Christ the King Lutheran Church - Gladwin, Mi.
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The Gospel in Scales

Clever Words: A Lenten Devotional

3/18/2019

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A Clever Word for the Season of Lent

κλαίω (klaiō) to wail, lament

A Clever Verse for Context
For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears (klaiō). (Philippians 3:18)

Clever Reflections
Spiritual
We have this assumption that somehow disciples of Jesus get to put their feelings away.  As if the love of Jesus just fills every corner of our hearts and suddenly we don’t need coffee in order to be decent human beings anymore.  But feelings are persistent.  Love, compassion, and hope are just as much a part of being human as frustration, rage, and jealousy.  I have a hunch that the Apostle Paul was someone who had very big feelings and becoming a follower of Jesus did not make those feelings any less overwhelming.  But here he is, proclaiming the gospel even as he cries (klaiō).  What is Paul feeling? Frustration at the difficulty of his work? Despair that for all of his preaching and teaching so much is not as it should be?  Fear at what is to come?  Regardless, the magnitude of his feelings does not discredit his work.  Jesus calls us to follow even and especially when we are mad, sad, crabby, and hopeless.  Sometimes the most faithful disciples have the biggest feelings.     

Literary
Different languages are not just different sets of vocabulary with the same underlying structure - they have distinct modes of expression. Modern English tends to favor the use of nouns and noun-phrases, whereas ancient Greek uses more verbs and verbal constructions. So, for example, the phrase “with tears” at Philippians 3:18 is communicated through a verbal construction in Greek: “and now I tell you this even as I am wailing (klaiō).” Near the beginning of Homer’s Odyssey, we find Penelope “weeping” or “wailing” (klaiō) for her “dear husband Odysseus,” who has been gone for twenty years (see Odyssey 1.383).

Clever Questions for Further Reflection
What are your big feelings?  How do they contribute to your ministry and how do they get in the way?

​When have you had to work while crying?


A Clever Prayer to Close

Here my cry oh God.
Listen to my prayer.
Listen to my song.
Singing praises all day long.
                           ~Ray Makeever

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    Journey through the season of Advent with daily updates on the adventures of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Belliacre, MI as they attempt to cobble together a Christmas Pageant with an unlikely cast of characters.   

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    Amelia Corbett
    Amelia is a cool chick, who enjoys board game construction, elephants, and overall tom foolery. She lives in Gladwin with her parents and younger sister Beatrice.  

    Pastor Emily Olsen
    The charmingly weird Pastor Emily is blessed to live in Beaverton, serve the people of Christ the King Lutheran in Gladwin, and stand up paddleboard in just about any body of water she can find.  She has cats not snakes, but wouldn't hesitate to take in a stray python. tarantula, or dinosaur should it show up on her doorstep.  

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    Stephanie Dubbs
    Stephanie is an art educator and a landscape/portrait artist.  Her inspirations come from the amazing people she meets and the gorgeous state of Michigan as well as her home state of Florida.  She and he husband love nature.  They are out in the water during the summer months and on the snow in the winter enjoying the simple pleasures of life.  
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Christ the King Lutheran Church
600 S. M 18 
Gladwin, Mi. 48624
989-426-1659
Pastor Emily Olsen
pastor.ctkinggladwin@gmail.com


Email ctkinggladwin@gmail.com for correction or to have information included on this web page
  • Home
    • Pictorial Directory
    • Contact Us
    • Links
  • Worship Procedures
  • Who are We
    • Mission and Vision
    • Staff and Office Hours
    • Church Council
    • History
    • Newsletter
    • Calendar
  • Faith Formation
    • Sunday School
    • Christ the King Youth
    • Camping Ministry
    • Kids Club
    • Confirmation
    • Vacation Bible School
  • Ministries
    • Stephen Ministry
    • Quilting
    • Food Distribution
    • Backpacks for kids
    • Prayer Shawl Ministry
    • Parish Nurse
    • Columbarium
  • Worship
    • Schedule of Worship
    • How we worship
    • Children
  • Special Events
  • Budget / Annual Meeting
  • Blog