Eastertide
May 16, 2014

Scripture Reading: Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 

You are indeed my rock and my fortress;
   for your name’s sake lead me and guide me,
take me out of the net that is hidden for me,
   for you are my refuge.
Into your hand I commit my spirit;
   you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. — Psalm 31:3-5

My Sunday school class decided to spruce up the interior courtyard garden at our church one year. While the yard crew kept it cleaned and trimmed, it had grown stark and bare over time. It was fun to watch it come alive with plants and flowers.  I kept saying that we needed a big rock in our garden space and low and behold that is exactly what they gave me as a gift. The rock is probably about two feet deep and high and three feet wide. I love what I call my rock. It is in the perfect place to sit and contemplate the beauty of nature and experience quietness from the world while sitting in the midst of a busy city with a large brick edifice blocking sound from three sides. A high wooden fence shelters the other. It, however, was no easy task to deliver the stone even though as stones go it wasn’t all that big. It was and is heavy. Stones are often associated with God as they represent permanence and strength.  God is identified thusly in our scripture today.

The next phrase is interesting when it pleads with this omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient God to take me out of the net that is hidden for me. Ever been there? It is a feeling of being caught in something that seems to be tying you more and more into knots but you cannot get a handle on exactly what it is and more importantly what to do about it. Surely that is how Jesus felt hanging on that cross and he fell back on the words of the Psalmist for rescue as he cried to his Father, Into your hand I commit my spirit. 

Jesus is our role model, our rock onto which we may cling as we commit our spirits to him.

Prayer: Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee;* help me find my way out of the nets I cannot see. Amen.

*From poem/hymn by Augustus M. Toplady

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 15, 2014

Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ — Genesis 12:1-3

The story of Abram (later to be called Abraham) is the story of all of us called to be pioneers in the faith. By tradition he is credited with being the first monotheist—believing in one supreme God. In a world and a time when many things were designated deities, Abram’s stance was quite remarkable. I have tried to image what it must have been like for him and for my ancestors who made the decision to pick up stakes and cross an ocean to come to the New World. There were also some who migrated further west within these United States for promised-land and second starts.

While we are all still called to be pioneers in the faith, rather than searching for new territory in which to grow our faith, we are challenged to grow where we are planted.  We are still called to be a blessing to all the families on the earth. Now I understand that this can be translated in both the passive and reflexive forms. The translation above is the passive “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” The reflexive form would read “by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves.” I like to think both apply. Being a blessing to others should be both a direct result of our behavior as well as a by-product of our actions and attitudes.

We are a blessing to others when we help them meet their spiritual, mental, physical, and social needs. We are also a blessing when our way of living sets a good example for all who are watching us. I fear we sometimes forget this second form of blessings. We sometimes do not represent well the ways of Christ.

Prayer: Source of All Blessings, make us a blessing to someone today, directly or indirectly. 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 14, 2014

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 23:1-8 

Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord. — Jeremiah 23:1-4 

Churches that identify with Jesus Christ are terribly divided today. We take sides and fight bitterly claiming that what we perceive to be truth is truth and all others are false prophets. Pilot was stating this same quandary at Jesus’ trial when he said: What is Truth?* We all believe that we are in the remnant,  about which Jeremiah speaks in our scripture today, but the “others” are not. We need to be very careful about judging our own righteousness.

Another of the scriptures for today was the story form Matthew 20 where James’ and John’s mother comes to Jesus and ask him to elevate to positions of authority her two sons in the kingdom that he is planning.  Jesus tells her that is not his decision to make and later to the other disciples’ complaints about the mother’s request Jesus says ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave;** 

We are called to be doers of the word not power brokers or tyrants forcing our interpretations on others. Our task is to live like Christ; God takes care of the rest.

Prayer: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Amen.

*John 18:38

**Matthew 20:35b-28

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 13, 2014

Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. — Hebrews 13:20-21  

Yesterday we explored the goodness of God; today we are challenged with becoming complete in everything good ourselves.  I call it wholeness and it is important.

Wholeness through Christ starts with our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Savior. It grows and builds through our strengthening of that relationship with the practice of spiritual disciplines.  While I have prayed and studied all my life, I was first introduced to the concept of spiritual disciplines as a group when I read Richard Fosters’ book, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth. I eventually completed training in spiritual direction through HeartPaths Spirituality Centre.* There are lots and lots of wonderful books to help anyone delve deeper into their spiritual development. But just like everything else in life, to grow into wholeness, completeness takes dedication of time and commitment to practicing the disciplines that is why they are called disciplines.

So what have you done for your spiritual growth and development lately? Have you set aside some time to commune with Jesus? Do you worship when you attend worship? Have you read the Bible recently and thought, “I have read that verse a hundred times and really never realized it said that?” Have you changed your patterns of living to match your new knowledge?

Besides our scripture reading for today, we all might want to read Psalm 139—maybe even memorize it. It is a spiritual discipline in and of itself.

Prayer: O Great Goodness, make me complete, make me whole. Amen.

* http://www.heartpathstraining.com/Home.html

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 12, 2014

Scripture Reading: Psalm 100 

For the Lord is good;
   his steadfast love endures for ever,
   and his faithfulness to all generations. — Psalm 100:5 

We worship a God that is good. Such a simple word to describe God is rich in meaning.  The Hebrew word used here, towb*, includes a laundry list of meaning:

• agreeable (to the senses)
• pleasant (to the higher nature)
• excellent (of its kind)
• rich, valuable in estimation
• appropriate, becoming
• understanding (of man’s intellectual nature)
• kind, benign
• right (ethical)
• a good thing, benefit, welfare, prosperity, happiness

These all seem to add up to God wanting the very best for each of us and all of us forever. If that isn’t love I do not know what is. Today, bask in the promise of Psalm 100. Read it morning, noon and night. And live it.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for your goodness and your love. Help me to pass it on. Amen.

* http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/kjv/towb-2.html

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 11, 2014

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:19-25 

When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. — 1 Peter 2:23 

I would not want to be an NBA referee. They are required to make instant judgments based on glancing looks at very athletic people moving in tandem at high rates of speed. They must make the decision in front of thousands of people who are seated at a distance with a different perspective and millions more watching on TV. The plays are being recorded at every possible angle. These recordings are instantly replayed for all the audience to view. Players also have their opinion about the calls made. Some argue their point–some with great emotion. Even after watching a play over and over again at regular speed and in slow motion, it is sometimes impossible to tell what really happened.

I thus take great hope in knowing that I and all of you are and will be judged justly by the One who knows our hearts and minds and actions totally.  Yet even with perfect knowledge, our judge is forgiving. There is tremendous freedom that results from having the burden of guilt and shame lifted from our beings. God is constantly remolding us and remaking us when we learn from our mistakes and continually strive to become more Christ like in our work as part of the Body of Christ.

We too are called to be forgiving in our interactions among all the peoples of God. All our judgments are limited as we now do see through a mirror dimly.  So let us let the One judge do his job and let’s just continue to complete our race with all our hearts, souls, minds and spirits.

Prayer: God of Grace, We thank you for your forgiveness and we ask that you enable us to be forgiving like you. 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 10, 2014

Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 34:1-16 

Thus says the Lord God: Ah, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fatlings; but you do not feed the sheep. You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured, you have not brought back the strayed, you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled them… . 

I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice. — Ezekiel 34:2b-4, 15-16  

Ezekiel does not mince words. Those in leadership, the shepherds of Israel, are lining their own purses at the expense of the very ones for which they have been given responsibility, the sheep.  We are seeing the same thing happen in the USA today. As the rich get richer and the number of poor grow, we will soon reach the point where there is no one left to buy what the rich are selling. It is called greed when one’s lust for more, overshadows the logic of one’s actions. Greed is a sin; it separates us from God. The ancients would call it idolatry—the act of ascribing to some thing greater worth than one ascribes to God. Our sin as a people is reflected in our governments at all levels where our individual representatives pay homage to the ones who have bought them or are trying to buy them. While collectively, they accomplish little or nothing regarding their one assigned task—to provide for the common good.

I fear we are all guilty of a bit of greed and we each must confess this sin while turning away from it.  This is no easy tasks as greed is ingrained in most part of our lives. Our personal confession and repentance is just a first step. We must eat the justice we have failed to assure. It will no doubt taste a little bitter. Like the cleansing antiseptic used to cleanse a wound, we will have to fill the sting before we can return our country to health.

The good news is we have a Savior in Jesus Christ our Lord and if we turn to him and follow the path he lays out for us, we can return God’s justice to this land as we share the abundance of bounty God provides for all God’s children, through loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves. It is a meal both sweet and savory. Come share the bread and the wine.

Prayer: Lord of the Harvest, I ask forgiveness for the greed I can readily see in my life and the greed that is so comfortable I do not even recognize it as greed anymore.  Thank you for your mercy and thank you for your persistence in justice for all. 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 9, 2014

For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish. As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil. Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor. — 1 Peter 2:9-10

 I am already sick of campaign ads and they have only just begun for this election cycle. Dealing with little that matters, they are artfully designed to play on our fears and prejudices, both of which we all have. What is a Christian to do in a democratic society with a representative form of government, which ultimately means that in the final analysis we are the emperor?

It surely does not feel like we are in charge. Many of the ads are not a part of any candidate’s campaign but are controlled by very special interest groups using generic ways of supporting candidates that agree with them and denigrating those that don’t. During the last election I stopped listening to any ad on either side that was not endorsed by a candidate.  The mute button on my TV became my friend and it actually turned out to be a good way to do a minute or two worth of exercises or prayer or both, which is certainly healthier for me than letting misleading jargon raise my blood pressure.

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.

 Our scripture today tells us we are to accept the authority of our governments and that we are not to let our freedom be a pretext for evil. In the United States of America a part of accepting the authority of our government is being a fully engaged citizen. Taking the time to learn about the issues from every side, and then making our voting decisions based on how the positions candidates are taking fit with our vision of the Kingdom of God being fully realized on earth as a place where we love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

Prayer: Lord grant me an even keel as I consider the issues of the day and how they can be a part of my loving my neighbor. Amen.

Eastertide
May 8, 2014

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:9-12

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
 Once you were not a people,
   but now you are God’s people;
once you had not received mercy,
   but now you have received mercy. — 1 Peter 2:9-10 

If you read the full scripture for today you will see that the quoted verses, nine and ten, lead into an admonition about how we should conduct ourselves in the world. This is rather like the parental admonition to children that they are to do nothing that would tarnish the family name, which is good advice for any group trying to carry out a mission. We do not want our behavior to overshadow our purpose.

Verses nine and ten are a composite of quotes from the Hebrew Bible, specifically Exodus 19:6 and Isaiah 43:20-2. These ancient writings express the covenantal relationship the Israelites had with God. The writer of 1 Peter is underscoring the continuation of that relationship through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as he came to expand the covenant to the whole world. These scriptures remind the first Jewish followers of Christ that there was a time when even they were not a people of God and in need of mercy.

This reminder echoes over the centuries for those of us who have known no other way of being but as followers of Christ. As we live out our faith we need to be O so aware that God’s love is an amazing gift of grace, something to be cherished as if it were newly given each morning like manna from heaven. For our understanding that we are God’s people when extended to those who may not yet be aware that they, too, are God’s people is our purpose.  It is not a gift we are to hide in a safe place where no one will take it from us.

Prayer: O God of Mercy, make me a blessing to someone today. 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 7, 2014

Scripture Reading: John 21:1-14

Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. — John 21:3-5 

In the closing chapter of the gospel of John, we find Peter where he was when we first met him—fishing.  I do not know what he was thinking.  Perhaps he just needed to earn a living, perhaps fishing was where he could think. It is interesting that the disciples are still with him. They did not all fish for a living. Whatever their purpose, it did not come to fruition; they caught nothing. These disciples had experienced the living Christ and as much as they might have longed to regain some normalcy in their life, they are coming to the realization that their paradigm has shifted. They have found a new normal.

A man whom they did not recognize standing on the beach tells them to try again and this time they catch so many fish that they can not pull the nets out of the water. First Peter and then the others recognize him and turn to him.  It was at this point that they understood what and who Jesus was and is. It was at this point that they came to understand that they had been changed and that they would need to live into their new normal.

We as followers of Christ are also called to this “new normal” to living intentionally as disciples of the one who said, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.—John 10:10 This is a “new normal” that helps us understand that we are conduits of an abundant life for others as well as recipients in our own right. This is a “new normal” where abundance is not defined in material things, but is a blessing of wholeness, oneness, and justice for all.

Prayer: Living Christ, thank you for the abundance of your love and for enabling each of us to share it with the 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.