The Daily Readings for SUNDAY, February 11, 2018 - Last Sunday after Epiphany (Quinquagesima)

Transfiguration of the Lord
Mark 9:2-9

Sunday Readings

(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)

Opening Sentence

From the rising of the sun to its setting my Name shall be great among the nations, and in every place incense shall be offered to my Name, and a pure offering: for my Name shall be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.

~ Malachi 1:11

Prayer of the Day (Collect)

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Confession and Forgiveness

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

God is light; in him there in no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him, yet walk in the darkness, we lie and son not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

~ John 1:5b-8

Most holy and merciful Father, We confess to you and to one another, that we have sinned against you by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not fully loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not always had in us the mind of Christ. You alone know how often we have grieved you by wasting your gifts, by wandering from your ways. Forgive us, we pray you, most merciful Father; And free us from our sin. Renew in us the grace and strength of your Holy Spirit, for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior. Amen

The Lessons

First Lesson: 2 Kings 2:1-12

Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent.” Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.” Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

Psalm: Psalm 50:1–6

1  The mighty one, God the Lord,
    speaks and summons the earth
    from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2  Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
    God shines forth.
3  Our God comes and does not keep silence,
    before him is a devouring fire,
    and a mighty tempest all around him.
4  He calls to the heavens above
    and to the earth, that he may judge his people:
5  “Gather to me my faithful ones,
    who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!”
6  The heavens declare his righteousness,
    for God himself is judge. Selah

Second Lesson: 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Gospel: Mark 9:2-9

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.

Here ends the Lessons

Click HERE to read today's Holy Gospel Lesson message

The Apostle's Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen

Closing Prayer

Finally, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, let me think about these things. What I have learned and received, let me do; and the God of peace be with us all. Amen.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

~ Numbers 6:22-27

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia!

Thanks be to God! Alleluia!

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted. The Collects, Psalms and Canticles are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.

"“I have seen the face of the pilot, and he smiled. All is well” The Sermon for SUNDAY, February 11, 2018 - Last Sunday after Epiphany (Quinquagesima)

"I Saw The Face Of The Pilot"

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.

~ Mark 9:2-9

Grace and Peace to you from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus who is the Christ. Amen

Robert Louis Stevenson gave us this little story:

A ship was in a serious storm and in grove distress. The passengers were alarmed. One of them finally, against orders, went up to the deck and made his way to the pilot. The seaman was at his post of duty at the wheel, but, seeing the man was greatly frightened, the pilot gave him a reassuring smile. Returning to the other passengers the man reported. “I have seen the face of the pilot, and he smiled. All is well.”

“I have seen the face of the pilot, and he smiled. All is well” can be the phrase on which the story of the transfiguration is based. Jesus took with him, Peter, James and John to the top of a mountain and there Jesus was changed, transformed into a white glow that could never be duplicated on earth. Along with this glow came two people out of the past, Elijah and Moses and the disciples did not know what to make of this.

But impulsive Peter said let us build three booths. Let us stay here and relish in this moment. And then a voice said to them, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” When they seemed not to be able to comprehend any more, everything was gone and Jesus told them to follow him down the mountain and not to tell anyone of this experience.

Peter, James and John could have thought to themselves, “I have seen the face of the pilot, and he smiled. All is well.” They saw the glory of God through Jesus, Moses and Elijah and heard the voice of God and they could have thought, yes all is well as we ride out the storms of lives.

But did they? Their first impulse was to stay put on that mountain top with all the glory around them. Their first impulse was stay where they were. The mountain top experience for the disciples was glorious. They wanted to stay, to stay and worship what they saw and heard.

And many times we as Christians want that mountain top experience in our faith life. We want that glorious feeling of being with Christ. After the experience on the mountain, what did Jesus do? He went down the mountain and set his face for Jerusalem and the cross. Jesus knew that it is good to have those mountain top experiences, but the real work is in the valleys, in the depth of the human condition of sin and brokenness.

Jesus on that cross felt and experienced the human condition in all of it brutality. He knew the depth of suffering we human beings suffer; he knew the guilt, the anguish, the despair that comes with living life. He knew and felt it all on that cross and through the resurrection of Easter he conquered it all for us.

Jesus went to the mountain to be transfigured, but came down the mountain to be a savior. He calls to us to have a relationship with him, but then to come down into the human condition to minister to those around us with love and compassion.

Another man who had a mountain top experience was Sir Edmond Hillary on May 19, 1953, that was the day when Sir Edmond Hillary, and his Sherpa guide, Tenzing Norgay, reached the top of Mount Everest.

The first two people ever to literally be on top of the world.

After Hillary had climbed Mount Everest he became an overnight celebrity.

He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth. His name became a household word. He even became a spokesperson for Sears-Robuck and company. His name appeared on sleeping bags, tents, and boot laces. He could have lived in his little dwelling of success for the rest of his life.

But he didn’t!

What did he do?

He went back to Nepal.

Back to those people, the Sherpas, whom he had grown to know and appreciate and respect and love.

And he was also using his fame to bring them help.

In his speech some years ago, Hillary recounted how an elderly Sherpa from Khumjung village, the hometown of most of the Sherpas on his Everest ascent, had come to him a few years after that expedition and said, "Our children lack education. They are not prepared for the future. What we need more than anything is a school in Khumjung."

So Hillary established the Himalayan Trust, and in 1961 a three-room schoolhouse was built in Khumjung with funds raised by Hillary.

In its first decade the fund focused on education and health.

Since then the trust has built 27 schools, two hospitals and 12 medical clinics, plus numerous bridges and airfields, and also reforesting valleys and slopes in the many areas of Nepal.

He would spent more than half the year traveling the world, raising money for the trust and supervising the various projects undertaken with the funds he’s raised.

And he has continued doing this for more than thirty years.

Mountain top experiences are great, but living, working, helping, loving in the valleys are where Christ asks us to be. We have seen the pilot and the ship is well, our lives are well and we need to sail into the valleys of life with love and compassion, for our neighbor, who Christ bids us to love.

In each Holy Communion, the bread and wine we offer on the altar become “transfigured” – “transformed” into the crucified and risen, living body and blood of Jesus. Just as Jesus’ transfiguration strengthened the apostles in their time of trial, each Holy Communion should be our source of heavenly strength against temptations, and our renewal during Lent. In addition, our Holy Communion with the living Jesus should be the source of our daily “transfiguration,” transforming our minds and hearts so that we may do more good by humble and selfless service to others.

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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relationship with Jesus Christ

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted.

Prayer of the Day for SUNDAY, February 11, 2018

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen

Verse of the Day for SUNDAY, February 11, 2018

Mark 9:7 (NIV) Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Read all of Mark 9

Listen to Mark 9

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Un dia a la Vez - Solo da gracias

Solo da gracias

Te damos gracias, oh Dios, te damos gracias e invocamos tu nombre.

~ Salmo 75:1 (NVI)

Hoy quiero que dediquemos estos cortos minutos a darle gracias a Dios por todo lo que nos ha dado. No todos los días debemos pedirle a Dios.

Es muy bonito poder levantar nuestra mirada y decir:

«Gracias, Dios, porque me regalaste un nuevo día. Tengo salud y sé que tú me cuidas aun cuando estoy dormido. Gracias, mi Dios, porque has llegado a mi vida, porque quizá a través de estas pequeñas enseñanzas de experiencias vividas estoy aprendiendo a conocerte más de cerca. Estoy reconociendo que en verdad estás vivo, que eres real. Que estás tan cerca de mí que te interesa mi vida para que me vaya bien. Conoces mis necesidades y me concedes las cosas que ni siquiera te había pedido. Gracias por las cosas que estoy viviendo y, aunque no las entiendo, veo tu mano interviniendo. Sé que pronto me sacarás adelante. Señor, la clave está en la obediencia. Sé que siendo obediente a ti voy a recibir todas las bendiciones».

Recuerden, esta fórmula no falla: Obediencia = Bendición.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Hoy quiero que dediquemos estos cortos minutos a darle gracias a Dios por todo lo que nos ha dado.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - FEAR GOD, FEAR NOTHING ELSE

FEAR GOD, FEAR NOTHING ELSE

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

~ 1 John 4:18 (NIV)

The Apostle John repeatedly teaches that loving God (other scripture writers refer to it as “fearing” God) is the antidote to fear. Fear is a tactic of Satan which all believers must face. Those under severe persecution often face this challenge early.

Behbaha, an Iranian secret believer from Muslim background (MBB), shares that her aunt went to a house church and she accompanied her. But she was afraid. She knew that the government controlled the church and that scared her.

“At that time I worked in a job that was state controlled. Every time they gave us questionnaires we should fill out, one of the questions is about religion. Of course you have to fill in; ‘Muslim,’ but I could not do that anymore…”

In the house church she attended with her aunt she learned about the Bible and what Jesus taught in a very practical way. Taking a discipleship training course was a great blessing for Behbaha. She says, “I was able to understand the Bible, I saw the good Lord of the Bible, saw His love—and that changed my life.” After six years of searching she gave her life to Jesus.

The good thing is that her family does not have any problems with her changing and going to church. “Neighbors are the problem”, she states. “The government tells on radio and TV that if you know a person who is not dedicated to the government or to Islam you should go to the police and tell them when you suspect someone of being a Christian.”

After she became a Christian she left her job. “Much too dangerous,” she comments. “I am not able anymore to fill out that form [because of the religion question]. Now I am working part time with some small companies, who are not working with these forms asking about faith.” She does not know if she is observed by the secret police, because of her former job. Behbaha is not aware of being watched. “But I have to be careful, they are able to kill me,” she says with conviction. “Sometimes people are killed; sometimes they have to leave the country. Maybe, if they catch me, I will be killed, but this week of training took away my fear.”

The first three discipleship courses were via internet. The fourth she did in a safe location. Behbaha concludes, “The course on location is very good. The interaction among each other, seeing the teacher face to face, meant that I did not fall asleep, like often happens in church. This is very good.”

After taking the training seminar she wants to teach the course to others—especially church people. Behbaha also wants to pass on the training to her family and friends. “I want to share and show love. My dream after this training is to have house groups with my family members, friends and colleagues to teach them. But…your life should be a good testimony to everyone and Jesus must increase in your life. I am working on that.”

RESPONSE: Today I will focus on fearing God so that I will not fear anything or anyone else.

PRAYER: Pray new believers around the world involved in discipleship training will learn not to fear.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.

LHM Devotion - February 11, 2018 "No Escape"

Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"No Escape"

Feb. 11, 2018

... when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might.

~ 2 Thessalonians 1:7b-9 (ESV)

The great escape artist Harry Houdini was a master of publicity. To assure a crowd would come to see him, every time he came to a community he would break out of the local jail. There is no evidence that Houdini ever escaped from Alcatraz.

Alcatraz is a small island in San Francisco Bay.

Although it is located only a mile and a quarter from the mainland, Alcatraz prison has long been considered to be inescapable. The sharks, the deadly currents of the harbor, along with the corpses of those who tried to escape discouraged most prisoners from ever considering a plan which ended up in freedom.

That is why, from the opening of the Alcatraz prison in 1934 until the year it closed in 1965, the government was proud to say the facility was "escape proof."

Now, 50 years after the last inmate left the island, it appears the prison's boast may have been premature.

In 1962, Frank Morris along with brothers John and Clarence Anglin chiseled a hole in the jail wall, and using a raft made out of raincoats tried to navigate the bay and make it to the mainland.

Although their bodies were never found, it was always assumed the three were swept out to sea and drowned. Things might have stayed that way but, recently, their relatives have produced Christmas cards and letters from the three. Along with that, there is a recently released old letter from John to the police. In that letter, he says he is willing to turn himself in if he can receive medical treatment.

Although none of the individual pieces of evidence make an unbreakable case for the survival of the three, they certainly raise some doubts.

So much for being inescapable.

That being said, Scripture is clear there is one place of punishment which is permanent: one place from which there is no escape, no reprieve, no release, no pardon. That place, of course, is hell.

The amazing thing is no longer does modern man have to spend eternity in that place of punishment.

You see, God's Son, our Savior, entered this world for the express purpose of taking our place under the Law. To that end, He successfully resisted all of Satan's suggestions to sin, all of the world's enticements to disobey. His life, unlike that of the rest of us, was lived perfectly.

Then, when He had healed and preached and called humanity to a new way of thinking, living, and believing, Jesus took our sins upon Himself and died for us. His third day resurrection from the dead is pardon and freedom from the punishments which once were ours. It is life eternal for all who are brought to faith.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, accept my heartfelt thanks for my Savior's sacrifice which sets me free from the punishments for sin which once were mine. Grant that I may, while there is still time, point others to the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
The great escape artist Harry Houdini was a master of publicity...

Хлеб наш насущный - Линии разлома

Линии разлома

Читать сейчас: Деяния 6:1-7 | Библия за год: Левит 11-12; Матфея 26:1-25

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Их поставили перед апостолами, и эти, помолившись, возложили на них руки. И слово Божие росло.

— Деяния 6:6-7

Наплыв беженцев в нашем обществе привел к заметному росту церквей. Но, кроме понятной радости, он принес и трудности. Верующие должны принимать новичков, которые приспосабливаются к незнакомой культуре, учат язык и привыкают к непривычным стилям поклонения. Все это время от времени приводит к неловким ситуациям.

Непонимания и разногласия возникают везде, где есть люди. Церковь – не исключение. Если мы не имеем здорового подхода к различиям между людьми, это может привести к разделениям.

Ранняя церковь в Иерусалиме тоже испытывала бурный рост, когда вдруг возник неприятный спор. Говорившие по-гречески иудеи (эллинисты) стали жаловаться на иудеев, которые говорили по-арамейски. Вдовы эллинистов «пренебрегаемы были в ежедневном обслуживании» (Деян. 6:1). Поэтому апостолы сказали: «Выберите из среды себя семь человек изведанных, исполненных Святого Духа и мудрости» (Деян. 6:3). Все семеро выбранных служителей носили греческие имена (Деян. 6:5). То есть они были эллинистами, представителями пренебрегаемой группы. Они лучше всех понимали проблему. Апостолы помолились над ними, и церковь продолжила расти (Деян. 6:6-7).

Рост вызывает трудности, в частности связанные с культурой и традициями. Но с помощью Святого Духа мы можем найти мудрые решения, и тогда проблемы превратятся в возможности для еще большего роста.

Собраться вместе – начало; остаться вместе – прогресс; работать вместе – успех.

автор: Тим Густафсон

© 2018 Хлеб Наш Насущный
Рост вызывает трудности, в частности связанные с культурой и традициями. Но с помощью Святого Духа мы можем найти мудрые решения, и тогда проблемы превратятся в возможности для еще большего роста.