Monthly Archives: January 2016

Throwing Jesus Over the Cliff

Cliffs in holy landEpiphany
January 31, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 4:21-30

And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.’ When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way. –Luke 4:24-30

“He doesn’t have enough sense to come in out of the rain” is a saying that I heard on occasion when I was a child. Of course I come from a state that must deal with drought at times and I have seen adults run into the rain with arms opened wide turning circles and throwing their heads back to catch the precious liquid in their mouths straight from the hands of God. Our common sense may not be the common sense of another living in other circumstances and may not even be right for anyone.

I have always thought of Jesus as a seer, one who takes in not only the evident, but also the realities of life not available to all or even most. He always seemed to see the potential in the people that he encountered even when they did not. He was well acquainted with what we call human nature. I can see him now looking down on Jerusalem when he said, How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! (Matthew 23:37) yet he never quit trying. I don’t think he quit trying in Nazareth either, neither do I think he has given up on us.

That said, I think he would enjoy our surprising him by demonstrating through our lives Christ Sense, letting Jesus know that we get his message as we try to live life to the fullest in his way not as we design it for our own purposes, but as he meant it in the first place. I think he might enjoy playing in the rain and splashing through puddles of water, but his wings are always there to protect us from the storms of life. We need to turn to him to discern what is healthy nurturing rain and what are storms from which we need shelter and stop trying to throw him off a cliff when his way is not necessarily our way.

Prayer: Lord, I can be really stubborn and self-centered at times. Forgive me when my attitudes get in the way of walking close to you. Heal my soul, make me whole. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

Not What We Want to Hear

Make Crooked StraightEpiphany
January 30, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 4:21-30

Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ He said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “Doctor, cure yourself!” And you will say, “Do here also in your home town the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.” –Luke 4:21-23

Jesus was not sent by God to say what the people wanted to hear, he was not sent to bring fame to his fellow citizens, or take sides in their disagreements. Truth be told, he should not have needed to have been sent at all. Jesus was sent to make the crooked straight (Isaiah 45:2), to clean up the messes that seemed to be beyond the people’s control. We still long for a superhero to come and make everything the way we want it to be today. I think we would be as surprised or disappointed or angry as Jesus’ neighbors were, if he walked in the door right now. Jesus came to change the hearts of God’s people, to restore our souls.

Thank God for the gift of grace Jesus provided, for we still find ourselves unable to walk the walk even with a straight path to follow. We try to bend God’s way to our own conventions. It is time for us to open our hearts, minds, and souls to God and welcome God’s mercy. Until we each and all allow God’s love to rule our lives and our interactions we will continue to spiral downward as a society.

I believe the political fiasco in the USA today is a mirror reflection of the attitudes of the collective American population. We are getting exactly what we want. Until we deal with our own sins of greed and entitlement we will lose ground as a nation. A reading of the Bible book of Amos might be a good Lenten observance. I think it will sound familiar.

Prayer: Lord convict us of our sins, forgive us of our sins, and journey with us as we strive to follow the path you have set before us. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Love: Always the Right Answer

GreatestLoveEpiphany
January 29, 2016

Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 13:1-13

Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. –I Corinthians 13:8-13

I think, Paul is saying in these words that love is the only complete, whole thing we know at this time and in this place. At least that is implied. He makes the succinct statement Love never ends and then he ventures off describing several things that are important to people of faith as being only known in part, incomplete, or not perfect. We people of faith sometimes get tangled in webs of partial realities when the solution to what we seek is among us whole and complete: love.

I just returned from a totally depressing seminar on the Oklahoma state budget problems. We have been living in the fantasy land for some years that we can have our cake and eat it too. The theory is, if we cut taxes the economy will grow so much there will be gains in state revenue. Tell that to the 7,000+ developmentally disabled persons on a waiting list for services, some as long as nine years, and to their aging parents who only what to be assured their adult child’s needs will be met if they outlive their parents. Tell it to the school teachers who have to buy supplies for their classrooms while working a second job to pay their own bills. Tell it to the prison security staff dealing with totally unrealistic ratios of prisoners to guards. Tell it to the prisoners who are offered no restorative services. Tell it to the people in need of health care whose only local hospital has closed.

Most of us probably don’t even consider that paying our fair share of taxes is an act of love or that assuring the common good is being provided in adequate and productive ways is also an act of love, but they are.

Prayer: Lord, help us to recognize our responsibly to ourselves and each before it is too late. Amen.

Enabled Love

Love is not proudEpiphany
January 28, 2016

Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 13:1-13

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things –I Corinthians 13:1-7

There have been a lot of noisy gongs sounding recently, and clanging cymbals, but I have not noted them being sounded in the name of love. When a people, called to love, places what they believe above their love for others, what they believe becomes idolatry. That is a hard concept for all of us.

I hear some say we should love the sinner but not the sin. An impossible task, I think. The old hymn states it well: God welcomes us just as we are. If there is any changes need, that is between the person and God. We cannot hate the sin in another, if we also practice Jesus’ instruction not to judge. We are called to love and, I think, God uses our love mixed with a whole lot more of God’s love to work through anything that might be separating me or others from God. We really are not even capable of seeing our own sins much less anyone else’s.

Thus God gives us the gifts of patience, kindness, humility, unselfishness, and peaceful countenance.

Prayer: Grant me the full measure of your love and let it pour forth through me to all I meet along the way. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

Rock of Refuge

Elijah in caveEpiphany
January 27, 2016

Scripture Reading: Psalm 71:1-6

In you, O Lord, I take refuge;
   let me never be put to shame.
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
   incline your ear to me and save me.
Be to me a rock of refuge,
   a strong fortress, to save me,
   for you are my rock and my fortress. –Psalm 71:1-3

How often we humans seek the shelter of the Lord taking refuge in God as we would a mighty fortress. I like the imagery of God as a rock so much so when my Sunday school class revamped the garden in the center of our church’s grounds, they installed a rock in my honor. I love that rock, not just for the sentiment of a caring class but when I perch on its edge in the peaceful presence of God, I become in tune with the voice of this Psalm and others like it.

I am reminded of the story of Elijah fleeing from very real danger, feeling his life was worthless and hiding in a cave on Mount Sinai. He sought God not finding God in the earthquake or fire, but in the quiet voice of the whispering wind. It caused Elijah to step out of his refuge standing ready to face the world again whatever that might mean. (I Kings 19)

God does not give us refuge to hide from God’s call but to re-energize us to answer it.

Prayer: God of Refuge and Strength, open the door to the shelter of your cave when we need it and walk with us out the entrance refreshed and renewed and abide with us as we return to your service. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

The Answer is Love

BrokenEpiphany
January 26, 2016

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-10

Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me,
‘Now I have put my words in your mouth.
See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to pull down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.’ –Jeremiah 1:9-10

Jeremiah felt called to turn the world upside-down in the process of making it upright. There are a lot of politicians wanting to do exactly that today. How do we know to whom we should listen? How do we know who speaks for God and who speaks for the other gods that strive to rule our land? Those other gods are being quite successful it seems.

There are no easy answers in a diverse society. Jeremiah got one thing right for sure. All of us have to change some for all of us to experience some level of life’s adequacies. Food, clothing, shelter plus, I think, hope and a sense of wellbeing, good health and a sense of making a contribution to the world are necessities.

Actually Jesus, some two-thousand years ago, gave us the simplest answer of all: love. For some reason we find it hard to implement. Love requires us to consider the needs of the other. It is hard to quiet the voice in our head that fills our subconscious’ filters with the debris that say, “If the other has enough, I won’t have.” Or “I am no one unless I have more than another.” The saddest thing is that God took care of all that need to covet when God created us. We were all made in God’s image unique. Worth is not measured on any scale but God’s.

Prayer: Lord, heal our souls, clean our clogged inner filters from years of distrust and fear, let your love so overwhelm us that we can do nothing other than love one another. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

“I Am Only a Boy.”

god-faith-and-love-god-31725465-737-438Epiphany
January 25, 2016

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-10

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,
‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’
Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.’ But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, “I am only a boy”;
for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you.
Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.’ –Jeremiah 1:4-8

“I cannot do that I am only a_______.” Everyone can probably think of one or two or more rationalizations to fill in the blank as Jeremiah did. Actually, “I am only a boy” is probably one of the more credible reasons to question whether a person is really the one to take God’s message to not just adults, but the leadership. Although I must admit, I thought it was very wise of people trying to understand the challenges the Oklahoma City schools face when they asked some of the students.

I do not know when it finally seeped into my brain, through my thick skull that I am the only person over which I have some control regarding getting something I want actually accomplished. I have had the privilege of supervising a lot of very competent staff over the many years I worked for the state and I may have given them assignments but their completing the work was the result of their personal integrity and dedication to the services we provided. It is a joy to work with those type people, sharing the work load, each doing the tasks at which he or she was most accomplished and more experienced people mentoring new people.

A quick survey of the Bible would tell us that God called a lot of people to do very important tasks who were not the people we might have picked, including the boy Jeremiah. It is interesting though that we are now reading about them, learning from their wisdom, and experience some 2500+ years later. Guess God knew what God was doing. We might want to pay a little more attention to what God is calling us to do.

Prayer: Lord give us the courage to answer your call and guide us in the tasks you have for us. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

Finding Common Ground

Helen Keller QuoteEpiphany
January 24, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 4:14-21

And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’—Luke 4:20-21

Jesus is quoted as saying in Luke 4:18-19 the essence of Isaiah’s message found in Isaiah 58:6 and 61:1-2. His statement above in a way echoes Isaiah 6:8, Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I; send me!’ as Jesus publically accepts the role of being sent by God with a message of justice.

While we live in frustrating times where I have a stronger desire to turn off the news rather than listen to it, it is a time of potential paradigm shift. It is a time when justice is at a pivotal point. Like a rope pulling contest, we find ourselves in the muck of mud with slim on our feet and hands making it hard to hold onto the rope much less pull. Yet we who are dedicated to serving on the side of God’s justice must accept our call to pull that rope. I do believe God’s justice will eventually prevail. I also believe God is calling us to make that sooner than later.

Yet, the Body of Christ itself is fractured in our understanding of what God’s justice really is. I fear all of its members are sometimes being pulled into worshipping at the foot of the idol of being right rather than our true calling of being just. There are a few glimmers of hope. We seem to find common ground on feeding the hungry; ending sex trafficking, particularly of children; practicing restorative justice; keeping people healthy; and welcoming the stranger, especially migrants. These were certainly Jesus’ priorities. Perhaps we would be more productive, if we focused on those areas of agreement and practiced the ancient art of letting the land lay fallow for a while on those hot button issues that divide us. Land that is overused loses all its nutrients, allowing it to rest under God’s gracious sun and rain, returns it to a place that can grow good fruit.

Prayer: Lord, unite us in your service of justice while we await your nurturing love and guidance on those issues that divide us. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

The Time is Now

torah-readingEpiphany
January 23, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 4:14-21

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
   because he has anointed me
     to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
   and recovery of sight to the blind,
     to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’

And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ –Luke 4:16-21

I wonder at what point Jesus felt compelled to walk into the synagogue and read the scripture about the coming of one to save his people from oppression? Did it gnaw at him for months or even years? Was the impetus planted when he was twelve and went to the temple the first time? Was there a straw that broke the camel’s back as with Moses when he saw the Egyptian murder the Hebrew slave? What had Jesus seen or heard that told him now is the time? Was there a message from God that said, “Go now”?

If timing is everything, is it time for God’s justice to prevail in this land and around the world? Is the oppression in our own land visible enough now that we can no longer set back, click our tongues, and say, “Isn’t it a shame” or more probably, “Somebody should do something about that”?

The timing was ripe for Jesus on the day he stepped up and read that scripture. We are all called to do justice. Where are we on the timeline to answer that call?

Prayer: Lord, I see injustice all around, plant your fire in my heart to answer your call to do justice, as the time is now. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

Teamwork

not-a-dream-teamEpiphany
January 22, 2016

Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 12:12-31a

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. –I Corinthians 12:27-31a

Watching basketball is really a lesson in shared talents. At least that is my excuse for watching every Thunder game and as many of the OU and OSU games, both women and men, that I can work into a busy schedule. In all instances I sometimes have to record them for playback at a more convenient time. Fully actualizing the diverse and complementary skills of a team’s players always makes for a better outcome whether on the basketball court or within the Body of Christ. Such fruition can only result when every participant values each and all of the others. It also requires us to each work hard at encouraging people to use their skills. Sometimes it is just easier to do something oneself than it is to engage another person to do the work that is needed, but is that the best for the long term? At times, I know it is, but most times it is better to spread the work based on skills and talents.

This lesson was never made more clear to me then when one of my co-workers was killed in a car accident early one morning. He was the only person on our staff who did a specific task, albeit a very crucial task in our office. I have never since been a part of any group where at least one other person was knowledgeable of every tasks required, backups existed for all documentation, and two keys stored in separate places were available for every lock.

While such practicality is enough reason to engage fully all members of a team, the real driving force is better outcomes resulting when all talents and skills are maximized.

Prayer: God who orders life, give make us whole enough to respect the skills and talents of each other and to celebrate the beauty of teamwork as much as we celebrate individual accomplishment. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.