Holding Tightly - Tuesday, March 31, 2015

SCRIPTURE READING:

     Acts 10:34-43

"Then Peter began to speak: 'I now realize how true it is that G-d does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.  You know the message G-d sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ , who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached -- how G-d anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because G-d was with him.  We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but G-d raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom   G-d had already chosen --by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.  He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom G-d appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."  

THOUGHTS:

     Peter had learned a lot in his years following Jesus, but he hadn't learned it all.  Over my years of following Jesus, I've learned a lot, but I haven't learned it all and sometimes I feel as if everything I've thought I've learned maybe isn't right.  As people of faith we have so much to learn and relearn. Our faith calls to be open to transformation, which means we must be open to change and education.  I want to be a constant student and there's very little that I want to hold with a tight fist.  Peter shares alot of those things -- the good news of peace, Jesus' life, death and resurrection, his love for people, his thirst and drive for healing, his heart for goodness and forgiveness.
     I want to hold tightly to Jesus' love for humanity.  I want to hold tightly to his righteousness and goodness.  I want to hold tightly to his being judge - not me or you - but him.  I want to hold tightly to the forgiveness G-d extends to us having been dealt with 2000 years ago on the cross.
     This week is Holy Week.  We honor his suffering. We remembering the weight that he carried and we are to be forever transformed by the knowledge of the things we know and the things we are learning.

ACTION:

Today, I hold my knowledge in my hand and ask G-d to sift it, to purify it, to hone it towards his ways and will.  Lord, move in me to consider the weight of the world that rested on your shoulders - to lay down myself like you did, to hold tightly to love.

Why thankful? - Tuesday, March 24, 2015

SCRIPTURE READING:

     Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let Israel say: 'His love endures forever.' Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.  The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. O Lord, save us; O Lord, grant us success. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you.  The Lord is G-d, and he has made his light shine upon us.  With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.  You are my G-d, and I will give you thanks; you are my G-d, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."

THOUGHTS:

     As I typed out the passage above, I found myself lamenting the idea of giving thanks.  There are times that I just don't understand how to give thanks. There are things I just don't want to give thanks for.  How are we supposed to be thankful for a crappy day or a life cut short? How are we supposed to be thankful when your car brakes down at the most inconvenient time? Or when cancer has been diagnosed? There just seems to be times that being thankful doesn't seem possible. It's silly to think that one could be thankful that a car has broke down or that a life was cut short.  And it is silly. It's ridiculous. 
     This psalm reminds me that it is not those circumstances we are to be thankful for.  That thankfulness is about the goodness of G-d. G-d hasn't caused the bad circumstances, but G-d redeems them.  G-d works in them.  His love endures forever.  We can rejoice that he is faithful, that he saves.  This is how we praise him in the storms of life because the thankfulness is about gratitude for the storm in the moment. It is about gratitude for G-d's promise.  The day will come after our trials have passed that we will look back see the very hand of G-d and how it moved and worked for our good.  But in the storm, we can't see. In the tough diagnose, we loose sight.  In the hard blow, we're shaken.  But G-d, O G-d will not be shaken and he holds steady. He holds us. One day we will see clearly, but for now we thank him for the faithfulness even when we can't see it. 

ACTION:

     Lord, there are days that I feel like I'm falling apart and it will not be okay.  Father, give me the strength to thank you for being you.

O, Death where is your victory? - Friday, March 20, 2015

SCRIPTURE READING:

     John 12:20-33

"Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. 'Sir,' they said, 'we would like to see Jesus.' Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.  Jesus replied, 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.  The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow  me; and where I am, my servant also may be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.  Now my heart is troubled and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour?' No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!' Then a voice came from heaven, 'I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.' The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, 'This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.' He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die." 

THOUGHTS:

     I have been in a season of death.  No, I haven't died, but many people around me have - friends,  children, family - and many are currently walking through the valley of the shadow of death.  Death sucks.  It hurts.  People are taken from this world too soon. We are left to grieve the loss.  And I'm not one to believe it was the "plan" or that G-d needed another angel.  We aren't angels.  Angels are angels.  We are humans created in the image of G-d.  We remain human.  Death was never intended to be in G-d's plan. Humanity's brokenness has brought death and I believe that it grieves G-d. That is very reason G-d intervened in the person of Jesus Christ.
     Resurrection - both physical and spiritual - only happens when something dies.  That's the promise.  G-d's answer to death is resurrection. His fix for our brokenness is resurrection.  There is pain in the midst of the waiting, but there is hope in the knowing that those who have passed out of this world, have passed into the hope of resurrection, into the presence of eternal peace! The work of the cross was judgment against death.  Death has no sting.  It has no victory.  The evil one and his death have been driven out.  Christ is risen breaking the bonds of death and sin. Christ is drawing all, yes I said ALL, to himself regardless of what the evil one can dish out. 
     Death is for just a season and it is just a valley. There is a greater mountaintop and we have been given access to it.  The pain of those who remain is real.  It is not to be lessened.  It is to be held sacred and we are to sit with those grieving, holding them, allowing them to mourn the loss. There is hope in death. There is promise in death. But there is never excuse in death.  There's never an adequate answer for why. Death was never intended. It grieves G-d and it grieves us.  G-d is our great comforter and will never leave us in the pain.  In the midst of death, we look to the resurrection and trust it's promise.

ACTION:   

     Come AWAKE! That's my heart's cry.  In the midst of grief, I want to come awake! I want to taste the resurrection. I want to come alive in hope. 

Lord, I need you - Thursday, March 19, 2015

SCRIPTURE READING:

     Hebrews 5:5-10

"So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But G-d said to him, 'You are my Son; today I have become your Father.' And he says in another place, 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.' During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by G-d to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek." 

THOUGHTS:

     Sometimes the only prayer we need is "G-d, I need you." We complicate that.  We demand certain prayer formulas and even positions in which to pray.  Prayer isn't cookie cutter. Prayer happens in many ways and comes in many shapes.
     Jesus himself prayed. This passage highlights his cries and tears that he let out in the Garden of Gethsemane on the eve of his death.  But I am certain that Jesus lived a life of prayer. That's what reverent submission is.  Jesus positioned himself to be in constant connection with the Creator.
    You see, I need that.  I need that constant connection.  Jesus did too.  We suffer. Life hits us.  We make mistakes and other people's mistakes happen to us. Things go sometimes go absolutely right, and other times they go tragically wrong.  We learn from everything. We learn from the good, the bad and the ugly of our lives.  We learn only because we have reverent submission and seek G-d in those hard things.  When we are able to have the constant conversation, we are able to draw strength and wisdom from him.
     Of course, there are indeed those times where like Jesus, we loudly cry out and tears flow like  Niagra Falls. There are times that we find ourselves completely helpless, completely broken, completely tapped out and we fall to the floor screaming out "G-d, I need you." But that should be our prayer everyday and in every moment because we desperately need his presence in our lives, not just in the bad times.

ACTION:

     Lord, I need you.  Even at my strongest I desperately need you. My weakness is greater than my strongest moments.  I need you.  In every moment I need your presence with me.  I need to feel you close and know that you are near.

Religion and Faith - Wednesday, March 18, 2015

SCRIPTURE READING:

     Psalm 119:9-16

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, O Lord, teach me your decrees.  With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word." 

THOUGHTS:

      There's a difference between having religion and having faith.  Religion comes almost without question. You must believe X, Y, and Z and there is no reason to question, just do because it's what's done.  Faith requires doubt. It requires questions. In faith, we let our questions lead us to belief. True faith allows us to question things and know that there might not be answers, but yet we can trust and choose to believe.  That's a simple breakdown. There is so much more that could be said.
     What G-d requires of us is to seek after him.  Micah says, to seek justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our G-d.  That's what's required.  Are we running after G-d? Or are we clinging to man-made religion? Are we allowing our faith to motivate us to justice and mercy? Or are we frozen by fear of getting things wrong?
     The Lord is willing to guide us. Are we willing to follow?

ACTION:

     Lord, lead me to a deeper faith.  Give me the heart to chase after you and your word.

A self-loathing spirit - Tuesday, March 17, 2015

SCRIPTURE READING:

     Psalm 51:1-12

"Have mercy on my, O G-d, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.  Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O G-d, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." 

THOUGHTS:
 
     I think David, the psalmist, struggled with self-loathing.  I believe there were days where he completely doubted everything that he knew to be true about himself.  That doubt led him to do some bad stuff, like commit adultery and then kill his lover's husband.  Those actions only added to his self-loathing.He had a self-loathing spirit.  After reading so many of the Psalms, one can figure out, he some major ups and downs. Often times I think he communicated some warped ideas of who G-d is and who he is.  If you dive into the Psalms, you can really see David's brokenness, not just in his mistakes but in his hearts cry. David's heart though was ever-seeking after G-d. The desire of his heart was to be one with the Lord, to do his will. The desire of his heart was for a steadfast spirit, not a self-loathing one.
     I struggle with this self- hatred.  There was a time in my life that I couldn't accept the unconditional love of G-d because of my own hatred for myself and what I had done.  G-d freely gave his forgiveness. He's not counting our sins against us, but boy, we sure do.  And the more we count our own sins, the more we count the sins of others.  The more we hate ourselves, the more we hate others.  The less we love ourselves and embrace ourselves as-is, the less we love others and embrace them as-is.
     If we struggle with loving others unconditionally, it's because we don't love ourselves unconditionally and we don't allow G-d to love us unconditionally.  The love of G-d pours into us, if we let it, and it pours out of us.  We are to love G-d with all we got, and then to love our neighbor as ourself. But if we don't love ourself, we can't love our neighbor. How we feel about ourself is what is put out towards others.
     It sounds so contrary but we must embrace our entire self.  Look at it fully and embrace it. We attempt to murder the person within us, all the while we are murdering the very thing that holds and carries the image of G-d. We hold and carry the image of G-d - it is worthy of our love.  We must seek the good in ourselves and cultivate that, instead of wallowing in the bad. The bad is there.  It is what it is. We can't go back. We can't extract it. It is G-d who transforms anything bad within us, not us.  The more we seek the good in ourselves and press into that, the more G-d deals with the brokenness and heals it. But we must not self-loathe. We must embrace our good, bad and ugly.

ACTION:

Lord, help me to see you in me.  Help me to cling to what is good, holy, pure and right. Help me to press towards your love and your compassion.  G-d, I give the rest to you and I lay it your hands. I refuse to hate myself or count those things against myself because you don't count them against me. Lord, in giving the rest to you, I repent that those things aren't your good, your holy, your pure and your right.  I trust that you will be just with them and that you will love me anyways.

Worship and the Divine

     Nothing in creation warrants our worship. All creation is below its Creator, who alone is worthy of worship, but I also believe that the divine whispers in the breeze, the divine is somehow captured in roaring waves of the sea, in the tenderness and unconditional love of a family pet. I believe the divine can be seen in everything, if we are willing to see it. And that vision should direct us to the Holy One, the Creator. God creating out of himself – everything and everyone created by him is worthy of honor, dignity, respect and wonder, creation itself magnifies Him. 

     We were created to be Co-workers with God. Co-laborers. Co-creators. We were created for freedom, for community and for a destiny. It is for these very reasons that I believe we must seek out the divine in all things, so that we might do justice, love mercy and walk humbly in this great task of co-creation. Godly freedom is one that sets aside our individual “freedoms” so that others might be free. That sacrifice takes seeing the divine in something we might otherwise see as unworthy. To live fully in community we must strive to see the best of others, to see God’s image in each person, no matter how far they may from perfect.

There will be a day - Monday, March 16, 2015

SCRIPTURE READING:

     Jeremiah 31:31-34

"The time is coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.  It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, through I was a husband to them," declares the Lord.  "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the Lord. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their G-d, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the Lord. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." 

THOUGHTS:

     By this time Israel was split. The house of Israel and the house of Judah were separate.  Their brokenness had led to a divide that seemed irreconcilable. And yet, G-d says, redemption will come there in that break. There will be a day that this split will be healed and the quarreling over religious things will end. He will draw them close write the important things on their heart and they will be one.  They won't have to tell each other how they are wrong or what they are doing out of order. They will be able to just be and trust that G-d is present to all.
     My siblings and I fight and there have been times we haven't spoken to one another.  It's always because we draw our lines in the sand and we believe we are right and the other is wrong.  We say things and hurt happens and we can't find our way back to each other very easily.
     Likewise, this happens in the Church all the time. It's why we have denominations. Groups of people unable to just love one another and instead drawing lines in the sand and demanding that their way is the right way.  We feel we have to teach one another what we know since it's obviously the right.  This is why churches split. We can't just agree to love G-d and love others and let G-d sort out the rest.  We draw our doctrinal lines. We claim our "righteousness" over others "righteousness." "Those liberals have it all wrong" and "those conservatives completely misread the text." "Good thing, I study the Bible because I know they don't." We kill each other with our "righteousness." We cut each other off because we refuse to see that G-d actually does reveal himself to ALL and in many different ways.
     This passage brings us hope! There will be a day that all that crap ends.  There will be a day when we are ONE! When we see G-d in every person and every person sees G-d.  There will be a day when division ends and those that we thought were the furthest from G-d are sitting at his feet...maybe even closer than ourselves.

ACTION:

Gracious G-d, let me bite my tongue when I think I am right.  Let me put the other before myself.  Let me find you in the face of the person who seems so far away.

Amazed at the love - Thursday, March 12, 2015

SCRIPTURE READING:

     John 3:14-21

"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 'For G-d so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For G-d did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.  Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into th elight for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it maybe seen plainly that what he has done has been done through G-d."

THOUGHTS:

     John 3:16 is one of the first verses that we memorize as a child.  It's a verse that sums up G-d's story.  He loved the world so much that he came to dwell among us, even to the point of death.  His story has shown there isn't much he wouldn't do to show his love towards us.  He loves us.  He loves his creation. He loves the world.
     The implications of that are huge.  He loved the world, not only his people, but the WORLD.  All of it.  He was willing to die for all of it.  He never stops pursuing us.  If you are running, he will never stop pursuing you.  He never loses hope in us.  He is the loving father waiting to welcome home the wayward child, even running out her when he sees her afar.
     I never cease to be amazed at the lengths to which the Lord pursues me.  He doesn't condemn, he woos me to his side.  He chooses to see the good in us and to help us live into that.  He believes in us and never gives up on us.

ACTION:

     Today, I want to love like that. I want to love others like that.

Realignment - Wednesday, March 11, 2015

SCRIPTURE READING:

     Ephesians 2:1-10

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.  All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, G-d, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.  And G-d raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of G-d -- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are G-d's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which G-d prepared in advance for us to do." 

THOUGHTS:

     We are G-d's poem.  He spoke us into existence. He speaks life into the world around us.  We are his masterpiece.  It is the power of G-d that rescues us.  We are not saved by or through the kingdom's we build, but yet we are called and required to build the kingdom.  Each of us is given our space in our world to steward and care for.  G-d's love comes to us. It changes us and transforms us. It realigns us to him.  This is the path of Lent -- a realignment. This realignment is meant to equip us to serve and change the world.
     It is by grace that we have been saved, and it is faith that requires action of us.  We were created with purpose. We were created for participation in the kingdom of G-d, to do good works.  To do and be good.  In the garden, he saw that what he had created was good and he gave us purpose.  We haven't lost those things.  The message of the Gospel is love.
     Following Christ means that we realign to him and seek first his kingdom.  The season of Lent provides us the perfect opportunity to position ourselves before the Lord, offering up all that we are to be molded and shaped to become like him.

ACTION:

     I'm not liking this "action" part.  I'm rethinking it, but I will keep it through lent.  I intended that the text would shift something in me and it has, but not always produced a specific "action" - so maybe I'll just relabel it "prayer."

Gracious G-d, abundant in love and mercy, you have reached down, dwelled among us and provided redemption to ALL.  I don't want to waste the gift you have freely given me.  I want to seek first your kingdom and I want to change the world.  Realign my heart to your ways.

Waiting and giving thanks - Tuesday, March 10, 2015

SCRIPTURE READING:

     Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this -- those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them form their distress. He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deed for men. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy." 

THOUGHTS:

     I have a friend who has waited years and years for something she has really wanted.  In the waiting she has suffered pain and loss.  The weight she has carried in longing for this thing has been indescribable and often times unbearable.  She would tell you that she has never stopped crying out to the Lord for the desire of her heart.  There have been times of completely devastation that have caused her to question everything, but she has maintained her love for the Lord and sought out his unfailing love, trusting him.
     She is finally at a time in her life where this desire, this longing seems to be coming about. And she is  screaming from the rooftops the goodness of the Lord.  I have to say that I haven't struggled like she has with this specific thing, but I have been in the valley and I have waited long to see desires of my heart.  And I continue to wait for those things.  While waiting I want to give thanks to the Lord for his goodness.
     Giving thanks to the Lord involves our whole being. It involves acknowledging our helplessness and our brokenness and lifting his name high despite our circumstances.  He is good.  He is pleasant, beautiful, excellent, lovely, delightful, joyful, fruitful, precious, cheerful, kind and righteous.  He is good and his love never fails us.
     No matter what storms have found us or what problems we've created for ourselves, G-d is good.  When we are at the gates of death, he rescues and redeems.  He sends forth his word, speaking life, love and healing into the deepest parts of our souls and our world.  Even when we can't see the light, we can sing songs of praise and joy because he is faithful forever.
     What does it mean to you to say "G-d is good?" What words describe his faithfulness to you? How is he been faithful in your waiting?

ACTION:

     Lord, in the midst of my life, I cry out to you that I am broken and helpless.  I declare that even in my brokenness, Lord, you are good.  You are worthy of praise.  You have redeemed me, you continue to reconcile me and you draw me close to you.  You are good.  Today, I will find you in the middle of pain and loss of life. I will look for you there.  You are redeeming and rescuing your creation.  Help me to see it.

Making an idol - Monday, March 9, 2015

SCRIPTURE READING:

     Numbers 21:4-9

"They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against G-d and against Moses, and said, 'Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!' Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, 'We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.' So Moses prayed for the people.  The Lord said to Moses, 'Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.' So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.'" 

THOUGHTS:
   
     Israel had once again turned from G-d.  They became impatient with G-d's way.  To the core of who they were, they were angry with G-d. Their souls were cutting short G-d's direction and faithfulness.  They were speaking out against G-d and Moses, so much so that their thoughts had become entrenched in the anger that burned inside them.  They accused G-d of assassinating them, of bringing them out from slavery only to kill them.  They loathed his provision.  Nothing was good enough.  They demanded more.  They wanted something worthy of their worship.  And yet they couldn't even request it themselves. They demanded that Moses do it.
      They were seeking something physical to worship, something they could touch and feel, something that they could look to.  G-d's presence and faithfulness wasn't enough for them. G-d gave them what they were seeking - a snake on a pole - an idol that could be looked to, an idol that could give them signs. But it was an idol that could not heal them.  The text says simply that they lived when they turned to it.  I wonder what quality of life they had, if any at all, once they turned to it.  This idol prolonged their life, but there is no mention of complete healing.  Perhaps G-d in wisdom and love was buying time for their hearts to change?
     Because of free will G-d will give us what we ask - he will allow us to walk away, to sin. He will even provide the way for that to happen. (This is what he did in giving them a snake on a pole that would later be tore down because of idolatry - 2 Kings 18:4)  He walks with us even in our sin, letting us have our own way. He promises us love and faithfulness even when we are not faithful to him.
     In the book of John, Jesus tells us that he must be lifted up like the snake.  Jesus had to be lifted in the same way not just for our sin, but because we demanded that expression of love. We demanded his full devotion to us even when we weren't fully devoted to him.  Jesus lifted up as an idol like the snake. We wear his cross and cling to his cross like an idol.  Is the point of G-d dwelling among us in the cross? Or is it in Christ himself, G-d Incarnate? Would Jesus be Messiah even if there had been no cross? Was there another way? Maybe we could have just accepted what had been given - the living water that was Christ? Maybe we could have not demanded an idol to look to? Maybe the love of G-d should have and could have been enough? Maybe his faithfulness, his promise alone could have saved us?
     Jesus brought life in his very being.  The snake brought death.  Jesus healed, rescued and restored before his death. Life and love came through his very being.  He was the embodiment of reconciliation and redemption. He wasn't a venomous snake. He brought life and yet we still complained - we still grumbled against him and we lifted him up like a venomous snake and took all that was good and right and made an idol of it.
     And yet G-d was faithful even through the death of his son and his promise remains to work all things for good.

ACTION:
   
     Lord, I was wrecked by this text today.  Oh, the ways that I have made you an idol.  Forgive me. My heart desires to forever turn towards you and yet I fail everyday.  Thank you for your grace and your love. Thank you for being a G-d that never turns from me. Thank you for being a G-d that recklessly pursues your creation.  Lord, you seek relationship. You seek redemption and renewal.  May my spirit be ever sensitive your ways.  May you be enough for me today.

Questions are okay - Thursday, March 5, 2015

SCRIPTURE READING:

     John 2:13-22

"When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.  To those who sold doves he said, 'Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!' His disciples remembered that it is written: 'Zeal for your house will consume me.' Then the Jews demanded of him, 'What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?' Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.' The Jews replied, 'It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?' But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken."

THOUGHTS:

     Cattle, sheep and doves were used in sacrifice to the Lord at the temple.  People would bring their first fruits per the law to give to the Lord.  If you didn't have an animal to provide the blood needed, you would have to purchase those and bring them.  Scholars believe what was happening here is price-gouging - like going to an amusement park and having to pay $5 for water while in line for a ride. You pay because it's either pay it or get out of line and lose your place in the two hour long line.  It's unethical and immoral to do such a thing.  These people at the temple were behaving as business folks, making money off of people's religious beliefs and practices.  One could also consider Christian bookstores who put an exorbitant price on the Gospel.  
    What price do we put on the Gospel? Are we withholding the Gospel in order to get something? Are you price-gouging those around us? Are we banking on the faith of others to line our pockets? I don't know that there are answers to those questions - they might look different in any given situation.  I know that this piece of scripture is layered with meaning and value.  It wasn't about defiling the physical temple, but about the heart. This is evident in Jesus shifting to the temple being him.  There's an element of the Jewish leaders once again missing who Christ is.  Are we missing it? Are we tearing him down or lifting him up? And if we are tearing him down? How so? What subtle ways are happening in our lives? Are we living in the power of the resurrection or are we living in religious protocol?
     There are so many questions. Questions are okay. The Text should lead us to questions - questions of it, questions of the authors, questions of G-d and ultimately questions of ourselves.  And maybe will never have answers, but we should always keep asking.

ACTION:

Lord, I have questions. Help me to ask them.  And help me to not be afraid of the answers.

Upside-Down Kingdom - Wednesday, March 4, 2015

SCRIPTURE READING:

     I Corinthians 1:18-25

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of G-d. For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.' Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not G-d made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of G-d the world through its wisdom did not know him. G-d was pleased through the foolishness of the what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom G-d has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of G-d and the wisdom of G-d.  For the foolishness of G-d is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of G-d is stronger than man's strength." 

THOUGHTS:

      What a confusing piece of text! Sometimes I wonder why the authors of scripture wrote so crazy.  However, I'm not sure in the original language and the nuances of it that it was so complex for the original hearers to get.  Our wisdom no matter how wise it is does not compare to the wisdom of G-d.  G-d operates in an upside-down Kingdom.  It's not upside-down to him.  It's upside-down to us.  We don't get it because it's not what we would think should happen or it doesn't seem to be the human way.  Peter had this problem when he rebuked Jesus. Jesus spoke clearly about his death and resurrection and Peter in his wisdom thought Jesus to be foolish.  Judas did it when he turned over Christ to force the political uprising that he desired.
     Living in the Kingdom of G-d means that everything that we know to be true might not be.  Living in the Kingdom of G-d means that all the things that we think are wise might not be.  Living in the Kingdom of G-d means that even at our strongest of moments we might not be as strong as we think.  This is an upside-down Kingdom.  If it wasn't, it would just be more of the world.  After looking at the Greek and doing some word study, let me paraphrase this text:

For the Word of the cross (Jesus is Logos, the Word) is crazy to those who depend on their own wisdom, the Word of the cross, what Jesus did, who he is - renders their wisdom void, it demolishes it.  But for those who surrender their wisdom, who soften their minds and hearts to the Word of the cross they are rescued and preserved out of their own thinking.  Because it's written that 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.'...through all of the wisdom, skills, aptitude and tact of the world G-d was not revealed, those things haven't made him known.  All that makes G-d known is G-d choosing to be known.  Knowledge is not enough.  The Word of the cross - Jesus - proclaimed delights G-d because Christ alone, his way, his being, his life, death and resurrection - Christ alone is enough. Not knowledge of him because none of those things make sense, but faith in him.  Faith in this upside-down kingdom where the King dies so his kingdom might live.  It was foolishness for Christ to die. It made no sense in the eyes of the world's wisest. For the Jews, Christ was a scandal.  He was not the conquering King they desired, that their wisdom told them to seek.  For the Greeks, none of it made sense.  But G-d welcomed all to the table who could see his wisdom and believe that his kingdom, his way, his being was better than anything their brains could wrap around.  The stupidity of G-d is greater than our deepest wisdom.  Even at our smartest and most skilled, the things of G-d are beyond us.

 So everything that I think I might know - and believe me a lot of it is good stuff - I could be absolutely wrong! Because that is what it means to live in the upside-down Kingdom of G-d.

ACTION:

May my all my knowledge, wisdom and skill be held loosely in my hand so that you, O Lord, my sift it and remove my foolishness from it.  May my spirit be open to your Kingdom more fully each and every moment.  May my understandings, beliefs and thoughts be rocked by your presence and your wisdom.  I want to live fully in this upside-down Kingdom, understanding that I probably will never fully understand but that I am willing trusting you as my King.

Here comes the sun - Tuesday, March 3, 2015

SCRIPTURE READING:

     Psalm 19

"The heavens declare the glory of G-d; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.  The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.  The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.  They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."

THOUGHTS:

As I wrote out this text in my journal and as I typed it this morning, I was intrigued by the sun.  David is proclaiming the goodness of G-d.  The Creator of the universe set into motion the heavens and the skies and he speaks through them (the rainbow is an example of G-d's communication through the heavens and the skies).  The speech of the heavens has no boundaries - no matter where we are positioned on this planet, we are not beyond the reach of the skies and glory they declare for the Lord.  The sun knows its place in this.  No matter the chaos of the world. No matter the brokenness that humanity brings forth. The sun has pitched its tent and it makes it circuit from one end of the earth to the other.  The sun comes up and the sun goes down. The sun knows its work. It knows its calling.
    Just as the Lord has provided for the sun and given it a path. He gives us one too! He gives his law to revive our soul. His law constantly brings us back to him, turning us around and causing us to move towards him.  His statutes gives us wisdom.  When we don't understand and can't perceive his statutes are trustworthy and can be followed.  His precepts bring joy to our hearts. His commands, like the sun, are radiant and bring light to darkness.  G-d is righteous. His ways are good.
     Here comes the sun this morning and it speaks to me. Reminding me that even in the deepest of pains, in the deepest of sorrows, G-d is faithful.

ACTION:

Today, I will watch the sun, the birds, the wind, the snow. I will seek G-d's voice in the whispers of his creation.

Responsible Grace - Monday - March 2, 2015

SCRIPTURE READING:

     Exodus 20:1-17

And G-d spoke all these words: "I am the Lord your G-d, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your G-d, am a jealous G-d, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.  You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your G-d, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.  Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your G-d. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.  Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your G-d is giving you.  You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbors house. You shall not covet your neighbors wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor." 

THOUGHTS:

     Responsible Grace - the grace of G-d is a grace that requires a response.  It's not cheap grace - grace that allows us to live however we want bringing death and pain.  It's not that.  The grace of G-d is indeed a free gift that he willing gives to us, but it is also a grace that requires a faithful response.  This grace comes so that we might be a light to the world.  This grace comes to change us, mold us, refine us to be agents of the Kingdom of G-d.  It's a grace that comes straight to our heart and calls us to account.  The "punishing the children for the sin of the fathers" isn't about physical punishment or G-d giving people what they deserve. The Hebrew word used means to call into account. G-d holds us accountable for our actions to the 3rd and 4th generations of those we've affected by our actions.  What I do today matters to my children, my grand children, and my great grandchildren and even beyond.  The grace of G-d requires a response that brings us to come under accountability to his ways and will.
     We don't get to go out and murder people (both figuratively and literally) and then say "G-d will forgive me." Will he? I believe the grace of G-d is so big he would; however, that completely misses the point of grace.  We accept the grace of G-d and come under account to him.  This grace changes our heart to respond to his ways and we begin to see that his way is a way of life and we honor it.  His way is a way of lifting up others so they might find and recognize the same grace that we have been given.  This is a heart issue.  The grace of G-d is not cheap.  It comes at a cost.

“Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession...Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”          ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

ACTION:

     Forgive me Lord for the ways that I have dishonored your grace, for the ways that I have made it cheap. The very act treating your grace lightly is a making an idol of you, it's misusing your name and you.  Father, I have sinned in this thing. Let my response to your grace be ever faithful.  Let my heart be forever changed by your grace.