Advent Day 11 - December 9, 2015 - Justice
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Justice
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Free
Advent Day 10 - December 8, 2015 - Free
"Free at last, Free at last, thank God Almighty we are free at last." Martin Luther King, Jr. During Advent, we called to consider the freedom we were given through Christ. The Truth sets us free and the Truth came to dwell among us! #Adventphoto #alivenowmag #free
Monday, December 7, 2015
Listen
Advent Day 9 - December 7 - Listen
#Adventphoto word of the day is "Listen." With ears like these you'd think he was a great listener. But reality is Scotties despite their beautiful large ears are Notorious for not listening. Why? Because ultimately listening isn't done with our ears. Truly listening involves our heart and our mind. We must be willing to hear. Jesus said "he who has ears to hear let him hear." during Advent, we tune our ears, our hearts and our minds to the soundtrack of Emmanuel, God with us. #alivenowmag #listen
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Peace
Advent Day 8 - December 6 - Peace 
Today's word of the day is PEACE! The Psalmist tell us to turn from evil, to do good. He also says not just to seek peace but to pursue it. In the season of Advent, we await the Prince of Peace. May we not just passively sit; but may we instead, fervently run towards Him, pursuing and seeking His peace. Peace doesn't just happen. It requires our participation. This evening begins the holy days of Hanukkah, which remind us to stand for what is right, to shine a light into a dark world, to seek and pursuit peace through justice and action. #Peace #alivenowmag #Adventphoto
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Wisdom
Friday, December 4, 2015
Comfort
Advent Day 6 - December 4 - Comfort
#Adventphoto word of the day is "comfort." The season of Advent should leave us uncomfortable. It should stretch us to the furthest limits because it is there that growth is mandatory. Every day as followers of Christ we should seek to uncomfortable. Our Western world is so comfortable. We have even become comfortable with things like death, murder, money, greed; but nothing about the gift that was born and given 2000 years ago was comfortable...a long trip 10 months pregnant, a dark stable full of animals, a town that was not home, a feeding trough for a bed, unknown visitors...why do we think we should be comfortable? #alivenowmag #comfort
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Open
Advent Day 5 - December 3 - Open
In Acts, Lydia, a seller of purple fabrics and a worshiper of God was listening; and the Lord opened her heart... I was watching a show the other day about what it took to make these purple fabrics. Lydia was a busy woman and had quite a disgusting job; but yet she listened and God opened her heart. Just as a rose opens its heart to reveal to the world it's beauty, Advent is a season where we, even in our busyness, slow down and listen, allowing the Lord to open our heart to the beauty of His Kingdom. #open #alivenowmag #adventphoto
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Journey
Advent Day 4 - December 2 - Journey
Advent invites us to journey towards God. Enjoy the journey! "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21 #journey #alivenowmag #adventphoto
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Wait
Advent Day 3 - December 1 - Wait
One of the hardest things to learn in life is to wait. The Season of Advent beckons us to longingly wait the arrival of a gift. It opens our hearts to prayer and anticipation. Advent teaches us to wait with grace.#wait #adventphoto #alivenowmag 
Monday, November 30, 2015
Prepare
Advent Day 2 - November 30 - Prepare
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Hope
For this Advent season, I am participating in Alive Now Magazine's Advent Photo-a-day challenge.
Advent Day 1 - November 29 - Hope
Advent opens the door to hope. In this season, we actively wait in hopeful anticipation for new birth, for redemption, for miraculous happenings #adventphoto #alivenowmag #hope
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
In all the works of your hand
SCRIPTURE READING:
"For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete."
Deuteronomy 16:15 (NIV)
THOUGHTS:
In this season of my life, this promise is one I cling to. I guess I've clung to it for years. The work that I do, I do for the Lord. I do this work from a place of loving God with all that I am and loving others as Christ has loved me. I'm not perfect at, but I work towards it as a goal. And many days are filled with doubt and discouragement, and I remind myself to turn my eyes towards Him.
When I serve as if I am serving Christ himself, I position myself to take even heartache as joy. My joy rests in Him, not in others.
ACTION:
I want to see God in the harvest because it is His, not mine. I want to see God in the works of my hands because it is for Him, not me. I want any joy that I find to be found in Him, the Giver of any real joy.
Sex might not sell anymore...
Or at least nudity doesn't...
This logo is as recognizable as the Nike Swoosh or the Apple bitten apple. Which is ironic, since for 62 years Playboy has been often times a forbidden fruit that screams "just do it."
The Headline is "Nudes are Old News at Playboy."
With his very first issue, Hugh Hefner revolutionized the magazine world and started an empire of Bunnies appealing to men everywhere and based on the idea that sex sells. My brother had his stash hidden, except by his day Penthouse and Hustler had far exceeded anything Playboy had to offer.
So take the time to read this NYTimes article.
Something has shifted.
Something had changed.
Our culture.
Playboy hasn't changed the heart of who they are. Our culture has changed and Playboy has figured out that to stay alive in this shifting world maybe their approach needs to be re-signed or re-framed. Their message, while remaining the same, needs to be re-imagined and re-contextualized in order to remain one of the most recognizable brands in the world.
So here's my question: if Playboy can read the culture and mold itself for viability and sustainability around its original message, why can't the Church figure this out?
Nudity is all over and it's freely given. Playboy shifting to no more nudity and returning to who they were, a return to their story...it's a genius move.
Are we as a Church returning to our story? Our we willing to re-sign, reframe ourselves to the original message - one of hope, one of grace, one of unconditional love? Because I'm telling you what - judgement and condemnation is all over and it's freely given and it's not the banner Christ followers were ever meant to carry.
The "logo" of the cross is more powerful than any Bunny, Swoosh, or fruit. But have we let it mean something it was never meant to mean? Have we forgotten that "for God so LOVED the world"? Are we willing to let the Gospel message become what it needs to, to mold itself for viability and sustainability in our world?
The words of Paul come to my mind:
"Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." (I Corinthians 9:19-23)
Turns out nudity after all these years isn't selling for Playboy. It had its time and only time will tell if this re-signing will prosper. But I'm sure they are onto something.
Maybe we can learn something from Playboy???
Monday, October 12, 2015
You shall find rest for your soul
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| #1 draw from The Inspired Box |
SCRIPTURE READING:
This is what the Lord says:
“Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.'
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.'
Jeremiah 6:16
THOUGHTS:
So often in Scripture the path we should take is laid out so simply. In Micah 6, the Lord cannot get any more blunt, when Micah ask "what is it that the Lord requires of us?" The Lord responds "This is what the Lord requires, to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God." Simple. Blunt. To the point. And yet we miss it.
This Jeremiah text is another promise that we have that too often set aside. "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it."
Stand at the crossroads - every day we have opportunity to stand in a place of decision, a place where we can choose to seek God's ways or we can go on in our own.
Open our eyes - be open to see what the Lord sees or to see things in a different way than we normally do.
Ask for the ancient paths - we aren't the first to stand in the place (no matter what it is) Since days of ancient old, people have stood where we stand and many have followed God's ancient ways to healing, to wholeness.
Ask where the good way is - because there is a bad way, a way that leads to more grief, a way that is longer than it needs to be, a way that might seem ok but is not necessarily the good way. So God what is the way, we should go in this crossroads?
Walk in it - make a choice to choose his way, not your own.
And you will find rest for your soul...
There's the promise. When we walk in the ways of the Lord, we will find rest for our souls. That does not mean it will be easy, or that it won't hurt. It does not mean there will not be pain or that the ground beneath our feet will not shake.
The rest for our soul comes in his embrace, comes in the space where you know that you know that you are not alone.
ACTION:
What do we do with this? The last section of this verse has the Lord saying "but you won't do it. You will not walk in it." Oh, that I would prove Him wrong. Oh, that I would be a person who obeys and seek His ways. Oh, that I would be a person who finds rest for my soul.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
The Inspired Box
My mother-in-law gave me a small wooden box the other day. It's maybe 3×5 inches and the lid is inscribed "The Inspired Box," although you can barely read its gold lettering.
She suspected that I would appreciate the contents of the box since I am a pastor. As I opened the box, I was a little intrigued about what I might find. It was obvious that the box was older than me and maybe even twice as old as me.
Inside I found tiny scrolls, each containing a scripture verse (KJV version). It was designed for the recipient to draw a scroll from the box and to be inspired and blessed by the promise the Word provides. You can place the scrolls back in and reuse the box over and over.
I wonder how many people in its lifetime have pulled out these tiny scrolls and heard the Word of the Lord? I wonder if this tiny box sat in room unused? Did it fulfill its purpose? Or has it yet to be explored?
I don't know the answers to those questions. However, I am going to bring these scrolls to you as I pull them from their box. And perhaps together we can be inspired!
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Holding Tightly - Tuesday, March 31, 2015
SCRIPTURE READING:
Acts 10:34-43
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Why thankful? - Tuesday, March 24, 2015
SCRIPTURE READING:
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
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.
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.
Friday, March 20, 2015
O, Death where is your victory? - Friday, March 20, 2015
SCRIPTURE READING:
John 12:20-33
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.
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.
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Lord, I need you - Thursday, March 19, 2015
SCRIPTURE READING:
Hebrews 5:5-10
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Religion and Faith - Wednesday, March 18, 2015
SCRIPTURE READING:
Psalm 119:9-16
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
A self-loathing spirit - Tuesday, March 17, 2015
SCRIPTURE READING:
Psalm 51:1-12
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.
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.
Monday, March 16, 2015
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.
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
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.
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.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Amazed at the love - Thursday, March 12, 2015
SCRIPTURE READING:
John 3:14-21
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Realignment - Wednesday, March 11, 2015
SCRIPTURE READING:
Ephesians 2:1-10
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Waiting and giving thanks - Tuesday, March 10, 2015
SCRIPTURE READING:
Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
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.
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.
Monday, March 9, 2015
Making an idol - Monday, March 9, 2015
SCRIPTURE READING:
Numbers 21:4-9
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.
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.
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Questions are okay - Thursday, March 5, 2015
SCRIPTURE READING:
John 2:13-22
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Upside-Down Kingdom - Wednesday, March 4, 2015
SCRIPTURE READING:
I Corinthians 1:18-25
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:
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.
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.
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