"Just then, a man with an evil spirit came into the synagogue and screamed, 'What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?  Are you here to destroy us?  I know who you are - you are God's holy messenger!'  Jesus ordered the spirit, 'Be quiet, and come out of the man!'  The evil spirit shook the man hard, gave a loud scream, and came out of him." -Mark 1:23-26

The word "call" is an important word for Christ-Followers. But the importance can be missed if we are not careful.

We call people to all kinds of things; we call people to dinner, we call people on the phone, we call people by their names, and we call people to task. But the call to discipleship has a deeper and more profound meaning.

As we prepare to look at the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark this coming Sunday, we find Jesus calling out a demon from a man who had been tormented.  We can only imagine how this man's life was changed after this encounter. And not only his life, but the lives of all who witnessed and or heard about it. In this story, Christ call us out, as well.  From what do you need to be "called out" from?  What needs to be "called out" from within us?  How might our lives be changed if we allow Christ to call us out as he see necessary?

At Our Savior's we, as a congregation, also are "called out".  And when we are, God can, and will, do amazing things through us.  Following our annual congregational meeting yesterday I was inspired and encouraged as we move forward into 2015.  By letting go of those things which bind us and by allowing God to call us out into a new and fresh mission and ministry, can change us in ways we may or may not ever expect.  This is exciting.  This is inspiring.  And yes, this is challenging.  But when we open ourselves and our congregation up to being "called out", we too, like the disciples in our text, will be amazed! (Mark 1:22)