FAITH IN TROUBLED TIMES
Summer is a time when we can relax and enjoy time away. Connie and I are enjoying being home for a while after a few days on Coronado Island. Hadley’s been traveling. You might ask Charlotte and Jennifer about their trip to Puerto Rico and their audition as cliff drivers. Such trips were fun and pleasurable. However, sometimes our journeys can take troubling turns.
In our Gospel text this week, (Mark 4: 35-41). Jesus and the disciples run into some trouble in their travels. They were crossing the Sea of Galilee when the winds pick up and their boat becomes swamped with water. Several of the disciples are skilled fishermen yet they are losing the battle with the waves. Jesus must have been weary because through it all he is asleep on a cushion in the stern. The disciples wake him and ask: “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
All of us at some time or another have experienced storms in life. They can happen even during summer vacations. We turn to God in prayer and may wonder with the disciples: Do you not care that we are perishing?” Jesus wonders back: Have you still no faith?
How do you keep up faith in the power of Love in troubled times?
Each of our texts has a slightly different answer. First you we might take in the words of Jesus to the storm and find a place and time that we might find peace and “Be Still”. When storms swirl around us, seek out a moment or a place, to meditate and ask for peace. Jesus would. For him to get away from the crowds, he would seek time for prayer in the morning or late at night. He would seek this peace before moments of trial.
Second learn from the Psalms to remember times God’s deliverance. Psalm 107:29 remembers a time when God stilled the storm to a whisper. In his writing, Mark remembers the stilling of the storm, even as Rome is leveling Jerusalem.
To keep up our faith, Mark invites us to consider: When has God deliver you in the past?
Thirdly when storms come you might have to let go of needing an explanation. If you are having a really bad day, you might thumb through the Book of Job. He lost wealth, health and family. His friends initially comfort him, but then as the painting of William Blake below captures, they point to Job and want to know what he did to deserve all this. He must be somehow at fault. They are right that at times we are at fault for our suffering. At other times others are at fault. But as Job he sits in ashes with his wife urging him to give up and die. He knows he does NOT deserve this. God comes to him to say: Let go needing a simple answer, there is none. Have faith anyway. Can you have faith in God without an answer to everything?
The Fourth path to Peace in difficult times is proposed by Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:13: Open wide your hearts. Here is a person who, through great endurance, experienced:
afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger. Yet he urges his congregation to See that NOW is the acceptable time; NOW is the day of salvation.
He takes up the weapons of righteousness in his right and left hand. Combating the ills of this world and the falsehoods proclaimed against them with purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God. His heart was “wide open”. Can you keep your heart wide open in troubled times, when your boat is being swamped? It is a path forward.
The texts for Sunday invite us to journey forward and they provide a map.
Prayer: Lord, we pray for safe travels along as journeys. Deeper still we pray that amid the storms of life may we find places to be still, times to remember your deliverance in the past. Despite our lack of understanding about the ills of the world may we take in our hands the weapons of righteousness for NOW is the day of salvation.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor John
The BELLS – are back for the summer beginning last Sunday morning, practice 9:00 am.
WELCA – The Next Women’s Bible Study is July 6, part of a 3-part Bible series on living in faith after certainty.
Interested in joining Faith? We are planning a new member orientation later in July. Let Pastor Bunge know of your interest.
Pantry – Please save Stater Bros. grocery bags for the pantry. All bags welcome, but Stater Bros. bags fit the paper bags used for distribution. Desperately needed. Pantry is 8 to 10:30 every 2nd & 4th Saturday, so June 22, July 13 and 27.
Grief Support – There is a GriefShare program available in our community. Char Lampe helps in leading it her number is 951-218-8590. It was recommended highly by one of our Faith Family.
Support – Bless you for all the ways you support Faith Lutheran. The summer months can be tight so keep up your financial support as you are able.
Time of Meditation –meets Thursdays @ 1 pm. Welcome back Nelson.
LAUREN SCHAFER is back Monday through Thursday 12:30 to 3 p.
Pastor Bunge Monday and Tuesday, this week. Next week Tuesday and Thursday
PRESCHOOL GRADUATION
Confirmation Classes start again in September 8.
QUILTING – Emily Smith’s Group (909.255.2452) has completed 16 for Central City Lutheran Mission and 6 for Lutheran World Relief. They also gave 2 quilts our graduating Seniors Charlotte and Evan.
PRAY for:
- Nelson is improving and was back in church.
- The family of Jacque Kottmeier. Dennis’s memorial was blessed. Thanks to all who helped.
- Nancy’s son, Gabe, is physically better after being attacked in the Riverside area.
- erwin has been back in church, the church’s birthday celebration for him is August 18.
- The Watsons would appreciate prayers for Bud who is at home.
- Eloise appreciates your prayers.
- Jan Wheeler appreciates our prayers for Andrew Gentry, a co-worker of her son Brian who had a set back this past week.
- The Koening’s appreciate your prayers.
- Kyle and Dana’s son, Kevin’s, Mother-in-Law, Lisa, cancer was found even after surgery.
- Cesar and Kim appreciate prayers for their sons, Tim, and Kyle. Her brother Jim is back in a critical state.
- The Shea’s would appreciate prayers for Rebecca and Chris Herandez in need of housing for themselves and the twins.
- Continued Godly journey for Brendan Simms, son of Bonnie Strack.
Thanks to all you have given shoes for Soles 4 Souls place your shoes in the boxes inside the Narthex and Fireside Room labeled “Soles 4 Souls.”
JOIN US – FUN & FELLOWSHIP @ FAITH after the WORSHIP SERVICE
JUNE
16 FABULOUS CELEBRATION FOR DADS AND CHARLOTTE AND EVAN Thanks especially to Jennifer for the cakes, Julian who helped serve floats, Charlotte and Evan for helping with the décor and Richard for cleaning up
23 BINGO!!!! COME FOR THE FUN! Spaghetti, salad and dessert.
30 – Jumpstart 4th of July. Hot Dogs, Rootbeer Floats, etc. Nancy is providing fun poppers for the young at heart.
JULY
7 WELCA
14th — 75th Anniversary Celebration HONORING THE PANTRY – Feeding the 5,000 – Fajatis, salad, dessert
21 BINGO! Casserole, salad and dessert
28 “OH! HAPPY DAY” – Chicken Noodle Casserole, Salad and dessert
AUGUST
4 WELCA
11 75th Anniversary Celebration HONORING THE YOUTH & EDUCATION with Back to-School games for young at heart. Let us know if you’d be willing to be a game host.
18 90th Birthday Party for erwin!
25 FUN IN THE SUN! Cornhole Tourney (rescheduled to this date)
Reminder: Please bring Bingo Prizes and if you want to help with food, please let Connie know, 951.514.1214