I recently heard about a Marine field exercise that took place at Camp Lejeune, N.C. A night patrol was making their way through some thick brush when halfway through, they realized they’d lost their map. The patrol navigator informed the rest of the squadron that the odds were 1 in 360 to make it back to their base of operations. One of the Marines asked, “How did you come up with that figure? One chance in 360?” “Well,” the navigator replied, “one of the degrees on the compass has to be right!” 

Obviously, those Marines were lost! Thankfully, it was only a training exercise, but they were lost, nonetheless. I think most of us have had those moments when we’ve felt lost and without direction.

There is a line in a popular song by Jack Johnson that resonates with me. He sings, “Getting lost is not a waste of time.”

No doubt feeling lost and without direction can be disconcerting. But, those moments are also heavy with potential. God is giving us the opportunity to look around and notice the blessings that surround us even now. We also are given a reason to reflect back on where we’ve been and to think again about where we thought we were headed. These “lost” moments are times to ask, “God where would you have me go? What is the next right step for me?”

I happen to believe that we worship a God who wastes nothing. God can use our past, and even our uncertain present to do new things in us and through us. May it be so.

Our prayer today comes from the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship. Let us pray:

Eternal God, you call us to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Yesterday I asked the question: Why did you begin following Jesus?

I remember when I was teaching high school, before going into the ministry. In fact, I was just kind of dipping my toes in the water of faith. I had been away from the church for years. I struck up a friendship with another teacher. He was a fellow surfer and had a pretty deep faith. I remember he often spent evenings and weekends mentoring youth – going to youth groups and soccer games and plays. And this was not because he got extra compensation – he didn’t.

I remember asking him why… Why do you do this? We were in our twenties. We could be surfing more. We could be fishing. We could be hanging out. And he said: You know these teenage years can be so difficult. And with all they are going through, I know it is hard for them to find a place to feel accepted just as they are. And if they don’t find it, they’ll keep looking – maybe they think they’ll find it with alcohol or drugs or the wrong crowd…And I believe God loves them and accepts – no strings attached.

I said, “I believe that too.”  

He said: Then we can’t just tell them. We have to show them… 

Yeah. I believe that too. Not just kids…

In the moment, it was enough of an answer to get me thinking: There’s something to this. Years later when I was in seminary, I worked one summer as a counselor to the homeless through a mission in inner-city Atlanta. One of the other councilors was a former addict himself. He had been on the street. And he would say, “It is only by the grace of God that I’m on this side of the desk… And I believe that if Jesus can rescue me, he can rescue anybody…”

He can rescue anybody… I believe that too. I’ve seen it.

And I remember many different people across the churches I’ve served over the years, not living perfect lives – but making attempts at compassion and grace, and forgiveness. Sometimes succeeding and sometimes failing. Sometimes supporting one another, sometimes not… but I’ve seen enough lives touched, enough hearts changed, enough past healed… And I’ve seen my own life deepen, and my own heart change… enough to believe this path with Christ is a gift.

Well, that just begins to touch on why I follow Christ. How about you? Why do you follow him?

Let us pray: Thank you, O God, for giving us glimpses of your hand at work through other people. Thank you for calling us to walk this path with Jesus – a path of grace, healing, compassion, and peace. Sustain us and bless us on this journey, so that we might be a blessing to you and to others. Amen. 

Today’s message was written by my friend Rev. Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.

I remember an old story about a family that had twin boys. One son grew up and became an alcoholic. When someone asked him why, he said, “Because of my father.” The other son grew up and became a minister, and he dedicated his ministry to working with and helping alcoholics. When someone asked him why, he said, “Because of my father.” The two sons grew up in the same environment. One was trapped, shackled, paralyzed, and pulled down by his situation. The other turned to God and rose above it all. 

Sometimes we hear people say, “I’m doing the best I can under the circumstances.” Well, a friend of Dial Hope, we don’t have to live under the circumstances. By the grace of God, we can rise above them. We don’t need to remain victims. God can make us victors. We know that with the help of God, we can rise above our circumstances. The Apostle Paul said, “l can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13). 

Lord, thank you for keeping us moving and growing and alive, but Lord, life can seem so complicated. We pray that in dealing with all the complexities of life, you would help us to learn the steps and the timing that will make us your effective workers and lead us each to develop his or her own choreography. 

Let us pray: Loving God, 
Help us to know when to embrace and when to let go; 
When to lean, when to stand alone; 
When to rest and when to dance; 
When to sit back and when to take a chance; 
When to follow and when to lead; 
When to doubt and when to believe; 
When to push and when to pull; 
When to take charge, when to flow; 
When to reflect and when to react; 
When to think and when to act. 
Thank you, Lord. 

Thank you, Lord, thank you so much for the gift of this day. Help us to make it a masterpiece. Now let love and hope break out like an epidemic. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

In the Gospel of John Jesus asks a man who is clearly suffering, “Do you want to be made well?” (John 5:2-6). At first, it seems like a silly question. If you were sick, of course, you would want to be made well. Who wouldn’t? But the truth is sometimes we get used to being the way that we are. We get used to our habits, our routines, and our lives, even when these habits, routines, and lives aren’t as healthy as they could be. And sometimes change appears to be more difficult than coping with the illness itself. 

Sometimes we need to let Jesus ask us this question, “Do you want to be made well?” 

 Now it is true that sometimes our answer to that question may be a resounding yes, and yet we still do not get the physical healing that we long for. It is also true that we may be willing to change or do whatever it takes, and the healing still doesn’t come. Even the Apostle Paul does not get the healing that he seeks (See 2 Corinthians 12:5-9).  

However, it’s still a good question – especially as it relates to our spiritual lives. Are we willing to let go of past hurts, grudges, and wrongs to offer forgiveness? Are we willing to do the hard work of changing unhealthy habits or routines? Are we willing to ask for the help we may need? Sometimes the healing we seek is within our reach. 

May you be open to Jesus’ question. And, more importantly, may you be open to the change he may desire to bring. And in doing so, I pray that you would find your soul being made well. 

Let us pray: Loving God, we want to be made well. We need your healing and your grace even now. Grant us the serenity to accept what we cannot change. Grant us the courage to change what we can. And grant us the wisdom to know the difference. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Today’s message was written by my friend, Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.

There’s a story of two cowboys out on the range caring for a large herd of buffalo. One of the cowboys says to the other, “These buffalo are the dirtiest, smelliest, ugliest creatures on the face of the earth.” Hearing this conversation, one nearby buffalo turns to another and says, “I thought out here we weren’t supposed to hear a discouraging word!”

Encouragement is the specialty of the people of God… that is what we do best. And, we take our cue from Paul who said, “Therefore let us encourage one another and build up each other…” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). In other words, each of us is of incredible worth to God. Every life is precious. 

A father and his daughter were on a cruise ship together after the untimely death of their wife and mother. As they stood on the deck of the ship one day, the little girl looked at her father and asked, “Daddy, does God love us as much as Mommy did?” The father thought for a moment and then said, “Honey, God’s love reaches farther than you can see in that direction.” He pointed to the far horizon. Then, pointing in the opposite direction, he added, “And God’s love reaches farther than you can see in this other direction.” He pointed up toward the sky. “God’s love is higher than the sky.” Finally, he pointed down over the rail of the ship. “God’s love is deeper than the ocean.” “Oh, and just think Daddy,” the daughter replied, “We’re here in the middle of it all!”

So it is. We are surrounded, loved, and treasured by God. Our lives are precious to God in every way. Friend of Dial Hope, spread encouragement, spread the Good News, the TA-DA! of the Gospel, and make today a masterpiece.

Loving God, we are awakened from our slumber to the promise of a new day; a day of breathing and walking, a day of laughter and joy. For this is the day that you have made! Help us today to spread encouragement, to put on the clothes of compassion, the garments of grace and hope and gentleness. We come to you because you have come to us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.