Some people love it so much they choose to live a life of constant change. For example, people who choose to sell all their worldly possessions and travel the world living in a van or a boat. Then there are those of us who enjoy change or can move fluidly with the change, but maybe in a smaller way: a new job, remodeling/painting, a new car, etc. Then there is one final group: those of us who are totally and completely uncomfortable with any change, even if it is necessary, good, or right.

I fall into the latter group, completely uncomfortable with change every step of the way, even if I know it’s needed, even if I want the change to happen. I have recently found myself in what feels like a state of never-ending change. In May, I left my job as Behavioral Health Specialist at Cincinnati Children’s to become the director of Lord of Life Christian Preschool (LOLCP), our middle daughter graduated from Pre-K, and our 3 girls came home for the summer. In June, I began my new career as director of LOLCP, took on co-leading the Leaders In Training program at Vacation Bible School, became a Girl Scout Camp unit leader for the first time, and my husband took a new job. I am currently surrounded by change, and I would be lying if I said I was just rolling with it without anxiety and resistance.

I have been spending time in prayer, reflecting on change, and reflecting on my word for the year from the women’s retreat this year: discernment. I know all of these decisions have been carefully considered, evaluated, planned: discerned. So, I keep coming back to the question of why I question the change. Why do I resist the change I know is good and right? Why do so many of us struggle with change? I think it is because of the unknown, the uncomfortableness that first comes with any change, the unsettling feeling of all the normalcy you once felt being wiped away, and the new routines being put in place.

What does God say about change? These two verses stick with me in times of change and give me comfort and peace in knowing God is with me. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” Joshua 1:9 invites us, “Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Although I am still on a journey to fully accept change, I am able to find comfort in the day to day knowing God is with me and is guiding me to a beautiful future.

I invite you to reflect on change and your outlook. Are you like me and find yourself always uncomfortable in seasons of change? Are you a person who craves, wants, and likes changes? Does discernment come easy for you? How can God guide you in your journeys through change?

Journeying through discernment,
Nicole Wells

Have you ever woken up with a stiff neck? For many of us, this stiffness quickly passes and then we’re back up to speed. But for others, you live with chronic and debilitating pain. This ongoing aggravating condition hinders your mobility and quality of life.

Some years ago, when I was traveling for a living, I had some neck and back issues. I self-diagnosed my condition. Too many beds in different towns with not enough sleep and exercise. I tried all sorts of pillows and sleeping methods, but nothing worked. A friend offered a word about chiropractic care. “What? No way.” My only experience with chiropractic was the wacky ways it was portrayed in TV and film with some big dude crackin’ your already sore neck, making things worse. It looked like a strange mumbo-jumbo. But after six months of debilitating pain and several other attempts to manage the pain, I had no other choice.

During my initial visit, the doctor explained what he thought was happening, showing me a model of the spine and how everything was connected – not only my vertebrae, but also the spinal column that flows through the middle of it all. A few things out of alignment were messing everything else up, too. “If any of this is out of whack,” he explained, “then the whole system is compromised.” Although independent parts and pieces within my body, all of these are dependent on one another.

This weekend, July 4th, is the time when we celebrate our independence as the United States of America. We grill brats, play backyard games, and watch fireworks as we give thanks for our freedom. Even as we sing and speak those words of freedom and independence, though, we also need to hear – we need to be reminded - about our interdependence. We, the Body of Christ, the human family, are one interconnected and interdependent body that needs an adjustment. Not an attitude adjustment – well maybe we need that, too – but we were created to live and move and operate in a better way.

We were created to rely on one another and God. Our interdependence is not an option. I need you. You need me. We need others. We need God. When we have a stiff neck or a calcified and unflinching heart, we aren’t able to fully embrace how God is on the move in our world. We aren’t able to recognize the needs of those around us. Instead, we spend all of our time trying to hold God in one place – right in front of us for our own purposes.

In the book of Acts, the first-century community needed a chiropractor’s touch. It may have begun in their necks – a stiffness making them unable or unwilling to look around and function normally – but by the time we get to chapters 6 and 7, the religious leaders were having all sorts of additional problems. They couldn’t turn their heads to see the need around them. As the paralysis lingered, they were losing any sort of perspective and weren’t able to recognize the continuing movement of the Spirit of God. Their inflexibility was obscuring their outlook on life and on what God was doing beyond their little circumference. God was on the move, but they couldn’t begin to see it.

I’ve always read this section as a harsh word from Stephen: “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51). But what if, instead of a harsh word, it is a diagnosis? Could this be one sick person recommending a physician to others who are showing similar symptoms? This crick in the spine wasn't just an inconvenience that would wear off by mid-morning. This was a malady that was growing worse. It was preventing them from being able to live and move as they needed for just basic living.

I don’t know if you recognize any stiffness in your neck or heart, but I’m confident that God is eager to increase your range of motion and longing to restore you to wholeness. Jesus is freedom. What kind of freedom are you seeking? Freedom from failure and imperfection? Freedom from fear and hate? Freedom from anxiety and control issues? It may be a simple adjustment that gives you instant relief or it might be a long series of steps to health. Your dependence on Jesus and others is a gift.

Celebrating our dependence,
Pastor Lowell

Vacation Bible School (VBS) songs are meant to stick with you. Those earworm songs that you find yourself singing in your head constantly or embarrassingly out loud throughout the day. While we sang some great ones in the True North this past week, “Calm the Storm” seems to be the one that has been ruminating in my head.

Is it because of the busyness of this past month, uncertainty about future life events, the upheaval in the world, or the combination of it all? My mind seems to be all over the place or stuck in one area. It’s been a struggle to keep brewing clouds from overtaking the trust that I have that Jesus will always lead me through the storms.

“Calm the Storm” seems to be a fitting reminder of trusting in Jesus in all of life’s circumstances. The song reflects the story of Jesus calming the storm after he woke up on the boat (Matthew 8:23-27). It’s a great story to explore Jesus’ identity, an example of what trusting him looks like, and the very normal confusion and wonder of the disciples in the discovery of faith. God is unshakable in all storms and forever faithful to us as we practice putting our trust in God alone.

This month, as we are living into God’s call to truly love and welcome all both in Pride and VBS, there have been beautiful examples of trusting God to equip us in the storms. At Hamilton Pride, faithful and prepared counter-protesters were ready to block any hate groups that appeared at the festival. They were there to calm the storm that could be volatile, dangerous, and hurtful. Clergy and other people of faith were trusting that their message of God’s love would quell the abhorrent messages. Amazingly, the hate groups never came. Did our cloud of rainbow umbrellas and powerful but peaceful stand against them last year leave a lasting impression? That’s the power to calm the storm that actions rooted in the teachings of Jesus evokes.

At VBS, there was a group that was truly a storm of energy and spirit. While we try our best to balance groups with a mix of kids and their adult and youth helpers, we never quite know how the combination will turn out. While we didn’t know, God certainly did, as the perfect leaders were assigned to this little band of energy. The adults and teens were unflappable in their ability to roll with the waves and lighting bolts of this group. They cared for the kids in the fullness of their spirits and relished in their uniqueness. The leaders embraced the storm with joy and trusted that Jesus would keep them in his care. Those children felt God’s love embodied in their leaders.

What storm is brewing in your life? How can the image of Jesus calming the storm and asking the disciples to trust in him change your perspective? At VBS this past week, trusting in Jesus enveloped us every day: Trusting when we wonder, when we feel alone, when we feel powerless, and when we need help.

Praying that my ear worm persists and that I have now passed it along to you (“Calm the Storm” by Jonathan Rundman). Jesus is the ever present force in our lives that we can truly trust to “Calm the Storm”.

God’s peace always,
Angie Seiller, Director of Faith Formation

Throughout my various ministry experiences, I have learned the importance of presence. When I worked at Ewalu Bible Camp, showing up would include coming to activities like worship and games. During my chaplaincy experience, this would often include coming to various activities with the residents, such as worship, games, and Bible study. Not only did this include being physically present but also being there spiritually and emotionally. 

What I have continued to find most reassuring about the ministry of presence is that I do not have to have everything figured out to do this. When I am with others, I often struggle with wanting to have the right answers, well-articulated words, or to make a situation better.  However, I have realized that my presence has made a difference in the lives of my friends simply because I had a meal with them and listened to what they were going through. The ministry of presence is lovely because everyone can do it, not just the ordained or specially trained people. We all can continue to be present for others.

This week, our theme for Vacation Bible School was True North, and we talked about the many ways we can trust Jesus. We can trust Jesus when we wonder, feel alone, are powerless, and need help. Walking alongside others has taught me that showing up can be powerful, and it is in these moments that we truly experience the presence of God, who is always with us, giving us strength, and has gifted us in various ways to walk with others. 

I have witnessed many powerful ways in which the Lord of Life has been present for others. This week, many of you showed up to Vacation Bible School by shepherding children and leading various activities. This made a difference in the kids' lives by being there to listen and teach them about God. 

Some of you showed up for the service of healing and affirmation and Hamilton Pride by listening to the stories of those who were there and offering blessings. This impacted others who may have been harmed by the church but also offered a glimpse of God’s love. Many of you will continue to be present in many ways for those around you.

In what ways have others been present for you? In what ways have you been able to show up for others? How have you experienced God during that?

Continually present, 

Pastor Nicole

Image by Chris Cook, https://www.chriscookartist.com/

I love learning about the history of languages and how they have evolved over the millennia. Figuring out those words and parts of words we share with other speakers now or in the ancient past can inform how I might use words differently, pronounce difficult phrases, how lyrics fit into music, and it even helps me and Brian complete the New York Times Crossword Puzzle every day.

I’ve been reading a book called Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global. It explores the history of our language through the lens of what we’ve learned through ancestral DNA and how Western language, and also the stories language can tell, spread from relatively few speakers to the roots of all of the Indo-Europian language. The social, political, economic, intellectual, and religious implications are staggering. Not only do we find that English shares history from North America and Europe through Saudi Arabia, India, and Russia, but also find that quite a few of the stories we learn in the Old Testament share history with similar stories across the same cultures.

Within the first chapter, author Laura Spinney explores how communities were driven away from the Black Sea by a major flood event (think Noah’s ark) and spread in various directions away from the sea. This is all confirmed through archeology and genetic research. Some cultures continued a nomadic lifestyle, tending herds of sheep and hunting for food. Others developed farming and settled down. As farmers expanded their settlements and nomads continued to roam, they ran into each other from time to time, and things weren’t always peaceful. An entire ideological shift had happened between them - the language of the people who roamed the world without boundaries was based on an ethos of sharing and welcome, where the language of the farmers was based on ownership and boundaries.

Somewhere in all of this, we find the seeds of the Cain and Abel story. Cain, a farmer, had a settled area that he cultivated and defended. Abel, a shepherd, roamed the plains and shared from his herd. When they made offerings to God, Cain gave some of his crops, maybe out of obligation. The ones he didn’t use for himself or offer to God, he would have sold. Abel gave the first-born, the fattest of his herd. As a nomad, he would have been more likely to share his bounty among a community rather than selling it in a traditional sense. Cain ends up feeling rejected by God—his lands go fallow, and, out of jealousy, he murders his brother.

We see this story play out in the real archeological record—not among actual brothers, but among people of similar ancestry whose paths diverged and then came back together. Bands of settlers trying to establish the first fixed communities find that staying in one place doesn’t always work out. Weather changes, different needs arise, and the firm boundaries they try to implement are eroded by powers outside of their control. The same is true today; even the most careful investors and business people might fail because of market trends or natural disasters.

The more flexible nomads, who always look for the most fertile ground for their flock and have an attitude of sharing from their abundance, are more equipped to succeed despite outside forces.

As is so often the case in Bible stories, it would be easy to say this could imply we shouldn’t have boundaries or own things of our own. I don’t think we have to interpret it that way. We’re allowed to have nice things. But there is a big difference between having walls so permanent that nothing goes in or out and living with a spirit of abundance in which we welcome our neighbors and share freely.

How does the story of Cain and Abel apply to your life and the world we live in now?

John Johns, Director of Music

David Hayward, who creates provocative images under the name Naked Pastor (www.nakedpastor.com), drew the image pictured here, entitled “Eraser” that stops me in my tracks every time I see it. Hayward says of this image, “Jesus Eraser is a reminder that not everything is set in stone forever. You can change the story, erase the lines, and create something new.” The illustration has profound overtones of forgiveness, redemption, and
new beginnings.

While the erasing Jesus is beautiful and captivating, I can’t help but also notice that everyone else in the image is focused on scribbling to make new lines and thicken existing boundaries. They are determined to maintain the boxes and barriers that carve out their little corners of the world.

Why do we devote so much of our time drawing lines and borders? Why do we spend our lives – our energy, money, and time – clinging to our little plots of life when God offers us so much more through shared community?

I was moved by Faith Formation Director Angie Seiller’s recent Children’s Message when she openly wondered what it meant that God loved all people. (www.tinyurl.com/childrensmessage61). Angie asked, “Have you heard of the word ‘all’? It’s a pretty big meaning for a teeny tiny word.” 

Section by section, she had groups of people stand up in the worship space and kept asking the kiddos, “Is this all? Is this everyone?” “No!” the kids yelled. So she added another group and another and another until everyone in the worship space was standing. Still, this wasn’t all. There were those who were watching online and those beyond our Lutheran Christian community who are enveloped in God’s encompassing “all.”

Jesus spent his whole ministry challenging people to think and look and love beyond themselves. He moved beyond the existing limitations of Jew and Gentile, clean and unclean, men and women, wealthy and poor, inviting us into a more expansive and comprehensive life.

Paul in his letter to the Romans focused on integrated communities and faith, too. Not only are we all recipients of God’s grace, but we are called to love and care for one another in deep and meaningful ways.

Martin Luther, in his commentary on the book of Romans (1519), spoke of humanity’s tendency to become ‘curved in on itself’ (homo incurvatus in se). Our self-absorption literally leads to naval-gazing. But Paul refuses to let preoccupation with ourselves be our guiding purpose. Instead, centered in Jesus and empowered by the Spirit of God, he teaches us to embrace a life lived for others.

“Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it.
Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good.
Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame.
Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant.
Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder.
Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.”
(Romans 12:9-13 from Eugene Peterson’s The Message)

How is God calling you to live and love beyond yourself this summer? Who do you struggle to include in God’s encompassing “all”? What lines of division would you like to erase?

May our communal mission at Lord of Life to live, share, and celebrate with all people give you purpose and clarity as we are fueled by the love of God.

Come, Lord Jesus, come.
Pastor Lowell Michelson