MANNA: JULY 24, 2012

Yesterday's sanctions on Penn State's football program may not have been the "death penalty", but the end result could be just as bad.  The NCAA's unprecedented penalties left the university and its fans facing the daunting challenge of overcoming what will likely prove to be the most difficult of rebuilding projects in modern sports history.    As I watched the footage of construction workers taking down the statue of Joe Paterno, images of the legend of Robert Johnson's deal with the devil came to mind.  Robert Johnson was said to have met the devil at a crossroads one night, where he sold his soul to become a famous guitarist.   Paterno's relationship with Sandusky proved to be a deal with the devil.  Paterno became the winningest division 1 coach in NCAA history, but in the end it would seem that he paid for those wins with the loss of his soul. 

Fame is an enticing pursuit toward eternal life...but it's a lie. 

Had Paterno's career ended without a nose-diving crash into hell, it would have soared into divine-like fame.  His statue would have stood for generations as a symbol of virtue.  Stories about his coaching would have been passed down for generations and become the stuff of legend.  All of that has died.   The NCAA even made sure of it by stripping all wins from his legacy since 1998 and reducing the winningest coach ever to no higher than fifth.

Sometimes we are willing to trade anything for a chance at fame, especially the kind of fame that has people erecting statues of us, and speaking of us as legends even after we are dead.   The temptation is the ancient desire we all have of beating death.  Sometimes people are willing to compromise so much of their own integrity, and virtue for the shot of at beating death that their schemes truly are nothing short of what Robert Johnson sang about in his 1930's song about an infamous meeting at the crossroads. 

But I have good news.  One man has beaten death and He offers eternal life as a free gift.  It doesn't cost you your soul...as a matter faith...it actually restores it, and brings it to life in a way that we never truly realized.  The only thing we're asked is to trust him.  In what is known as the great holy exchange.  We give to him our death on the cross, and he gives to us his eternal life.  It's not a deal made at a crossroads, it's a gift that is free to all people. 

There is no way around the great valley of death.  We all stare into its abyss and look for ways to get around it, or over it.  But, the only thing that does so is the bridge built by Jesus' death and resurrection.  

Avoid making deals with the devil.  Trust in Jesus to lead you through difficult decisions with morals and virtues that come from the One who is eternal...the one who has given you a way to beat death.  faith in the new life of the One who died for you.

A particular hymn  comes to mind:
Softly and tenerdly Jesus is calling.
Calling for you and for me.
See on the portals, he's waiting and watching,
watching for you and for me.
Come home.....Come home
You who are weary, come home!

Read John 8

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, we are often tempted away from your way toward the ways in which our old enemy lies and makes phony promises.  Help us hear your call to follow the way of your Son, that we might remain in your grace and trust in your promise that eternal life is already ours.  In Jesus' name.  Amen!

Sermon: July 22, 2012

Ephesians 2:11-20

The Olympics are upon us.  Do you like the Olympics?  I love this stuff.
This will be the 30th Olympiad held since the modern Olympics began in 1896. Did you know that?  They will be held in London, starting with the opening ceremonies on Friday.  London now holds the distinction of being the first city to host the modern games three times, having previously held them in 1908 and 1948.  Did you know that?  
See if you know the answers to these Olympic questions:
Q: Why isn't sun-tanning an Olympic sport?
A: Because the best you can ever get is bronze. 
Q: Why did they send the Olympic judge out in search of the lost wedding ring?
A: Because he was a "medal detector." 
Q: Why does the Olympic torch always start in Olympia?
A: Because it's hard to put out a "Greece fire." 

:-)

Ok, they're corny and very bad.  But why not inject a little humor into what is actually a very serious event?

The Olympics are a serious attempt to show the possibility of peace between races, cultures and nations. At the very least, they're an important demonstration of how diverse people can work and play together harmoniously. 


Since the Olympics are British this time around, it seems only fitting that we should remember the great British movie from the 70s about a couple of Olympic runners.  How many of you remember the movie, Chariot's of Fire?  

Chariots of Fire is not only a movie about runners' dedication and the Olympics.  Set in 1924, there is a backdrop to this movie of antisemitism.  The friendship between a Jew and a Christian who compete fiercely on this global stage offer us a glimpse of hope for peace in the world.  

Here in this video clip, Eic Liddel is handed a piece of paper from an inspired American competitor.  On the piece of paper was a quote from 1Samuel, "Those who honor me, I will honor."  Liddell was not expected to do well in the 400 meter race against a heavily favored field.  But, he ran the race with the scripture quote in his hand, and won the race setting the world record.  

Whether its running, swimming, or boxing the goal in the Olympics is to compete fiercely ... but not kill each other. Peace is the overarching prize of the Olympics for all of us.

But, peace is an elusive prize.

When Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians, he was addressing a group of Greeks who knew a thing or two about Olympic spirit -- the spirit of the ancient Olympics, that is.   Ephesus was a Greek city that existed for hundreds of years before being swallowed up by the Roman Empire.  Under the rule of the Emperor Augustus, it became the capital of a Roman province in Asia.  It grew into a prominent, prosperous and powerful city -- second only to the city of Rome.   Think of Ephesus as the London of the Roman Empire during this period.   If you watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics on July 27, imagine Ephesus.  The city had an open-air theater that could hold 25,000 people and would have been a likely place to hold the ancient Olympic games.  

This sets the stage for Paul's letter, which is written to Ephesian Christians living among the rich and proud residents of a major capital city.  The people of this city have money and power and influence, like many of the people who will be gathering in London this week for the Olympics.  But Paul reminds the Christians, often poor and beleaguered, that worldly success often leaves one feeling empty, without a sense of inner peace.  

Peace is elusive because it is not something that can begin outside, or be created with laws and governments.  Peace must start from within, and then be shared.  
Paul knows the Ephesians are struggling with inner peace.  As cosmopolitan people, they are comfortable in international gatherings such as the Olympic games.  But even though they have money and power and influence, they feel cut off from a true relationship with God.  Paul reminds his readers that at one time they were without Christ, aliens and strangers to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world.  He reminds them that nothing of a material nature can bring lasting peace and joy to the soul -- it doesn't work that way. 

Paul offers this solution to the Ephesians: "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ," he writes. "For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us" (vv. 13-14).


When people come together in London from different races, cultures and nationalities, peace is not going to be found in a spectacular opening ceremony.  Similarly, when people of differing ages, sexes, educational levels, professions and political orientations gather in a church sanctuary, peace is not created by a well-planned service of worship.


Real peace is something Christ gives to us.  Breaking down walls of hostility and anger with his gift of forgiveness and grace Jesus binds us to himself, and his love for all of us.   In his Holy Communion he brings peace.  When his peace of Christ is shared, the bonds of difference and separation give way to a glimpse of the kingdom of heaven.  

This is why its important and necessary for us to share the peace of Christ during worship.  Over my years as a pastor I have fielded complaints about this portion of worship.  I've heard people complain about it being unnecessary.  I've heard people say they think it is a break in the reverence and solemnity of worship.  I've even heard some say that they just don't like it because when at church they want to be left alone and don't feel like greeting people.  Trust me, we pastors hear it all!  ;-)


But, there is a reason why it is necessary to share the peace of Christ in worship.  If you follow the design and flow of our worship service, you will note something interesting about the placement of sharing the peace.  Up until that time in the service all the parts are things in which a person could participate completely on their own without even the awareness of the people next to you.  The sharing of peace, deliberately gets us out of that, and allows us to actually become the body of Christ together.  This is imperative before we come to the altar to receive the body and blood of Christ.  The sharing of peace is a demonstration of Christ becoming incarnate among us.

Peace is not something we can create or even hold onto.  It's far too elusive.  But, in the church, we are able to glimpse moments of true peace...moments that linger with us as proof that tearing down walls that divide us and building up community and family are indeed the will of God.

Olympic Peace comes from an Olympic Savior. When our faith in him opens the way for us to pursue peace with each other.  

Amen

MANNA:  July 20, 2012

Read: 1 John 4:1-21

Over the last few years there have been reports from various organizations such as Gallup and the like that confirm what we within the church have sensed for quite a while.   There is a dramatic shift in the way American's worship and in what we think of the role of organized religion.  Consider the people you know who have said, or who would say if you asked them, something like this, "I stopped attending church years ago, but that doesn't mean I've stopped believing in God."

More people are exploring ways to remain spiritual, while at the same time abandoning ways of identifying themselves as specifically religious.  According to the American Religious Identification Survey of 2008, some 2.8 million Americans now say they identify with new religious movements like Wicca, paganism or spiritualists.  It has become trendy to think of religion in our pluralistic society more as a smorgasbord...a spoonful of Jesus, a helping of Buddha, a side of Mohammed, and a little New Age all thrown onto one single plate.  We add or take away as we choose, as our plate becomes a kind of spiritual meal of our own choosing.  This kind of spirituality today makes us sound so "with it"... so chic....so P.C..    

But it leaves us empty.  For it becomes an amalgamation of things, rather than the truth.  We end up creating an identity for God that is of our choosing, and of our personal likes.  The god we end up with becomes one of our design.  

We don't choose God...God chooses us! (John 15:16)

This way of thinking about religion is fundamentally dishonest.  It is an insult to each religion, for it is like spiritual looting.  It is a refashioning of God into our own image.  And it is a reminder that there are many intellectual airheads today.  Make a decision for crying out loud!!  But, don't be a phony trying to claim that you believe every religion out there is the same as the next.  They don't say the same things.  They don't teach the same things.  They don't believe the same things. 

Jesus said,  "I am the Way, the Truth, the Life."

I believe this.  With every fiber of my being I believe this.  C.S. Lewis' classic quote from Mere Christianity comes to mind here: 

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” 

Either Jesus lied, or he was terribly insane---or he is who he said he is.  This is in direct conflict with every other religion out there.  Every other religion seems quick to accept Jesus as a great teacher, but none are willing to accept that he is the Son of God, crucified and risen.


I believe he is the Way out of bondage to the slavery of sin, out of fear, out of darkness.
I believe he is the Truth about who God is; that God is love, and His love is like that of a providing, nurturing and comforting father.
I believe he is the Life that is eternal, and the life that is free and abundant now.


Since you're reading my posts, I'm probably preaching to the choir here.  But, the bottom line here is that there can be no smorgasbord of religion.  Make a decision...All or nothing.  Don't insult all religions with this pseudo-sophisticated practice of claiming that all religions are somehow one in the same.


Don't try to put your faith in every god and religion.
Trust in the One God who is the source of every blessing.


Prayer:  Come, thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace; streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.  While the hope of endless glory fills my heart with joy and love, teach me ever to adore thee; may I still thy goodness prove.  Amen!

MANNA:  July 17, 2012

Romans 8:37-39


From Pity to Pulpit


The Tour de France is, perhaps, the most grueling test of perseverance in all of sports.  Can you imagine biking over 2,000 miles on some of the steepest roads in the world--the Alps?  Say what you want about football players, hockey players and athletes of any other sport, but those cyclists are tough!  


If ever there is a modern day hero, it's Lance Armstrong, who won his seventh straight Tour de France in July 2005.  But, what makes Armstrong such a hero isn't his domination in the most difficult race in his sport, it's that he battled so dramatically to overcome cancer and then won seven Tour de Frances.  

Diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1996, he was not given much of a chance to survive. But he battled and overcame it.  In his autobiographical account Lance Armstrong: It's Not About The Bike he describes how the chemo depleted his body leaving him so week that doctors gave him little chance for survival, let alone ever riding a bike.  But, Lance describes how his comeback actually took advantage of this.  Prior to cancer his body was shaped more like that of a swimmer with lots of upper body mass and strength.  For a cyclist, this meant he had one fundamental problem...he was top heavy.  So much of his muscle mass had been deteriorated from the chemo that when he was able to start rehabbing and getting back to cycling strength he focused efforts of reshaping his muscle mass to be more fitting for cycling.  He was already a well known cyclist, but he was never able to win the Tour de France.  After using the deterioration of his body as an opportunity rather than a hindrance, he made a comeback that  stunned the sports world and inspired the world.  He turned an occasion for self-pity into one of a pulpit for preaching to the world about endurance and stamina.  Since then, his Live Strong campaign has raised millions to provide services in support of cancer patients.  That's definitely turning pity into a pulpit.

How about you? What occasions for self-pity are you facing in your life?   What are some ways you can turn self-pity into a pulpit to inspire others?  

I believe faith in God is a tremendous help in turning pity into a pulpit.  Ask God to help you see how your own story of faithful endurance and perseverance is unfolding right now.   Ask Him to help you understand how your suffering might actually allow you to be an inspiration for others.  Such a transformation will allow you to be an example of God's grace and you might even become someone's hero for doing so.  

Prayer:  Lord God, you heal us from the inside out in ways that transform our lives.  Help me turn my own self-pity into an opportunity to encourage others with your strength and power.  Help me to trust that because of Christ's victory on the cross, I am already more than a conqueror.  In Jesus' name.  Amen

Sermon from July 15th

Before we begin I'd like you to fill out this form, and hand it back to me.  [Before worship began on Sunday I asked everyone to fill out a form with the following printed on it.  During the prelude, they did so and at the end of the prelude I collected them.]

Which of These Are Sins?

• Abortion
• Women's Ordination
• Homosexuality
• Racism
• War
• Evolution
• Divorce
• Gambling
• Drinking Alcohol
• Birth Control
• Euthanasia
• Capital Punishment
• None of the above
• All the above

Ephesians 1:3-14 in its original language, Greek, is known as the longest single sentence in the Bible.  So, what can we glean from such a long sentence, certainly more than a grammar exercise, I hope.  Well, what nearly jumps off the page...12 times actually... are the first person plural pronouns.  Clearly the object of this long sentence is none other than US.  So, this begs the questions for us today...Who is "us"?  

Unfortunately, most often when we hear or use the language of the first person plural "us" it is in opposition to third person plural "them".   "We" always think of ourselves as better than "Them".  And, "We" never want to be like "Them".  So, what is wrong with "Them"?  have you ever wondered?  It seems as though it is usually something to do with a decision or a question that is thought to be exceedingly important...a decision that must be answered correctly or....well, God help us all.   History proves that because of the importance of various decisions in various desperate times "We" are often willing to divide and part company with "Them" in order to make sure that things are done right, and that questions are answered rightly.  Unfortunately, this often leads to "Us" being divided from "Them".   But, then again, usually that's not such a bad thing since "We" don't usually want to be around "Them" any way.  

For example, let's take a look at how you answered the questions on the form.  [On Sunday, prior to the sermon, I quickly separated the papers into three stacks.  Those who answered "None of the above", those who answered "All the above" and the rest were the stack of "Some of the above".]  [Holding up the stack of those who answered "All the above"] These, about 25% of you, said that "All the above" are sins.  Now, those of you who answered the form this way, I'm sure you're surprised right about now to realize that only about 25% of the people in the room agree with you.....[Holding up the stack of those who answered "None of the above"] These are the people, again about 25% of you, who said that "None of the above" are sins.  Right about now, I'm guessing those of you who checked the box that all of these are sins are probably expecting that the preacher before you should take advantage of this opportunity to hammer the scriptural truth home to those who had the audacity to check that none of these are sins.  On the other hand, those of you who checked that none of these are sins are hoping that right about now I preach away at the gospel message of not judging our neighbor.  Well, my friends, I'm afraid you'll both be disappointed today because the text from Ephesians doesn't go in either of those directions.  :-)  The last group of us are those who split the difference, you didn't check either of the "all the above" options and your answers are all over the map. At a glance there is absolutely no consistency to your answers whatsoever.  


So, there you have it.  Right here, within our congregation there is all the potential necessary for great division.  We might as well just draw a line down the middle of our church and start asking to people to choose sides.  


The list of sins/not sins that I put before you was actually a list of issues that have been debated over and have caused division in our church, some in small ways and others in large ways, over the last century.  The most current one, of course, is homosexuality.  But, before this issue, there was abortion, and then women's ordination and the others pop their head up from time to time as life and the times dictates.  And, long ago, there were issues such as whether or not the world is flat.  Of course, if I had put that on your list it would have skewed the results because I would hope that none of us would say "All of the above" with that one listed.  But, it is worth keeping in mind that for the first 1500 years of Christianity it was indeed a sin to suggest that the world was anything but flat.  And, it is also worth mentioning that this belief was supported by the scriptural description of creation.  

So, who is right?
Who is wrong?

Better yet, who is the US that is the recipient of the blessings and grace of the promises mentioned in that long sentence from Ephesians?  
Could it be that those who are diametrically opposed to our view are actually part of the US to God, and we are THEM to God?  

To answer that question we need to be able to take a glimpse into the great cosmic story the author of  Ephesians describes.  In verse 9-10, the author writes, "he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."    God's plan is to gather up all of us...ALL OF US!!!!  IN GOD'S PLAN THERE IS NO THEM!!!!  THERE IS ONLY US...ALL OF US!!!
This is not Universalism, for the great cosmic plan of God is that all of us would come to know and love Jesus.  But, the reason is not so that we all learn to get the answers right.  The reason is because of God's great love for us.

This is why He sent Jesus.  Jesus didn't die for those who get the right answers to the questions of sin.   And, Jesus didn't die for those who get some sort of theological final exam right.  And finally, Jesus didn't die for those who get life's questions and challenges right.  Jesus died for US!  ALL OF US!!


Why?  Because we are not the only ones who matter to God.  All of us matter to God.

You see, we aren't saved by our right answers, or our ability to get things right in life.
No amount of our righteousness can save us.
We are saved by the righteousness of God through faith. (Rom. 3:21)

So, what is it that we can say to each other today as we come to difficult discussions on topics such as homosexuality in the church?
We can say that we are one church, we share one faith, we are baptized into one Holy Baptism, and we receive one body and blood of Christ.  These things, and these alone, bind us eternally together.
It's OK if we disagree about all sorts of things, so long as our faith in Christ still binds us together.

We may never be one in any of our answers to difficult questions.
But the result of of our divisions is worse than the result of our struggles to remain together.   The world around us sees our division and they don't care about our theological answers.  The part of "US" that God calls us to reach out to sees only hypocrisy by our apparent inability to forgive each other and live freely within the good news we preach.

Instead of division, let the world around us see that we are able to remain one in our faith, one in the righteousness of Jesus.
Let the world around us see that we are one in the Spirit of love and life that first gave us breath and hope.

May our Christian witness to the world not be in our ability to get the right theological answers, or our alignment with the right denominational division, but rather in our deep desire to forgive and love and welcome all, trusting in God's righteousness and not ours.

Amen.

MANNA:  July 13...Friday the 13th.

It's Friday the 13th.
No doubt, there are a number of superstitious folks out there looking into all sorts of ways to avoid calamity today.  After all, Friday 13th is a day that we all should dread, a day in which the devil is unleashed on us all....right?

If you believe superstitions like this you would have to conclude that hospital ERs would be bracing themselves for an overwhelming onslaught of patients today.  You'd have to believe that every doctor, nurse, and paramedic would need to be on call today.  But, that isn't the case.  Not at all, actually.  The truth is, the evidence just doesn't support the superstition.  Google it yourself if you wish.  I did.  There have been several studies done and all of them conclude that there is nothing to frighten us about the 13th day of the month falling on a Friday.  Friday the 13th is just that, and nothing more. Nor is there anything particularly haunting or frightening about full moons, or any other coincidental calendar or constellation combinations.  So, ERs are staffed today the same way they would be on any other day.

The truth is superstitions are really just bogus attempts the devil makes to tempt us into rationalizing ourselves away from God.  

Check out what Saint Paul says to the Ephesians in chapter 4, verses 17-24

St. Paul tells the church in Ephesus that they are living "in the futility of their minds".  What does this mean?
Put simply it means the Christians in Ephesus were yielding their faith in God to rationalizations for not believing in God...like superstitions, for example.

Like the Christians in Ephesus, our world is filled with rationalizations for not putting our trust in God.  It seems our natural tendency is to think our way away from God---leaving us "darkened in our understanding" as Paul puts it, or in other words, leaving us hopelessly confused.  Intellectual pride, rationalizations, and excuses all keep us distant from God.

People often ask me, "Pastor, do you believe in ghosts?"  The answer is NOPE!  If I'm trusting in God then I'm trusting that God has all of us..even the dead...in His hands.  There is only one ghost, and His name is Holy.  :-)   I also don't believe in superstitious things like charms, rabbits feet or anything else that is supposed to conjure up good luck or bad luck.  Why be held hostage by such things?  And lastly, horoscopes.....nope, no truth in those rationalizations either.  One of my pet peeves is Christians who come to me for counsel because of something they read in their horoscope.  Don't believe in the stars.  Instead, put your faith in the One who made them!

A rationalization doesn't have to take the form of a superstition, but if you think about it they generally function the same way.  Think about all the ways we rationalize our behavior.  Take driving the speed limit for example.  The speed limit sign tells us that we would all be safer on the road if we drove no faster than the speed limit.  But, we don't do that, do we?  We rationalize that most police officers don't want to go through the effort of pulling someone over and ruining their day for going a few mph over the speed limit.  So, instead of driving at the safe speed, we drive somewhere around 10 mph over that.  We know its not right.  We know its not as safe.  Yet, we rationalize that since we are unlikely to get in trouble for doing it, that its OK.  Our fear of an accident, or our fear of the penalty of a ticket are reduced and rationalized away with a little self-deception conjured up by the devil whispering in our ear.

That's what rationalization is, self-deception, or as Paul puts it, "the futility of the mind".

Are you living "in the futility of your mind"?
Are you listening as the devil whispers all sorts of rationalizations that pull you away from trusting God, or doing what's right?

If you are, chances are its because you're afraid of something.
Our fears are the weak spots the devil uses to tempt us.  What are yours? 

I'll share with you my own as an example.  
One of my deep fears is rejection.  I want to be liked.  The devil knows this and always whispers in my ear various rationalizations for behavior that might indeed make me more likable in that moment, or among those people, but inevitably its behavior that I'm not going to be proud of and its definitely going to draw me away from God.

The good news is we have a God who is very real, not a rationalization for something else.  He is One who does not hide from us the truth, and One who gives himself plainly to us.  The lies we're told always remind us of our fears and try to enslave us by them.  God does the opposite.  He calms our fears by sending His Son to endure that which we most fear.  
Is it any wonder that the most common expression in the whole Bible is "Do not be afraid."  No other single expression comes up in the Bible more than that.  It's the first the resurrected Jesus speaks on the day of resurrection, "Do not be afraid!"

Our God wants us to know that we do not need to live in fear, or be held hostage by it any longer.
Superstitions, are nothing more than rationalizations that do the devil's bidding by keeping us in fear.

So what if its Friday the 13th...a full moon...or if a black cat has crossed our path...or whatever.
This is the day the Lord has made!  Let us rejoice and be glad in it! (Psalm 118:24)

Prayer:  Lord, I believe in you.  Help me in my unbelief.  Amen! (Mark 9:24)

Sermon: July 8, 2012

Text: Mark 6:1-13

It's been said that if a society thinks that philosophers are superior to plumbers, neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water.  


Every once in a while you come across examples of the truth in this statement.  One of my pet peeves is the way in which PA has decided to use speed limit signs.  If you take a drive along any of the secondary roads in PA, where the speed limit changes frequently as your road takes you through towns and villages, you will find sings that say, "END SPEED LIMIT 35".   It could be 45 or 25, the number is irrelevant.  The foolishness of the sign is that it tells you what the speed limit is NOT, instead of telling you what it is.  Now, somewhere I'm sure, there's a philosopher (i.e. beaurocrat, politician, white collar worker) who will tell you the philosophy behind such a sign.  But, to the simple driver (i.e. citizen, blue collar worker) these signs are pointless.  Every time I see one, I say to myself, "Ok, I know what the speed limit is NOT, how 'bout telling me what IS?"  Why waste the materials on a sign that tells drivers what the speed limit is not?


I'm forced to assume that somewhere in the course of deliberation over this idea there was a "blue collar" worker thinking more practically who pointed out the obvious problem with this philosophy, but was rebuffed because he was ONLY a citizen, a common driver, and not a well educated designer of roadways.  

Unfortunately, I had to pick on PennDOT today, but I think the most common complaints about times when the philosophers in our society should have paid more attention to the plumbers is with our everyday experiences with government run agencies.  As Obamacare rolls out on America in the coming months and years I think we're all hoping that it will serve our country a little better than other federal agencies have over the years.  We'll have to pray that there will be a few beaurocrats who listen to the practical wisdom of  the "plumbers" among them. 

Whether you're one who spends a majority of life as a plumber or a philosopher we all can relate equally to the way it feels when we are the one being "ONLYed".  Yea, I just turned the word only into a verb and made up a new word.  When you're ONLYed you're treated as if you are only one thing...say a plumber, no...better yet, a carpenter.  Jesus got ONLYed when he went to preach in his hometown.  The people ridiculed him and said, "Is not this [only] the carpenter, the son of Mary...?"  Yes, Jesus was a carpenter.  But, Jesus wasn't only a carpenter.  He was also the Son of God!  The result was that Jesus was rendered nearly powerless to help the people of his own hometown on account of their lack of faith.  Also, even though the text doesn't explicitly say so, we hear a twinge of Jesus' rejection when he responds with the words, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house."   Oh, how it hurts to be rejected...to be ONLYed!

We have all felt that kind of rejection...being ONLYed.  It hurts. And, sometimes we can ONLY ourselves. We start to believe the rejection.  We start to believe that we are only this or that.  We reduce ourselves to only the words and labels that others have used to reject us.  Sometimes we need to be reminded that we are not...ever...ONLY anything!  While we may indeed be this or that, we are never only anything.  Just as Jesus was not only a carpenter, we are never only anything.  We are also the beloved children of God!!
Sometimes we need be reminded that that's who we are.

I came across this very pertinent music video from the contemporary Christian artist Jason Gray, check it out.

When you think you are only a plumber...
Or, only a woman.
only a child
only an old man
only a divorcee'
only a single mom
only a widow
only went to high school
only a student
only...anything.
Or, if your church starts to think it is only a little church,
or only one voice
or only a few people facing a big problem.

Remember who you are...YOU ARE THE BELOVED CHILDREN OF GOD!
You are never ONLY anything.

Amen!

Manna:  July 5th 2012

The saying is true; no man is an island.  We all need help from others.


Read Numbers, chapter 11.


Moses needs help.  He can't do it all by himself.  He goes to God and expresses his frustrations, and God provides helpers..friends, companions.  Even Moses was not an island.

In my experiences as a pastor, accepting that we all need help doesn't seem to be a problem for most folks. Generally, I think we all can admit that none of us are an island.  Our life, and our success, is always supported by others.  What does pose a problem, however, is acknowledging that the friends we've made along the way of life may not, actually, be very helpful to us.  Often times, if we're honest with ourselves, we are likely to find that there are many people we've surrounded ourselves with who are not helpful at all; who actually bring out the worst in us.

From Numbers, in response to Moses' plea, God led him to select and appoint helpers to whom God could impart the same divine inspiration that was on Moses' life.  God led Moses to friends who would be an encouragement, a strength, an asset in the journey of life in which God had set Moses.  As a result, Moses became surrounded by people who were supportive and indeed very helpful.  


I think it's good from time to time to ask ourselves the critical question, "Am I surrounding myself with people who are helping me go where God is leading?  Or, am I surrounding myself with people who are hindering me from going where God is leading?  There are people in our circle of friends who bring out the best in us, and there are people who bring out the worst in us.  We are not an island.  We are influenced by the circle of people around us.  If we choose to spend a lot of time with people who bring out the worst in us, well, I'm sure there are lots of fond memories made.  But, the growth of our faith and spirit, as well as our emotions, are likely to remain stuck, unchallenged and immature.   On the other hand, those who bring out the best in us, challenge us forward with encouragement, honesty, grace and love.  


You might consider taking an inventory of your circle of friends.  Ask yourself, who are the people bringing out the best in you, and who are the people bringing out the worst.  Keep in mind, the list of those who bring out the worst in you are still your friends.  Don't de-friend anyone.  You never know what influence you have on them.  You might be the person who brings out the best in them.  Still, it's good to get a sense of how different people influence you differently.  You may recognize that there are a few people you really count on for the goodness they bring out of you, and you might find an appropriate way to thank them for this.  On the other hand, you might recognize that there are certain people who really bring out of you something that you don't like in yourself.  This is an opportunity to consider making some healthy boundaries for yourself when with this person.  The lessons learned from an exercise like this can be far reaching.  


At the top of your list, remember that you have one friend who has devoted himself eternally to you.  His name is Jesus.  No matter how many friends let you down, or lead you the wrong direction, Jesus will always be there to forgive you and help you forgive yourself.  He will always be there to cheer you on when you turn away from doing the things that are harmful.  He will always be there to hear your pleas, and to comfort your tears.  He will always be there to strengthen you for the stand you must make.  What a friend we have in Jesus...

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, what a friend I have in you.  Strengthen me to be the kind of friend that you are to me.  Help me to understand the way in which the people in my circle of influence may or may not be helpful.  Encourage me to be someone who brings out the best in others.  Amen.  

MANNA for July 4th, 2012

I have a T-Shirt that, to me, communicates what the 4th of July means.  It is a black shirt, with a small red cross on the front just beneath the collar.  The caption beneath the cross reads, "This Shirt Is Illegal In 53 Countries".

When I consider the number of people who are listed on church rolls across the country against the number of those who are actually in attendance on any given Sunday, it seems the evidence is clear that we take for granted the cost that has afforded us the freedom to worship as we do.  Just at my church alone, there are more than 300 on the active membership rolls, but worship attendance is usually about a third of that.   It would be good for us to consider the people in 53 countries who are forbidden to worship in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, where still today they are risking their lives in some places and their livelihood in others just to gather together around the Word and sacrament that we have the freedom to enjoy every Sunday.

St. Paul writes to the Galatians, "For freedom Christ has set us free." Think about that.  Christ has set us free from sin, death, and the burden of all the weight of worry surrounding them.  This is our gospel message.  It is one of joy in the promise of eternal life that begins now, even as we are brought to life in faith today.  Christ paid the cost of his cross for our freedom.  But, St. Paul says that this freedom from sin that we have was given to us for a reason, a very special purpose.  It was given to us for freedom.    It is our call to live as people who have been set free, so that others would know what freedom looks like and so that we might be bold enough to pay the cost of freedom for others if necessary.

The most powerful statement we make about freedom as Christians is to worship.  I know that sounds a bit too benign, but not when you think about it.   When evil threatens us, we find ourselves threatened by the bondage of pain, suffering, trouble, despair etc.  Evil wants to bind us, make us slaves to agony and, vengeance.  When we gather together to worship, we commune with the One who evil must bow to.  When we worship together we exercise our freedom to deny evil its victory even in the face of our own pain and anger.  Furthermore, we exercise the freedom that Christ earned us to approach God's altar and be in His almighty presence face to face.  Even Moses wasn't permitted to do this!!  But, this is what we are free to do each and every Sunday.

The fourth of July is an occasion to thank all of the veterans, who willingly lay down their lives so that we would be able to live in a place where freedom indeed rings out.  But, it is also an occasion to thank God for the gift of grace in Jesus, which opens the way for us to come near to Him, near enough that Jesus encourages us to call Him "Father".

God doesn't require your church attendance record be perfect.
But, since it is such a gift that we are given this opportunity to worship freely.
Are we not compelled to take advantage of such a gift as often as we are capable?

Happy 4th of July.

Prayer:  God bless America, but not only America.  Let your arms reach out to all the places where your children suffer torment or persecution just for gathering in your name.  Amen.

Manna: July 2, 2012

Life is Like a Cup of Coffee.

2 Corinthians 8:7-15
"The one who had much did not have too much and the one who had little did not have too little." 

A simple Godly life...we crave it...but, it always seems to allude us, doesn't it?  Maybe we crave a simpler life because we don't have it, and we can't seem to get it.   We assume that a more simple life is the answer to the complicated, stressful, over-indulgent one that we're living.  So, we are discontent with our lives.  


When you think about it...discontentment is the very sin that spoils the simple Godly life.  I have a hunch that even if our lives were more simple, we would still be discontent. It wouldn't be simple enough, I suppose.  


This is why I like the story in the video "Life is like a cup of coffee".   It's an illustration that shifts our soul's focus away from desires that lead to discontentment, and toward the gifts of life that are from God. 

In the 2 Corinthians text Paul is taking a collection for the church in Jerusalem.   In an effort to encourage the Christians in Corinth to give generously toward this one of the literary tools he uses is to refer to a kind of Jewish way of life; the "manna" way of life.  You remember manna?  It was that bread-like substance that God provided so the Israelites would have food during their trek to Canaan after their exodus from Egypt.  Manna was much more than just a special bread from heaven though.  It was a way of life.  No one was to take more than they needed, and by doing so everyone had what they needed to survive the journey.  The one who had much did not have too much and the one who had little did not have too little.  This was the manna way of life...It was a simple life.  By living this way God taught his chosen people to fashion a lifestyle that was different from other ways of life.   This manna way of life was the simple life, not because they had fewer things or because they didn't compete with others, but because they learned to trust that God would provide what they needed.  And, as the Israelites learned to live the manna way, they also learned to be at peace with God's providence when tempted to want what they didn't have.

Today, consider asking yourself, "What do I truly need to be content?"
You might make for yourself a list...
Then, consider all that you've been given that goes beyond the necessities of contentment.
I think you'll see that your life is pretty blessed.
The simple life isn't necessarily free from stress, or burden.  It is one that trusts God for the things we need, and is at peace with God for the things we do not have.

Prayer:  Lord, grant me the peace to accept that you have provided for me far more than I need, and the grace to savor life with contentment, that I may use the blessings you have given to be a blessing for others.  In Jesus' name.  Amen

Morning Devotions: 4/18/10

Exodus chapter 33

What was the last big mistake that you made?
Who was hurt?
What did you learn from it?

Israel made a terrible mistake. God's first commandment is that they have no other gods before Him. Then, they lose patience and make for themselves a golden calf that they bow before and worship. God is hurt, and He is furious. Moses intercedes for Israel in a compassionate prayer to God. God remembers that He isn't finished with Israel yet. They have much to learn, but He has promised to remain faithful to them and to direct them to the promised land. God keeps his promise and returns to gide them to the promised land.

Because of Jesus, God has promised all his baptized children that we will one day enter the eternal kingdom of heaven. We struggle every day with tendencies to make mistakes. Some mistakes we aren't even aware of. We are not worthy of the gift of heaven, yet God promises to give it as a result of Jesus' love for us. God remains faithful with us. He is faithful that we will learn from our mistakes. God is also faithful that, because of Jesus' love for us, we will begin to see how precious we are in God's sight.

God isn't finished with you yet. Remember that!
When you mess things up: "God isn't finished with me yet."
When you hurt others by your sinful actions, and you're down on yourself: "God isn't finished with me yet."
When people try to bring you down with their self-righteous, judgment: "God isn't finished with me yet."

Lord God, your work with me is never finished, and you remain faithful that I will learn and grow from every mistake. Thank you, Lord, for your grace. You do not ask me to be perfect in anything, so make me faithful through everything. Remind me that even though I am a work in progress, I am YOUR work in progress and that's all that matters. In Jesus' name. Amen

Morning Devotions: 4/17/10

Exodus chapter 32

Have you ever prayed this prayer: Lord, give me patience, and I give it RIGHT NOW! :-)

I know I have prayed that prayer, many times. We are fast-paced "I need it right now" people. In our world, patience is in short supply, speed is a commodity, and instant gratification is supreme. But, where does this leave us. We are working longer, faster, and devoting more and more of ourselves to the challenge of keeping pace. Once upon a time, we tried to keep up with the Jones', now we are trying to keep pace with everyone. The typical rituals that used to hold a family together, like dinner routines, have been sacrificed on the altar of speed and competitiveness. Things like prayer, and worship are given up in an attempt to gain an hour or two of Sunday morning for necessary chores or just the proverbial "me" time. More and more we are emotionally and physically exhausted, and spiritually bankrupt. We eat fast food; multi-task our friendships friendships with the internet; speed-date; save nothing and buy on credit; consume energy drinks to keep awake. Where does this stop? How do we get off the treadmill? We are moving so fast that we are ill. Speed kills, and we have the disease.

Fortunately, though, there is a vaccine for this disease. It is patience. It seems that there has never been a time when patience was more necessary. Imagine how much better you would feel with just a small dose of this medicine. Imagine being able to sleep better, being able to catch your breath, being able to wait for the right timing with people, being able to save money. What a difference just a small amount of patience can make.

The Israelites lost patience with Moses. He was on the mountain with God, while the words of the covenant were being grafted upon stone. Moses came down with the tablets, but found that the people had lost patience and had already crafted a God of their own making, a golden calf. The resulting consequence of their actions? The covenant between them and God is broken, and they are inflicted with a disease. Sound familiar?

But, God does not desire for any of us to suffer. With faith, God promises that eternity is ours. We may die in this world, but we will rise again in the next. We are promised more time than any of us can count. With this gift of a surplus of time, maybe we don't have to be so desperate for speed. We can be patient with others, with our world, and with ourselves.

Because of Jesus, God is patient with us. He desires that all of us would pursue His will. But, we don't. Nevertheless, he waits. He waits for us to draw near to Him. He waits for us to learn from our mistakes. He waits for us grow in faith. We are impatient with God, but God remains eternally patient with us.

Today, try to be a little more patient, and maybe realize how much better you feel at the end of the day.

Lord God, I am impatient. Forgive me for allowing my own haste to make such a waste of so much of my life. Thank you for your promise of eternity. Help me to remember that I don't have to be in a hurry with everything. I don't have to be so urgent. Encourage me to be as patient with you and others as you are with me. In Jesus' name. Amen

Morning Devotions: 4/16/10

Exodus chapters 30-31

When's the last time you travelled to visit family?

Fewer of us are fortunate enough these days to have family who live within an hour's drive. To drive two hours or more turns into a travelling event. Travelling, as opposed to just visiting, requires packing and preparing. The distance between me and my family is about 5 hours, so when I make a visit I have to plan and prepare to stay at least one night. It's a lot of work to make quality time with family, but it's necessary and worth it.

Imagine planning and preparing to visit your family. You do what you need to do in order to get yourself into their presence. You do all the work in order to spend a little bit of quality time with them. You leave early in the morning so that you have the entire day to spend with them. You make the trip, you arrive at about 9:30am and you're enthusiastic about spending enjoying quality time with your family. Now, imagine your reaction if when you arrive your family doesn't really share your enthusiasm. Imagine a situation where you've travelled and endured through the preparations, and they act like they really done even care to visit. As a matter of fact, most of them don't even bother to get out of bed to greet you.

If this happened to you, how would you respond? Would you turn, angrily, get back in the car and leave? Would you scold your family for their apathy and lack of appreciation for all the planning and preparations that you endured in order to be with them? What would you do? I dont expect that we would simply forgive everyone and head into the kitchen to prepare breakfast for the family.

What do you think Jesus would do, if it happened to him?

Well, it does....every Sunday.

I think if we're honest about the way we treat our Sunday morning worship service, we would have to confess that we treat Jesus with the same lack luster enthusiasm. We have this church building that we treasure. In it we make a spiritual home for ourselves and we become a part of God's family, Jesus' brothers and sisters. Jesus promises to come and be with us every Sunday for worship. He promises to be with us in our Sabbath. He promises to travel all the way from heaven to spend a little quality time in and through all that we do in worship. The preparations he has endured, the cross he has had to bear, the distance he has had to travel; the man literally had to go through hell in order to be with us in worship. And how to we receive this gift of his presence? Most of us don't even get out of bed to greet him. When we do show up, we are often unenthusiastic at our best, and harbor our personal agendas for even being there. Songs are prepared, the house of worship is decorated with flowers and colors, scriptures and prayers are read all to offer him a spirited welcome, but most of us just go through the motions.

How does Jesus respond? Does he angrily turn and leave? NO. Does he stay and scold his family for their lack of appreciation for all that he has endured to be with us? NO. He does what he has always done, he forgives us, assumes his role in the house as the host, and makes us breakfast (Holy Communion).

In today's text from Exodus, we hear the conclusion of all that God desired for the creation of the tabernacle (church, or house of worship). But, then the final verses remind us that building the church is not an end in itself. It is merely the means toward the end of honoring the Sabbath. Sabbath is not simply a day each week when we do no work. That completely misses the point. Sabbath is the devotion of quality time with God. God built the Tabernacle so that he could spend quality time with his people, Israel. Likewise, Jesus encourages the construction of the church so that he can spend quality time with us.

We understand the importance of spending quality time with our family. But, we forget that we have a spiritual family as well. Worship is the place where Jesus promises to be so that his family may receive him and spend some quality time with him.

When's the last time you really worshiped; not the last time you attended a service and went through the motions. When's the last time you REALLY worshiped? Do you remember how good it felt, how refreshing it was, to spend some REAL quality Sabbath time with Jesus? That is offered to us every week. What a gift!

Lord Jesus, I often forget how far you have travelled to be with us. I often forget how much you have endured to be with us. Forgive me...forgive all of us... for the ambivalence and apathy with which you are greeted on Sunday mornings. May I remember your saving acts of love on the cross and worship you always with an enthusiastic, and thankful heart. In your name. Amen.

Morning Devotions: 4/15/10

Exodus chapters 28-29

What are you wearing today?

Our clothing says certain things about us. The business man wears a power suit. The teacher wears something casual, conservative. The doctor wears a white lab coat. The construction worker wears boots and jeans. Some of us wear uniforms, clothing that is very specific and according to our employer's request. Some of us have to wear certain credentials like an ID card, a police badge, or some other visual representation of a specific, and professional right of passage.

In today's text, God directs the making of a special uniform for the priesthood. The text goes to great detail about it's beauty, design, and quality. This was to be crafted of the finest materials, woven by the best weaver, sewn by the best seamstress. Anything second-rate was unacceptable. Israel would consider it a blessing just to be permitted to wear it. This uniform would be an outward statement of the honor, glory, and praise of which only God was worthy.

Do we honor God today by what we wear?

Some of us might be picturing the teenager who shows up on Sunday morning with worn out jeans, a t-shirt and flip-flops. Or, the employee with all the tattoos who shows up at work all disheveled from the ride in on his Harley. Or, the woman at work who chooses to "go goth" by coloring her hair, nails and makeup all black. With those images in our mind, some of us at this moment can feel the righteous indignation stir within us. But, before we act on that visceral sensation, let's keep in mind that we wear more than just our clothing. We wear our attitudes as well.

Consider your attitude as if it is an accessory. A self-confident, joyful attitude can change the appearance of whatever we are wearing. A room full of gloomy, cranky, complaining people is still a very dark place no matter how well they're dressed. But, if your attitude is the one that's positive, you're going to light up the entire room. Even more, your attitude is going to be the thing that get's noticed more so than your clothing. With a positive, self-confident, joyful attitude you can get away with wearing just about what ever you want, and people will simply appreciate you for being you.

When we wear self-confidence, or joy, or any of these other positive attributes, we are also giving honor and praise to God. Just like the priestly uniform was designed to be a visible, outward sign of glory and honor to God, our attitude can be the same. God loves to see His children live and demonstrate their faith in Him by way of a cheerful, hopeful, positive attitude. So, what are you wearing today? Is your faith a positive accessory?

Lord God, you once desired that your priests be adorned with garments that gave honor and glory to you. regardless of my clothing or my style, may you be honored and glorified by my attitude, and may I be a positive light for people in darkness. In Jesus' name. Amen

Morning Devotions: 4/14/10

Exodus chapters 25-27

This morning, as I was reading today's selected bible chapters, my son woke up a little earlier than usual. I was sitting in my favorite reading chair, and he came and crawled up into my lap. Yawning and rubbing his eyes he made himself comfortable while asking a long list of questions about what I was doing. What a joyful distraction it was to have him in my lap while I attempted to devote some time to God in prayer.

Today's reading is a long list of rules and limitations that God establishes in an effort to create a safe place for his people to be able to approach Him, and for God to be able to dwell among His people. The tabernacle is essentially a means by which this accomplished. God comes down from heaven to establish His kingdom on earth, among us. However, at this point in the bible story the holiness of God must be kept safely guarded from the ungodliness of people. The Tabernacle allows God to dwell among His people, but only within the Tabernacle, and the people may approach God, but only through the mediation of the priesthood. God cannot actually be among His people, but the Tabernacle is a big step toward that end, and it brings God down from Heaven to be among His people for the first time in a very unique way. The Tabernacle is a major step toward understanding the gift of Holy Communion given to us through Jesus.

With Jesus, we have direct access to God. Jesus' forgiveness of our sins allows us to approach God like my son approached me this morning. This is why Jesus teaches us to pray, "Our Father, who is in Heaven...." Only Jesus can refer to God in such intimate terms. The actual word used in the gospels in the context of the Lord's prayer is Abba. The literal interpretation of Abba is daddy. Our traditional interpretation is "Father", but this is actually a bit more formal than Jesus offered. Abba is more intimate, personal. It's my son climbing into my arms, saying, "Daddy". All of the work and specifics that God put into the building of the Tabernacle is a foreshadowing of the intimacy in Christ which God wants to share with His people. But, for us, we already have Christ, we are privileged to be able to run to God and climb into His arms anytime we wish. Even more, God desires that we do just that.

Has it been a while since you climbed into the arms of God?
Prayer, worship, and even this devotion you're reading now are ways in which you can do just that.

Heavenly Father, Abba, I am just a child in your arms. I need to trust you for everything. When I am vulnerable, shelter me. When I am weak, strengthen me. When I am frightened, comfort me. When I am guilty, forgive me. When I am hungry, feed me. I am yours, Abba, save me. In Jesus' name. Amen

Morning Devotions: 4/13/10

Exodus chapters 23-24

Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon?

I have not, but one of these days I want to get there. I have seen various other canyons, and there is one thing that captivates my attention every time. Standing at the summit of one peak and looking across the canyon to the next side there is an overwhelming sense of distance, an almost impassible distance. Remember when Evil Kenevil attempted to jump the Grand Canyon, and failed? I remember feeling kind of satisfied that he failed. It's as if something inside me interpreted his inability to jump across this great boundary as some sort of validation for the Grand Canyon remaining pure in its refusal to be crossed. It's as if the Grand Canyon were saying to us that God had created a visual reminder that there are boundaries which we humans are simply incapable of passing without God's help. The Grand Canyon is not only an impressive work of nature. I have also heard it described as a spiritual experience. As we stand on one side of the canyon, looking across to the other side, there is a spiritual sense of the distance between us and God. The great chasm of sin, that cuts through rock and humanity scarring everything as it digs deeper and deeper, separates us from God's righteous purpose on the other side.

I have heard the Grand Canyon described as an illustration of one man's distance from his wife and family. His sin, devoting all of his life and time to his work, had become the great chasm that had cut and dug so deep that there seemed to be no way to bridge the gap between he and his family. The canyon illustration is equally demonstrative to other sins as well. Sin causes separation and alienation between people. It isolates and abandons. It leaves us lonely and disconnected. God has created us for community, for love. God does not desire for us to be alienated from him or others, but reconciled. But, we are incapable of reconciling ourselves to God, and therefore we are incapable of reconciling with others. God, however, is capable of this, because God is capable of forgiving our sins.

God can bridge the canyon. Jesus' cross is planted in the ground, picture it planted deep into the chasm of sin. Meanwhile, his arms reach out across the great divide connecting one side to the other. With one hand reaching to God, and the other reaching to us, his death to sin and simultaneous forgiveness of us bridges across the great divide. Jesus' is God's bridge for us, and it is built on love and forgiveness. Today's text from Exodus offers to us a glimpse of what will later be the final sacrifice, the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. But, keeping with this text alone, we see God's deep desire, not for angry hostile vengeance, but to overcome the great chasm of sin, and create a means by which people can find forgiveness.

God is an amazing bridge builder. His Son, built a bridge across the grandest canyon known to us. He bridged between us and God, by offering forgiveness and love to us in the free gift of his sacrifice. Jesus built this bridge with only two pieces of wood and three nails. :-)

Today, consider the way your sinful actions cut deep into the relationships around you. Consider the way in which you and your spouse, you and your children, you and your ___________________ may be getting further and further apart as a result of sinfulness. Before slipping into the typical tendency of blaming and shaming, which is only more sin in a disguise, consider instead ways in which God's grace, forgiveness, and love, might help you to bridge across these sinful divisions.

Heavenly Father, my sin cuts and digs great chasms between me and those I love the most. Help me today to see this, and encourage me by the sacrificial love of Jesus to be willing to make the necessary sacrifices to my life that I might be a bridge of grace and healing where it is necessary. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Morning Devotions: 4/12/10

Exodus 21:1-22:31

Have you ever had to cope with someone who was inconsistent with their expectations of you?

If you have, then you know it is truly exhausting. Like when you were a child, and in the middle of a game, your playmate would try to change the rules to benefit him, and then if you disagreed he would threaten to leave and take his game with him. How are you supposed to play a game when you aren't sure of the rules of the game because they change each time the owner of the game takes his turn? In the game of life, behavior like this, in its subtlest form, results in strained or burnt out relationships. In its most extreme form this behavior results in tyranny. Whether extreme or subtle this is an unjust abuse of power and places people in situations where individual freedom is diminished.

The Israelites had lived for 400+ years as slaves in Egypt. Pharaoh thought of himself as a kind of incarnation of the gods. Therefore, he believed he had the power to change the rules whenever or however he saw fitting for the empire. The Israelites became subjects of tyranny. The laws of the land were the opinion of the sovereign power and authority of Pharaoh, and he was above the law. For the Israelites, slaves to Pharaoh, there was no freedom, because they were not given the authority to govern themselves. They were merely subjects of Pharaoh. This context is a necessity as we look at today's text. Without it, we miss interpreting the gift of God's Law.

In today's text, the underlying message is that God is laying out the law for the people and is giving it to them. God is not tyrannically holding the power to govern them over their heads. God is declaring up front, these are the ways you shall live, and then he commissions them to go and do. God is not holding onto power, He's giving it away. God gives the Law to the people and then empowers them to live freely within it. God wants them to take the Law and learn to govern themselves as a sovereign nation under His care and guidance, not as a tyrannized group of slaves. God uses the Law to enter into a covenant with His people whereby they would be free to self-regulate. He doesn't use the Law to dictate power over them. He gives his power to them in the form of a covenantal agreement. What God does with the Law is the extreme opposite of the tyranny they had experienced in Egypt.

With this in mind, we can hear this text more clearly. For instance, even though today's text speaks of slavery to the point of condoning it, what's more important is that we hear it as God's will in a specific historical context to protect the slaves, to provide laws that allow the people to treat them fairly and humanely. Also, with this understanding in mind, we are free to allow the historical context to speak God's will for slavery then, but not use the bible to contort God's will into condoning slavery today.

God's will---the Law, His expectations (particularly the Ten Commandments)---is made clear, remains steadfast over the generations and is given away with God's covenantal agreement so as to empower His people to live freely within the constraints of the law.

This is a bit more cerebral of a devotional topic than you may have become accustomed to with me, but it's an important one to grasp. It's important because it reminds us that freedom still requires laws that are clear and consistent. Where there are no laws, or where the one who makes the laws is above the law, there can be no freedom. God is sovereign to the law, but covenants with us to remain accountable to them as well. Within this relationship, the laws of God are what guide us in our relationship that are based in love, freedom, joy, and peace.

This is true in any relationship. Consider your most beloved relationships. Now think about all the laws that bind you together. Some are the written down kind, like possibly your marriage certificate, or a birth certificate. These come with obligations and commitments--covenants. Now, think about the unwritten laws that guide your relationships. All those little things that establish routines, boundaries, just simply knowing each other. Without these laws, we have no freedom to love and maintain peace, or find joy. Without these laws we do not know how to love or maintain love.

God gives to us His law, so that we would be free to love; free to prosper, free to just be.

Lord God, thank you for your Law. Like rebellious children we often think we can live without your restraint, but you know us better than we know ourselves. You restrain us by your Law and in doing so you free us to truly live and live abundantly. Help me this day, to recognize how much I depend upon you for guidance and protection from my own sinfully rebellious nature. Bring me to sense the peacefulness that is found only in your covenantal embrace. In Jesus' name. Amen

Morning Devotions: 4/11/10

John 20:19-31
2nd Sunday of Easter

Do you have a brain? :-)
How do you know for sure? You can't see it. Those in medical school get to see someone else's, but you can not see your own. Even an MRI is just a magnetic image of the real thing, but not the actual thing. We come to believe that we have a brain because we learn how to recognize the benefit the brain gives to us.

Is there oxygen in the air we're breathing, right now? :-)
How do we know for sure? We can't see it. Again, we come to believe there's oxygen in the air because we learn to recognize the benefit that oxygen gives to us.

Our brains, and oxygen are two examples of things we believe without seeing, because we come to learn how to recognize the benefits they provide us. In today's text, Jesus blesses Thomas with the opportunity to believe by seeing and touching his resurrected body. But, then Jesus immediately turns the attention away from himself and from Thomas toward all of us today who come to believe without the benefit of seeing. Jesus says, "Blessed are those who do not see, and yet believe."

We are those who have come to believe without seeing. It's not easy for us. I think sometimes we would all prefer to have our own personal Thomas experience, where we get the opportunity to actually see the risen body of Jesus. But, Jesus has ascended to the Father. We do not get to see, but Jesus did leave behind the Holy Spirit. His risen body may be in heaven, but his Spirit lives among us. It's the Holy Spirit that we encounter. And, by the Spirit we come to believe in the resurrection of Jesus---something we can not see.

I once worked with a man named Dave. Dave was blind. He was a truly remarkable inspiration to anyone with capable eyes to see. His blindness didn't stop him, or even slow him down from most things. His talent to interpret the world around him was jaw-dropping. He made use of his sense of touch, and hearing in ways that astounded we sighted people. The enhancements made to his other senses in order to compensate for his lack of sight seemed at times unbelievable. Dave could not see, but he became a blessing and an inspiration to everyone around him. "Blessed are those who do not see, and yet believe."

Faith in Jesus makes all of us who believe like Dave. Our faith is blind. We do not get to see Jesus, and yet with enhancements to our other senses we come to believe without seeing. We come to see, without the need for actually seeing. We do not get the privilege of seeing the risen Jesus. But, that does not mean we are incapable of believing in the resurrection. It simply means that our other senses need to be enhanced so that we learn to recognize the resurrection by its benefits.

Let's start with the sense of touch. We do not get to actually touch the body of the risen Jesus. But, that doesn't mean we are incapable of recognizing how we feel when His presence is near to us. Now, let me be clear, I am not referring to feeling some sort of strange movement of air as if the Holy Spirit were to behave merely as some sort of ghost or apparition. While there are stories of these sorts of theophanies in the bible, I'm mainly referring to our emotions. The work of Jesus is the same now as it was when he lived before the resurrection. His work among us is the work of compassion, love, friendship, sacrifice, forgiveness, generosity, etc. The first words the risen Jesus says to the apostles is "Peace be with you." When we feel that sense of peacefulness--shalom--this is the risen Jesus. Also, when we are passionate for justice, for righteous causes we are feeling the risen Lord's passion.

Hearing is enhanced when faith is blind as well. With our ears we hear the Word of God in scripture, worship, and prayer. But, as we grow in faith so grows our hearing. We become capable of hearing Christ's Word in art, music, literature, stories of love, sacrifice, and courage. By studying scripture, growing in faith, we enhance our hearing to compensate for our lack of sight.

Even our sense of taste is enhanced. "Taste and see that the Lord is good" the Psalmist says. Taste and SEE! Our sense of taste receives Holy Communion and believes that here in this moment the very presence of Christ is with me, and our faith is enhanced to believe and even taste a glimpse of the kingdom of heaven.

We may not be able to see the risen Jesus. But, by practicing our faith; studying scripture together, attending worship regularly, prayer, charity, etc., we enhance our other senses to be able to recognize the resurrection without ever seeing it. We come to believe in the resurrected Jesus in the same way we come to believe that we have a brain, or that there is oxygen in the air. We learn to recognize the benefits. In other words, we come to believe in the resurrected Christ, because we learn to recognize the works of the risen Christ.
We learn to recognize what forgiveness looks like,
what love looks like,
what joy looks like,
what grace looks like.
We may not see Jesus, but we know what his work looks like.

Finally, we may not see Jesus, but we know that he was a human like us. Jesus may not have a body that lives among us any more. But, when we come together as the church, we are his body. When the church works together, worships together, prays together, we can see Jesus, alive and well, in the hearts and passions of each other.

Do you have a brain; is there oxygen in this room? Of course!
Has Jesus been raised from the dead? Of course!
And all who believe without seeing are blessed. We are blessed not just for our own spiritual encouragement, but we are blessed like my friend Dave; blessed to be a blessing for others.

Lord God, open the eyes of my heart, that I may see you and believe that you are with me always, and that you are in charge and have secured my future with you eternally. In Jesus' name. Amen