Our Lives

Building One Another - Vol. 11, No. 3
Dear Friend, One of the loveliest comments in the writings of the Apostle Paul is his word to the Christians in the town of Thessalonica:                                          “So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.”  I Thessalonians 2:8 You immediately see these people were people to Paul and not merely objects, students, customers, patients, or parishioners to whom he had something to offer but with whom he had no relationship. Indeed he had a very deep and personal friendship with them and makes it clear they were so dear that he and his team not only shared the good news about Jesus but entered into the complexities that come of shared personal lives. It’s a joy and a calling for each of us to teach and share the truth and wonders of God’s Word to people. Never forget, however, that they are people who long to be known personally.  Enter into their complex lives as you come alongside and share your own personal life with them. One joyful way to read what the apostle wrote is to re-read it and ask yourself if Jesus would say the same words, “So deeply do I care for you that I am determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also my own self, because you have become very dear to me.” You see immediately that is exactly what Jesus would say, exactly what he did do, and precisely what you and I are invited to do as well.
With joy- E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2012 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV
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Wait - Building One Another - Vol. 10, No. 8

Dear Friend,


There are many immense things to ponder that are dominating today’s world stage from the tremendous unrest in the Middle East to the ongoing devastation and trauma of Japan.
 


I found myself remembering the scene in the movie, Chariots of Fire, in which Eric Liddell reads selected verses from Isaiah 40 in the King James Version.  As Eric reads, the movie shows the athletes’ greatest efforts coming to nothing.
 


Daily, we are reminded of our finitude and our need to wait upon the LORD.
 


15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance…*
 


23 That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.


28 Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?
 


29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
 


31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 
       

                       

With joy - E. Stanley Ott


Copyright 2011 E. Stanley Ott
*Scripture from the KJV, Isaiah 40               

A Prayer for Japan

Reverend Linda Jaberg asked Jeff Bowman, a nuclear engineer, to give us guidance in Praying for Japan...  

Our Father,

We pray for the people of Japan who are coping with an unimaginable

tragedy.  They mourn thousands of dead and fear the worst for thousands

more who are missing.  The survivors have lost their homes and must

endure a harsh climate without shelter, food, or even drinking water.

Yet in the midst of this suffering, the survivors fear another

impending calamity from the damaged nuclear facility.  We lift up the

50 courageous technicians who are working tirelessly in a dangerous

environment to restore each of the damaged reactors to a safe

condition.  They are faced with unprecedented challenges, well beyond

their training, and with overwhelming consequences for the surrounding

population.  Grant them strength to endure this challenge and grant

them wisdom and innovative minds to successfully restore cooling to

each of the reactors and bring this crisis to an end.  Protect them

 from the radiation surrounding them so that they may survive this

ordeal.

We also pray for the families of the technicians, who are fearful for

the danger faced by their loved ones.  We ask that your spirit be in

the midst of all who are engaged in this battle and grant them success.

Amen