Monthly Archives: December 2016

Prophetic Voices

overcome-evil-with-goodAdvent
December 11, 2016

Scripture Reading: Matthew 11:2-11

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look those who were soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A Prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom, it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptists; yet the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he. –Matthew 11:7-11

How do we decide whose messages have credence? The word, the role prophet is not someone with clairvoyance, the ability to foretell the future. A prophet is one who speaks forth by the inspiration of God*. Most often I see the prophets in the Bible accurately reading current ways of doing and being and predicting where our behaviors will lead if not corrected. Prophets also speak to the steps necessary to change our actions and attitudes to avoid chaos and calamity.

John in the role of prophet gives Jesus a strong recommendation as one to be seen and heard and followed. John is throwing the full weight of any influence he might have in support of Jesus.

The sad part about prophets is we never seem to listen to them. We read about their warnings years later and think, “How could the people not listen to the prophets?” And still today we hear and see what we want to hear and see just like our ancestors in faith much to our destruction.

We make it easy for the forces of evil to succeed for we do not learn from our mistakes or the mistakes of our ancestors. The cause of destruction has not changed over the millennia. They are lust for power and greed, and they are counter to everything Jesus and all the prophets who came before him taught. Are we a generation who can change this cycle of destruction?

Prayer: Lord, write your ways on the hearts of all who claim you as a Savior, bring us to the oneness we must have to be sources of justice. Amen.

*http.//biblehub.com/greek/4396.htm

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.

Go and Tell

greater-is-he-that-in-in-youAdvent
December 10, 2016

Scripture Reading: Matthew 11:2-11

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.’ –Matthew 11:2-6

We live in a cynical world, trying to figure out what is real and what is fake news, parsing statistics to mean whatever we want them to mean, and creating a whole new type of information system: the fact/truth checkers. We make many decisions not based on what is right but what is advantageous to us personally. We are becoming a society governed by greed.

Things have not changed much since Jesus’ time. In the first century, there were a lot of people claiming to be the Chosen One, the Messiah. No wonder John wanted some proof of who Jesus was. Jesus’ reply was simply to watch and listen to him and draw their conclusions.

I was compiling a listing of Oklahoma State legislators’ religious preferences recently and discovered that several listed only the world “Christian.” What were they saying about themselves? Others gave long lists of civic memberships but mentioned no connection to religion. And still, others provided full testimonies of their systems of belief. Most listed a congregation in which they participated, perhaps also noting that they were a deacon or elder or Sunday school teacher. Some think their legislation reflects their religion, but do they ever stop to see what results from their laws?

What can you go and tell others you have seen and heard regarding Jesus Christ engaged in our world today? A Facebook friend described recently seeing a man running up to a homeless person on the sidewalk with a sign that said he needed food. The man handed him food. What can you go and tell you have seen and heard Christ do today? We are the Body of Christ, and people are watching to see if we are the real deal.

Prayer: Lord, help us to live our lives fully reflecting your love to the whole world.

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.

Mary’s Song

magnificat0002Advent
December 9, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:46-55

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
   and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
   and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
   in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
   to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’ –Luke 1:52-55

Called Mary’s Song and The Magnificat, it is a young woman’s song of expectation about the child she carries. Mary conceived Jesus during hard times in Galilee. There was a Jewish uprising against Roman in a city near Nazareth and Rome dispatched the malcontents quickly. Rome made every effort to assure all the Jewish people of who ruled them. Mary’s Song defies reality. Mary’s Song expresses her sure and certain faith that God was in control. I doubt that any Roman heard the song or even if they did put too much thought into the power a teenaged girl and the baby in her womb. One should never question the influence of a loving mother or the power of a loving God.

What is our song today? Are we even singing? How do we envision our future? Whose control do we recognize? What is God calling us to do about the hungry and the powerful?

Read all of Mary’s song, prayerfully consider it, and take some time to compose your song about how God is working through you and the causes God calls you to champion.

Prayer: Lord, here I am. How can I serve you today in making a word ruled by love? 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.

Patience is a Virtue

patience-trust-faithAdvent
December 8, 2016

Scripture Reading: James 5:7-10

Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Patience is one of the gifts of the Spirit. It does not come naturally to me. I think the King James version of the Bible uses a better word when applied to me: longsuffering. I have learned over time to level out my goal-oriented nature with a process orientation. What James describes in our scripture today is the process of growing crops: prepare the soil, plant the seeds, clear the weeds, water and feed the earth, and finally, harvest. I must confess I do processes with little goals. Preparing the earth is a little goal. We do need both kinds of people, the goal oriented and the process oriented. Nothing might every get done if all were process oriented, and major steps might be left out if the goal oriented dominated the world.

James perhaps is saying something else too. The plan is God’s. We take great comfort in knowing that we serve an omnipotent, omnipresent God who holds our best interest to heart. Patience involves resting in that knowing.

Prayer: Lord, you know all our natures and understand our frustrations. Forgive us when our expectations get ahead of your plan or when we drag our feet when called to take the next step in its implementation. 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.

Old as Time, New as Tomorrow

he-loves-usAdvent
December 7, 2016

Scripture Reading: Psalm 146:5-10
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God,
who made heaven and earth, the sea,
and all that is in them;
who keeps faith for ever;
who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry.  

The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
   the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers;
   he upholds the orphan and the widow,
   but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.  

The Lord will reign for ever,
   your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!

Ever wonder where Jesus turned in search of truth? Consider the Psalms. Read through our scripture today and then flip over and read Matthew 25:31-46. God’s purpose and desire for us were available from the beginning of time, is available to us today, and will ever be our guide. My sister and I sang a duet as children of a popular faith-based song of the day, It Is No Secret What God Can Do. God’s way has never been a secret; there is no password, no magic incantation, or proof of purity for his followers. God created us, knows what talents and skills we possess, knows exactly where our contribution fits in with each and all of God’s other children. God takes us just as we are when we finally recognize God’s presence in our lives and working within and through us makes us far more than we ever dreamed we could be.

The Robe was the first movie I ever remember seeing. It is a rather fanciful story of the centurion who won Jesus’ robe at the foot of his cross while he was dying. The centurion is rather haunted by the Robe and the whole business of the crucifixion as he sets out on a journey to make sense of it. In one scene, he encounters a beautiful young woman who is crippled and cannot walk. She is gloriously singing about Jesus’ healing her when the centurion confronts her asking why she is so happy the Jesus obviously did not cure her bent and useless legs. She response that Jesus cured her of the self-pity and resentfulness she carried for so long. Most of our contributions to the building of the Kingdom of God will not make a brief story on the 20th page of the paper. When we commit to living our lives in sync with Jesus Christ the small things, we do each day will make more difference than we may ever know.

Prayer: Lord, open my whole being to your purpose and weave it throughout my desires. 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.

Understanding and Comprehension

parablesAdvent
December 6, 2016

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
   and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then the lame shall leap like a deer,
   and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. –Isaiah 35:5

Our scripture today (above) speaks of comprehension and understanding. The first part of Isaiah recognizes the opposite as occurring.

And he said, ‘Go and say to this people:
“Keep listening, but do not comprehend;
keep looking, but do not understand.” (Isaiah 6:9)

Jesus quotes this scripture as he explains his use of parables.

The reason I speak to them in parables is that “seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.” (Matthew 13:13)

Sometimes we hear what we want to hear. In our world, there are whole businesses whose purpose is to manipulate words and images using what they discern as advantageous to their success in ways that coincide with what we want to hear. How do we know what we want to hear and how do we know, when what we want to hear is what someone else wants us to hear? Who is in control of our comprehension and understanding? We are warned by an adage, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Do we heed it or are we letting the tail wag the dog?

Jesus’ parables open doors of seeing the world from different perspectives than our norms. Jesus’ life is a model for our testing of truth. What we as Christ-followers are called to do is to live his norms to the extent that all about us experience his loving ways as their norms, not the other way around.

Prayer: Lord, open our eyes that we may see the truth you have for us. Open our ears to hear voices of your truth clearly sounding*. Make our seeing and our hearing conduits of understanding and comprehension. Amen.

*Derived from hymn Open My Eyes by Clara H. Scott see at http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh454.sht

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.

Strengthened Weak Knees

nothing-can-separate-you-from-the-love-of-godAdvent
December 5, 2016

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10

Strengthen the weak hands,
   and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
   ‘Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
   He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
   He will come and save you.’ –Isaiah 35:2-4

There are other scriptures* about feeble knees or weak knees. Fear described by the presence of “being weak in the knees” has existed for centuries, I guess. I fully understand the imagery for I literally have bad knees and they impact all aspects of my life just as fear causes us to change our behavior. I have strengthened my left knee if you call replacing bone with stainless steel making something stronger. It has a few limitations, but it has opened doors for work and travel I could not do without it.

The surgeon needed to replace fear with fortitude is Jesus Christ. I recently told a friend who was nervous about leading in worship that a little stage fright makes everyone more alert and perform better. God built the fight or flight response into each of us when God created us. Fight does not necessarily mean fisticuffs. Fight in this instance means using our fear to strengthen our stance so that we can face whatever in life tries to break us. There may be a time when withdrawing from a situation is the wisest response, but such a response needs to be about the situation not reactionary to our fear of it.

God not only created us with natural mechanisms for wholeness, but God also gifted us with Jesus Christ with whom we can be at one; the Bible calls this atonement. When we reconcile to God through Jesus Christ, we never face any situation, good, bad or indifferent, alone. In Christ, fear is a strengthening force, not a catalyst for running away.

Prayer: Lord, Strengthen our weak hands, and make firm our feeble knees as we respond to your call to love. Amen.

*Job 4:4; Psalm 109:24; Ezekiel 7:17 and 21:7; Daniel 5:6; Nahum 2:10; Hebrews 12:12

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.

Clean My Heart, O, God

create-in-me-a-clean-heartAdvent
December 4, 2016

Scripture Reading: Matthew 3:1-12

‘I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’ –Matthew 3:11-12

An older woman with whom I once worked suffered discrimination from her supervisor, a man who essentially supported having women do the work, and his getting credit and pay for it. I once said to her about a specific situation, “That is not right.” She replied “There is nothing I can do about it now, but he will face God one day about all he does.” I do believe we are and will be held accountable for both what we do and what we do not do, sins of commission and sins of omission.

Our scripture today may address final judgment, but it also deals with daily cleansing. We all, over time, pick up the clutter of the world and need the Holy Spirit to winnow our lives enabling us to be as whole as possible so we can contribute our fair share of love and service to the furtherance of the Kingdom of God. I grew up in the days of combines, but I understand the principle being illustrated in our scripture today. Wheat, for that matter all grains, is denser and heavier than the chaff that protected is as it developed. At grain harvesting, the chaff is separated from the grain as it no longer serves a purpose. Humans create filters of protection that sometimes are needed and good but after the threat is gone are no longer necessary. We also may create such filters from misperceptions of reality. These filters can inhibit our wholeness when we hold to them unnecessarily.

As we continue to examine ourselves during Advent, let us open ourselves to the winnowing of the Holy Spirit. What inhibitors do we need to release? What do we need to curtail in our behavior?

Prayer:
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
See if there is any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting*. Amen.

*Psalm 139:23-24

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.

Righteousness or Self-Righteousness

seflrighteousvschristlikeAdvent
December 3, 2016

Scripture Reading: Matthew 3:1-12

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. –Matthew 3:7-10

What is the distinction between righteousness and self-righteousness? The first is inclusive the second is exclusive. Righteousness deals with justice which assumes a community accommodating both diversity and similarity. Self-righteousness builds walls keeping community out unless it feeds the individual’s desires. The gospels tell a story of religious leaders caught up in fulfilling individual desires to the detriment of the people they shepherded. John the Baptist confronts the leaders asserting that they are not reflecting the ways of their ancestor Abraham but were defining what is right for all by what was right for themselves.

I have a friend who seems to have perfect pitch. He can sing any note, and it will match the sound of the same note played on a well-tuned piano. I do not have this gift. I work at matching the notes I hear. His is a natural gift; for me singing the correct note takes lots of practice and focused listening. For some justice and righteousness comes naturally. For most of the rest of us, we must practice it every day, holding our concepts of righteousness next to Christ’s and adjusting our justice to match his. To do that, we must possess a good understanding of God’s justice and righteousness. Bible study is a key element in broadening understand of God’s justice, and we must accompany Bible study with total surrender to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Anyone can flip through the Bible, find a verse or two that supports their viewpoint, and declare it God’s justice. Why do you think John was calling those Pharisees and Sadducees to task?

During this Advent season as we examine ourselves, let us explore what is righteous about our lives and what may be self-righteous. Let the Holy Spirit help us ferret out the truth.

Prayer: Lord, make us whole so that we do not try to fill the gaps in our self-concepts with our own creation of righteousness. 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.

Gerrymandering Gentiles

north-carolina-congressional-districtsAdvent
December 2, 2016

Scripture Reading: Romans 15:4-13

‘Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles,
   and sing praises to your name’;
and again he says,
‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people’;
and again,
‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
   and let all the peoples praise him’;
and again Isaiah says,
‘The root of Jesse shall come,
   the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;
in him the Gentiles shall hope.’ –Romans 15:9b-12

Who are the Gentiles in our world today? The Greek translated “Gentile” is the word ethnos. We might think of the English word ethnicity. The definition of ethnos is a race, people, nation; the nations, heathen world, Gentiles; people joined by practicing similar customs or common culture*. Essentially Gentile in the New Testament refers to anyone who is not a Jew. Today we must consider who we cast in the role of “Not My/Our People.” There seems to be a lot of that going around recently.

I just saw a picture of the Congressional Districts in North Carolina. An appeals court recently ruled that the gerrymandering done in North Carolina was illegal and they must redraw it. The Supreme Court will likely have the last word. The picture is interesting. Some Districts were apparently, unofficially designated the African American district as they meanders around a large section of the state picking up one big area and multiple small pockets of the population all largely composed of African Americans. What the gerrymander did was box in an area to limit the number of African American supported candidates while reducing the power of African Americans to impact other areas. Gerrymandering designates someone’s Gentiles.

Paul quotes several** Old Testament sources to create this treatise in our scripture today on God’s welcoming Gentiles. Perhaps he wanted to say to the Gentile Romans that God always had them in God’s heart. Perhaps we need to hear that lesson ourselves.

Prayer: Lord, help us to see all humans as being made in your image including each of us and in so doing empower us to love them as your children and our siblings by treating them justly. Amen.

*http://biblehub.com/greek/1484.htm
**Psalm 18:49, 2 Samuel 22:50, Deuteronomy 32:43, Psalm 117:1, and Isaiah 11:10

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.