angry at their rescue and reconnection to God. Jesus’ parable of the two brothers in Luke’s Gospel highlights this same kind of resentment that keeps us from fully experiencing God’s work in our lives. Take a minute to read through the story of the two brothers:

“Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”” (Luke 15:11–32, TNIV)

The longer we remain in the church, the more likely we are to turn into the older brother unless we are vigilant about cultivating our hearts toward the love of the Father for both us and our enemies. As you go through your week, keep these two short prayers on your lips and mind:
in regards to ourselves: “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.”
in regards to our enemies: “celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

About the Author
Isaac Gaff is the Managing Director of Worship and Creative Arts at Calvary UMC