Weekly E-Votional

This week the e-votional comes from Pastor Mike.

WORD Jeremiah 32:27 See, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for me?

THOUGHT I saw a coffee mug which read, “I am God, and you’re not. Have a good day”. Perhaps it was more profound than humorous. Especially of you are a person who likes to have a plan and direction.

There are points in my life where faith and trust in God collide. I think I am a person of strong faith, yet I know that there is only so much I trust God to do. Somehow I got the idea that I was responsible for all of life around me. The reality is that I am only responsible for living the life God gave me. How is your trust level?

PRAYER I am so very grateful for this life you gave me, O God. Help me to live this life out of gratitude rather than mistrust and fear. Encourage my faith so that I can let go of controlling life and just enjoy each day.

I finally see that you are indeed God and nothing is too hard for you. In the difficult times, free my hands from the stranglehold on life so that I can receive your gift of this day. I trust in you alone.

Mike Wuehler

Three Cups of Tea Study: Chapters 7-9

Welcome to the latest post of my summer book study, on Three Cups of Tea. I hope you enjoy participating. You can leave comments by clicking on "comment" at the bottom of each post. I encourage you to comment on each other's comments, so we are able to have some good dialogue throughout the summer.

Chapters 7-9 find Greg returning to Asia to purchase the supplies to build the school. These chapters help describe loading the truck, getting the supplies to Korphe and learning the next steps his project will require. Much of it deals with expectations, met and unmet.

As the truck begins the journey up the mountain, Greg writes "I felt like a king, riding high on my throne. And I felt like I'd already succeeded. I was sitting on top of my school . . . I don't know if I've ever felt so satisfied." (e-edition, loc. 1389) Later he writes, "Here was the triumphal return he'd been imagining in ever since he sat down to write the first of the 580 letters." (e-edition, loc 1535). Greg's expectations regarding what would happen next are huge. And he is wildly disappointed.

This is an all-too-familiar feeling for many people. "What happens next" often does not come close to living up to our expectations. Is this familiar for you? It turns out he is driven to two other villages before finally reaching Korphe, each village insisting Greg must build his school there. He's uncertain his supplies will actually make it up to Korphe. Finally, upon arrival in Korphe, he's told the school is going to be great-- but first they must build a bridge over the river for the supplies to make it to Korphe. A bridge will cost months of labor and thousands of dollars. It will connect these people to the larger cities in a way previously not possible. No bridge, no school.

What do you do when reality doesn't match your expectations? I'm working on two things right now-- creating realistic expectations and being able to adapt when my expectations aren't met. I used to travel with a list of things I want to accomplish. Now, with the addition of a toddler, I still have a mental list of what I'd want to do. But I know I'm not going to be able to do everything. Katarina brings in a massive amount of unpredictability.

Things didn't go much better for Greg when he returned to San Fransisco. I think in chapter 10, Greg's progress will return.

Weekly E-votional

This week the E-votional comes from Pastor Amanda

WORD Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs in the kingdom of heaven."

THOUGHT This familiar passage of scripture has been used in many ways over the years. In Power of a Focused Heart author Mary Lou Redding suggests that this passage be read to emphasize our dependence on God for everything. If we are poor in spirit, we have no place to turn but to God, which will help us glimpse the kingdom of heaven.

I struggle with this. I've had several reminders over the last few weeks that I need to trust God more. When do you forget to trust God?

PRAYER Holy One, help me to remember that it is through your work in me that I accomplish all I do. Give me the wisdom to know when to turn to you for help, in the simplest of tasks to the most complex of decisions. Allow me shed myself of "me" and live more fully in you.

Help me God, to trust you in the ways that lead to your kingdom. Help me to live as your beloved child. Amen.

Weekly E-Votional

Hi! This week's E-Votional comes from Pastor Mike.

WORD Psalm 63:1-2 O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.

THOUGHT People ask em how I come up with the sermon illustrations I come up with from time to time. Unfortunately, the stories I use for sermons are true. I do not have to make them up, I have lived through them. My life has been very interesting, but it reads more like a cartoon than a novel.

How would you retell you life's story? Is your story a drama, novel, action story or a cartoon? Where does God fit into your story? No matter what happens in my life, the story is only complete when God is a strong supporting character.

PRAYER I do thirst for you each day, O God. In the midst of the hurried pace of life, I long to rest beside you. When I am overwhelmed with important work, I seek your support.

When life becomes too serious, allow me to find a moment filled with humor. When I feel thirsty and dry, let me be filled with your love. During a busy week, let me be found resting in your sanctuary. Most of all, allow me to see you in each page of the story of my life.

Mike Wuehler

3 Cups Study

Hi all,

I'm on vacation this week. Stay tuned next week for more musings on 3 Cups of Tea!

In the meantime check out our summer reading programs.

3 Cups of Tea: Chapters 5-6

Welcome to the third post of my summer book study, on Three Cups of Tea. I hope you enjoy participating. You can leave comments by clicking on "comment" at the bottom of each post. I encourage you to comment on each other's comments, so we are able to have some good dialogue throughout the summer.

As a self-proclaimed tea snob, I am loving the role of tea in this book. Tea is a place for negotiation, silence, respect, sustenance, and hospitality. In chapters 5-6, tea plays a big role in negotiating. At one shop he had "five thimbleful cups of green tea" before they started in on anything resembling business. Tea is the first order of the day, everyday, while Greg is in larger towns, purchasing supplies. Do you have anything like that? I've begun reading the book for the United Methodist Women School of Christian Mission, "Faith and Food." Both 3 Cups and F&F emphasize how eating and drinking are some of our most important ways of practicing hospitality. Unfortunately, to be honest, I can't remember offering a person a drink when they came to my home for a surprise visit. Can you?

Chapter 5 looks at Greg's fund raising efforts. I ached when he hand typed so many letters, before learning to use a computer. It also made me think about the church. His fund raising didn't really take off until he found someone who made a big gift-- based on the donor's interest in Greg's particular project. While in the church we really, really do appreciate gifts of any size (as do most charities), sometimes a special gift can really help others catch onto the dream. Often these special gifts are memorials. Part of our new church van was memorials. (The other part was millions of cans, saved over 12 years and faithfully recycled for bits of money- that added up!)

I was really struck at how frugally he lived while he was trying to raise money-- even living in his car! Then, the last thing he did was sell his car. He gave up everything to do this. I can't think of a more powerful example of Luke 12:32-34 than Greg even selling off his climbing supplies. I think about a member of our congregation who is preparing to leave for Guatemala for two years of service. She's going to sell her car too, I think. Have you ever made a big sacrifice like this? What would it take for you to do so?

Weekly E-votional

This week's e-votional comes from Pastor Mike.

WORD 2 Samuel 9:1 David asked, "Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan's sake?"

THOUGHT King David had made a promise to Jonathan to show him unfailing kindness. David remembered his promise and is trying to live into the promise by showing kindness to all of the decedents of Jonathan.

Do you remember our Lenten study? The second rule from the “Three Simple Rules, is to do good. Who much would our worlds change if we first tried to do good in the lives of the people around us? How much better would we feel if we showed unfailing kindness on a daily basis?

PRAYER I only pass through this life once, O God. Help me to make the most of it. Lead me to show kindness rather than hurt. Teach me to speak the words that you would say in difficult moments.

Show me how to embrace life in such a way that I become a fountain of joy for those around me. Let kindness spring forth from my lips and good deeds from my hands. Through my efforts, allow the world to become a better place for all people

Mike Wuehler