Ministries

Chain of Lakes Videos

Select a link below to view recent past videos of worship services. For all past worship services go to https://vimeo.com/chainoflakes/videos Don’t forget to also check out Pastor Paul’s blog

October 13, 2024
“Talking Faithfully about the Dreaded Word PO#%*ICS” – Why is it so hard?

October 6, 2024
“Talking Faithfully About the Dreaded Word PO#%*ICS” – Was Jesus Political?

September 29, 2024
T. Mychael Rambo Guest Preacher

September 22, 2024
“Welcoming Spiritual Refugees” part 2

September 15, 2024
“Welcoming Spiritual Refugees”

September 8, 2024
“Spirit” – Guest preacher Charlie Clark

September 1, 2024
“Spiritual Ancestors” – Mr. Rogers

August 25, 2024
“Spiritual Ancestors” – Mother Teresa

August 18, 2024
“Spiritual Ancestors” – John Calvin

August 11, 2024
“Spiritual Ancestors” – Francis of Assisi

Daily Devotions

Comments about the devotion can be emailed to pastor@colpres.org

Daily Devotions October 14 - 19, 2024

Monday, October 14
Luke 10:29-37
But wanting to vindicate himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and took off, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.But a Samaritan while traveling came upon him, and when he saw him he was moved with compassion.He went to him and bandaged his wounds, treating them with oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him, and when I come back I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
This week’s devotion has been shared before, and the topic is worthy of further exploration. How do we engage people with different world views.
The story of the Good Samaritan is easily one of the most well-known and significant stories of the Bible. The story has so much depth that we could read it every day for thirty days and still see something new on our thirtieth day of reading.
One of the challenging take-aways from the story is a response to the question, “who is my neighbor?”
Neighbors might be many different people to us. They might be people who live in an adjacent house or apartment; they might be close friends who we would trust. Most likely our neighbor would not be someone who has a different world view than us.
But here is Jesus actually suggesting that our neighbor could be this type of person. Samaritans and Jews had vastly different world views. Both religions came from the same starting point, but they had gotten to a point where when Jesus lived Samaritans and Jews were enemies. They had a different world view.
But in this story a Samaritan was helping a Jew.
The story concluded by the lawyer—the person who asked the first question—saying that a neighbor is a person who shows mercy.
From this story we learn that our calling from God is to share and show mercy to all people—especially people who have a different world view than us.
How hard do you find it to share mercy with someone who has a different world view than you? Please share.

Tuesday, October 15
Psalm 103:1-14
Thanksgiving for God’s Goodness
Of David.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.
Verse eight in this Psalm is one to memorize.
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
This is the perspective that God has for us. As followers of God, we are called to have the same perspective towards our neighbors—especially people who have a different world view than us.
Oftentimes it’s anger that leads us to have problems with a person who has a different world view. We see the person as less than human; we are quick to criticize; we might try to convince the person to change his or her views and conform to the views that we have.
The best way to relate to a person with a different world view is to be like God—merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
We can take hope in that this perspective on others is possible to share—even if it seems extraordinarily difficult. God is willing to help us be merciful people. Sometimes God is waiting for our prayers.
Do you have a story of someone sharing mercy with another person? Please share.
Wednesday, October 16
Matthew 9:10-13
And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
The Pharisees had a vastly different world view than tax collectors and sinners. Tax collectors were agents of the Roman government. They were often corrupt. A Pharisee often saw himself as righteous; they didn’t see themselves as sinners.
But here was Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus came to call sinners to his way.
Sometimes a way to relate to someone in a healthy world view is to invite the person out for dinner. Have a meal with them. Only talk about your differences if it seems to be a healthy and safe space to do so.
Having dinner with someone who is different turns the person into a human for us. We can see the person’s strengths and weaknesses.
With whom can you have dinner in the next week?

Thursday, October 17
Ephesians 4:11-16
He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.
Speaking the truth in love is a way we become mature followers of Jesus. As we read in this passage when we speak the truth in love we grow up.
Truth and love need each other. Speaking the truth without love can be judgmental and even harmful to the other person. Sharing love without sharing the truth can lead us to enable actions by another person that are not healthy.
You might have a person who has a different world view with whom you would like to speak the truth in love. An important way to do this is to first establish the love you have for the person. Go out of your way to convince the person that you care for the person. Your caring is authentic and especially real. You want the person to know and trust this.
From this atmosphere of love you can speak the truth.
Do you have a story of speaking the truth in love with someone? Without sharing names would you consider sharing the story?

Friday, October 18
Romans 13:8-10
Love for One Another
Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not murder; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
“Love does not wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.” Romans 13:10
To keep a person who has a different worldview as a friend, it’s essential to see the person as a neighbor. The person is not an enemy. Different views don’t have to make people oppose each other. As a neighbor you don’t have to change the other person’s mind or try to convince the person of the error (as you see it) in their ways.
Instead focus on love. And keep speaking the truth (see yesterday’s devotion.)
How hard is it to see people with different world views as your neighbor? This view of being a neighbor is not based on geography, of course. This view is based on the idea that everyone is our neighbor at some level.
Is this hard for you? On the scale of 1-10 with ten being the highest, what number would you give yourself? Please consider sharing your number.
Saturday, October 19
Psalm 75
Thanksgiving for God’s Wondrous Deeds
To the leader: Do Not Destroy. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.
We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks; your name is near. People tell of your wondrous deeds. At the set time that I appoint, I will judge with equity. When the earth totters, with all its inhabitants, it is I who keep its pillars steady. SelahI say to the boastful, “Do not boast,” and to the wicked, “Do not lift up your horn;do not lift up your horn on high or speak with insolent neck.”For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up,but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another. For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed; he will pour a draught from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs.But I will rejoice forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.
It’s easy to judge people with different world views than us. We might want to feel superior in our views; or we might want to look at the person as diminished because of his or her views.
This is not the way of faith.
Ultimately God is the one who judges. We are not called to judge others because God can do this.
Do you have a hard time resisting judgment or letting go of your judgment to God? If this is so, what is hard about resisting or letting go of judgment. Please share.

Daily Devotions October 7 - 12, 2024

Monday, October 7
Luke 4:1-8
The Testing of Jesus
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tested by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over he was famished.The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.”Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’ ”Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please.If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’ ”
Yesterday Pastor Paul talked about the relationship of Jesus to politics. Though Jesus never talked about politics or elections, he was very interested in what the world looked like. Just as political leaders are trying to shape the wider world, Jesus was trying to shape the world to look like the kingdom.
Jesus spoke often about the kingdom. The word, “kingdom” can be found 55 times in Matthew, 20 times in Mark, 43 times in Luke, and five times in John.
In this passage Jesus was being tempted by the devil. Jesus experienced three temptations. In this reading we looked at one temptation. The devil took Jesus to a high place and told him that Jesus would be the ruler off all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus bowed down to worship the devil.
The kingdoms could be thought of as the nations or territories in the world. The devil was offering Jesus the possibility of being the king of all these places.
The devil actually didn’t have the power to make Jesus the ruler of all of the kingdoms. The promise that the devil made was a false one.
The appeal to power didn’t have an effect on Jesus. Jesus was not willing to sacrifice his principles to be the leader of these kingdoms.
We might have had a moment in our own lives when we were tempted to sacrifice our own values to receive a gift or something that was attractive to us. These moments happen to every human.
Unfortunately, whether fairly or not, political leaders are thought of as people who will sacrifice their principles in order to receive power.
As you pray today, pray that our governmental leaders will stay true to their principles.
Tuesday, October 8
Luke 4:16-21
The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth
When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read,and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

This Scripture has often been shared in this devotion. This is the story of the first sermon that Jesus shared at his hometown synagogue of Nazareth. The people to whom Jesus was preaching were people that he knew well. They also knew Jesus well also.
Jesus never used the word, “kingdom” in his sermon, but the principles that he shared were consistent with other places where Jesus taught about the kingdom.
Jesus made the claim that this Scripture—which was from Isaiah 61—was now fulfilled in him. Jesus represented the Kingdom to everyone who encountered him.
How surprising it must have been for the people in the synagogue to think that Jesus was going to fulfill the Kingdom. These people knew Jesus from when he was very young. They might not have expected that Jesus was going to be the one who would live out the values of the kingdom.
Surprise is part of our faith life. Do you have a time when you were surprised in your own faith life, that is you experienced something that was from God that you weren’t expecting? Please share.
Wednesday, October 9
Matthew 4:17
From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
This verse describes the main message of Jesus. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
This is the same message that John the Baptist shared a chapter earlier, see Matthew 3:2.
The point that was being made is Jesus was the Kingdom. He was bringing heaven into earth to share the teachings and principles of the Kingdom. Not only that he represented the Kingdom to others. Jesus was the Kingdom.
Immediately after Jesus shared this message, Jesus recruited people to join him in his task of communicating the Kingdom. Jesus recruited Peter, James and John to join him on his task. Later he recruited the other disciples.
What’s significant is that the kingdom is created in community. Creating the Kingdom is not a one-person task. Groups of people in community do this. We can deduce from this story the importance of the church in creating the Kingdom.
Have you ever had a time in the church when you felt that you were helping to create the Kingdom? Please share.
Thursday, October 10
Matthew 8:5-13
Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant
When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to himand saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress.”And he said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me, and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.” When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and will take their places at the banquet with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; let it be done for you according to your faith.” And the servant was healed in that hour.
In verse eleven Jesus was making a broad statement about who was invited to be in the Kingdom. “I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.”
The Kingdom that Jesus was creating was not just meant for the Jewish people. It was meant for everyone. It eventually would expand beyond the Jews to include others who were not Jews.
This expansion of the Kingdom is important for us to understand. The task of the Kingdom is always to invite everyone to join. It’s not meant for a select few. It’s meant for everyone—including people who have been excluded in the past for the Kingdom.
No matter what a person’s age, gender, racial composition, or sexual orientation that person is welcome to the Kingdom.
Jesus was not interested in excluding people from the Kingdom. He wanted to welcome people no matter how they were viewed by others.
What are your thoughts about this? Please share.
Friday, October 11
Matthew 25:31-46
The Judgment of the Nations
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You who are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment but the righteous into eternal life.”
Like Luke 4 this passage is very familiar to people who read this devotion. Jesus was sharing a vision of helping and serving those who were hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick, or in prison. Jesus was making a statement about who was welcome into the Kingdom.
When Jesus lived it might have been easy for people to think that people who were hungry, or thirsty or sick or in prison weren’t welcome to the Kingdom. That the challenges that they experienced in life would preclude them from being invited to the Kingdom. In fact Jesus made the opposite claim. Those who lived on the margins were especially welcome to the Kingdom. When people served these people, they served Jesus.
Each of us has heard this passage so often, that the power of the story might be lost on it. Imagine how this affected the people who actually hear the story. The Kingdom was not made up of good and righteous people. It was made up of people who were struggling.
What are your thoughts about this passage. Please share.

Saturday, October 12
John 3:1-10
Nicodemus Visits Jesus
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with that person.”Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?”Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above. ’The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
Nicodemus was a respected Jewish leader who had this conversation with Jesus because he was curious about Jesus.
Jesus started out the conversation by saying “No one can see the Kingdom without being born from above.” John 3:3
Some people have translated the end of this verse to say born again.
Jesus was teaching many ideas in this story. One is that our faith is central to creating the Kingdom. When we are connected to God and following God we receive an energy or power to create the Kingdom.
Perhaps your prayer today can be, “Lord, thank you for telling Nicodemus about the kingdom. In my life today may I be an instrument of yours. Show me how to live out the kingdom.”

Daily Devotions Sept. 30 - Oct. 5, 2024

Monday, September 30
Matthew 25:31-46
The Judgment of the Nations
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You who are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’And these will go away into eternal punishment but the righteous into eternal life.”
This week we’re going to have the opportunity to look at what it means to be a peacemaker.
One way we carry peace is regarding our attitude towards the poor and those who are suffering. It’s too easy to blame people who are poor for their own poverty. We might think that someone who lives below the poverty line had made choices that has caused them to be poor. We might think that a person living in poverty is lazy or isn’t interested in working.
Jesus was very clear that these attitudes to the poor stand against the attitude he wants his followers to have.
He wanted people to see him in the face of those who live in poverty. In these verses he wanted his followers to help those who are hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked. In helping and serving we were helping him.
Instead of seeing a person who is poor as lazy or deserving of their fate, Jesus wanted each of us to see his face in a person living in poverty.
How are you doing at judging the poor? What gets in the way for you in seeing the face of Jesus in someone who is in poverty? Please share.

Tuesday, October 1
Matthew 5:9
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Peacemakers seem to be a bit different. A person who identifies as a peacemaker often looks at situations differently than others. When a war breaks out, a peacemaker thinks about how he or she can help end the war. When people are hungry, a peacemaker wants to know how he or she can help. When people are suffering from abuse, a peacemaker wants to enter into the situation and not leave it.
These behaviors are not common among many people. It’s easier to play it safe and stay on the sidelines instead of entering into the pain of a situation as a peacemaker.
Jesus is a marvelous example of a peacemaker. When he saw people were hurting, he didn’t ignore them. He always wanted to help them. He didn’t judge people for their situation; he asked questions about how people could leave their situation; he didn’t criticize people who were suffering; instead he had compassion for them.
In this one verse from Matthew Jesus displayed his love for peacemakers. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
It’s not always easy to be a peacemaker. But Jesus encourages us to follow his call to be peacemakers.
How well do you identify yourself as a peacemaker? What are the obstacles you encounter to being a peacemaker? What are some obstacles that prevent you from being a peacemaker. Consider sharing your responses to these questions.

Wednesday, October 2
Isaiah 11:1-9
The Peaceful Kingdom
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see or decide by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge for the poor and decide with equity for the oppressed of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist and faithfulness the belt around his loins. The wolf shall live with the lamb; the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the lion will feed together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
These verses share a marvelous vision of peace. In the first five verses Isaiah shared a vision for a person who would help lead Israel out of suffering and into peace. This person would have a spirit of wisdom and understanding and counsel and might. This person would have the spirit of knowledge and the fear or respect for the Lord. The person would be committed to righteousness. In fact righteousness was the way this person would view the poor.
In the last four verses Isaiah shared a vision of peace or shalom. In this vision traditional enemies in the natural world would be able to live together. A wolf and a lamb would be able to live together. A cow and a bear would graze in the same field without threatening each other. A baby could put his or her hand over a spider’s nest and not be afraid.
Many see these words and have shared that Isaiah was predicting the future Messiah. He was sharing that a man (who we know as Jesus) would be coming.
But just to see this Scripture as a prediction would be to miss the power of the story.

Thursday, October 3
Genesis 26:26-33
Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army. Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?” They said, “We see plainly that the Lord has been with you, so we say, let there be an oath between you and us, and let us make a covenant with youso that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.”So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank.In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths, and Isaac set them on their way, and they departed from him in peace.That same day Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well that they had dug and said to him, “We have found water!” He called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beer-sheba to this day.
Isaac and Abimelech were not friends. If you have some extra time, read the entire 26^th chapter of Genesis to learn the story.
Abimelech came to the conclusion that Isaac was not an enemy. In fact Isaac was blessed by God. Abimelech desired to have an oath between him and Isaac. It’s worth reading again the words that Abimelech said to Isaac. “We see plainly that the Lord has been with you; so we say, let there be an oath between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you so that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace.” Genesis 26:28-29
The word peace comes from the Hebrew word, “shalom.” Shalom is more than an absence of war. It is a state of peace and comfort and security and wholeness. When people experience shalom in relationships they want to keep it.
In the past Pastor Paul has encouraged people to say “shalom” to someone instead of saying, “goodbye.” Try doing this during this coming week. How do you think this would work? Please share.

Friday, October 4
Micah 6:6-8
What God Requires
“With what shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?
To be a peacemaker means we are going to advocate or justice. These three verses from Micah are three of the most clear verses in the Bible about what it means to advocate for justice. The Lord requires that peacemakers will: Do justice, Love kindness, Walk humbly with God.
That seems simple, right?
Pastor Paul has shared one way to think of justice as asking three questions. Is the poverty rate going down? Are more people accessing food shelves? Are more people homeless?
Doing justice is not easy. It means we have to ask questions that might seem threatening. It might mean we enter into messy situations.
Who do you know who is a role model for justice for you? Please share.

Saturday, October 5
Romans 5:1-5
Results of Justification
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance,and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Through Christ we have personal peace with God. This peace is a type of serenity that we carry with us in our spirits. This peace is different than the peacemaking that we’ve read in other devotional readings this week. However, this peace is still significant.
How have you experienced peace because of your relationship with God? Has your relationship with God given you more peace?
Please share.

Events

Church Calendar

Please note that the Google calendar is not showing up on iPhones, but will show up on Android devices and all desktop computers (including iMac). Your patience is appreciated while we troubleshoot this issue!

Community Gardens

Chain of Lakes Church is excited to offer a Community Garden Ministry next to the new church building at 2650 125th Ave NE, Blaine, MN 55449. It’s just east of Malmborg’s Garden Center on 125th Ave NE in Blaine or .8 miles east of Radisson Rd on 125th Ave NE, Blaine.