God’s Presence and Promise

Living in the Spirit

September 18, 2023

Scripture Reading: Exodus 14:19-31

The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night.

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and chariot drivers. At the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic. He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, ‘Let us flee from the Israelites, for the Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.’ –Exodus 14:19-25

When I read this scripture, I immediately envision the scenes from the movie The Ten Commandments. I do not know what I think about miracles, probably never will. I was struck by a car in a downpour of rain that knocked my car up the side of a small hill and back down again. My car headed straight back toward heavy traffic. My back wheels dropped into a ditch and stopped me cold. My back axle was broken, but that probably saved my life and the lives of others on the turnpike. The highway patrolman who responded just stood there and shook his head as he saw my car and realized what could have happened. I may not understand miracles, but I always have a greater appreciation for the presence of God.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the consistency of your presence and your promise.  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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Avoiding Snakes

Living in the Spirit

September 17, 2023

Scripture Reading: John 3:13-17
No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Some snake bites can kill, but all snakes play a vital role in the ecosystem by eating insects and small mammals. Growing up on a farm requires understanding which snakes are dangerous to avoid poisonous snakes and even non-poisonous snakes, too. They still can bite.

The free will that was invested in our creation established the reality that we must choose what is right and what is just for ourselves, all people, and our world. We have been guided in making such decisions by the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, and the example of Jesus. Jesus even died on the cross to help us understand the breadth and depth of God’s love for us. Free will is a gift of grace, and all gifts of grace are accompanied by the responsibility to live life so that our world is graced with becoming the Kingdom of God by our choice, desiring what God desires by choice.

Prayer: Lord, we live in a chaotic divide-and-conquer world. Help us rise above such a worldview and work toward a love-dominated 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Doing a New Thing

Living in the Spirit

September 16, 2023

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-24
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
   and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

What does it mean that Christ crucified was a stumbling block to Jews? I think Isaiah was trying to explain to the Jews the progression of faith when he wrote Isaiah 43:19:
I am about to do a new thing;
   now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
   and rivers in the desert.

We grow stale when we simply move through the motions of faith, whether we be Jews, Christians, Muslims, or other faiths. The Jews of the first century were strong in following their rituals and even their laws. They were comfortable doing that, but some were not ready to take the next steps to spread the love of God throughout the nations, particularly nations that did not respect them. They accepted those who conformed to their practices but remained aloof to others. The Gentiles were opened to new ideas and ways of being caught up in the web of their minds but not so much their hearts. Christ combined the workings of the head and the heart, the morality of justice, and the love of kindness.

We are still growing in our faith. I sense we are in a time of major growth, ready to take the next step up to building the Kingdom of God, the Beloved Community. In some ways, it is scary. After all, some of us have been practicing our faith for years. We study our holy books and try to live what they teach, but there is more. We must take the next steps toward God’s great plan, and that means we must expand our experiences in love as Jesus did, guided by love and being reconciled with all of God’s children.

Isaiah 43:19
I am about to do a new thing;
   now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
   and rivers in the desert.

Prayer:  Lord, strengthen our being to serve you more nearly as we face the challenges of our troubled world. Amen.

Loving our Neighbor

Living in the Spirit

September 15, 2023

Scripture Reading: Romans 13:8-14
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet’; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

This scripture from the lectionary this week is speaking directly to we citizens of the USA. We do need to move on from the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. We seem to be blind to the real problems that we face, like climate change and the high poverty rate assuring that the rich get richer, causing the number of those who live in poverty to grow while creating chaos and dissension over issues that impact few people and that are really none of our business.

Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves. So, what would we do, how would we respond if we were caught in the same dilemmas with which our neighbors are dealing? We may self-righteously pontificate on what we think we might do, but, we have no idea how we would have responded to some issues. Our homeless population is filled with youth kicked out of their homes because they identified as being gay or transgender. Others commit suicide. In Oklahoma, [a woman] recounted how she was told to wait in the parking lot until she got closer to death and doctors could provide an abortion. She had a molar pregnancy that would never become a viable fetus but was a very serious threat to her health*. Is that loving your neighbor?

Prayer:
Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways!
Re-clothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives Thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise**. Amen.

*https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/13/1199057631/lawsuits-abortion-bans-idaho-tennessee-oklahoma#:~:text=Told%20to%20wait%20in%20the,serious%20threat%20to%20her%20health.

**The first verse of Dear Lord and Father of Mankind by John Greenleaf Whittier see at https://hymnary.org/text/dear_lord_and_father_of_mankind#Author.

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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Intentional Living

Living in the Spirit

September 14, 2023

Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:33-40
Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes,
   and I will observe it to the end.
Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
   and observe it with my whole heart.
Lead me in the path of your commandments,
   for I delight in it.
Turn my heart to your decrees,
   and not to selfish gain.
Turn my eyes from looking at vanities;
   give me life in your ways.
Confirm to your servant your promise,
   which is for those who fear you.
Turn away the disgrace that I dread,
   for your ordinances are good.
See, I have longed for your precepts;
   in your righteousness, give me life.

What a beautiful prayer. It shows the grace of intentionality when we sync our desires with God’s. Jesus put it this way in Matthew 11:28-30:

‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

We, too, are called to be gentle and humble in heart.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for providing a map for us to follow as we strive for wholeness in your 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Dealing with Wickedness

Living in the Spirit

September 13, 2023

Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 33:7-11
So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked ones, you shall surely die’, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.

Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: ‘Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?’ Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?

In Hebrew, wicked means to be guilty of sin, either against God or humans—either breaking God’s laws or being a criminal*. English expands that meaning to include it being a violation of propriety**. In our society, the definition of sin means missing the mark. It is also defined as being separated from God. In any case, it is not good.

With that in mind and within the structure of the above scripture, how do we speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways? I do not respond well to people who get in my face and tell me I am going to hell if I do not change my ways, and, frankly, I do not know anybody who does respond well to such confrontation. On the other hand, when we observe someone involved in behavior that is harmful to themselves and even to others, what do we do? There are degrees of wickedness, and I think our willingness to do what is wrong expands as we start slowly and build bad habits.  While on a business trip, I took an older relative out to lunch while passing through the town where she lived. We had a good conversation, and I enjoyed the visit until the point we were preparing to leave, and she scooped all the packs of sugar in a container on the table into her purse. The surprise on my face must have shown, as she informed me the sugar on the table was for our use. She then slid out of the booth and headed for the door as I followed her out.

Being a good role model might be one way to deal with some of the “wickedness” in our world. At other times we may need to be forthright in our concern for another, truthful while not becoming a pest while continuing to walk with others as they face the challenges of their lives.

Prayer: Lord, help us first take the log out of our eye before we attempt to take the speck out of our neighbor’s eye ( from Matthew 7:3-5). Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7563.htm

**https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/sin

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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Returning Good for Evil

Living in the Spirit

September 12, 2023

Scripture Reading: Psalm 149
Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
   his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in its Maker;
   let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.
Let them praise his name with dancing,
   making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
   he adorns the humble with victory.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
   let them sing for joy on their couches.
Let the high praises of God be in their throats
   and two-edged swords in their hands,
to execute vengeance on the nations
   and punishment on the peoples,
to bind their kings with fetters
   and their nobles with chains of iron,
to execute on them the judgment decreed.
   This is glory for all his faithful ones.
Praise the Lord!

Vengeance is mind–Deuteronomy 32:35

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. — Romans 12:19-21

Several of these Psalms have been sprinkled through the lectionary this year, starting with praising, and singing and ending with retribution. We are all human. When we feel we have been mistreated, our immediate response may demand we create the justice we think we deserve, particularly if the action was embarrassing. Doing so often just makes things worse. I am not sure we should overcome evil with good by likening such behavior, to being like heaping burning coals on their heads, but it is clearly the right thing to do.

Prayer: Lord, guide us to find the right way to deal with what we deem to be the mistreatment we experience in life. 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Remembering

Living in the Spirit

September 11, 2023

Scripture Reading: Exodus 12:1-14
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand, and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the Passover of the Lord. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt, I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations, you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.

I have had the honor of attending Passover with Jewish friends. Escaping slavery and traveling to a totally new way of being was a major change in the Israelites’ lives. Understanding our histories in the world and our faith is important. Faith and worldview co-exist. Dealing with them side-by-side requires people of faith to discern the impact of worldview on how we relate to God and one another. William Wordsworth recognized the problem in his poem The World is Too Much with Me. We must guard against allowing the world to shape our faith rather than have our faith shape our world.  That requires us to dig deeply into the well of what is of God and what is not as the basis of our faith.

Prayer: Lord, we mourn again with those who lost loved ones due to 9/11 and otherwise had their lives forever changed. Let us dwell on the positive lessons we learned from that experience to help us shape our futures. 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Being Me

Living in the Spirit

September 10, 2023

Scripture Reading: Matthew 16:21-28
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’

Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

‘For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.’

The Greek word psuché* translated in this scripture as life is more akin to the English word soul—a person’s distinct identity (unique personhood), i.e. individual personality*. Losing our souls means losing the essence of who we were created to be. Eventually, all humans stop breathing, which is one of the physical workings of our bodies. Our soul is that part of us that is unique and, I believe, was created for God’s purpose. Finding God’s purpose and living God’s purpose is our acceptance of the cross we are called to carry. Jesus’s cross was not just the one he carried to Golgotha. It was the whole package of his teaching and setting the example for how we would live and his resurrection. Living in close connection with God is the best way God can guide us in becoming the best person we can be as we build God’s beloved community.

Prayer: Lord, help us understand and live into being the person you created us to be. Amen.

* https://biblehub.com/greek/5590.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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

What to Do When the Marks Been Missed

Living in the Spirit

September 9, 2023

Scripture Reading: Matthew 18:15-20
‘If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’

The Greek word translated as hamartanó* means eternal loss due to missing God’s mark. It is used like the word hamartía, as being like an archer missing the target. I do appreciate the guidance for addressing such issues. Many churches have faltered over small issues getting blown out of proportion and not being addressed quickly and effectively. I, however, stopped short when I read what should happen if the offender remains recalcitrant that they should be treated like a Gentile and a tax collector. I believe shunned is the religious term that describes the expected response. That seems a bit self-righteous to me. It does not seem to fit comfortably with the commandment of loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. Perhaps the last phrase makes the case for justice, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. That tells me we better work out our differences even with gentiles and tax collectors.

Prayer: Lord, open our eyes to recognize when we have missed the mark and guide us in restoring wholeness in our relationships. Open our hearts when we are the ones wrong to practice forgiveness in love.  Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/264.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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.