Connectionsfebruary 2018
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ConnectionsFebruary 2018 “Amazing love how rich and pure how measureless and strong from age to age it will endure and will ever be our song.” Contents 02 Feature | The Love of God Tim Sievers 02 03 Feature | A Gift of Hope Tina Laughary 05 Feature | Living Like Jesus & Loving Like Jesus Tracy Lee Sievers Sharing the Love of God Young Life 06 Feature | Ash Wednesday Is Near Pastor Corey Laughary 07 Feature | Sermon Schedule 06 Palouse Federated Church 635 N. Bridge St. Palouse, WA 99161 (509) 878-1509 www.palousechurch.org Corey Laughary, Senior Pastor Cell | (509) 336-9154 [email protected] 03 Tim Sievers Communication & Connection Director Bishop Place Ministry Team Leader 05 Cell | (509) 595-2778 [email protected] 05 had grown up in the church and never heard it before. And The Love of God I never gave it another thought – until we moved to Palouse Tim Sievers and it showed up in the 9 AM worship service one morning - the words and melody just a little different. But the verse One of my college friends sings and that spoke to me so powerfully before was right there in the plays with a worship band at his hymnal word for word. church in St. Louis, MO. In 2014, the band released a worship album So what was the song’s origin, I wondered. called Songs from the Book of Ephe- It turns out the original hymn is credited to Frederick Leh- sians, which featured a song that man, who composed it c. 1917. But, truly he can receive quickly became a favorite to me – credit only for the first two verses and the chorus – which The Love of God. are beautifully written of their own accord. That third I don’t know the science behind it, but there’s no doubt verse, the one that so impacted me, has deeper roots. It that music captivates the heart. The best song writers and has been widely reported that the third verse was found musicians combine their lyrics with music in a way that con- written on the wall of a patient’s room in an insane asylum, nects to your soul and stays with you long after the song perhaps in quiet moments of lucidity amidst the never- comes to an end. ending horrors of insanity. The lyrics spoke to me at that time and in all the years after But, its roots run deeper still to medieval Judaism. A Jew- they still strike a chord in my heart. No matter what I’ve ish rabbi and poet, Meir ben Yitshak Nehorai of Worms faced in terms of earthly or spiritual challenges they live (Germany) penned the words in the 11th Century in the face inside me. of great persecution as the crusaders marched across Eu- rope wreaking violence against the Jewish people. The po- The lyrics that speak most to me are these: em, alternately called both Akdamut or Hadamut, was writ- Could we with ink the oceans fill ten in Aramaic and consists of 99 couplets. And were the skies of parchment made Were every stalk on earth a quill Bolstered by its close relationship to a Yiddish folktale And every man a scribe by trade where a Jewish champion bests an oppressive sorcerer that To write the love of God above had killed more than 30,000 Jews, the poem found its way Would drain the oceans all dry into the Jewish liturgy surrounding the Feast of Shavuot or Nor could the scroll contain the whole Though it be stretched from sky to sky Pentecost. The demoralized and defeated Jewish popula- tions took heart from the words and found consolation, This song was so powerful to me ________ hope and strength to face the continued persecution. in the midst of my most recent “But in the midst The poem, in its original vernacular speaks of a great God. darkness. It’s easy, when things The unfortunate soul in the insane asylum slightly altered aren’t going your way to feel of those dark days, God would the ancient Jewish text to proclaim not God’s greatness or like God has abandoned you. I power, but his love. A love so great the Psalmist himself know, for myself, when people bring the words of this song to my couldn’t help but declare it time and time again in his writ- in my life, whom I loved and ings. Consider these verses from Psalm 103:8-11 - called friends, turned on me and mind and to my I subsequently lost my job, my heart. And so…I 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. home, and my reputation in the sang. I sang of 9 community – there were times I God’s love – rich He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. felt that way. Abandoned and – pure – measure- 10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, alone – tossed aside – all for be- less – strong. nor repay us according to our iniquities. ing faithful to God’s calling and And when I sang, 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, leading in my life. But in the my heart was re- so great is his steadfast love toward those who midst of those dark days, God focused and I fear him; would bring the words of this could see clearly God’s love is vast, unmeasured, rich, pure, strong and song to my mind and to my God’s love and steadfast. The psalmist knew it. Rabbi Meir knew it. I heart. And so…I sang. I sang of care all around know it. And I pray you come to know it too! God’s love – rich – pure – meas- me.” ureless – strong. And when I sang, my heart was refocused ________ and I could see clearly God’s ________ love and care all around me. He surrounded me with people who loved and encouraged us Listen to The Love of God and who financially supported us. And if that wasn’t evi- online at: dence enough of his deep love – he reminded me of his sac- rifice – surrendering the life of his own son to a cruel and music.thejourney.org/ gruesome death – that I might be able to have a relationship track/the-love-of-god with him. That’s Amazing Love! I thought, when I heard the song, that it was an original. I ________ 2|Depending on Jesus to Restore our [Imperfect] Lives February 2018 A Gift of Hope Tina Laughary Advance Care Planning People I love have gone through a lot Have you expressed your wishes for health care treatment of terrible, heavy things lately. Trage- and appointed the people you want making your decisions dy has struck. I cannot help but think if you are not able to make decisions for yourself? In other back to recent events in our family words - do you have an Advance Care Plan? that were tragic and terrible. When I am praying for my loved ones, in the Advance-care planning is a thoughtful, intentional, and midst of their tragedy, I pray for God’s meaningful process where you can reflect upon and dis- peace for them. Those are not vain or idle words to me. cuss what’s important - especially if you’re faced with a They are words of hope and expectation because I too have life-limiting illness or life-threatening injury. experienced God’s peace. It is a peace that my circumstanc- es did not warrant - a peace that I did not deserve to have - Often people mistakenly think advance-care planning a peace that comes only as a beautiful gift from God. His means receiving no care at all. Rather, it means receiving peace engulfs us and carries us through the storms of life. care that matches your wishes. It’s a heartfelt discussion of what life looks like for you and then puts your wishes Jesus prepared His disciples for the dark days in front of into a legal document. This guides your family and your them, saying in John 16:33 - healthcare providers in honoring your wishes. “In the world you will have tribulation. But take Pastor Corey is trained in facili- heart; I have overcome the world.” tating Advance Care Plans and would be glad to walk you Jesus never promised protection for his believers from the through the process. Please tragic events of this world. He did however promise us that contact him for more infor- He HAS overcome the world. He has won a victory against mation. the darkness. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection have changed the paradigm of this present world. All the death, all the pain, all the sadness, all injustice, all suffering is temporary. Jesus has ended it all. CHURCH ON A I know Jesus has overcome the world. I know suffering is temporary. I believe it in my mind and yet—it still hurts. HILL PODCAST Death “feels” permanent, pain “seems” unending. In these dark times we must hold tightly to the promises of God. We Pastor Corey Laughary and must remember who He is and that he can be trusted. Tim Sievers have started a new podcast. They review Our God is Good. Our God is love. Our God is light. Our God is hope. the sermon, discuss upcom- Our God is an anchor. Our God is the truth. ing events and ministry op- Our God is Life. Our God is mercy.