Wednesday - January 31, 2024

The Reverend Dr. Neil G. Thomas

SCRIPTURE


Mark 5. 1-20


Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man


They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.


When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”


Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”


“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.


A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.


Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.


As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.


WORDS OF HOPE


At first glance, this scripture seems a little weird. Jesus arrives on the other side of the sea and is confronted by a man who has made his home among the tombs, among the dead. This is his environment and his expectation based of his circumstances and Jesus meets him. Mark says that the man fell to his knees at the sight of Jesus and is confronted by his own question, “What do you want from me?” In the ensuing conversation Jesus offers him freedom from the impure spirits that had tormented him and sends them into surrounding pigs who run off, rushing down a steep bank and into a lake where they are drowned.


Those who witnessed these events, those who saw the impact of Jesus’ encounter with the man were both confused and perhaps frightened, asking Jesus to leave their region. The man is left to witness to his own people just what Jesus had done for him and, with his testimony, the people were amazed.


Of course, as with all Scripture you must be able to contextualize them within the times that they are written. Pigs are not kosher and the book of Deuteronomy states that the Israelites shall not eat their flesh or touch their dead carcass. In their tradition they are unclean, and it is understandable why pigs are used in this miracle.


The bigger story, for me, in this miracle is in the question that the man asks of Jesus, ““What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” While this is a question from within him, from the “legion”, this is a question that is vital for us all.


We are so often taught a theology of asking God for things. This is not a bad thing. In my daily prayers I often find myself asking God for things, for answers, for other people to be blessed. However, it is less regular that I sit in my own life and ask God to tell me what God wants from me. Is this your story as well?


The more I thought about this today, the more I realized that perhaps, if I spent more time asking God this question, perhaps I would have more clarity for my life and my vocational work.


Believe me, I am grateful to a God who has often rescued me from numerous situations that could lead me on a destructive path or a path that is not beneficial. I am grateful to God who has offered me ways to follow the call that I believe that God has placed in front of me. I am grateful to God who reminds me every day that my everyday actions can make a difference. Today, I am convicted by the question what more can I do for God and what does God want from me.


The conclusion of this story is a testimony to what happens when you are listening to God’s response to our question. For the man in the story, he found wholeness and healing. He found a new life that bore testimony to others, leading them to belief in Jesus.


Friends, our story is a testimony for others and Jesus calls us to live our story – a story that is still evolving and not yet finished. However, this story has an impact and will help others to see your changed life. This is the miracle.


In the words of one of my favorite hymns, Amazing Grace, “I once was lost but now I’m found.”


May we take a moment, amid our asking God for blessings, to also ask God, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”


PRAYER


God, thank you for your faithfulness toward me, hearing my prayers and responding to my needs. Hear me today, O God, as I ask You – What do you want from me? Amen.


DEVOTION AUTHOR


The Reverend Dr. Neil G. Thomas

Senior Pastor

Pronouns: he/his/him

Need Some Inspiration? Read our Daily Devotions

Thursday - October 22, 2026

By Dr. Pat Saxon • October 22, 2026
READING  “Dogs remind us that joy is found in small, repeated rituals like walks and shared naps.” – Evan Hart WORDS OF HOPE If I have a bone to pick with Jesus, it’s that he didn’t have a dog. I know he was on the move a lot, and a dog wouldn’t be allowed in the synagogues, but I can just see a rangy brown mixed breed dog loping along in the midst of Jesus’ pack of disciples, eating the scraps from under the tables or some canine loving guests at Cana sneaking him tidbits at the wedding feast. And on those long days of feeding the multitudes and healing people, the weight of exhaustion and responsibility could have been lightened by a good dog lying by Jesus’ side. * Today celebrates Give Every Dog his Day, a time you are invited to reverse that Biblical trend and provide the best possible experiences for your precious companion. Acknowledging the great diversity in dogs, given breed, age, physical health, and temperament, generalizations can be tricky. For example, every dog I have ever had were treat motivated, for which I am eternally grateful when needing an extra boost in training. So, Sage’s favorite freeze-dried liver treats would be part of her day. We’ve met others, though, whose dogs could care less about treats. A walk, for sure, would be high on Sage’s list—even with her mobility challenges. Let there be plenty of time for sniffing clumps of grass saturated with other doggie smells (and catty, and squirrelly, and coyoteey and humany). That’s heaven! (It is distressing to see the rare neighbor looking at her cell phone and dragging her beautiful golden retriever to move faster and faster on her morning “walk.” That’s deserving of a level in Dante’s dog hell.) My last dog, Charlie, a 75 lb mixed breed, was a snuggler, and all manner of world pains could be eased by the way he dug in next to your side and rested with you. Sage, not so much, but she loves the luxury of being able to lie in the sun in the back yard and pick which bed she wants to rest or sleep in, having been caged in a shelter crate for over a year. And kisses, kisses would be a must. Charlie and Coco, his “sister,” would have to have a trip to the lake for their Day, where they could run the edges of the water bumping each other like young colts until they were exhausted. I could go on having fun with this piece, but you know your own dearest companion’s best days, so I invite you to enjoy together those special treats, rituals, close times, and love language. And for all the dogs still in shelters, please hear the cries: “See me. See me for who I am and all the love I have to give you. Open your home and heart to me.” Please foster and adopt. God of all creatures great and small, I give you thanks for the love and loyalty and joy and pure silliness of dogs, for all they bring to our lives, and for all they teach us about life. May we pour out our love and care without measure-- not just today but for a lifetime. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Dr. Pat Saxon *The word dog had a negative connotation in Jesus’ day and I have read that they were considered unclean.

Wednesday - October 21, 2026

By Hardy Haberman • October 21, 2026
SCRIPTURE  Matthew 17:24-27 When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?” He said, “Yes, he does.” And when he came home, Jesus spoke of it first, asking, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others?” When Peter said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the children are free. However, so that we do not give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me.” WORDS OF HOPE This story always sounds like Peter is looking for a loophole. That’s something I suspect everyone does occasionally, especially when it comes to money. There are whole professions who do little but look for loopholes to save money, and though Jesus agrees with Peter that there is indeed a loophole, he declines to use it. Sometimes I think when the offering plate is passed at the church, we often just pass it on. Conveniently taking the speed which with it is passed as a loophole to giving, after all we don’t want to hold up the process while we dig for our wallets. Perhaps we should remember that Jesus urged Peter to take time to go catch a fish in order to pay the temple tax. Fishing for our wallets seems a whole lot easier! PRAYER May we remember to be generous with our time and treasure to help the miracle that is our church continue to spread the message of hope, love and inclusion to all peoples. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - October 20, 2026

By Kris Baker • October 20, 2026
READING  There are times when beauty is shy and hesitant until it can trust the worthiness of the beholder…Beauty tends to avoid the siren call of the obvious…it prefers the neglected margins…beauty waits until the patience and depth of gaze are refined enough to engage and discover it…beauty is not a quality externally present in something. It emerges at the threshold where reverence of mind engages the subtle presence of the other person, place, or object. The hidden heart of beauty offers itself only when it is approached in a rhythm worthy of its trust and showing. -from Beauty: The Invisible Embrace by John O’Donohue WORDS OF HOPE I walked into class the other day and was greeted by a student who was excited to share that she was finally able to save money and purchase an e-reader. The initial enthusiasm quickly diminished when the conversation turned to the cost of books, both print and digital, and the fact that her city’s library does not have access to the e-book service she was hoping to use. I was able to brighten her day by telling her that she was entitled to use the public library, and all of its services, close to our campus by simply showing her school ID. That little piece of information made her day. Is it going to change THE world? No. Will it change HER world in a positive way? Yes. And, in my book, her smile made for a beautiful moment. We live in a world with big issues and those issues often cause big feelings, which lately seem to be more negative than positive. Some days the only way to navigate the incessant stress and ugliness of modern life is to remind ourselves to look for glimpses of beauty lurking around us in unexpected places. These moments may seem small at the time , but little by little they add up to become a life filled with immense beauty. O’Donohue says, “Only if there is beauty in us can we recognize beauty elsewhere: beauty knows beauty.” The apostle Peter talks of this kind of beauty in Peter 3:3-4; “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner, self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” The beauty that resides in our hearts is what prepares us to give and to receive the beauty around us. Our job is to fill our hearts with beautiful things—with hope, compassion, empathy, and love; love of self, love of our neighbors, and love of our God. A heart full of these things knows beauty…and is able to be beauty in our chaotic world. This kind of beauty often comes in a simple gesture like a smile, a thank-you, or a shared prayer. My prayer is, that with God’s help, beauty will surround each of us inside and out. PRAYER God of all goodness, help me to look beyond the harshness of the world that stares me in the face and to find the beauty that hides in the often “neglected margins.” Remind me that these glimpses of beauty are sacred moments offered to me by you. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Kris Baker Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - October 19, 2026

By Jonathon McClellan • October 19, 2026
SCRIPTURES Psalm 63.1 Oh God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. Romans 1.11-12 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong- That is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. WORDS OF HOPE As I Am -A Poem I've been watching you. Waiting for you. Searching for you. Hoping, almost believing– If only for a moment That maybe I can really do this. Oh, my dreams keep me up at night. All I see is the same thing over and over Again. Should I put it into words? I don't think I could carry them all if I tried. But my heart is breaking every time I open my eyes. Yes, we are losing everything. And I would love to just walk away. Just walk away... Here I am Lord. Here I am. Fighting for the arms that hold me at night. Striving for the sister who still dares to dream. Struggling for the friend who still needs me in all my weirdness. Rising for the community without which I'd be lost. Breathing for the Father who just needs to hear I'm ok. Holding on to the Mother who waits for me each day. And with a love I can't put into words, Greatly and longingly creating perhaps– I will not leave this world as it is. For I will never give up on her. She and all her children are my kin. I would love to walk away, to quit– Without ever having tried. But I, but We... Having something worth fighting for. And this, This broken heart– Will have to do. PRAYER God of all, Thank you for never leaving us in times of joy, confusion, discouragement, or uncertainty. Thank you for the comfort of being part of a community, loving one another, understanding one another, praying for one another, knowing that when we sometimes feel overwhelmed as individuals, together we are strong. In any aspect of our lives, may Jesus always be our example and our guide. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Jonathon McClellan Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - October 16, 2026

By Donald (Luke) Day • October 16, 2026
SCRIPTURE John 15:15 I have called you my friends, because I've made known to you everything that I've heard from my Abba God. WORDS OF HOPE What does knowing Jesus mean to you? A major question for early Christian leaders revolved around the influence that the circumstances surrounding Jesus had on their belief in one God. Thinking about this matter, they concentrated their understanding of what his life and ministry meant to their spiritual lives. From the beginning of Jesus' ministry, he became famous among his followers for his wise and holy words which told of God's love, forgiveness, and divine welcome. He also spoke words of correction and encouragement for their lives. Throughout, Jesus revealed much about his Abba God. Jesus revealed God's loving nature as he encountered everyone - rich or poor, powerful or outcast. He revealed God's patience and understanding of human frailty as he gently led his disciples into greater appreciation of his divine ministry. Jesus revealed God's offer that believers could enter the Kingdom of God on earth and live under divine sovereignty which would be reflected in their lives. Jesus revealed the tender, healing care of God as he reached out to heal all manner of illness. He revealed the Almighty power of God when he raised Lazarus from the dead. Before the life of Jesus, it seemed that God was very distant from the common person, but now the Divine's presence seemed to walk with them, talk to them, and eat meals with them. Jesus' life revealed the opportunity to have an intimate relationship with God.  Before Jesus, the Temple curtain had separated the Holy God from all worshipers but the High Priest. Now with the revelation of Jesus, all those who sought a true relationship with God could find divine presence without a middle man. These are several aspects of the Holy One which Jesus revealed to his followers. What aspects of God do you feel within yourself? What other characteristics of God are better revealed to you because of the life and ministry of Jesus? PRAYER Creator, Counselor, and Guide, thank you for the aspects of you that the life of Jesus has revealed to us, that these attributes may live within us and we can share your love with others. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Donald (Luke) Day Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Thursday - October 15, 2026

By Logan Alexander • October 15, 2026
SCRIPTURE 3 John 9-11 I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us. When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church.  Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God. WORDS OF HOPE This Scripture immediately brought to mind my favorite quote from Maya Angelou: “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” Like Diotrephes, government officials and CEOs are always revealing their true character through their actions and inactions. The challenging part is how their rhetoric creates appealing illusions that downplay or ignore the truth. For example, think of an ad that tried to convince you that using an AI agent will make your life easier. Was that ad transparent about how the company will use your data? Did it mention the environmental costs of data centers powering the AI? Fortunately, we’re blessed to be able to use our spiritual practice as a source of wisdom to see through these kinds of illusions. We can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13), but spirituality doesn’t work like flipping on a light switch and never touching it again. I believe we must decide to anchor ourselves to God every day. Winning in this area requires self-compassion too. We all make mistakes. One of the hardest parts about being human is remembering to be in the world, but not of the world (John 17:14-16). Sometimes, those bad examples John warns us about will influence us, and that’s okay. If we commit to our spirituality with our whole heart and learn from the times we fall, we’ll never stay down for long. PRAYER Today, I activate the divine power of God within me to see through all illusions, “follow only what is good,” and “do good.” Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Logan Alexander Johnson
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