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Two Mustard Seeds

May 04
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Mark 4:30–32

30 He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

Who can predict the impact that any of us will have on others?  We are like the mustard seed that is spoken of in this parable.  As servants of Jesus in the kingdom of God we touch many, many lives.

Elna Hansen was a leader in the Sunday School at Trondhjem for many years at the “old” church.  A music leader too, she taught the children the song, “Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam.”  I was told yesterday by one of her pupils that the “naughty” children would substitute the word flash light for sunbeam, but they would make sure they said it softly, so that Elna would not hear.  Oh, for a simpler time.  Even though she has moved away, a couple of times a year Elna will worship at Trondhjem. (more…)

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Amos’ Message to those who Cheat Others

May 03
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Amos 8:4–7

4 Hear this, you that trample on the needy,
and bring to ruin the poor of the land,
5 saying, “When will the new moon be over
so that we may sell grain;
and the sabbath,
so that we may offer wheat for sale?
We will make the ephah small and the shekel great,
and practice deceit with false balances,
6 buying the poor for silver
and the needy for a pair of sandals,
and selling the sweepings of the wheat.”
7 The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob:
Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.

This is one of the lessons appointed for the day.  It does not provide a joyous message to brighten our day, but it reflects the “prophetic voice” that is in the Old Testament.  From its beginning to its end the book of Amos speaks of condemnation and judgment.  Only in the last chapter does the prophet provide a hopeful message.  The book’s concern for the poor is continued on in Jesus’ own ministry.  Even if this passage from Amos is not a pleasant one to read, it is important to know it, or at least to know that it exists.  That is why I chose not to avoid it today. (more…)

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Peter is an Example for Us

May 02
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Mark 14:26–31

26 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’  28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to him, “Even though all become deserters, I will not.” 30 Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said vehemently, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And all of them said the same.

This will be Confirmation Sunday at Trondhjem.  A dozen of our young people will confirm their faith in Jesus Christ and will make promises to be loyal to Jesus and to God’s ways.  Like Peter, and like all the rest of us, at some time in their life they will likely not be as faithful as they intended on their confirmation day.  At some time in their life they are likely to have doubts. (more…)

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John Kottke

May 01
Posted by kim in Devotionals

John Kottke died this morning, May 1, at the age of 45.  Plans for his funeral are being developed.  We will keep the Trondhjem family informed of those plans.

John’s activities at Trondhjem were many, including teaching dozens of young people beginning in the fall of 2004.  He last taught his class on Wednesday, April 18.  John will be greatly missed by many within Trondhjem and beyond.

I thank my God every time I remember you. Philippians 1:3

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The Message of Easter Continues

May 01
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Revelation 7:13–17

13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.  16 They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; 17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

This reading is part of the “daily lectionary,” which are the scripture lessons that are assigned for each day of the year.  In the midst of the Easter season, when the church focuses on resurrection, these were assigned for today.

The writer of the book of Revelation has a vision that enables him to see into God’s heavenly realm.  These verses are part of that vision, as he sees into God’s throne room, and sees those who are gathered around the throne.  The saints, the ones “robed in white,” are the ones who have endured faithfully, even though they were persecuted and had been through a great ordeal.  Even if we have not experienced religious persecution, our lives can seem like an ordeal to us. (more…)

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Songs, Yawns, and Shouting

Apr 30
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Psalm 95:1–3

O come, let us sing to the LORD;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
3 For the LORD is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.

How do you relieve your stress?  Do you sing a song or a hymn?  That may not have been the first idea to come to your mind, but it is a possibility.  Two of the hymns yesterday at Trondhjem were absolute “stress reducers” for me.  One was “Give Me Jesus” and the other was “Lead Me, Guide Me.”  I probably sang them too loudly, but hymn singing for me is a stress reducer. (more…)

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When Interruptions Occur

Apr 27
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Mark 6:30–34

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

If one of my children tries to get my attention, and to get it quickly, they will telephone me on my cell phone.  They know that if I am in a meeting or at dinner somewhere, I might not answer.  They will leave a message and know I will call them back.  They also know that if they call two or three times in quick succession in just a couple of minutes, I will realize this might be an emergency and will interrupt whatever I was doing to answer my telephone. (more…)

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The Shepherd’s Psalm

Apr 26
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff —
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
my whole life long.

My experience with sheep and shepherds is pretty limited.  As a child in California, we used to drive 30 miles to church, and we would drive by fields in which sheep were grazing.  It was fun to see the small, newly born lambs running after each other.  Later, in my first call out in Montana, most of my cattle ranching members raised sheep as well as cattle.  They used to say that sheep pay you three times:  once for the wool, once for the lambs sold to market, and once for the ewes that were culled from the herd of sheep.  There are many people for whom this psalm is special, but who also have limited experience of sheep.  Yet, we still treasure this psalm. (more…)

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Wisdom in our Lives

Apr 25
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Proverbs 9:1–6

Wisdom has built her house,
she has hewn her seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine,
she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls
from the highest places in the town,
4 “You that are simple, turn in here!”
To those without sense she says,
5 “Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Lay aside immaturity, and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”

In a “male-dominated” culture, the Wisdom of God was attributed to a female in this text from Proverbs.  That was continued in the New Testament world in which the Holy Spirit, the Counselor and Advocate, was sometimes depicted in feminine terms, as was “mother” Church.  We lost much of this emphasis in the 1960s and 1970s, and it is sad from my perspective. (more…)

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Steadfast Love by God and by Us

Apr 24
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Hosea 6:4–6

4 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?
What shall I do with you, O Judah?
Your love is like a morning cloud,
like the dew that goes away early.
5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets,
I have killed them by the words of my mouth,
and my judgment goes forth as the light.
6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Verse 6 is a verse you learn when you are taking a course on the Old Testament prophets.  It is one of the classic verses, and is remembered because it shows the focus of the prophets, and not just Hosea.  They were concerned about right living, not about what you did at the Temple in Jerusalem. (more…)

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