Eastertide
June 5, 2014

Scripture Reading: Exodus 19:1-9a

Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.’  

So Moses came, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. The people all answered as one: ‘Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do.’ Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, in order that the people may hear when I speak with you and so trust you ever after.’ — Exodus 19:5-9a

The history of God’s relationship with humans is a series of give and take negotiations. Noah, you build an ark, save your family, and rebuild the human race and I will save you from the coming flood. Abraham, leave this land, travel to a new one, and I will be with you and give you more descendants than you can count. And in today’s scripture God tells Moses and the Israelites to obey God’s voice and keep God’s covenant and they would become a priestly people. In return God will be with Moses in every aspect of his life.

Our scriptures this week are walking us forward toward the initiation of another negotiation: Pentecost—the coming of the Holy Spirit. The negotiation was complete. Go therefore and make disciples…And remember I am with you to the end of the age.—Matthew 28:19a, 20b but the Disciples were still caught in the fog of grief. At the point when they finally realized they had made this commitment they start to get organized. They needed to replace Judas. At that very ripe point is when the Holy Spirit was fully realized. But I am getting ahead of myself that is coming in a few days.

Right now let us to bask in the history of God’s always being true to God’s relationship with us and trust that will always be the case.

Prayer: Thank you Lord that someone recorded the history of your relationships with your people. Make us more aware of your presence so that we too can respond in kind. 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.

Eastertide
June 4, 2014

Scripture Reading: John 3:31-36

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.   — John 3:36 

Funny, the picture of wrath that comes to my mind is one of violence. Some big scary thing that rises up on its back legs in sudden anger with the intent to cause me harm. Don’t know where that comes from—probably the movies. God’s wrath as used here is a settled anger growing over time against one who has apparently exhibited a chronic pattern of disobedience to his or her own detriment. It seems God truly does love us, wants the very best for each of us, and when we regularly choose to act in ways that are harmful to our eternal life God wants to rectify the situation.

This isn’t just about some time in the future; it is about now. Eternity begins when we enter into relationship with Jesus Christ. The not see life mentioned in the scripture above applies to how we are living at this very moment in time as much as it applies to forever.

Jesus taught us many things but his commands were really simple: love God and love our neighbors as we love ourselves. He might throw in something about going into the whole world and making disciples, but isn’t that truly covered in loving our neighbors?

It is we humans who complicate obedience. What is the minimum amount of love God needs for me to fulfill the requirement to love God? Who is my neighbor after all? What constitutes a “true” disciple? Are they all like me? Do they worship like me, eat like me, move and have their being like me?

We are called to love upon love including God and our neighbors. There can never be too much love. God surely loved diversity or God would not have created a human race with so many different variables. And who knows by loving God’s diverse people I may find a joyous way to worship about which I knew nothing or a tasty treat worth sharing, or a wonderful form of movement that strengthens my weary bones and gives them a few more years of flexibility.

Prayer: Dear Friend, let us love one another for love comes from you. Amen.—paraphrasing 1 John 4:7

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.

Eastertide
June 3, 2014

The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.   — 1 Peter 4:7-11

I often shy away from end of time discussions. I grew weary of hearing probably too much of it as a child.  Recent conversations have led me to dust it off and consider it once again. I listen to all the criticism of the Affordable Care Act that was passed a few years ago. It was necessary to assure that all Americans have access to health care and not just those who can afford it. No one particularly likes it but it is the bitter pill we must take to cure our tendency as humans to bury our heads in the sand and ignore problems until it may be too late to fix them. The truth is that I attended meetings back in the late 1970’s when Califano was Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. He was trying to grapple with the failures of our health care system then.  Had we done the hard work of facing the issues back them we would not be in the mess we are in today. The same could be said for environmental issues, education, and poverty. Humans seem to need a catastrophe that forces them to action that might not have even been needed had we been prudent in the first place.

Is that what our prophets knew all along? Is that why they declared the end of all things is near? Can we not see that God throughout the ages has shown us the way to an abundant life but we chose sin instead? We seem to choose the crowded freeway strewn with wrecks and broken down cars rather than seeking The Road Less Traveled* that leads to life everlasting. But even though we may still sin, 1 Peter tells us that love covers a multitude of sins. If nothing else, let us discipline ourselves to love.

Prayer: Lover of my Soul, forgive me for burying my head in the sand and guide me through life via The Road Less Traveled*. Amen.

*The Road Less Traveled is the title of a book by M. Scott Peck. Subtitled A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth, it is now a classic and I highly recommend it.

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.

Eastertide
June 2, 2014

Scripture Reading: John 17:1-11 

‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do.  — John 17:1b-4  

This scripture is part of Jesus’ prayer before his arrest. It provides two very important messages for today’s followers of Jesus. The gift of eternal life is to know (recognize, perceive) the only true god and Jesus Christ.  Once we begin to get a glimmer of God, we are able not only to ascertain our true avocation but also be enabled to finish that work. The work we do to make a living is our vocation. The word “avocation” relates to the work we do for pure enjoyment.  While it is often related to work we do in our spare time such as hobbies, it really refers to that which we do out of pure joy, no matter how hard we must work or what sacrifice is required to complete the task. It is a special gift when ones vocation and avocation are the same. When we are able to alien our lives with the calling of our Lord we are more often able to approach all that we do through God’s joy.

Is this the message of Jesus’ final words from the cross it is finished? –(John 19:30)

Prayer: O, most merciful Redeemer, friend and brother,
              may I know you more clearly,
              love you more dearly,
             and follow you more nearly,
            day by day. –St Richard of Chichester

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.

Eastertide
June 1, 2014

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.  

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. — Romans 12:9-16b

 Paul presumes in writing this part of his letter to the Romans that the Romans knew that they are responsible for their own behavior.  Do we know that today?

C. S. Lewis in his book The Four Loves describes his encounter with a rather pesky neighbor whose interactions with others made her very difficult to love. He took seriously the idea that all Christians need to let love be genuine but his animosity toward this woman made it impossible for him to love her in the way he knew he should. He decided that the best he could do with God’s help was to act like he loved her all the time. He, therefore, was always gracious to her, conversed with her appropriately when he would rather not, and otherwise extended his love, though unfelt, to her. To his amazement one day after engaging in conversation with the neighbor, he suddenly realized that he had come to love her genuinely. By really listening to her he came to a better understanding of who she was and perhaps why she acted the way she did. I have always wondered if she too benefited from being truly loved and altered her inappropriate behavior.  It doesn’t matter in any case, genuine love loves anyway.

The instructions Paul shares in our scripture today are excellent and when we find it impossible to follow them faithfully, we need to return to the source of love and refuel.

Prayer: Spirit of the Living God enable me to love those I find unlovable. 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.

Eastertide
May 31, 2014

He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, ‘Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?’ When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.  

When the company of prophets who were at Jericho saw him at a distance, they declared, ‘The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.’ They came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
—2 Kings 2:13-15

 Reading about the prophets can be a great difficulty for those of us steeped in rationalism and scientific methods. We want to stop and figure out how striking water and making a path with an inherited mantle would be possible. If we determine it was not possible and thus that it really did not happen then we question the veracity of the story. This story is not about the physics of moving water. It is about the truth of the forever nature of the mission of God’s people to be God’s people in the world and about the need for mentors to train by example the next generation.

My ancestor William Knott was indentured in 1783 to learn the business of running a forge in the early years of the steel industry in Maryland and Pennsylvania. He also was one of the trustees who help establish the Wasteland Methodist church. His son, John, migrated to Illinois in 1835 and was reported to have been a bit of an eccentric. Old newspaper articles noted that he covered his home with metal plates and installed a water pump in his kitchen to make life easier for his wife. The first worship service among these new residents was held in John’s home. His grandson, my grandfather, Emery; my father Carl; and my brother Erwin all did or do welding on the side as farmers. My nephew, Donald, is a welder by profession, and my grandnephew James just graduated from vo tech as a certified welder. These men have all also carried forth the mission of the Body of Christ. We never knew the history of William and John until recent years yet their spirit was passed forward and still moves among us.

We who profess to follow Jesus Christ are all called to pass the mantle of his spirit to the next generation but we do that as we live fully in the spirit bringing oneness and justice to a divided and broken world.

Prayer: Ancient of Days, grant us a full measure of your spirit and enable us to live in and through it in all that we do. 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.

Eastertide
May 30, 2014

Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 2:1-12 

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.’ Elisha said, ‘Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.’ He responded, ‘You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.’ As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, ‘Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!’ But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. — 2 Kings 2:9-12

 Maya Angelou is dead. When I heard the news, I tried to remember when I first read, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. It is as if it has been with me forever. She is such a beautiful soul now in eternity. One I needed in my young adulthood. I looked to see when the book was written and had to smile to myself. It was published in 1969 the year I graduated from college. It was the year after Martin Luther King Jr. was killed and Bobby Kennedy. It was the year after the tet offensive in Vietnam. It was the year after I had stuck my car in mud up to the axle on a residential street in Enid, Oklahoma doing voter registration in the black community. Having been raised on a farm I was pretty adept at traversing mud and actually never expected to have to use those skills on a city street. Some of the homes I entered had dirt floors housing humans singing in cages.

I must confess I am not as gutsy as Elisha was in our scripture today. I could never ask for twice the spirit of one of my mentors especially someone of the ilk of Elijah. I would aim for a touch of the hem of his or her clothing, and I would be wrong. Maya Angelou championed the value of every human being.  It was her gift to us.

Each of our gifts to the world is to be fully the human God created us to be applying the gifts we have with every ounce of our being. For me to begin I had to touch the hem first; to receive the double portion of spirit as the gift I could never earn. It is there for each of us.

Prayer: Thank you for the gift of Maya Angelou. May her legacy be the freeing of all the caged birds. 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.

Eastertide
May 29, 2014

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23 

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. — Ephesians 1:17-19 

My Sunday School Class is studying the books of Kings as we determined it was a section of the Bible about which we generally had little knowledge.  It has been an interesting experience. Kings would make a great soap opera. We had an interesting discussion on the Wisdom of Solomon. Most of us were aware of his reputation for being the wisest of men. In fact the story of Solomon solving the conflict between the two prostitutes over who would get the one living child was one of the few stories from this part of the Bible that most of us had learned as children.

Our discussion went in another direction, however. How wise was Solomon really? Was it wise to conscript many of the aliens that lived in his domain and some of the citizens to build the temple and his lavish home? Was it wise to have three hundred wives and seven hundred concubines from various surrounding countries? Was it wise to worship their gods? Solomon’s actions most likely led to the downfall of Israel. He looks a lot like the wheeler dealers in our financial system growing riches with no thought to what the eventual impact might be.

The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines wisdom as:

• knowledge that is gained by having many experiences in life
• the natural ability to understand things that most other people cannot understand
• knowledge of what is proper or reasonable : good sense or judgment

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians is for this kind of wisdom and this kind of wisdom, particularly the understanding of things that most other people cannot understand, are revelations from God. We must spend much time in God’s service to gain experience, much time communing with God to gain understanding, and much time in community with our co-workers in Christ and with our neighbors to gain good sense.

Prayer: God grant us the same gifts of wisdom and revelation that Paul requested for the Ephesians so many years ago. 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.

Eastertide
May 28, 2014

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 31:1-13 

Then Moses wrote down this law, and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. Moses commanded them: ‘Every seventh year, in the scheduled year of remission, during the festival of booths, when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.— Deuteronomy 31:9-11 

We do not read outdated, dry and wasted words from the scripture. We study the very living Word of God brought forth on this earth as Jesus. By teaching and by example Jesus demonstrated the vitality of the words passed down to us through the centuries from Moses to today. Through Jesus’ resurrection as the Christ, we are welcomed as members of the Body of Christ called also to live as the Word made flesh in the One Body of Christ. It is easy to state the call but much more challenging to respond. So we study the ancient texts and we study the history of God’s people and we study the message and methods of Jesus the Christ, searching for life guidance in a complex and diverse world.

Moses’ admonition to read the scriptures every seven years and hear them again is a good one. The liturgies, which many churches follow, attempt to provide a review of most of the Bible in three year stages. We need to study as individuals and as groups to gain insight from others. We also need to study to discern how the meat from ancient words applies to our contemporary world, not just wholesale transfer what was addressed to the ancients and proclaim it reality for today. In many instances that lets us off too easily.

Hebrews 4.12 says, Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

It never ceases to amaze me how relevant these ancient scriptures are today, if we are willing to see ourselves in the story.

Prayer: Rabbani, Teacher, open our hearts and our mines to what you want us to take in from the scriptures for our time and place. 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.

Eastertide
May 27, 2014

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 3:8-12 

Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing.— 1 Peter 3:8-10

 I must confess I am a diehard NCIS fan. I recently watched a recorded rerun of a show about tracking down a Marine who got lost in the shuffle trying to save the lives of two girls from the bombing of their school in Afghanistan. One of the teachers at the school had been a part of the terrorist plot, the insider, who enabled the bomb to be placed and to do its damage. After the young Marine and the girls were located and returned to a safer place, Gibbs, the leading character on NCIS, asked the young Marine what punishment she thought the teacher should receive for her crimes. The young Marine responded thoughtfully that she thought the teacher should be sentenced to watch the girls grow and flourish into the bright, capable, and well educated women they would become. Gibbs indicated that he did not understand how that would be punishment.  The young Marine responded something to the effect that by watching the girls grow and flourish, the teacher would realize what she had failed to accomplish through her own life. A life focused on hate and revenge and destruction of others is a life wasted.

Our scripture today is our call to live our lives fully and abundantly in service to our Lord and Savior without investing any of our time in rancor.  We are called to build bridges not walls, create synergy not inertia, and grow daily in spirit and in truth.  Our doing these things within the Body of Christ will surely be reflected in our society and in our world. Wholeness leads to oneness, oneness leads to justice, and justice leads to wholeness.

Prayer: Lord, help us form the habits of unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind so that we may be a source of justice in this world. 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.