When Jesus saw him lying there
and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I
have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am
trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and
walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. – John
5:6-8
“Do you
want to get well?”
Why
would Jesus ask such an obvious question? The man had laid next to the pool of
Bethesda for many years. This was the place to be if you wanted healing. Yet
Jesus asks the question anyways. Perhaps it was simply to get the man’s
attention. From his answer it seems that this man had no idea who Jesus was,
and that he was only moments away from healing. If he had recognized Jesus for
who he is, he would have simply said “Yes! Please heal me!”
However,
it is interesting to see the man’s response. It seems to express the attitude
that it’s everyone else’s fault that he’s not been able to get healing. Nobody
will help me. Someone else always cuts in front of me. I’m the victim here. No
one will help me.
I can’t
speak to the heart of this paralyzed man. But don’t we often do the same as he
did with regard to the situations and attitudes, the sins and the difficulties
that we face? We struggle with a recurring sin that we just can’t seem to
shake. We worry and fret about a difficulty in our life. We refuse to forgive a
real or perceived wrong done to us by another, or claim that we do, yet
continue to hold a grudge. We try to solve the problem through our own power.
Then we fail again, and try to rationalize our behavior by making the same kind
of excuses, saying that it’s just too difficult, or laying blame for our
failures on others. All the while, we forget to (or refuse to) recognize that
we are redeemed, restored and forgiven children of God by the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ. He has forgiven our sins, restored our relationship with God and
made us new creations, empowering us with his Holy Spirit to “pick up our mat
and walk” every day, trusting in the power that he provides. He stands ready to
help.
Do you
want to get well?
May God
through his Holy Spirit bring us daily to the cross, to lay our burdens on
Christ and trust in his promise to empower us to truly follow him.
We were buried therefore
with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from
the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. –
Romans 6:4
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Chapel Service
You are invited to
join us for our weekly chapel service this Thursday, September 11th,
from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. This week Pastor
Seiltz from Evergreen Lutheran High School, our WELS area Lutheran high school
in Tacoma, Washington will be leading our worship. This week’s
message: Living for Jesus Means Forgiving Others (Joseph). Families and
friends are invited to come join us in starting our day with the Lord.
Following our chapel service, Pastor Seiltz will be
making a presentation about Evergreen Lutheran High School to the students of
grades 3-8, as well as any parents or others who are interested in the program. Parents and family are welcome to stay after chapel for the presentation
if they wish. (The presentation will be about 35 minutes long).
The Faith Lutheran
School “Night at the Museum” Social Studies Fair will be held on Friday,
October 10th!
Information
about projects and presentations went home last Friday for the students of
grades 3-8. Grades 1-2 will be working on a group project together in their
classroom. Kindergarten will be working on projects at their level.
Students
working on individual projects, please make sure to get your project topic to
your teacher by next Monday, September 15th!
Thanks to all
those who helped with and donated to the PTF/Camp Luther Fall Parking Lot Sale!
A little over
$808 was raised to be divided between PTF and Camp Luther. Thanks to all those
who helped set up, tear down and run the sale, as well as letting your light
shine in our community.
Cross Country
Running
There is no Cross Country practice on Tuesday. On
Tuesday evening, September 9th, Mt. Zarnstorff is encouraging the
team to participate in the Bonny Sosa
Family Fun Run at Kincaid Park at 6:30 p.m. Mr. Z will send home an
information sheet with details with the team today. Registration is online at
muni.org.
There will be practice on Thursday, September 11th
this week. Practice will be from 4-5:30 p.m.
The ACSAA cross-country meet will be held on September 20th,
details TBA.
Junior Choir meets Wednesday, September 10th. Students
should be in the church for practice at 12:20 p.m.
Handchime Choir meets Thursday, September 11th.
Students should be in the church for practice at 12:30 p.m.
Water Discovery Days
The
students of Mr. Zarnstorff’s room (grades 3,4, and 5) will be going on a field
trip to the Campbell Creek Science Center for Water Discovery Days this Friday, September 12th. They
will be arriving there around 12:30 p.m. and will spend most of the afternoon
there. Mr. Zarnstorff has space for two parents to join them. Any parents that
are interested in accompanying them for this activity and a little hiking,
please contact Mr. Zarnstorff.
We are
still waiting for earthquake comfort kits for some students. Please return your
child’s comfort kit if you have not already done so.
School Calendar for
this week:
Tuesday,
September 9th
- Cross Country - Bonny Sosa Fun Run
- @ Kincaid Park 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday,
September 10th
- Junior Choir 12:20 – 1:00 p.m.
Thursday,
September 11th
- School Chapel Service 8:30 a.m.
- Handchime Choir 12:30-1:00 p.m.
- Cross Country Practice 4-5:30
p.m.
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