Tag Archives: Kingdom of God

Planning for Change

Eastertide

April 27, 2020

Scripture Reading:
Acts 2:42-47

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. –Acts 2:42

This verse describes my life since I have been sheltering in place. Generally, I follow a pattern of trying to be well-organized, setting goals and time frames, and accepting responsibility for some projects or events that fit my time budget. Rarely do they work out the way I envisioned. As one who coordinated planning for a large state agency for 20 some years, I learned early in my career that plans exist to be changed. That does not negate the need to plan in the first place. Planning lessens the challenges of dealing with change.

Recently, circumstances beyond my control had resulted in my need to pick up my pace in late winter and early spring, and just as suddenly, COVID 19 struck. Most of my activities were canceled, alternative solutions to issues had to be addressed, and I had the time to read the NT Wright book I bought several months ago. My fellowship switched to Zoom meetings and telephone calls, live-streamed worship, including the Lord’s Supper, and I awoke this morning, realizing I was dreaming a prayer.

Acts 2 is describing the actions of the Christ-followers working to implement their calling to further the creation of the Kingdom of God initiated by Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection. The remainder of Acts reports their planning and initiation of action and their changing plans. We are called to continue that work today and forever until God’s plan for this world comes to full fruition.

At one point in this rollout, Paul called on Christ-followers to

Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.  (Ephesians 6:11-18)

And during the COVID 19 challenge, he might have added grab hold of the spiritual fruit of patience.

Prayer: Lord, make this time of dis-ease a time of growth and understanding of your plans for us as your disciples in the world today.

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.

David’s Offspring

Eastertide

April 14, 2020

Scripture Reading: Acts 2:14a, 22-32

For David says concerning him,
“I saw the Lord always before me,
   for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
   moreover, my flesh will live in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
   or let your Holy One experience corruption.
You have made known to me the ways of life;
   you will make me full of gladness with your presence.”

‘Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying,
“He was not abandoned to Hades,
   nor did his flesh experience corruption.”
This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. –Acts 2:25-32

My Bible study group just finished an in-depth study of the life of David as we explored the Bible books of I and II Samuel. One thing I think we all agreed, David was fully human. He was also at most times fully engaged in living his life, whether tending sheep, playing the harp, dancing with all his might before the Ark of the Covenant, leading an army, sinning, or repenting of sin.

Because of David’s historical significance in the evolution of Israel as a powerful nation, Israel projected him, the anointed king of Israel, as the forerunner of the expected Anointed One–the Messiah, who was coming to save Israel. In Peter’s discourse quoted above, he draws from poems attributed to David in 2 Samuel 22:6 and Psalm 16:8-11, where David celebrates overcoming the onslaughts of death in battle as Peter references Jesus’s resurrection.

While not perfect, David had a rich and meaningful relationship with God from his youth. We, too, are called to such a relationship as we rise to follow Christ in building a world ruled by love as our ancestors in faith, those Disciples who picked themselves up at Pentecosts and initiated Christ’s purpose that is still our purpose today.

Prayer: Lord, grant us the courage to face each day with the common goal of loving like Jesus did until the whole world knows and lives that 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.

Answering the Call

Epiphany

January 25, 2020

Scripture Reading: Matthew 4:12-23

Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the lake, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
‘Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
   on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
the people who sat in darkness
   have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
   light has dawned.’
From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ –Matthew 4:12-17

Through his ministry on earth, Jesus was not reckless; he was also fearless. The gospels mention other times when he left potential danger and moved to safer regions so his ministry could continue. Think about this, his relative, John the Baptist, was perhaps held in prison for up to two years before he was beheaded. Jesus knew well what he was facing. That speaks to his intentionality at the end of his ministry when he chose to go to Jerusalem and face the cross.

We live in a chaotic world where children are afraid to go to school, where training them about the avoidance of active shooters is a necessity. Scientists are telling us that our earth may be unliveable sooner than later if we do not take steps to deal with climate change. Wealth distribution is heavily skewed toward the top 1% of the population. And we seem to need to identify worth by the color of one’s skin or their gender or sexual identity.

We are called not to hid our heads in the sand or lock ourselves behind walls of exclusion but to go into all the world and take the message of God’s love to the whole earth just like Jesus did.

Prayer: Lord, our world can be scary. Strengthen our limp hands and week knees* and help us step forth to love like you toward building your kingdom in our world. Amen.

*Derived from 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Called as a Disciple

Epiphany

January 19, 2020

Scripture Reading: John 1:29-42

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter). –John 1:35-42

When I was a child as far as I knew, everybody went to church. Well there was the occasional reprobate that was the exception to every rule. Ours was a homogeneous group of farmers and businesspeople who supported farmers. There were three churches in my hometown: Christian, Evangelical United Brethren that eventually united with the Methodists, and Lutheran. The little church on the corner of my grandmother’s farm, which closed when I was five was my first church. It was served by a Baptist minister. He preached one Sunday a month at four different rural churches and we all got together on fifth Sunday with each church taking a turn at hosting what were called Fifth Sunday Sings. When it closed my family started attending the Christian church. I have since determined that the EUB were one set of families who migrated from Germany in the 1880’s and the Lutheran’s were another set of families who also migrated from Germany and both groups ran in the runs that opened settlement to non-Indians in the heart of the land set aside for the Indian Removal. In my case other cultures came to me. I was unaware of any real differences in beliefs. I attended Bible school at all the churches but the Lutheran Church; don’t think they had Vacation Bible school. I did learn a vast number of hymns from this ecumenical involvement.

My experience was not unlike that of the first Christians who were formed from the homogeneous peoples of Galilee and Judea. They were under Roman rule, I guess that is a major difference. Their call to be disciples was the bridge toward the remainder of the world learning about the love God has for all God’s people. It is still our call today only the world has grown a lot smaller and more diverse. There remains much to learn as we share the love of God from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth.

Prayer: Lord, lead us in understanding one another so that we might work together building your Kingdom of 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.

Enriched

Epiphany

January 17, 2020

Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 1:1-9

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. –1 Corinthians 1:4-9

How do we take fullest advantage of the gift of enrichment through Jesus Christ and how do we enable our siblings in Christ to use fully their gifts toward the purpose of growing and expanding the Kingdom of God? When we hear the word “enrich” most of us think of increasing financial wealth and providing financial support for the advancement of the faith is important. We are also called to develop knowledge of the faith, to grow spiritually, to add value through Christ to everything we attempt, and to share the love of God to and with all God’s children throughout the earth.

Living a purpose-filled life in Christ is the greatest challenge we will ever face if and when we fully take advantage of the enrichments with which we are already endowed and the greatest source of hope, peace, love, and Joy we will ever know.

Prayer: Lord help each of us see the gifts in ourselves as well as each other and help us follow your example as we seek to enrich all your children in 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.

Recovering Lost Potential

Christmastide

December 31, 2019

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-10

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

I may have written about this before so please forgive me if I repeat myself. My parents sold the farm when my Dad’s health would not allow him to do the hard labor required to maintain it. They bought a nice, neat well-kept small house in nearby Stillwater and moved to town. My Dad had never lived in a city and having neighbors on all sides of him gave him a bit of claustrophobia, I think. I always found this surprising because he was a natural people person. He was soon on the look out for a place with open space and he found it. At the edge of town with a creek on its south side and no neighbors on the west, a couple of acres of land with a small house, and a separate workshop. It was awful. Overground so badly with weeds and trees it was nearly impossible to walk across the yard. The house itself had become the stopover place for transients and someone had helped themselves to all the copper and anything else in the house that was readily removeable and of some worth. I do not remember the exact time of the year they bought it. They did not move to it for several months. The first thing they did was remove the unwanted trees and trash and then Dad mowed the entire lot to the shortest of grass where any grass existed. Then winter came and they switched their rebuilding to the house.  I do think Dad found new energy in the work.

Spring arrived and my Mother who was an avid gardener carefully identified every plant in the yard, nurtured them, and removed any weeds that were encroaching on their ground. She also cleared the earth and planted a huge vegetable garden. They did all this before they moved and since I visited at the previous house, I had not seen the place since that first shocking experience. The first time I went to see them after they moved, I was even more shocked. A curving driveway from the street up to the attached garage was lined with the most beautiful array of irises and daffodils. A well-groomed lawn spilled down the hill on the other side of the flowers. It was an unbelievable and amazing transformation.

Jeremiah was instructed by God to do whatever was necessary to restore Israel to wholeness and health using metaphors of restore something like my parents experienced in their work on the new home. God was indicating that for Israel to get right with God it had to clean up our act before it would flourish, and they would be the people God had called them to be. The promise was tat the work was worth doing. I believe Jeremiah’s message speaks truth to us today.  At the close of not only an old year but at the end of a decade, let us each take stock of our lives and initiate the replenishing of our souls. Spring is just a few months away.

Prayer: Lord, help us to see past the clutter that hides the possibilities all about us. Grant us the strength and courage to build and plant faith, hope, and love throughout our 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.

Rachel Weeping for her Children

Christmastide

December 29, 2019

Scripture Reading: Matthew 2:13-23

When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
‘A voice was heard in Ramah,
   wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
   she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.’ –Matthew 2:16-18

I cannot imagine feeling so desperate to save my children’s lives that I would flee my homeland in search of the promise of a better, more welcoming place. Some have told me I should not be so concerned about the children being held at the border between Mexico and the USA because they are being feed and have a place to stay. It is better than what they left. Since even that is questionable, I have lost my glorified image of American as the place of “Give me your tired, your poor,/ Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”* written on the Statue of Liberty. We seem to live in a world where our leaders will do whatever it takes to keep their stranglehold on power and money without regard to who might get hurt in the process.

How did we get to this point? Did the events of 9/11 frighten us so much we trust no one? Or are we so afraid of not being the dominant skin tone, we try to control who comes and goes by the hue of their skin? Were not all people created in the image of God? Why do humans seem to have a need to establish hierarchies of worth among the world’s people?

There are no borders in the kingdom of God. God loves and calls good God’s entire creation. Our assignment is to nurture and protect it. We are not to misuse and abuse it to our selfish ends.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we misuse and abuse the earth an all its inhabitants. Show us your better way. Amen.

*From The New Colossus poem by Emma Lazarus see at https://www.nps.gov/stli/learn/historyculture/colossus.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.

Here I Am

Christmas Eve

December 24, 2019

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 63:7-9

For he said, ‘Surely they are my people,
   children who will not deal falsely’;
and he became their savior
   in all their distress.
It was no messenger or angel
   but his presence that saved them;
in his love and in his pity he redeemed them;
   he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. –Isaiah 63:8-9

In the scripture above The Prophet Isaiah records his conversation with the Lord, the one to save the people, the one who has been carrying them all along. For some reason the Bible study I regularly participate in during the fall and spring has been intent on studying the Hebrew Bible. Thus, I have noted a pattern. The people of God turn to God in times of trouble when they need to be saved. Even when God eventually allowed them to be taken into exile, God arranged their return to their homeland. Their history though is like riding a roller coaster. Everything falls apart—God saves—things get better—the people turn to the ways of the world—things get worse again—God saves again.

Eventually, God deemed it necessary to dwell among these humans and came to them in the form of a newborn who grew and developed, taught and demonstrated love, and eventually died on a cross to save God’s people. And God raised him from the dead. Christ Jesus continues with us in spirit and in truth.

I think God wants us to get off that roller coaster and build a world ruled by love. Isaiah 40:4 states this well:
Every valley shall be lifted up,
   and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
   and the rough places a plain.

I do not think God wants a world that is stagnant or stoic. I envision traveling through life on an even keel while discovering all the wonders of the earth, sharing it with one another, and basking in the joy of exploring a universe full of the joys of life. Instead when we get to the beginning of the Kingdom of God, we get scared and reach out for lesser gods distracting us from our journey of faith. We need to hear the words Mary and others heard from God, Fear Not, I am with you, let’s go and not settle for the gods of the world like greed and lust for power.

Prayer: Lord, grant us the courage of Mary to say when you call: Here am I. 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.

Living in Harmony

Advent

December 13, 2019

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.

I am puzzled by all the people who long for the second coming of Christ trusting that they are going to be among the elect, while assuming all those people with whom they disagree, dislike, judge as immoral, or otherwise disparage are going to hell. That seems to be at odds with Christ’s desire that all God’s children, to the ends of the earth, will live together in harmony in the Kingdom of God. I do not see anywhere in scripture where it says all the people in the Kingdom of God are going to be just like me. I cannot imagine how boring that would be. My guess is that if we got rid of all those we disfavor our human nature would cause us to turn on whoever was left.

I also think God knew what God was doing when God created a diversity of people in many hues and sizes with varying skills and talents and with a continuum of ways to express love much like God’s own self. Perhaps in this meantime as we prepare for the fullness of God’s kingdom, we would be well advised to practice loving like Jesus so we will be prepared for living in a world where:

The wolf shall live with the lamb,
   the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
   and a little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall graze,
   their young shall lie down together;
   and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
   and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
They will not hurt or destroy
   on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
   as the waters cover the sea.—Isaiah 11:6-9

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for not loving ourselves as you love us resulting in our inability to love all your children without bigotry. Enable us to love like Jesus. 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.

Weak Hands and Feeble Knees

Advent

December 10, 2019

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 35:3-4

I have quoted this scripture as my favorite prayer from the Bible, somewhat jokingly, but also with more than a thread of truth because I have had osteoarthritis since I was 24, contributing to both weak hands and feeble knees. So, I keep a hand grip exercise tool by my chair and try to remember to use it regularly. My knees, however, have been strengthened by those God gifted with the skills of science as my knees are now as strong as steel, or titanium really, having both been replaced.

Regarding my hands, opening plastice water bottles is one of my greatest challenges. Most of the time I can get them opened but I also have discovered that male friends and men I have never met, graciously open those pesky lids that even they at times have to give a little more effort to undo. That experience has taught me that God has gifted each person with diverse talents and skills and working together is necessary in the Kingdom of God. I do not like the image of God as a god of vengeance but God is the God of strength that can be depended on to clear the way for love to rule.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for providing ways for all to succeed in answering your call to love even those of us with weak hands or feeble knees or fearful hearts. 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.