PASTOR MARTIN'S MESSAGE FOR AUGUST 2010

Jesus said to them all, "it any want to become MY followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23

Only God knows when I finally decided to take my swimming seriously and not only swim a couple times during the week but swim daily. A major motivation in changing my swimming schedule was moving to a home that is less than two miles from the local YMCA, where there was a 20-mile drive when I lived in Southern Indiana. Now that I am swimming daily, I appreciate the physical exercise that I receive, as I am not all that watchful of my diet. What I especially appreciate about my daily swims are the blessings of the time to prepare in reflection and prayer for the day before me and for those people who need our Lord's love and assistance in any way. As I am currently swimming daily outside, I am blessed to be in the presence of our Creator with the smells and the taste of the newly cut grass of the soccer fields next to the swimming pool, some incredible sunrises, beautiful cloud formations during the day and powerful weather conditions that have called me out of the swimming pool with an upcoming electrical storm. As I have been swimming daily now for many years, I would miss all of the blessings that I receive, if I were riot able to swim for a couple of days or more.

In the Scriptural text from Luke, what we are using for our Stewardship Emphasis of "Following Jesus," we hear our Savior tell us if any want to become his followers, we need to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily and follow him, In the past Sunday mornings in July, and now in August, we are having the opportunity to listen and prayerfully consider the giving of our time, our God-given talents, and financial offerings to the many ministries our Lord has called us to as Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church. As we prayerfully consider how we will give of our time, talents, and financial offerings, our Lord calls upon us to see what we are doing, as we take up our cross daily and follow Jesus. Like my daily swim, what blessings would you receive daily as one of Jesus' followers if you would take up your cross and follow Jesus and be a part of the ministries of Bethany? As one of Jesus' followers, what blessings would you receive daily being in the presence of our Lord and Savior and come to Jesus in prayer for what you are in the midst of and praying for people who need our Lord's love and assistance in any way? As we come to our Stewardship Sunday, August 29th, and receive our Time and Talent Sheets and Our Response of God's Blessings Cards, let us prayerfully consider how we are taking up our cross daily in following Jesus and what blessings other people, including ourselves, will receive in all we give of our time, God-given talents, and financial offerings. May Our Savior and Lord continue to bless what we give, as all of us are called to be his followers, as all of us take up our cross and follow Jesus daily!