July 2 devotion - Coyote Encounter

Psalm 96:6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

I saw my first coyote, very early one morning. It was beside the place where I like to fish. I had just put my fishing tackle back into my car when I saw this thin looking, ugly dog cross the path. It was carrying the remains of a dead fish in its mouth and headed over to some rocks to chew awhile.

At first, I thought it was an abandoned puppy. It was gaunt and thin, but as I watched it, I realized it had the wizened look of a fox. There was no bushy tail, so I counted that out. It was the eyes that made me realize this wasn’t an abandoned pet. Dog’s eyes are usually big and round; this animal’s eyes were small and peering at me.

I tried to take a picture of the creature, but my camera was out of focus. When I got home, I looked up a few images of coyotes on the Internet. My suspicions were confirmed. It was a coyote – an ugly looking scavenger if ever I saw one.

I guess my fishing hole must be part of the coyote’s territory. With all of the development that is going on in the area, its refuge must be constantly diminishing. The woods next to my fishing hole must be its sanctuary. Perhaps I’ll get the chance to see it early one morning again. I hope so.

When we talk about sanctuaries in Christianity, we’re usually referring to our church buildings. They have become the congregational centers of our faith, where we can feel safe and experience the presence of God’s peace and love. As spiritual places and values begin to diminish around us, our havens of holiness become crucial to our relationship with Christ. In the midst of our troubles, worries, and anxieties, we need the local church to be a solid foundation of hope, healing, and holiness for our lives.

So, today, let us join with the writer of Psalm 96 to give thanks to God for all of the churches where we engage in worship, experience fellowship, and enhance our discipleship. These sacred sanctuaries add so much to our hearts and spirits, helping us become better followers of Christ and servants of His Kingdom.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank You for the places where we gather for worship, prayer, and praise. We are grateful for these spiritual sanctuaries in our communities where we can feel and know the love of God. Help us to do what we can to support our churches, so that future generations of worshippers will gladly gather in these sacred places, too. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor at Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome :)

Today's image is one of John's drawings of Psalm 96. If you would like to view a larger version, click this link: Psalm96.

Creation devotion: Wildlife Wonders - 1 Kings 4:33

1 Kings 4:33   Solomon described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish.

            One of the best programs that we have in our church takes place on Wednesday nights. It’s called the Pioneer Club and our Family Ministry Director, Joy, puts together special presentations about animals and wildlife. Most of the kids who attend the program are not church kids; they are siblings of other children who are involved in our popular Creative Ministry program called the Sonshine Company.

            I attended Joy’s programs and was often amazed about the animals she spoke about. She used pictures and books, videos and sounds to captivate the kids’ attention. She gave them animal stickers and treats which delighted the young children. Joy also prepared special crafts which the kids made and proudly took home with them. It was a great program and a wonderful way to reach out to unchurched families. Joy was not just teaching the children about different wildlife, she was doing missionary work by giving these kids a positive experience at the church we both serve. Hopefully, in future years, the children will remember Joy’s programs and perhaps they will be drawn nearer to God as the Creator of all Living Things.

            I like today’s verse from 1 Kings. Solomon was a wise person, but he also was a great naturalist, maybe even the David Attenborough of his day. He used the talents of wisdom that God gave him not just for the running of his kingdom, but also to increase his knowledge about the wonders of life and all living things. I find that both incredible and also very understandable. Most people who enjoy God’s Creation seek to learn more about it, whether it be life on earth, birds in the sky, fish in the sea, or even planets and stars in the vast universe.

            As I reflect on this, the first question and answer in the Westminster Shorter Catechism of the reformed tradition comes to mind:

Q: What is the chief end of man?  A: Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

            I think that for me, and for Joy, and for the kids at Pioneer Club, for Solomon too, and may other good folks, enjoying God also means to delight in His works of wondrous creation. After all, life on earth would not be possible without God’s creative handiwork and sustaining grace.

Questions for personal reflection

What is it about life on Earth that fascinates me? Where do I see God’s handiwork on this planet?

Prayer:            Lord God and Creator of all Life, thank You for allowing us to enjoy Your wonderful works. We praise You for sustaining Life on this planet and for the great enjoyment that we, as human beings, experience in the world today. Bless all life and enable us to appreciate it as a precious gift. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or send comments about today’s message, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s many wildlife drawings. It features a Baby Raccoon. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: Baby Raccoon.

Church growth Devotion: A Tale of Two Birds - Philippians 2:13

Today’s readings are: 1 Samuel 2:1-11 and Philippians 2:12-30

Philippians 2:13         For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose. 

Every morning that I commuted to church, I used to take great delight in spotting two beautiful large birds. The first was a red-tailed kite which perched atop an old dead tree, constantly surveying the fields alongside the motorway for small prey. It was, in my opinion, a remarkable bird and often looked both majestic and regal from its high perch.

The second bird was a large grey heron, standing alone in a small pond, continually looking for small frogs or fish to catch and eat. Its beautiful sleek features and feathering always impressed me as I drove by its pond on my way to church.

Recently, the habitats for both birds have been destroyed. The kite’s dead tree was chopped down to make way for a whole new set of ugly office buildings; the heron’s pond has been almost drained and totally devastated by new ‘upgraded’ landscaping. I was both deeply saddened and very annoyed at these changes, as well as being concerned about how both of these birds would cope.

The red kite changed its perching place to another set of trees on the other side of the motorway. It still manages to catch enough prey to feed itself and has adapted almost completely to its new situation. Sadly, the heron still stands on what’s left of the pond and is looking tired, bedraggled, and hungry. If it doesn’t adapt by finding a new pond, I fear it will die.

The two birds have reminded me of what happens to churches when changes affect their work and mission for God. If they get trapped in the past, then they will be hopelessly put in a futile position and subsequently die. If, however, churches manage to cope with change and make the right qualitative adaptations, then they will evolve and live. If they allow God to work within them for His constant purposes in an ever-changing world, they will thrive; if they remain unmoved and unconcerned about what’s currently happening, they will be starved of people and eventually close. The same choice is basically theirs: adapt or expire.

Questions for personal reflection

What changes are currently affecting the church I belong to? Is it adapting or expiring?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You are the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, but the world we live in constantly changes. Show us what You are doing in the midst of all these cultural variations and enable us to effectively continue our work for You. In Your Holy Name we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment about today’s message or ask a question, please send John an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s bird drawing called “The Lone Grey Fisherman.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link:

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4013/4549011780_35d441be81_b.jpg

Free Daily Devotions: God Help the Gulf - Psalm 50

Psalm 50:11    I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. 

I am deeply dismayed by the oil spill in the Gulf. As well as lamenting the loss of human life, I am completely saddened by the fact that the wildlife and marshes along the coastline are being destroyed by our glut and greed. As Christians, we are called to be faithful stewards in the world and of the world. This man-made catastrophe just highlights our self-destructive capacity for folly and waste, greed and selfishness.

Each day I hope that the spill will be capped and the oil leak ended; but instead of getting better, things seem to have worsened. The impact on the environment may mean that our children will never live to see the Gulf at its best. That is too high a price to pay for our commuting convenience and oil dependency.

We really need to get serious about alternative energies and our lifestyle choices. I can remember the oil crisis way back in the 1970’s when Western Society was brought to its knees by insufficient resources and high energy demands. We vowed then to change our ways, but forty years later we’re even more dependent on oil than we ever have been. And with India and China beginning to pay exorbitant costs for fuel, we’re going to be faced with another shortage in the next decade.

We cannot keep living for today and giving no thought to what we’re leaving for tomorrow. Our children and their children deserve to grow up into a better world, not a bitter one.

God knows every bird in the marshes and every creature in the Gulf. The challenge that faces us is this: will He still know of them tomorrow or will we have tragically killed them off with our greed?

Prayer:                        Lord God, we are sinfully aware of our selfish society and the excruciating costs that we exact on our environment. Challenge us to use our hearts and minds into finding alternative ways to energize our lifestyles. Grant us the wisdom to change our fossil fuel dependency and enable us to look after the world’s wildlife. Simplify our lives and enable us to live according to our need, and not our greed. In Christ’s Holy Name, we respectfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send John an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s drawing is one from John’s Bird series. It is of a Scottish heron. A larger version can be viewed online here: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4549011780_35d441be81_b.jpg

You can also view a slideshow of John’s bird drawings here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/traqair57/sets/72157623366524553/show/

4 Minute Devotions: Coyote Ugly

Encountering a coyote early one morning in Knoxville, TN, gave me a greater appreciation of the need for a sacred sanctuary. A short reflection on Psalm 96 v 6.

Psalm 96:6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
I saw my first coyote, very early, the other morning. It was beside the place where I like to fish. I had just put my fishing tackle back into the car, when I saw this thin looking, ugly dog cross the path. It was carrying the remains of a dead fish in its mouth and headed over to some rocks to chew awhile.

At first I thought it was an abandoned puppy. It was gaunt and thin, but as I watched it, I realized it had the wizened look of a fox. There was no bushy tail, so I counted that out. It was the eyes that made me realize this wasn’t an abandoned pet. Dog’s eyes are usually big and round; this animal’s eyes were small and peering at me.

I tried to take a picture of the creature, but my camera was out of focus. When I got home, I looked up a few images of coyotes on the Internet. My suspicions were confirmed. It was a coyote – an ugly looking scavenger, if ever I saw one.

I guess my fishing hole must be part of the coyote’s territory. With all of the development that is going on, its refuge must be constantly diminishing. The woods next to my fishing hole must be its sanctuary. Perhaps I’ll get the chance to see it early one morning again. I hope so.

When we talk about sanctuaries in the church, we’re usually referring to our churches. They have become the centers of our spiritual habitats, where we can feel safe and experience the presence of God’s peace and love. As spiritual places and values begin to diminish around us, our havens of holiness become crucial to our relationship with Christ. In the midst of our troubles, worries, and anxieties, we need the church to be a solid foundation of hope, healing, and holiness for our lives.

So, today, let us give thanks to God for the churches where we engage in worship, experience fellowship, and enhance our discipleship. These sacred sanctuaries add so much to our hearts and spirits, helping us become better followers of Christ and servants of His Kingdom.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank You for the places where we gather for worship, prayer, and praise. We are grateful for these spiritual sanctuaries in our communities where we can feel and know the love of God. Help us to do what we can to support our churches, so that future generations of worshippers will gladly gather in these sacred places, too. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor at Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to send him some feedback on today’s message, send an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.