Hurray for Leap Day

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

If you're like me, you often wish you had a little more time. You often feel like there's not enough time to do everything on your plate, or like you'd like to take on more service opportunities, but just don't have enough time to fit it in.

Well, I'd like to think that with this being a leap year, and today being leap day, we've been given an extra 24 hours this year to get stuff done, to help other people, and to share the love of Christ.

How will you use the extra 24 hours? Will you play a little more World of Warcraft? Will you go outside and throw the football around? Will you play some John Madden Football on your PlayStation? Will you pray a little more? Will you seek out opportunities to love others, or to serve others, or to share the Gospel?

Think about what Jesus did when he was nearing the end of his time before the cross. What he did, and what he valued with that time.

And maybe together, we can take this extra time, and find the best use for it.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank you for the gift of time
For the ability to spend time
With You
For You
And representing You

Help us to find the best way to use this time
To bring glory to you
To shine love and light to others
And to find the things in life that are most important.

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

Where's my Cliff?

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Do you ever feel like a lemming? At least, how a lemming is thought of in popular culture? Someone who just follows the crowd, does what the leader is doing, and goes on with their day happily blissful that they don't have to question anything about their leadership?

As we journey through Lent, and make our journey to the cross, I grow increasingly thankful that Jesus was anything but a Lemming. He knew exactly when to challenge authority, when to speak up, and when to act and speak for a change. But, He also knew when to respect those placed in power, when to keep his mouth quiet, and when and where was the appropriate time and venues to challenge authority. We see a perfect example of this in Luke 11.

So, what then are we called to? Can we achieve this harmony? Can we find this balance of following, leading, and changing?

Or perhaps, we're just called to stand on the shoulders of the giants before us, and attempt with their knowledge and God's guidance to choose our own path, and to discern what we're called to. To find out own place and niche in the world.

I think what I'm trying to say is this: we're all being lead in our own unique direction. It's a beautiful and challenging thing about our God: He's as personal as He is omnipresent. So chances are, the cliff I'm supposed to be jumping off of, isn't the same cliff you're supposed to be jumping off of. So let's think about how we can help each other find our cliffs, shall we?

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

I thank You for being an example
Of many things I can strive to be
And many things I can strive to do

I thank you for those who have come before me
Who give me an example of what to do
And an example of how to think

I thank you for the Holy Spirit
And the guidance to discover what to do
And the guidance to discover my paths

And I thank you for the individuality
Of my life and my choices
And the joy I have through you in that

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

National Religious Project: A Journal of why we trust God

So, this is inspired from my most recent discussional in my previous post.

Basically, I'm challenging us to journal, collectively, when God does something specific in our lives that proves to us why we should trust Him. I'm looking for stories big and small. Did God somehow allow you to keep your sanity at a family reunion? Did God somehow leave enough money in your bank account to pay all the bills that were due? Did God cure someone you know of cancer?

These things happen in our lives every day. And my challenge is that we journal them, so that we can be a bigger and better witness for Christ in our world.

You can add your entries as a comment to this post, or e-mail them to me vicepresident@sigmatheta.org, or you can post them in the thread at the national bulletin boards. What I'd like to do is then compile them into a book of some sort, and publish that to the brotherhood to have as a testament of encouragement. And hopefully, we'll get several volumes out of it. And, even better, we'll get an increase in our faith out of it.

Trust Him?

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Lent can seem like a long time. Forty days, not counting Sundays, to prepare ourselves for the Cross and the Resurrection. I know it seems like a long time when you're trying to prepare a devotional for each day of Lent.

But what about forty years? That's a lot longer.

And that's how long God's people had to wait to get to the promised land, after they didn't trust him.

I think a lot of times we, in our own lives, both individually and corporately, lack that trust in God. When I'm not sure how I'm going to make all the bill payments this month. When I'm not sure if STE will be able to expand and grow. When I'm not sure if God really has a plan to use the rough parts of my life.

But I want to trust Him. I want to know He's there. So I have a challenge for us. Let's spend some time journaling the times in our lives, from this day forward, where God gives us reason to trust Him. Where he fulfills a promise.

And let's hope it doesn't take us forty years to trust him completely.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

I am amazed
By your power
But I am overcome
By my doubt

Help me, Lord
To see You everwhere
To know You
And to trust You

Help me to see Your promises
Being kept all around me
In large ways and in small ways
In my everyday life

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

What's in a World

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

I'm often amazed by the difference between what we see in the life of Jesus, especially on his journey towards the cross, and what we see in our modern word, especially in what is emphasized as important.

Compare, if you will, the difference between Jesus denying himself equality with God and the crowns and glory that go with it, and instead taking a cross and a brutal death, with the modern American Dream, to get all we can, and die with the most toys.

What a contrast. Live "beneath" who you are, and live a life of love and service, and end up defeating death, and being glorified forever more. Or, live at the top of your means, get everything money can buy you, and end up dead and forgotten by all but a select few.

Consider this, and reflect on this song by Caedmon's Call:

There's tarnish on the Golden Rule
And I wanna jump from this ship of fools
Show me a place where hope is young
And a people who are not afraid to love

This world has nothing for me
And this world has everything
All that I could want and nothing that I need

This world is making me drunk on the spirit of fear
So when You say, 'Who will go?"
I am nowhere near

Cause this world has nothing for me
And this world has everything
All that I could want and nothing that I need

But the least of these look like criminals to me
So I leave Christ on the street

This world has held my hand and has led me into intolerance
So now I'm breaking up, now I'm waking up
I'm making up for lost time

This world has nothing for me
And this world has everything
All that I could want and nothing that I need

What's in this world that's worth chasing? What's better for us, if we live a life of faith, love, and service?

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank You
For giving me better
Than anything this world has to offer

Thank You
For being better
Than anything else the world could have

Thank You
For calling me to a life
Beyond the ways and means of this world

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

Just Do It

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org



Chances are, that image rings a bell. It's one of the better known and longer running marketing campaigns of all time.

But what does it have to do with Lent? And what does it have to do with the theme "Made for Love"?

I'll offer one theory. But be warned, my mind is far from normal or linear.

Often, around Christmas time, we get to hear and read and see people argue and get angry as they "debate" the "reason for the season". There is no debate at Easter. The reason of this season is simple. Christ was betrayed by one of his disciples. Christ was crucified for our sins. Christ rose from the dead.

That's it. That's why we have Easter.

And Lent is about preparing ourselves for Easter.

And so my question today is: what are you doing (and what am I doing) to prepare myself for Easter, and how am I doing that while keeping the theme of "made of love" in mind?

Whatever it is, just do it.

And join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Help me to act
To do, and to be
What is required

Help me to recognize
That which I need to do
To be more wholly Yours

Help me in my preparation
For the remembrance of Your sacrifice
The joy of your resurrection
And the love we are called to as a result

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen.

Empty in new Light

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Sundays in most traditions of Lent, and with anyone I've known that has practiced Lent, are traditionally viewed as "mini resurrections". They do not count towards the forty days of fasting/abstaining from *whatever*, and are days when we focus more on the resurrection than on the crucifixion. That will be my focus on Sundays, as well.

When I think of the word empty, it doesn't usually bring up good feelings.

I get sad when my bank account is empty. I'm very hungry when my stomach is empty. It's a pretty big bummer when my cupboards are empty.

Mary Magdalene was sad, too, about empty. When Jesus' tomb was empty on Easter morning, she was sad. She thought someone had stolen His body.

But when the truth was revealed to her, she was filled with joy. With this truth, an empty became a hope. And another thing in this crazy world of ours was turned upside down by Jesus' life and teaching.

Think about this, the next time part of our lives are empty, physically or metaphorically. Where can we find joy, where we don't expect to find it? Where can God turn our worlds upside down?

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank You for that empty tomb
For the joy that is in my heart
Each day because of it

Thank You for emptiness in my life
And the ways You provide
To fill those holes

Thank You for all You are
For all You do.
For all You will do.

Thank you for atonement
Thank you for you
Thank you for love

Amen.

A Creed

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Today, I'd like to do something different. I offer an ages-old statement of faith for reflection.

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen

Please, reflect with me on this Creed. On the simplistic beauty, and yet the complex ramifications of the truth of this statement. On the meaning it brings to us, and the understandings we must continue to search for. On what it means as we journey towards the cross, and what it means as we live in today's world.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank you for Wisdom

Wisdom of Solomon
And wisdom of scholars

For the truths we hold today
That have been revealed to us

And for the truths we uncover
And the mystery that You still hold for us

Bring us to an equilibrium
Of understanding and a desire to understand more

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

Power vs. Love

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

One of my favorite stories of the Bible is the story of the prophet Elijah on Mount Carmel found in 1 Kings chapter 18. I'm sure you're familiar with it, but here's a quick recap: Elijah uses the power of the One True God to put a smackdown on the prophets of Baal.

If you're not familiar with the story, you really should go read it. That summary doesn't really do it justice.

But it does prove a point: God is powerful. Beyond our imagination. And I've seen a lot of Sci-Fi movies and read a lot of books, so my imagination of power goes pretty far.

So why do I mention this?

Because this all-powerful God didn't use his amazing power to redeem fallen man, and bring them back to his will. He used a great act of love and sacrifice.

And as we live in an age of technology, and money, and everything we can do in the world today, I'm constantly forced to ask myself if a better option isn't to turn down these new fancy things, and just do the old fashioned thing, and love and sacrifice.

As one of my mentors was fond of saying "regardless of the circumstances, always do the loving thing"

What a concept. Join me in considering how we might choose love over other options.

And join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

We are awed by your power
We are amazed by your power
We are unable to grasp your power

But it is your love that exceeds this power
And leaves us in ever more awe

We cannot match your power
But we want to emulate your love

Teach us to love better
Teach us to choose love

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

Change, Not for the Sake of Change

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

As we read in the book of Mark, "On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts."

Jesus saw a need to disrupt an organization and people who claimed to be representing his God. Sometimes when we read this verse, and actually most times, we tend to focus on the acceptable use of anger - I'd like to focus on something else.

Perhaps we, individually and corporately, as we claim to represent God, need some facets of that driven out and overturned.

Can you think of parts of your life and parts of our organization that need the Holy Spirit to come in and guide us, sometimes in a not pleasant manner, and turn us back to the right path?

Help me to consider and root out those things that we need changed and overturned.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank you for your guidance
In discovering
What we need to change

Thank you for your guidance
In finding better ways
To love and serve You and others

Overturn and cast out
Where it needs done

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

Called to ... what?

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

As we walk through Lent, we notice that it lasts 40 days, not counting Sundays. These forty days have some significance. We're often reminded of the story in Matthew 4, of the temptations of Jesus. After he spent forty days in the desert, fasting and praying, he was tempted by Satan. We're given accounts of these temptations. I'm going to look at something different this time.

Matthew four opens with a unique phrase: "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil".

This seems very odd to me. Generally, when I pray for the guidance of the Spirit, I do so hoping it will help me avoid problems, temptations, and, most especially, Satan.

Yet, Jesus was lead ito the desert by the Spirit specifically to be tempted by the devil.

What an amazing and counter-intuitive concept. Could it be sometimes we're being prompted by the Spirit to do things that are uncomfortable? Things that will tempt us? Things that might seem counter-intuitive?

It certainly looks like we're not always called to an easy path, quick rewards, and a life of luxury. Keep that in mind as we focus on our advancement towards the cross.

Join me in pondering the question of just what kind of life we're being called to.

And join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Guide me by Your wisdom
To every path you want me to follow
Not just the ones I will enjoy
And the ones I want to travel down

Help me to thank You
For hardships and struggles
And for the character they will create
And help that character better reflect You

Teach me that Your way is best
Even if it's not the way of individual glory
Or the way of riches and fame
Or the path of least resistance

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

Focus and Reality

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

When I think about Lent, I think about the people I watched "celebrate" Lent as a child. I never celebrated Lent growing up, and only recently began to consider it a time of spiritual growth and renewal. The reason for this is because a large number of people who "celebrate" Lent do so by giving something up for Lent. They see it as a sacrifice. They give up chocolate, or instant messenger, or ice cream, or something else along those lines for the forty days.

And a lot of the time they mope about it. They lament what they are missing for their forty days. They make a spectacle about their sacrifice.

My pastor offers a different take on "giving something up for Lent." He thinks it better to "pick something up" for Lent. Something along the lines of service, giving, or something of that ilk. My worship pastor combines these two ideas and talks about the idea of "substitution" during lent. While I do not partake in these ideas, I see them as a much better idea.

Why? Because they help you focus not on what you're missing, but on others, on the message of Christ, and on serving. Much better things to focus on.

Think about this during this season as we lead up to the Cross. What do we meditate on? During lent, or during a fast, or even during a bad day at work or in class. What does our mind focus on. Whatever it is, try this one: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Wise words from a wise man, in my opinion.

Please, join me in figuring out ways to improve our focus, and in turn, improve the reality of ourselves and those around us.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

I ask you this one thing
That you become my focus

That you lead me to thoughts
Of the truth
Or nobility
Or that which is right
Of purity
Of loveliness
Of that which is admirable, praiseworthy and excellent

That I might bring these things into the world around me
And reshape reality
To more closely match your will.

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen.

A Great Encouragement

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Today's Discussional comes via Shannon Wagers, National Pledgemaster

Midnight Encouragement

Read: Judges 7:1-23

The Midianites and their allies had invaded Israel. It was the time of the judges, and Gideon could muster only 32,000 men against an army "as numerous as locusts" (Judges 7:12). Then God cut the army down to 300 (vv.2-7). Gideon was afraid, so God sent him into the enemy camp at night. Crouching behind cover, the Israelite captain heard one soldier tell another about a dream (vv.13-14). A loaf of barley bread had tumbled into the Midianite camp, destroying one of its tents. His friend saw it as a sure sign that Gideon would win the battle.
Gideon was greatly encouraged. After worshiping God, he returned to the camp, organized his 300 men with their trumpets and lamps, and routed the superior Midianite forces (vv.15-22).
As Christ's followers we're not battling armies, but we are at war. Spiritual foes attack us (Ephesians 6:10-12). They undermine our confidence and sap our strength. We're also battling ourselves—our weaknesses, fears, doubts (Romans 7:15-25). After a while, we can get discouraged.
But our God is the great Encourager. When our resolve weakens or vision fades, by His power He will give us the strength we need (Ephesians 3:16)—even when the enemy seems more numerous than a swarm of locusts

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

We thank you
For putting us in positions
And in situations
That make us uncomfortable
And scared

We thank you
For examples of those who excelled
In situations
And positions
That were uncomfortable
And scary

We thank you
That Your might power
Exceeds all
Situations
Positions
Levels of comfort
And scares

Lead us on

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

From the Jaws of Defeat

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Sundays in most traditions of Lent, and with anyone I've known that has practiced Lent, are traditionally viewed as "mini resurrections". They do not count towards the forty days of fasting/abstaining from *whatever*, and are days when we focus more on the resurrection than on the crucifixion. That will be my focus on Sundays, as well.

If you know me, you know I'm a huge sports fan. You might also know that I've told Rachel that as much as I love her, my first love is baseball, specifically the Cleveland Indians. One of the things I love most about baseball is that you never run out of time, only out of chances. Your favorite team can be trailing by a dozen runs, and as long as they don't make the final out of their final inning, they still have a chance to win.

I know I've been there. My team down three, with two outs, in the ninth inning. I think to myself "if we can get a couple of hits and a walk, then all we need is a grand slam home run and we win this game". And even though I know this is improbable, I also know it's not impossible. And the idea excites me. And on the rare occasion it happens, the joy that fills me is amazing. I start jumping up and down, screaming like crazy, and other such stuff.

And I don't want to trivialize the resurrection of our Lord, but I imagine the joy of the followers of Christ when they learned he was risen was about a million times the joy of when that walk-off grand slam home run happens. Something that seemed improbable and just about impossible (and, impossible for anyone besides Jesus) occurs.

What great motivation for us when we think about when we're having bad days. When we're stuck in ruts. When we can't make progress. When we can't see the coming dawn. Think about the joy of knowing our Lord snatched the ultimate victory for us from the jaws of defeat. He snatched life from the icy hand of death. He provided the ultimate "walk off".

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

You amaze me with who You are.

You provide hope where there should be frustration
Joy when I should have depression
Light when there should be dark
Victory where there should be defeat
Life where there should be death.

Thank you for giving me hope
For giving me purpose
For giving me a future

Thank you for atonement
Thank you for you
Thank you for love

Amen.

Lack Arrogance

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

As we walk through Lent, we notice that it lasts 40 days, not counting Sundays. These forty days have some significance. We're often reminded of the story in Matthew 4, of the temptations of Jesus. After he spent forty days in the desert, fasting and praying, he was tempted by Satan. We're given accounts of these temptations. I'm going to look at them one at a time.

In the second temptation listed, we see that Christ is tempted to call upon God to show a sign among signs, to do something that only the power of God can do. The fall into the abyss would certainly be enough to kill any human.

We, of course, see a similar temptation of Christ when He's on the cross. "He could save others, let him save himself".

Of course, we see a theme here.

We see people/entities who think they understand the nature of God, and have taken that to arrogance, thinking they know how best God might act for His interest and for His glory.

And I wonder how many times we miss opportunities to show love and witness for Christ, because we think, in arrogance, that we know what God needs, we know the nature of God that needs presented, and we know how best God wants to be made known. I sometimes shudder to think of the picture of God painted by protesters, spokesmen, and others who claim to know the real nature of God, while only shouting about their narrow view, and the way they believe God should be presented.

How much better can we do? How much better can we do by focusing on the example Christ has given us? How much better can we do by choosing to love, rather than choose to speak?

Join me in reflecting these questions. And share your thoughts with me. Because I certainly don't have the answers.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Forgive us for our arrogance
For thinking we know You better than we do
For thinking we can best represent You through our agendas.

Guide us to better ways
To better understanding of You
To better identifying Your way and Your will.

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

Being Active

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Today's Discussional comes via Shannon Wagers, National Pledgemaster

Active Faith

Faith. What is exactly is faith?

Faith is the evidence of things hoped for. Faith without works is dead. We hear lots of things on faith. O’ ye of little faith, you got to have faith; even songs includes faith in the title or lyrics.

 Faithfully – Journey
 Faith – George Michael
 If I ever lose my Faith – Sting

(By now you know that the author grew up in the 1980’s)

Sigma Theta Epsilon is a fraternity that the heart of its purpose is to refine Christian Men in the service of Christ’s Kingdom. It is a place to grow in your faith and to extend your faith beyond its current boundaries. Take this time to discuss a time or event in your own life where your faith grew beyond its boundaries.

Let’s take a look at how God has taken men from all walks of life to grow their faith into Active Faith for the furthering of His kingdom, specifically in Luke’s Gospel, Chapter Five.

The first episode involves the calling of the disciples. God called them from all walks of life, much like a pledge class. Peter was on the Sea of Galilee (Lake of Gennesaret) going about hiss daily business as a fisherman, only to have an encounter with the Son of God. (Read Luke 5:1-11). What was the step(s) of faith taken by Peter? How is the calling of Peter similar to your calling to pledge Sigma Theta Epsilon, and what step(s) of faith are you taking?

Let’s take another look at another of Jesus’ interactions near Galilee. We see here a man that is able to step beyond the boundaries of his faith and reach out to the blessing that Christ has for him. (Read Luke 5:12-16) Growth only truly occurs when willing to take the step of faith outside our comfort zone. “Leap of faith without a net, makes want to hedge our bet, but waters never part until our feet get wet.”(Lyrics from Beyond Belief by Christian Rock Band Petra) Two thirds of the word promotion is “motion.” That requires activity – active faith. As you are embarking on becoming an active brother of Sigma Theta Epsilon, consider what the word active means. How as an active brother can you effectively further the vision, purpose and principles of Sigma Theta Epsilon?

One last example as we look once again in the Gospel of Luke is the healing of a paralytic. Interestingly it involves a group of men and their faith, sound familiar? (Read Luke 5:17-26) We see here an outstanding example of a group of men exercising active faith. They overcame obstacles and challenge to accomplish their goal. What challenges have you faced as you have pledged Sigma Theta Epsilon? What challenges and obstacles to envision to the future.

As you continue your journey in Sigma Theta Epsilon you may face challenges and obstacles. Your faith will be challenged and you may pushed to go outside of you comfort zone. One reaps what one sows; growth of your faith will only occur if you allow yourselves to be challenged in your endeavors in your Christian walk; that is active faith.

Join me in the following prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank you for calling me
To a life of faith

Thank you for providing
A guidebook for my faith

Thank you for giving me a reason
To trust and have faith

Help my faith to be active
Help my faith to grow

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

Commitment

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

I once debated a brother when I was an active and asked him at one point in time if he would say on his wedding day "I sort of do" or "I'll try" rather than the traditional "I do". I also once mentioned to a then-National Vice President that we're called by scripture to allow our yes to be yes and our no to be no.

I bring these up not as random quotes from my history, but rather with a specific purpose. Today is Valentine's Day, and I'm wondering about the twisted view of commitment we have in today's world, especially among "the churched". With divorce rates as high as they are, I wonder, sometimes, if "I'll try" and "I sorta do" is a better vow than "I do".

And I contrast that to Jesus, and His commitment to seeing through His journey to the Cross, an event he could not have been looking forward to. And I wonder: if Jesus could show that level of commitment to something like the cross, what if we emulate that commitment towards things we love, things we enjoy, and things we want.

Could we do that? Could we find deeper meaning to "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love"? Could we apply greater commitment to the things we hope for, the things we have faith in, and the things we love? And can we press forward towards them, for a greater good?

I'd like to think so, and I hope you do, too.

Join me in pondering how we might up our levels of commitment to the things we love.

And join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

We admit we fall short
We admit we do not perfectly hold our vows
We admit we are not always fully committed.

But we want to change

We want to reach higher
We want to keep our word
We want to remain committed

And we ask you for help to achieve this

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

With a Purpose

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

As we walk through Lent and we advance towards the Last Supper, the Betrayal of Christ, the Garden, the Crucifixion and the resurrection, I am reminded of one thing that we talked about in church last year as we walked through the book of Luke. That being that Christ made a specific choice and turned with a purpose towards these events, and his teachings matched that turn with intensity and purpose.

And I think about the choices we've made. And the purposes in our lives that come out out of those choices. And I reflect on a specific choice those reading this entry have made (minus any guests ... and hello to you if you are a guest), and the specific purposes that come out of those.

And I ask you to join me in meditating on these purposes:

I.	To extend our service projects through programs of action to meet unfilled human needs.
II.	To attempt with the guidance of God to live Christianlives of faith and service.
III.	To provide social activities through service and Brotherhood.
IV.	To provide a background for understanding ourselves, our faith, and our world.

Let's see what happens when we make a dedicated effort to fulfill these four purposes in our lives together ...

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank you for the purpose You had on earth
Thank you for giving purpose in my life

Thank you for the choices You made on earth
Thank you for the choices I've made and Your hand in them

Guide me in my purposes
To meet unfilled human need
To live a life of faith and service
To live in service and brotherhood
To better understand You, me, us, and what surrounds it

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

Can we, too?

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Sometimes, I look at what Jesus did and I'm amazed. Blown away. Overwhelmed. I find it impossible to match, and sometime impossible to comprehend, too. I wonder just how much of it I can match, emulate, or provide in some way to those in need. Not just in miracles, but in love, in sacrifice, in wisdom ... in so many areas that I can't possibly name them all.

Of course, if you join me in reading Matthew 17, you'll see that the Disciples had the same awe and the same doubt. They were unable to match what they'd seen from Christ.

Of course, if you join me in reading Matthew 17, you'll see that Christ himself gives us the key to it all: Faith. And not that much faith. We just have to match the size of a mustard seed.

So as we're reflect upon all Christ has done for us, his march towards the cross, and all He guides us to do, remember, it only takes Faith to emulate that in our world today.

Please, help me ponder how we might increase our Faith, that the world might marvel at the acts of God in our lives, through our service, love, acts, and words.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

You amaze me
You are beyond me
In wisdom
In power
In love

I ask, Lord
That you help me build my faith
That the world might see more of you
Through me

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

For Goats, too

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Let's take a look at some familiar scripture. I'm sure we've all heard a lot of teachings on it, and it was hit upon frequently in the program book I created for this school year. Matthew 25:31-46

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Think about this, as we journey through Lent:

Christ new what was coming at the end of our journey. He knew the cross was waiting for him. And he chose to go forward anyways. And he didn't get to pick and choose who could "benefit" from the cross. The cross isn't there only for the sheep, it's there for the goats, too. There were no lines of division, Christ was sacrificed for everybody. The only difference is between those who honestly accept that sacrifice, and those who don't.

As we move forward, are we willing to sacrifice for and love those who will potentially reject our sacrifice and our love? Are we willing to go after it for the goats? How can we do this? And how can we do it better?

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank you for the Sacrifice
That was made on the cross

Thank you for the example
To love all, and not just those who appreciate it

I ask for your guidance
To have the same vision and diligence in my life

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

Hope

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Sundays in most traditions of Lent, and with anyone I've known that has practiced Lent, are traditionally viewed as "mini resurrections". They do not count towards the forty days of fasting/abstaining from *whatever*, and are days when we focus more on the resurrection than on the crucifixion. That will be my focus on Sundays, as well.

And to me, Easter Sunday represents many things, none of them as great as hope. Because Easter gives us the knowledge, through our faith, that Christ overcame death. And if Christ can overcome death, we know that He can overcome anything. There's no situation we can find ourselves in where we cannot have honest hope that Christ can save us. What a wonderful feeling.

I'm going to provide lyrics to Skillet's "You Are My Hope". If you own the song, give it a listen. If you don't either simply meditate on the lyrics, or visit YouTube and listen to the song with one of the manga videos that someone put together.

Times are hard, times have changed, don’tcha say?
But I keep holding onto you
It’s hard to keep the faith alive day to day
Leanin’ on the strength I’ve found in you
You’re the hope of all the earth

Chorus:
You are my hope
You are my strength
You’re everything, everything I need
You are my hope
You are my life
You are my hope
You are my hope

Far beyond what I can see or comprehend
Etching your eternity in me
Nations dream and angels sing “Jesus reigns”
And every knee bows down
You’re the hope of all the earth

Chorus

Carry on and I sing of how
You love and I love you now
All the times that I start to sink
You come and you rescue me
You are my hope
You are my hope
You are my hope
You are my hope

Chorus (x2)

Meditate with me, on the great hope we have, and always have through Christ our Lord.

And join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

You truly are my hope
You are the hope of all who know you
And the missing hope for those who don't

Help me to carry your hope with me every day

Teach me to trust you
Teach me to know real hope
Teach me to share that hope

Help me to carry your hope with me every day

Thank you for atonement
Thank you for you
Thank you for love

Amen.

Diligence

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

So, I'm currently battling a pretty bad bug. Knocked me out on Tuesday night, and I thought I'd broken it until today, when my fever returned even higher than it had been Wednesday. I'm having some trouble thinking straight, and I really didn't want to put forth the effort into writing a discussional/devotional today.

But, then I thought about the original idea here. That the brotherhood would be benefited by a daily look at ourselves in relation to the lead up to Easter.

And my mind went to Jesus in the Garden, on the night he was betrayed. Clearly, he had to do something that night he really didn't want to do. He was sweating blood, for goodness sake!

Not that I'm comparing myself, or the choice I'm making to Jesus or the choice He made for us. But I'm saying sometimes, we need to look at our commitments, look at our responsibilities, and look at those we truly love, and press on for them, despite any other circumstances.

And we've been given the perfect opportunity to see an example of that in our Savior.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Help me to be like you
Help me to think of others
Of those I love
Of those I am responsible for
Of those I've made commitments to

And help me to persevere
Help me to have diligence
When I need to serve them
And something is blocking the way

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

Difficult

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

As we walk through Lent, we notice that it lasts 40 days, not counting Sundays. These forty days have some significance. We're often reminded of the story in Matthew 4, of the temptations of Jesus. After he spent forty days in the desert, fasting and praying, he was tempted by Satan. We're given accounts of these temptations. I'm going to look at them one at a time.

The first temptation is when Satan tells him "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread". This is a reasonable temptation. Jesus is hungry, he's just fasted for forty days. There's nothing wrong with being hungry.

What would be wrong, however, would be giving into the temptation that God will not provide for us. That a God who is Love would lead us somewhere (as Jesus was lead to the desert), and not provide a way to overcome the obstacles we find there.

Let us not fall into the trap of not trusting God. Let us not lash out in anger, frustration, apathy, or desperation. But let us always rely on his provision and his love to guide us and rescue us.

Perhaps you have an anecdote you'd like to share that connects to this message. If so, I'd love to hear it.

I'd also love for you to join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Teach me to trust
Teach me to hope
Teach me to love

Because of You
You are Trustworthy
You are my hope
And you are the embodiment of love

Never let me fall back upon anger
Or the temptation to find a way that is not yours.

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen

Something Wonderful

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day brining a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org



As I listen to the words in this song, I'm always moved. Moved that our powerful and loving God could transform an object of death, destruction, oppression, and torture into a symbol of hope, glory, love, and wonder. I find it true, above all else in the song, that as I look upon the cross, I feel a call to respond to the demand for my heart, my soul, and my all. And to do this in love. To give all I have, and I all I ever will be, in the name of love.

And my challenge for us is to try to do the same in our lives. That we find something that represents evil, death, wrong doing or something else or the ilk. And through an act of love we change it into something that can represent, on some scale, to some people, a symbol of love, a symbol of hope, and a symbol of glory and wonder. Not to us, but to our Father in Heaven.

As we look towards Easter, and the celebration of the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior for the forgiveness of sins, I ask you also to join me in looking around our world to see what we can change through love.

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Help me to stumble upon things
Seen by this world
As unwanted
As evil
As death bringing
As torturous
As wrong-doing
As inhumane

And help me to transform
Through love
These things into
Love
Glory
And honor
For you.

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen.

Ash Wednesday

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day brining a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way.

Today is Ash Wednesday. Many of you attended a church service where ashes were spread on your forehead and a statement of remembrance or reflection was said. I was supposed to, but Findlay is under water again, and so my service was canceled.

Still, I marvel at the beauty of the act of spreading ashes on our foreheads. It's a peculiar act, to say the least. It has its roots as far back as the book of Numbers, and actually is scene as something to be ritually clean.

And I find this unusual. That ashes, which basically look like dirt, and spread on our flesh like dirt, are used to make us clean. But, as I think about this, I reflect on Good Friday and Easter, looking forward. And I see there, too, a peculiar happening. An omnipotent being choosing to offer salvation not through a showing of power, but through a showing of love.

And I wonder how we can apply this to our lives. Where can we share love, when something else is expected, and find a result greater because of that showing of love? Where can we do the unexpected, and have the result be a much greater outcome than any predictable path might have produced?

Ponder this with me, and share your thoughts with me.

And join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Help me to find ways to love
When love seems to be the most illogical action.
Help me to do the unexpected
That i might trust in you to produce results.
Help me to focus on the big picture
Rather than the day-to-day details.

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen.