February 22, 2016: Someone Excluded

Luke 5:12-16

In a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy (v. 12, KJV).

Within a chapter of his reference to Elisha healing a leper, Jesus is himself doing the same. Although both the sick men were “outsiders,” the point about Naaman in the Old Testament is that he was “outside” primarily because he was foreign. But the point about this man in the Gospel of Luke is that he was “outside” simply because of his leprosy.

Perhaps that is why the wording of verse 12 seems to express shocked surprise. The King James translation sticks closer to Luke’s original than most: “Behold a man full of leprosy,” as if to say, “Will you look at that, a leper! Here, in town?” Like every sufferer from such disease, this man had been shut out from his local community, his home, and his family, to live in wretched isolation. He was not supposed to be in the town. Perhaps he had crept back into it surreptitiously, desperate to find the Jesus he had heard about, the only one he believed capable of healing him.

To everyone else he was an untouchable, literally beyond the pale. But not even this man was beyond the reach of the Savior of the world. None of us is, no matter what our spiritual condition.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that you have reached out even to me.

Today’s devotional was written by Michael Wilcock, a retired pastor in the Church of England. This Lenten series comes from Words of Hope, whose mission is to build the church in the hard places through media. To learn more about the organization or subscribe to Words of Hope’s daily devotions, visit www.woh.org.

February 21, 2016: Let Down the Nets!

Luke 5:1-11

What a story! Peter and the others had been fishing all night and hadn’t caught one fish. They were discouraged. A hot meal and a comfortable bed would suit each of them fine. But Jesus tells them to go out into the deep water one more time and let down their nets. Without hesitation, they do it. Peter says, “We really don’t see the point, Jesus, but if you say so, down go the nets!” That’s obedience.

Next came the blessing. Having done what Jesus asked, they received what Jesus promised. They caught so many fish that their boats began to sink. And Peter drops to his knees before Jesus. Here is a picture of worship. Confronted by the power of the Master, Simon sees his own inadequacy. He realizes he is not worthy to be in the presence of the Son of God. But the grace of Jesus reaches out, pulls an obedient Peter to his feet, and commissions him to go forth and “catch men.”

This story is our story. Jesus calls us to “put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch” (v. 4). There are people around us whom God wants on board his boat—the Church. He commands us to seek them out, to be “fishers of men.” If we obey, God will bless our efforts. We, too, will be awed by the results. So, go forth and “let down the nets.”

Prayer: Jesus, I know someone who needs you. Give me the courage to obey you and go fishing. Amen.

Today’s devotional was written by Anthony Vis, a retired pastor in the RCA. This Lenten series comes from Words of Hope, whose mission is to build the church in the hard places through media. To learn more about the organization or subscribe to Words of Hope’s daily devotions, visit www.woh.org.

February 19, 2016: Who Told You About Jesus?

Luke 4:16-21

The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor (v. 18).

Who told you about Jesus? Somebody did. Maybe a parent sat at your bedside when you were a child and read Bible stories to you and prayed with you. Maybe a college roommate shared her faith with you. Maybe you heard a sermon and you felt the preacher was talking just to you, as though you were the only one in the room. And you were changed. You may not remember the day or the person. But know this: somebody, somewhere, at some time, told you about Jesus.

Whom have you told? I hope you’re not keeping the good news to yourself. You may think that everybody’s already heard, that there’s nobody left to tell. But there are millions who haven’t heard, and many who once heard have forgotten and need to hear it again.

When Jesus stood up in the synagogue in Nazareth and read from the Isaiah scroll, he said: “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news.” Jesus was anointed to preach—to proclaim good news. For two thousand years, people have been telling other people the good news, until finally somebody told you. And now it’s your turn: whom will you tell?

Prayer: Lord, make me a witness.

Today’s devotional was written by Lou Lotz, the pastoral leader of Central Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This Lenten series comes from Words of Hope, whose mission is to build the church in the hard places through media. To learn more about the organization or subscribe to Words of Hope’s daily devotions, visitwww.woh.org.

February 18, 2016: Teachers Change Lives

Luke 4:14-15

He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone (v. 15).

When my son was in elementary school he would come home from school saying, “Mrs. Johnson said…” and he would proceed to relate some insight, some nugget of truth, that his teacher had implanted into his little noggin. Often, this new truth was something I had already told him a hundred times. But I was only his father. Mrs. Johnson was his teacher.

You’d never know it by their salaries, but teachers are powerful. Teachers change lives. They open our eyes to worlds we didn’t know existed—Shakespeare, geometry, music, economics. Is there anyone, anywhere, who hasn’t been affected by a teacher?

The title most often applied to Jesus was rabbi, or “teacher.” Luke says that Jesus began his public ministry by going to the synagogue to teach. Shortly thereafter, Jesus went to Capernaum, and Luke says the crowds were “astounded at his teaching, because he spoke with authority” (4:32). Jesus was a teacher.

We all need a teacher to teach us, to impart some life-changing truth we don’t know, or did know once but forgot—that God loves us, unreservedly and completely, now and forever.

Prayer: Teach me, Lord, what I need to learn.

Today’s devotional was written by Lou Lotz, the pastoral leader of Central Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This Lenten series comes from Words of Hope, whose mission is to build the church in the hard places through media. To learn more about the organization or subscribe to Words of Hope’s daily devotions, visitwww.woh.org.

February 14, 2016: Are You Listening?

Luke 3:1-6

John the Baptist was on a mission from God. He was a prophet, a man totally consumed by the things of God. He didn’t see things as others saw them; he saw things through the eyes of God. When John spoke, he spoke for God. And he could speak for God because first he listened to God. Says Luke, “the word of God came to John…in the desert.” In the desert—the lonely, desolate desert where John had gone to meet with God, where John had gone to be quiet before God, where John had gone to listen for the voice of God.

In Irving Shaw’s play, “Saint Joan,” Joan of Arc hears voices from God. The king, who will one day condemn her to death at the stake, is irritated by this. “Oh, your voices, your voices,” he says. “Why don’t your voices come to me? I am the king, not you.”

“They do come,” replies Joan. “They do come, but you do not hear them.”

What about us? Are we choosing to hear? When the voices speak today—and they do still speak—are we listening? When the prophets of God sound the alarm today, are we choosing to hear? God’s usual method of speaking to us is through the Bible. We must read so we can hear him speak.

Prayer: Lord, open our eyes that we may see Jesus. Open our ears that we may hear your still, small voice speaking words of truth, comfort, and direction. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today’s devotional was written by Anthony Vis, a retired pastor in the RCA. This Lenten series comes from Words of Hope, whose mission is to build the church in the hard places through media. To learn more about the organization or subscribe to Words of Hope’s daily devotions, visit www.woh.org.

February 11, 2016: Sing, Christian, Sing!

Luke 2

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude (v. 13).

Christians sing, and the five songs punctuating the opening chapters of the Gospel of Luke are a kind of pitch pipe to prompt ours. The first of the five songs is the angel’s announcement to Mary of the coming birth of Jesus, known as The Annunciation. The second is Mary’s praise-filled response, The Magnificat. The third is the heart-swelling song of joy sung by Zechariah, called The Benedictus. The fourth is the praise of a multitude of angels singing, “Glory to God in the highest,” The Gloria. And the fifth is Simeon’s satisfied song, “Lord, let now thy servant depart in peace,” known as the Nunc Dimittis.

You may certainly forget the formal names of each of these songs, but please don’t forget what they represent: the centuries-old practice of Christians to sing! Christians singing is one of the evidences of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:19), a witness to unbelievers (Acts 16:25), and the occupation of those gathered around the throne of God in glory (Revelations 5). Christians sing!

Some dear friends of the ministry of Words of Hope, and of my wife Nancy and me as well, are Stephen and Margaret Kaziimba. They live in difficult conditions in Uganda, but you would never know that by their remarkable practice of singing. Often when we are with them, they will simply break into a song of praise. I think they are living examples of this instinct of the Gospel of Luke. Christians sing!

Prayer: Give us tongues to sing your praises, Lord!

Today’s devotional was written by Tim Brown, president and Henry Bast professor of preaching at Western Theological Seminary. This Lenten series comes from Words of Hope, whose mission is to build the church in the hard places through media. To learn more about the organization or subscribe to Words of Hope’s daily devotions, visit http://www.woh.org.

April 1

Michelle McIlroy is a former arts staff member at Camp Fowler, and is currently an elementary teacher and parent of campers.

Hebrews 12:1-3

I discovered running on the soccer field in high school, and soon I was no stranger to the muscles-screaming-to-quit fatigue that requires, more than anything, mental tenacity to push through. During intense college years, running became my release, the way I could drop the baggage that was weighing me down. But if you’d asked me if I liked to run, my answer would have been, “No, I don’t…but I like what it does to me.” Running was a way to get to the greater reward of a peaceful mind and quiet heart, even if that quiet only lasted for a few hours. Ironically, a “quiet heart” is just the opposite of what I got: A few years out of college, a cardiac emergency sidelined me from running for good. Gone was the option of running in the woods, filling myself with the fresh forest air, racing to find fleeting tranquility. Gone was the pride of being a runner. A new course had been set before me.

I’d always focused on this verse in Hebrews as a mantra for marathons: “Ditch the baggage and run the race!” “Press on to the goal!” “Don’t quit when you’re tired!” It’s proof that God loves runners, right? He even gives us our own cheering section—the “great cloud of witnesses.” But when I read Hebrews 11, where the “cloud of witnesses” is identified…yikes. This isn’t a marathon like I’ve ever heard of. My cheering section is made up of people who faced persecution, oppression, rejection, and many who died gruesome deaths at the hands of the world. What kind of cheering section is that?!? Plus, Hebrews 12:2-3 tells us that we can’t even handle this race without looking to Jesus. Jesus, who endured the cross—the shame, agony, and abandonment of the cross—is our champion. That’s who we are running for and guided by: a persecuted man who died in agony like a criminal? This clearly isn’t a race designed by Nike. But Hebrews 12:2-3 shows us just a glimpse of the finish line: he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Let that sink into your soul. We aren’t running for temporary tranquility, momentary medals, or fleeting fame. This race is about eternal endorsement. If that isn’t worth the grueling discipline required of a marathon runner, I don’t know what is.

My running shoes are gathering dust in a closet these days. I’ve traded running for a physical therapy regimen, battling my body. But God has set this new race course for me, and has allowed me to see my cloud of witnesses with fresh eyes because of it. They aren’t Olympic champions, and it sounds like many of them never even came close to earthly peace. But they were champions of faith, because they never quit the course. Despite struggling to walk correctly these days, I’m running God’s race with endurance and my eyes set on Jesus—the only way any of us can cross that finish line. When I am weary, I have to look to Jesus to find the strength to take another step. If I run this race the way God calls me to, I can join the great cloud of runners worthy of calling Jesus our champion. And that is an honor greater than winning a marathon ever would be.

Prayer: Lord, may we not close our eyes today, but keep them fixed on you. And may our ears hear the din of cheers coming from that great cloud of witnesses, motivating us to keep moving toward your finish line. Amen.

The 2015 Lenten reflections were submitted by staff, volunteers, board members, campers, and friends who have spent time at Camp Fowler in New York.

For this year’s Lent devotions, the days follow the Common Lectionary texts. Each author was invited to: 1.Read the passage.
2.Read a couple passages before and after the assigned day.
3.Do something else for the day, keeping the passage in mind.
4.Find a word/phrase/concept that connects with your own experience. Reflect on that.
You are encouraged to do the same.

March 30

Kent Busman is Camp Fowler’s executive director.

Isaiah 42:1-9

Lent is drawing to its bitter close. We marched with the peaceful King on his colt yesterday and heard the crowds cheering. The “light to the nations” is about to be darkened. The one who opens “the eyes of the blind” will have his eyes shut and be placed in his own dungeon-tomb.

But not today. Today Jesus looks around and perhaps Isaiah’s song of praise and resistance is on his lips. Like the prophet, Jesus could see the reality before him: betrayals, curses, and a cross. But there was more to come, to use the words of musician Bruce Cockburn, “just beyond the range of normal sight.”

In our walk with the Christ, often we lose sight of the bigger picture. Isaiah is a reminder to us of what the journey is for. It’s not for our own glory or victory. We live in faith in order to be a light to find the captives and those in prison and all those cast aside. And then, like Isaiah, we will walk with them to the far side of Lent and the One who waits for us there.

Prayer: Lord, let us not fall prey to those who would have us confess your name, but abandon the ones you came to redeem. May we be part of Isaiah’s vision, stretching out as far as your heavens. And give us courage as we stand with them, waiting for the “former things to pass” and listening for the “new things you now declare.”

The 2015 Lenten reflections were submitted by staff, volunteers, board members, campers, and friends who have spent time at Camp Fowler in New York.

For this year’s Lent devotions, the days follow the Common Lectionary texts. Each author was invited to: 1.Read the passage.
2.Read a couple passages before and after the assigned day.
3.Do something else for the day, keeping the passage in mind.
4.Find a word/phrase/concept that connects with your own experience. Reflect on that.
You are encouraged to do the same.

March 28

Nancy Landrigan served as moderator of Camp Fowler’s board of trustees and is a volunteer cabin counselor. She also coordinates Fowler’s day camp program at First Church Albany.

Mark 15:1-39

This is such a heavy passage; almost too heavy to tackle in one sitting. In these 39 verses, it’s abundantly clear that Jesus has made enemies. He did not come to affirm the status quo, to protect the powerful, or to bless the privileged. He came to proclaim good news to the poor, set prisoners free, and restore sight to the blind.

As I am writing this, we are just a couple weeks past election day. I think of the promises our politicians make to us during every election season—promises to make our lives better and easier. And so I wonder: if Jesus came back today, would we want to hear his campaign promises? Or would we, like the priests, the elders, and the scribes, do all in our power to be sure his message could not be proclaimed? Would we, like the crowds, get swept up in the uproar and propaganda, shouting, “Crucify him, crucify him”?

We are called to live as Christ lived, love as he loved, and sacrifice as he sacrificed. May we truly live as a people called to be Christ’s presence in this world.

Prayer: Lord, grant us the courage to live as Jesus would have us live. Show us how to give up power and privilege and to embrace equality and balance. May we be your presence in this world so that one day all will proclaim, “Truly this man is the Son of God.”
The 2015 Lenten reflections were submitted by staff, volunteers, board members, campers, and friends who have spent time at Camp Fowler in New York.

For this year’s Lent devotions, the days follow the Common Lectionary texts. Each author was invited to:
Read the passage.
Read a couple passages before and after the assigned day.
Do something else for the day, keeping the passage in mind.
Find a word/phrase/concept that connects with your own experience. Reflect on that.
You are encouraged to do the same.

March 27

Emma Conrick was a camper and S.W.i.M. volunteer at Camp Fowler, and this summer will be her first on staff as a wilderness guide.

Philippians 2:5-11

In the verses just before this passage, Paul says, “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, any comfort from his love, any fellowship with the Spirit, any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” Jesus made himself humble, and even though he was God, he “did not consider equality with God something to be grasped [achieved].” So how can we? How can we possibly meet those standards if Jesus did not consider it possible for himself?

The answer? We do as Jesus did. Paul draws a parallel between “servant” and “human likeness,” between “man” and “humbled.” If we claim to be Christians, our actions and our attitudes should reflect to others the spirit of Jesus Christ. To serve is to love and to serve is to be loved. If we work for others, if we set aside our own desires and attitudes, then we truly bring that love to the world around us. We live for God.

And this is not just in vain hope. We will be recognized in the final days, for as “God exalted [Jesus] to the highest place,” we too will know the love of God and the reward he has for each of us. We will “shine like stars in the universe” and be raised from the death of the earth.

Prayer: May we learn to accept the help God has offered through his Son and his Spirit, and humble ourselves in front of God to become servants just as Christ Jesus did. May we trust in the Lord and give him our souls so that his light may shine through us, even in the darkest of days, until he comes for us and we may leave.

The 2015 Lenten reflections were submitted by staff, volunteers, board members, campers, and friends who have spent time at Camp Fowler in New York.

For this year’s Lent devotions, the days follow the Common Lectionary texts. Each author was invited to: 1.Read the passage.
2.Read a couple passages before and after the assigned day.
3.Do something else for the day, keeping the passage in mind.
4.Find a word/phrase/concept that connects with your own experience. Reflect on that.
You are encouraged to do the same.