Living the Resurrection

08/24/2025

Stumbled upon worship in Golden Gate Park just outside the deYoung museum! A bit of evangelism anyone?

08/07/2025

Summer is almost over -- Don't plan your Fall schedule without us!

Start with worship, and if the sermon speaks to you, find the plenary in which that speaker offered a presentation. I suspect you’ll discover that “Faith in Civic Life: Seeking the Well-being of All” was more than the title of a social statement we passed, it was the “how to live it out” p...

06/04/2025

Thanks to all who have been following my page! I'm going to delete it because it has attracted some shady characters😎. I'll still be posting on my personal profile, Marj Funk-Pihl , and on our website, www.livingtheresurrection.com. Mike's devotions are available on his profile page, Mike Girlinghouse .

Living the Resurrection provides workshops, training and resources to help congregations thrive. Check out the free resources today.

05/27/2025

Expansive Love is Not Optional

Today's Readings: Habakkuk 2 , 2 Peter 1, Luke 6, Psalm 137

[Jesus said], “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them..."

According to Jesus, love is meant to be expansive, inclusive, broad. Like his love for us. It is not just for family and friends and those closest to us. Who did Jesus love? Everyone. Yes, even those who were opposed to his message and his ministry.

[Jesus said, "If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same..."

According to Jesus, our compassion, care and empathy is not transactional. Meaning, we don't care for others expecting them to, in turn, do good to us. There is no "bottom line" in our caring. As followers of Jesus we care because people need to be cared for. Period. Jesus himself didn't stop and ask if the people he healed deserved it. He just healed them.

[Jesus said], "If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive payment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again...

According to Jesus, generosity is not reciprocal either. We don't give expecting to get something back. We give because followers of Jesus give, just as Jesus gave his life for us.

[Jesus said,] Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." --Luke 6:32-36

For followers of Jesus, mercy is not optional. Mercy is not a sign of weakness or foolishness. It is a way of life. It is a command of our Lord. Like tiny daisies in the desert, it brings life and light to a weary world. No matter what the world may say.

I would echo what 2 Peter says, "Therefore I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you." --2 Peter 1:12.

Thanks for reading!

Peace,
Pastor Mike

PS: After today, my daily reflections can be found on my page, "Mike Girlinghouse" I invite you to follow me there!

05/17/2025

Slipping Away

Today's Readings: Habakkuk 1 , 1 Peter 5, Luke 5, Psalm 136

But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds were gathering to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. Meanwhile, he would slip away to deserted places and pray. --Luke 5:15-16

Even Jesus needed to take time off sometimes. In the midst of a very busy chapter of recruiting disciples, doing miracles and healing people there's this little pearl about Jesus slipping away to pray. A moment to catch his breath. To reflect. To chat with his Father. If even Jesus needed these times, then how about the rest of us? We too need those moments, minutes and times to catch our breath in the midst of the busy-ness of life. After all, even God rested on the seventh day! Right? All that to say, after a very busy spring semester, I'm taking a break. Maybe get some new pictures for my daily musings. Some new stories to tell. Some time to reflect. To pray. In the meantime, God be with you, watch over you and always remember that, as the Psalmist says, "God's steadfast love endures forever." (Psalm 136)

I saw the dried up plant in the picture on a hike back in February. I thought it looked like a hunched-over person. Self-portrait? Some days...

I'll be back at the keyboard on May 27. See you then!

Peace,
Pastor Mike

05/16/2025

"For it is written..."

Today's Readings: Nahum 3, 1 Peter 4, Luke 4, Psalm 135

Then the devil led Jesus to Jerusalem and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you..." --Luke 4:9-10

The Bible is a complicated book. That's because it is not "a" book, but a collection of writings that span centuries written, collected and edited by many hands with many different kinds and styles of writing. It is the witness of God's people to their experience with God as they lived out their faith in an ever-changing world. It has been said that if you pull a single verse out of its context you can make the Bible say anything you want. I believe that's true. As we see in today's Gospel, even the devil knows how to quote scripture, twisting it for his own purposes. We can do that too. True, I always start my daily reflections with a key verse. But I hope you read the whole passage! The context is important! I don't start these reflections with an idea and then go looking for a verse to back me up. The way we read these texts consecutively day by day forces us to listen to them and not skip over the uncomfortable ones. Some days I have to listen a long time! The Bible is a wonderfully complicated book. That's why I find it endlessly fascinating, challenging and powerful in shaping my own understanding of God and God's love for us all. I pray you do too.

Peace,
Pastor Mike

05/15/2025

Tell the Story

Today's Readings: Nahum 2, 1 Peter 3, Luke 3, Psalm 134

Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect. --1 Peter 3:15-16

These verses are my favorite evangelism text. The word "evangelism" means "share good news." That is, to tell the story of Jesus, his life of love, compassion, grace and mercy. The story of his death and resurrection. The story of the hope we have found in him. Our ministry has grown significantly in the past year. Our secret? There isn't one. It is about one person saying to another, "come and see." Check out the community of affirmation and acceptance we have found. Come and experience the belonging, meaning and purpose we have discovered in the Way of Jesus. We don't force our beliefs on anyone. We don't use threats or fear to motivate. We respect those who just want to observe, or who appreciate the community, but are not so sure about the story that motivates that community. We focus, not on numbers, but on growth in faith, love for one another and devotion to our Lord. We just keep telling the story with no apology to anyone who asks and let the Spirit do the rest.

Peace,
Pastor Mike

05/14/2025

Critical Years

Today's Readings: Nahum 1, 1 Peter 2, Luke 2, Psalm 133

The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him... ...And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years and in divine and human favor. --Luke 2:40, 52

In Luke's second chapter we go from Jesus' birth, to a glimpse of him at twelve to the beginning of his ministry around the age of thirty. Unfortunately, the intervening years are covered with two short verses. The other day I had a conversation with someone who teaches elementary school. I have a lot of respect for elementary school teachers because I couldn't do the important work that they do. I prefer Junior High and undergraduate college students. The teacher said he wouldn't trade with me! I like those two age groups because they are transitional times. Seventh and eighth graders are in the process of becoming youth. Undergrads are in the process of becoming adults. It's amazing to watch the change that happens during those years. The growth in maturity and wisdom. And in faith. That's why the church needs to invest more in confirmation programs, youth groups, camps, colleges and campus ministries. We can't just skip over those critical years! Not just because these children-becoming-adults are the future, but because they bring their unique vision and perspective and gifts to the church NOW. And, from where I sit, I think that is something the church desperately needs.

Peace,
Pastor Mike

05/13/2025

It's Still Easter.

Today's Readings: Micah 7, 1 Peter 1, Luke 1, Psalm 132

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials... --1 Peter 3, 6

It's still Easter! While the rest of the world (and many churches) have already packed away the Easter decorations, on the church's calendar we are just four weeks into our seven week long celebration of the Resurrection. A week of weeks to rejoice in the Good News that death has been defeated and that new life is ours. That doesn't mean our lives will be perfect. Free of trials and challenges. Free from pain, suffering, sorrow, or grief. It does mean we have a living hope for living in the midst of a broken world. Even more, it means we can deal with the trials of life confident that the Lord is with us. That we can, in spite of the odds that sometimes seem stacked against us, work for the healing of that brokenness and toward the vision of the Kingdom that Jesus proclaimed, lived and died for. We are reminded of this, not just during this Easter season, but every Sunday when we gather around word and sacrament in worship and praise of all that God has done, is doing and will do for us through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christ is Risen!
Christ is Risen Indeed!
Alleluia!

Happy Easter!

Peace,
Pastor Mike

05/12/2025

Kind Justice?

Today's Readings: Micah 6, James 5, Mark 16, Psalm 131

The LORD 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? --Micah 6:8

This well-known verse from Micah is nestled in between the questioning of empty sacrificial practices and Micah's further condemnation of the dishonesty, lies and violence of the wealthy. Worshipping God is not the point of faith. Being in humble relationship with God is. Accruing wealth is not the goal of life. Justice and kindness are. But that got me thinking. Is there a kind justice? Is there a just kindness? Can kindness be unjust? Can justice be unkind? That's probably the subject of a much longer essay! I'm sure the wealthy who heard Micah's prophesy didn't think him very kind! I'm sure that when the scribes and Pharisees were called hypocrites by Jesus they didn't find him kind either. But it really was a kindness. Like when a parent says "NO!" to correct a child who is doing something that could hurt themself or others. True justice is kindness because it is about creating a world where everyone has the opportunity to be who God created them to be, have their needs met with compassion and mercy, and find meaning and fulfillment in their lives. (Yes, even rats!) Living in a world like that would be pretty good. Wouldn't it?

The picture is of me in Tanzania in 2019 with a large rat. They train them to find hidden landmines. They're very good at it.

Peace,
Pastor Mike

05/10/2025

Graduation

Today's Readings: Micah 5, James 4, Mark 15, Psalm 130

Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. --James 4:14

It is graduation weekend at our university. I went to one of the graduation ceremonies yesterday. Over my 20+ years of campus ministry I have been to many of them! They haven't changed much. There are still the speeches filled with cliches about the future and all the things the graduates will accomplish. Messages that are hopeful, encouraging, uplifting. As it should be. But the ceremony got me thinking about all that I have experienced since my own graduation day. There have been plenty of highs and lows, grand adventures and crushing blows. Goals met and plans unrealized. That's life, right? And God has truly been with me through it all directing and redirecting me and supporting and comforting me. On my graduation day there was no way I could have predicted the path I have traveled. Not in my wildest imagination. And that's OK. Good even. I used to lead "strategic planning" processes by helping congregations develop three, five and ten year plans. (Laughter.) I have no idea what will happen tomorrow much less ten years from now!!! Like James suggests, these days, I couch every plan with "If the Lord wishes..." confident that the Lord will continue to support and guide me until my final graduation day comes.

Peace,
Pastor Mike

05/08/2025

Quiet Wisdom

Today's Readings: Micah 4, James 3, Mark 14, Psalm 129

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And the fruit of justice is sown in peace by those who make peace. --James 3:17-18

What would the world be like if the kind of compassionate wisdom James describes was lifted up, celebrated and lived? How would it change laws, systems and the way we treat one another? James contrasts this wisdom with those who live out of bitter envy, selfish ambition, arrogance and lies. He says that compassionate wisdom results in justice and peace. The other way leads to disorder and wickedness. In the course of my life, I have seen both at work and I believe what James says is true. The trouble is, the way of bitter envy and selfish ambition tends to grab headlines while the way of compassionate wisdom is often done quietly, in the background, felt by many but unnoticed by the world. I saw it again yesterday in a meeting I was in. A small group of mostly older women who work together to feed the hungry, provide shelter for those who have none and inclusion for those the world often rejects. Real wisdom. Powerful stuff. The Way of Jesus. Something we could use more of. A lot more.

Peace,
Pastor Mike