Sunday, September 30, 2018

THREE WAYS

MUSINGS - September 30 2018


THREE WAYS


Mark 3:22-30
The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said, "Beelzebul is in him," and "He forces demons out of people with the help of the ruler of demons." Jesus called them together and used this illustration: "How can Satan force out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot last. And if a household is divided against itself, that household will not last. So if Satan rebels against himself and is divided, he cannot last. That will be the end of him. "No one can go into a strong man's house and steal his property. First he must tie up the strong man. Then he can go through the strong man's house and steal his property. "I can guarantee this truth: People will be forgiven for any sin or curse. But whoever curses the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. He is pguilty of an everlasting sin." Jesus said this because the scribes had said that he had an evil spirit.

It is of some note that these scribes came all the way from Jerusalem to try and discredit Jesus. See how great a threat he was to them that they would travel great distances into the countryside to do verbal battle.

The attack of these learned scholars was so weak that Christ easily destroys it with a simple analogy of a kingdom divided. In a battle of wits they came unarmed.

Jesus then issues a dire warning to them, "whoever curses the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven." When the one whose whole purpose is to seek the Lord and forgive if their sins, tells you to your face that you've crossed a line that can not be forgiven, you should be very afraid indeed. Jesus cast out demons and performed wonders by the power of the Holy Spirit. And these foolish scribes had just called the Spirit the devil.

There are three ways to respond to Jesus: you can totally accept that he is who he claims to be, you can have doubts and honest questions that are not rejection but a settling for answers, and it is also possible to close your mind and handed your heart so that no proof no matter how obvious, will be accepted.

What is your response?

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All content (except quotations) © 2018 Thomas E. Williams

Saturday, September 29, 2018

FAMILY: A HARD MINISTRY

MUSINGS - September 29 2018


FAMILY: A HARD MINISTRY


Mark 3:20-22
Then Jesus went home. Another crowd gathered so that Jesus and his disciples could not even eat. When his family heard about it, they went to get him. They said, "He's out of his mind!"

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said, "Beelzebul is in him," and "He forces demons out of people with the help of the ruler of demons."

We don't have to read too far into the Gospels to see that the religious authorities really don't like Jesus. This is understandable on a human level because he was a threat to their power and authority. So, we can not be too surprised that try to discredit him and even kill him.

However, it is harder to understand why his family would say that he was crazy. In John's gospel chapter 7:1-13 is another story that involves his interaction with his brothers and in verse 5 we see that they did not believe him. This too is a very human reaction. Jesus himself said, "The only place a prophet isn't honored is in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own house."*

We had a foreign exchange student who spent most of a year livening in our home and becoming a part of our family. She stated that one of the best things about her experience was that no one knew her from before and that all they knew about her was as she was now. I think that is a very wise observation. People who knew me in my teenage years would hardly believe what I've become in my later years. I have unbelievers in my family also.

It is important to note that, even if dinner is his family had doubts, they cared enough about him to come to take him home, where he could be fed and cared for. I've come to the belief, that because of our shared history, I'm not the one who will lead them to belief. It will take an outsider to teach them. In the mean time, I try to be the outsider the others.

Can you reach your family for Christ it do they know you too well? You pray for my family and I'll pray for you. We all need help from our friends.

*Mark 6:4

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Friday, September 28, 2018

REACH, BRING, TRAIN, SEND

MUSINGS - September 28 2018


.REACH, BRING, TRAIN, SEND


Mark 3:13-19
"Jesus went up a mountain, called those whom he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve whom he called apostles. They were to accompany him and to be sent out by him to spread the Good News. They also had the authority to force demons out of people. He appointed these twelve: Simon (whom Jesus named Peter), James and his brother John (Zebedee's sons whom Jesus named Boanerges, which means "Thunderbolts"), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed Jesus).

We are so accustomed to thinking of the twelve apostles following Jesus that it is easy to forget that he called hundreds to follow him. In fact it is often recorded how difficult it was for him to get away from the crowd and to be alone.

On this occasion he chose twelve from among the many to receive special training, duties and power. The first appointment of officers of the first congregation. Jesus was beginning to deligate some of the responsibility. He was transforming followers into leaders.

One of the best pieces of advice I received when I became a manager was:  always be training your replacement. The idea is that, if you are indispensable in that position, you will never be promoted. Jesus knew his time was short and he would need others to carry on with the work. That should be our model in building the kingdom of God; reach out, bring in, train up, and send out.

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Thursday, September 27, 2018

HARD HEARTED OR OPEN MINDED?

MUSINGS - September 27 2018

HARD HEARTED OR OPEN MINDED?

Mark 3:1-6
"Jesus went into a synagogue again. A man who had a paralyzed hand was there. The people were watching Jesus closely. They wanted to see whether he would heal the man on the day of worship so that they could accuse him of doing something wrong. So he told the man with the paralyzed hand, "Stand in the center of the synagogue." Then he asked them, "Is it right to do good or to do evil on the day of worship, to give a person back his health or to let him die?" But they were silent. Jesus was angry as he looked around at them. He was deeply hurt because their minds were closed. Then he told the man, "Hold out your hand." The man held it out, and his hand became normal again. The Pharisees left, and with Herod's followers they immediately plotted to kill Jesus."

In yesterday's MUSINGS I talked about the strictness of traditions for the Sabbath. Here is one more example, as I understand it: If you had mixed vegetables or fruit on your plate and you didn't like one of the items in the mix, you could not remove the offensive item from the plate. This would be considered winnowing, selecting, or sifting which are forbidden. You could, however, eat the other items and leave the offensive item on the plate as long as you did not touch it with an eating utensil. You can remove the good from the bad but not the bad from the good.

I mention this restriction because, in an odd way, it showed the mind frame of the people in the synagogue. Jesus asked, "Is it right to do good or to do evil on the day of worship?" In their thinking, when Jesus healed, he was removing the bad from the good which was forbidden.

"He was deeply hurt because their minds were closed." Other translation say, he was "grieved for the hardness of their heart," He had appealed to their sense of right and wrong. He asked if it was right to do good or evil, to heal or let him die. Their traditions, that had developed around the law of Moses, were more important than mercy and compassion. In the parable of Good Samaritan* he addresses this same hard hearted closed minded adherence to man made precepts

Jesus, in his mercy, healed the man. As I said yesterday, in their minds he had broken a law which demanded capital punishment.

Jesus challenged their understanding of scripture, their understanding of the law, their understanding of God's will. He still does. Have we become closed minded or hard hearted? Do we still seek answers from the word of God? Are we open to what the Spirit is saying to us? Or have we already decided on our own what is right and what is wrong?

*Luke 10:25-37

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Wednesday, September 26, 2018

DOCTRINE, DOGMA, OR JESUS?

MUSINGS - September 26 2018


DOCTRINE, DOGMA, OR JESUS?


Mark 2:23-28
Once on a day of worship Jesus was going through the grainfields. As the disciples walked along, they began to pick the heads of grain. The Pharisees asked him, "Look! Why are your disciples doing something that is not permitted on the day of worship?" Jesus asked them, "Haven't you ever read what David did when he and his men were in need and were hungry? Haven't you ever read how he went into the house of God when Abiathar was chief priest and ate the bread of the presence? He had no right to eat those loaves. Only the priests have that right. Haven't you ever read how he also gave some of it to his men?" Then he added, "The day of worship was made for people, not people for the day of worship. For this reason the Son of Man has authority over the day of worship."

Well, the disciples have done it again. They've upset the religious authorities once more. They were working on the Sabbath, they began to pick the heads of grain. This probably seems to be a trivial matter to most of us in our culture. However, it was a capital offense in the Old Testament. You could be killed for working, or every walking more than 0.596 miles on the Sabbath day.

At the time of this story, the Roman conquers of Israel would not let the Jewish authorities enforce the death penalty. But that didn't make it any less of an offense to the Jewish leaders.

Jesus remind them that the Sabbath was made for man. That is, the Sabbath is a gift from God for the work done on the other six of days of the week. It was meant as a blessing but the overly strict interpretation of the priesthood had made it more if a curse.

But he goes much further when he declared, "the Son of Man has authority over the day of worship." Jesus was proclaiming to the legalistic Jewish rulers that He was greater than the Law and above the laws of the Mosaic Covenant because, as God in flesh, He is the Author of those laws. Far from calming their outage, he metaphorically poured fuel on the fire, a whole tanker truck if gasoline.

He came to right the wrong, to realign humanitie's will with the will if God. And that meant a lot of people weren't going to like the changes.

I have a small cup of gasoline myself. Imagine for a moment if Jesus came to you and told you that your religious beliefs were wrong. What do you do? Do you defend the Doctrine and Dogma of your church or do you follow Jesus? Don't just read your Bible. Study it! Does it agree with what you have believed or does it challenge those beliefs?

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Monday, September 24, 2018

TO FAST OR NOT TO FAST

MUSINGS - September 24 2018


TO FAST OR NOT TO FAST


Mark 2:18-20
"John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came to Jesus and said to him, "Why do John's disciples and the Pharisees' disciples fast, but your disciples don't?" Jesus replied, "Can wedding guests fast while the groom is still with them? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast."

Only one Jewish holiday has the command to fast, Yom Kippur. But there were many days that were, by custom, considered fasting days. Fasting was only during the daylight hours and not on Fridays or Sabbaths.

These fasting days were to commentate some historical event in the lives of the Jewish people. Usually these were negative events such as sieges, the destruction of the 10 Commandments, et cetera. Fasting would not be done on a holiday it day of celebration, such as a wedding.

Every day in presence of the Messiah would be a day of celebration and therefore no fasting.

During the period of Lent many modern Christians do a symbol fast by "giving up" something for Lent. Along with temporarily depriving yourself you are to focus on becoming more in tune with our I in line with God's will.

Because Christ the bridegroom is not with us, personal, private fasting can be practice as an act of contrition.

Have you ever practiced fasting as a way to strengthen your bound with God?

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All content (except quotations) © 2018 Thomas E. Williams

Sunday, September 23, 2018

SEEKING THE LOST

MUSINGS - September 23 2018


SEEKING THE LOST


Mark 2:13-17
"Jesus went to the seashore again. Large crowds came to him, and he taught them. When Jesus was leaving, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting in a tax office. Jesus said to him, "Follow me!" So Levi got up and followed him. Later Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house. Many tax collectors and sinners who were followers of Jesus were eating with him and his disciples. When the scribes who were Pharisees saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" When Jesus heard that, he said to them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor; those who are sick do. I've come to call sinners, not people who think they have God's approval."

Jesus has just called another disciple. Levi (also known as Matthew) became part of the twelve special followers of this amazing man-god. And to celebrate all of the disciples along with Levi's coworkers gathered at Levi's home for a meal.

This, if course, like many of the things that Jesus did, offended the religious and social leaders. He's eating with SINNERS. Shocking! Now, before you get on you high horse thinking that you're not as judgemental as those hypocrites, what would your reaction be if your preacher, priest, or pastor went to the biker bar or strip club to spend time with the people there? Would you be supportive it look down your nose at him?

Things haven't change all that much in the last two thousand years. The goody-goodys who fill the pews today aren't that different from the goody-goodys of days gone by. Gossips still gossip and finger pointers still point fingers. And Jesus still says, "I've come to call sinners, not people who THINK they have God's approval."

Remember, if you are seeking the lost, you have to go where the lost are.

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Saturday, September 22, 2018

GOD OR BLASPHEMER

MUSINGS - September 22 2018


GOD OR BLASPHEMER


Mark 2:3-5
"Four men came to him carrying a paralyzed man. Since they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof over the place where Jesus was. Then they lowered the cot on which the paralyzed man was lying. When Jesus qaasaw their faith, he said to the man, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." Some scribes were sitting there. They thought, "Why does he talk this way? He's dishonoring God. Who besides God can forgive sins?" At once, Jesus knew inwardly what they were thinking. He asked them, "Why do you have these thoughts? Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, pick up your cot, and walk'? I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." Then he said to the paralyzed man, "I'm telling you to get up, pick up your cot, and go home!" The man got up, immediately picked up his cot, and walked away while everyone watched. Everyone was amazed and praised God, saying, "We have never ,5seen anything like this."

Yesterday's Musings was about the first part of the story where the man's faithful friends brought him to Jesus. But this is the rest of the story. There is an ironic saying that no good deed goes unpunished.

You see, Jesus did more than heal a lame person. He forgave his sins. When the scripts heard this they asked, "Who besides God can forgive sins?" For the scribes it really wasn't so much a question as an accusation. Jesus was claiming a power that only belongs to God, the ability to forgive sins.

Most of the religious leaders saw his power and heard his teaching and rejected the fact that his was Immanuel (God with us). When Jesus claimed the right to forgive sins, the scribes saw it as blasphemy (cursing the name of God).

We have only two choices in what we believe about Jesus: either he is God or a he is a blasphemer.

.

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Friday, September 21, 2018

FAITH FULL FRIENDS

MUSINGS - September 21 2018


FAITH FULL FRIENDS


Mark 2:3-5
"Four men came to him carrying a paralyzed man. Since they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof over the place where Jesus was. Then they lowered the cot on which the paralyzed man was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."

Because of the faith of his friends he was healed. How much faith did they have in Jesus healing power? Enough belief to go get their lame friend, enough to carry their friend what ever distance it was to the house were Jesus was living, enough to see the crowd as only one more barrier to overcome, enough to risk the wrath if the home owner (who may have been Jesus), and finally they had enough to dig a hole through the roof and lower their friend down to the healer. These were truly faithful men full of faith.

Do you have those type of friends? And more importantly, are you that type of friend?

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All content (except quotations) © 2018 Thomas E. Williams

Saturday, September 15, 2018

RETHINK YOUR PRIORITIES

MUSINGS - September 15 2018


RETHINK YOUR PRIORITIES


Mark 1:16-20
"As he was going along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the sea because they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, "Come, follow me! I will teach you how to catch people instead of fish." They immediately left their nets and followed him. As Jesus went on a little farther, he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat preparing their nets to go fishing. He immediately called them, and they left their father Zebedee and the hired men in the boat and followed Jesus."

What a remarkable presence Jesus in his earthly form must have had. He commanded, "Stop doing what you are doing and followed me." And they did. He asked them to abandoned everything they had and everything that they had dreamed of having. Luke 14:26-27
"If people come to me and are not ready to abandon their fathers, mothers, wives, children, brothers, and sisters, as well as their own lives, they cannot be my disciples. So those who do not carry their crosses and follow me cannot be my disciples.

In Mark 10:20-22 is there story of the rich man who knelt in front of Jesus and said, "Teacher, I've obeyed all these commandments since I was a boy." Jesus looked at him and loved him. He told him, "You're still missing one thing. Sell everything you have. Give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then follow me!" When the man heard that, he looked unhappy and went away sad, because he owned a lot of property."

Jesus asked nothing more of this man than he'd ask if all his followers nor did he ask any less.

Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Those who want to come with me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses, and follow me.

Examine yourself. If there is anything, any dream, or anyone that you are not willing to abandon, then you are not a true disciple. Rethink your priorities.

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Friday, September 14, 2018

HAVE YOU HEARD?

MUSINGS- September 14 2018


HAVE YOU HEARD?


Mark 1:14-15
"After John had been put in prison, Jesus went to Galilee and told people the Good News of God. He said, "The time has come, and the kingdom of God is near. Change the way you think and act, and believe the Good News."

Until the time when Saul was appointed king, Israel had no king other than the LORD God. Israel was a theocracy that is "God-ruled." The people were lead by priests, prophets, and judges. But the time came when they demanded that the prophet Samuel appoint a king so that they could be like other nations. (1 Samuel 8:4-21)

1 Samuel 8:7-8
"The LORD told Samuel, "Listen to everything the people are saying to you. They haven't rejected you; they've rejected me. They're doing just what they've done since I took them out of Egypt--leaving me and serving other gods."

The message that Jesus preached was the same that John preached. Indeed it was the same that the prophet has proclaimed, "Abandon your evil ways and return to God for His kingdom is near." It is the same message that godly people still preach. Have you taken it to heart?

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Thursday, September 13, 2018

“Barley Loaves”  

Sermon:  “Barley Loaves”  
John 6:1-15 and 2 Kings 4:42-44

We’ve just read two example of how bread was miraculously multiplied.

But what do you think?  Are these stories really about bread?

No, of course not!  These are really examples of God’s economics!  Just look.

Do you remember a couple weeks back I recounted the story of David and Goliath?  These stories are similar to the story of David and Goliath.  In the Goliath story, people saw too little (David).  In these stories about Elisha and Jesus, the people see too little (food).  But in each of these stories God is the answer.  Everyone thought there was a scarcity. But where we see scarcity, God see abundance.

What is it about God and bread?  There are so many examples linking God and bread.  What is it about bread?   Maybe it is because we all know bread, we have it every day. The earliest archaeological evidence for an unleavened bread, dates to around 30,000 years ago.  

Did you know that every human culture has some form of bread?  It doesn’t make any difference how primitive and remote a people may live, they bake bread.  All it takes is some form of starch, and water.  I just watched a YouTube video where a guy made bread out of cattail roots.  However, it is still recognizable as bread.  With or without salt, with or without leavening (yeast or soda), it is still bread. It is everywhere … just like God.

In today’s Gospel reading, both Philip and Andrew were given the opportunity to feed the multitude. They took widely different approaches. 

Philip did a quick count.  “Let’s see, one, two, three!  No better count by tens; ten, twenty … Nope that’ll take too long.  Alright, about a hundred there, and there, and there and … Hmm, looks like about 5000 men!   And roughly the same number of woman and kids. So let’s say ten thousand.” “Okay, now figuring in the current price of bread … multiply by ten thousand, carry the one … and … looking in the communal purse and Nope!  Ain’t gonna happen!  Not if we had a half-year’s wages.  And we don’t. l Sorry, Master, guess we’d better send ‘em home before it gets Dark!”

I can imagine Jesus taking a deep breath and thinking about just how to explain to Philip what he has in mind.

Just then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother interrupts, “Um, while you were doing your counting heads and jiggling coins in the purse, I went through the crowd to see who had food.”

Jesus nods and smiles at Andy’s taking the initiative.  “So, what did you find?”

“A bunch of tired and hungry people.”

Jesus smiles and asked, “Didn’t anyone bring any food?”

Andrew answered, “Well there was this one kid who offered his lunch.”

“Great!  How much does he have?”

“Um, a couple fish and five rolls.  But, you know, that just isn’t …”

Jesus interrupts, “Wonderful!  Just enough!  Bring ‘em here!  We’re gonna have a picnic!  Everybody sit.  Sit.  Eat your fill and enjoy.”  Jesus then gave thanks to God for his unsurpassed bounty and broke the bread into chunks and distributed them with the fish to the crowd.

Well, we know what happened!  Everybody ate, burped their approval (really! that was considered polite in that culture!) and then they gathered up the twelve baskets of leftovers.

In our Hebrew Scriptures we read where a farmer brings some of his produce to the prophet.  “Mister Elisha, sir, here is my tithe of the first fruits of my crops. Enjoy!”

Elisha said, “Well done, I love the smell of fresh baked bread.  Bless you! But there are one hundred hungry men here, give it to them instead.”  

The farmer replies, that’s mighty nice of you but there are only twenty loaves.  That’s not going to be enough … and I don’t have any more.”

Elisha smiles and nods and said, “Just give what you have and see what God can do.  Everyone will be filled and there’ll be leftovers.”

The farmer “sacrificed” a tithe of his produce as a gift to the man of God.  And Elisha sacrificed it all for the well being of others. Both of them planted a seed from which God could produce a bounty.

Do you remember the story of Ruth from the old testament?  Naomi was living with her married sons in a foreign land.  Both men died and left their widowed wives, Orpah and Ruth, with their mother.  Naomi desires to go home to Israel. 

Before she leaves she, like a good Jewish mother-in-law, tells the widows, "You girls, such pretty young things, go home.  Find a husband, he should be so lucky to have you.  May the Lord bless.  Marry rich, you should be secure.". Then they hugged and kissed.  But the girls said that they'd rather go with her.

"Whaddaya nuts?  Do ya think this old lady is gonna give birth to some new sons for you?  God forbid!" was Naomi's reaction.  Orpah (not Oprah) took the advice and left.  But Ruth said, "Where you go, I go.  Where you live, I'll live.  Your people and your God will be my people and my God."

Naomi winks and replied, "For you I've got a fella.  He’s family, rich and not bad on the eyes, name of Boaz.  I'll introduce you."

They return to Israel and Ruth goes to work for Boaz in the field.  He sees her and one thing leads to another. Boaz said to her, "Come over here, and help yourself to some food.  You can dip your bread in the sour wine.” So she sat with his harvesters, and Boaz gave her some roasted grain to eat. She ate all she wanted and still had some left over.Very loosely from the book of Ruth

Ruth sacrificed her home, all that she had ever known to follow Naomi.  She gained a husband and had a son, Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse, the father of David, from who’s line Jesus entered the world.

Again, bread.  Again, leftovers.

Are you beginning to make a connection here?

Back to our story of Jesus and the barley loaves and fish.  Have you ever wondered what happened to the leftovers?  God is not just a God of abundance but also of overflowing blessings.Malachi 3:10  I don't have proof, but I believe that, because the little boy gave his lunch into God's service, he received the overflow.  That seems to me the way God’s economy works. To those who give, God opens the windows of heaven and pours out an overflowing blessing.

In each of these stories God required some seed.  Someone had to give something to get the whole blessing thing going.  Yes, sometimes God just gives. But more often than not, someone has to step up and make a sacrifice first.

I remember working with my kids to make rock candy.  It is a simple process. You take a container of hot water and then you dissolve as much sugar in it as you possible can.  Now you take a piece of string and dip it into sugar and suspend it in the jar. Then you wait. And wait. And D-A-D! when is going to be candy?  And wait! And then something begins to grow on the string. Crystal by crystal it begins to grow on that string. Now I’m telling you this because If you don’t add some sugar to that string, that jar of sugary water can sit there for a long long extreamly long time without anything happening … and then crystals will begin to form on the sides of the container.  Which is useless because you can’t eat in on the sides of the jar. You have to provide the seed sugar for the candy to form.

The same principle applies to rain and snow.  There has to be some dust or pollen in that cloud for the rain or snow to adhere to.

Farmers and gardeners understand this seeding principle.  You have to sacrifice a seed to produce more seed.

This is God’s economy.

Where are the scarcities in your life? 

I grew up poor.  I didn’t know that we were poor.  Some things might have been a clue:  My mother and I lived in a converted chicken house for several years.  I remember taking lard and sugar sandwiches for my school lunches. Does that sound like scarcity to you?

Now let me tell you the rest of the story.  The reason Mom and I lived in that building, which had most recently been my Father’s sewing machine shop, was because my brother, his wife, and three or four kids needed a place to stay.  Mom and I lived in a small five room house on an acreage. When my brother and family needed a place to live, Mom didn’t see the scarcity. She saw the chance to have her son and grandkids close to her.  

That chicken house had been moved next to the house and converted into a sewing machine shop when, due to failing health, my father needed to move his business from downtown Des Moines.  He had been dead for several years and the shop was no longer used. A little rearranging and it became suitable if not lavish place for us to live so that my brother and family could live in the original house.  Mom “sacrificed” her house to make a home for my brother and we gained a larger, tighter family group. What had been a small five room house now came to be called, “the Big House.” The house hadn’t changed size, just our perspective was changed.  

As for food, we had an acreage full of fruit and vegetables, we raised chickens for eggs and meat, the cellar was stocked with home canned goods, thanks to Mom’s hard work.  We ate healthy, home grown food. Yes, money was scarce after my Father died, but we owned the home and had few expenses. The Lord provided. And I never knew we were poor.

Many years ago, Ella and I sat down and imagined our dream home.  It would be on many acres of wooded land outside the city far enough but not so far to make travel difficult.  It would have a large house with a huge kitchen for preparing meals for our family and friends. And of course the house would have a view of the private lake where we could fish with our grandkids.  We said that it would be nice to have some places for friends with RVs to come and stay with full hook ups. Sounds nice, huh?

That dream vanished when we got rid or our big old Victorian four bedroom house and moved into our first RV.  We went through some MAJOR downsizing. We sold, gave and donated a lot of our “stuff” that we’d accumulated and still had to trash a lot of it.  We created our own scarcity.

Several years ago after a communal meal at Cutty’s campground, we were looking out the window at the beautiful lake, when Ella got this surprised expression on her face and said, “This is my dream home!”  A quick look around and I realized she was right. God had given us everything that we had dreamed of … just not in the way we had imagined. Again, a change of perspective. By sacrificing our house, we gained everything that we had dreamed of!

God is constantly surprising me with the way He answers prayer.  Seldom does the answer come in the say I’d expected it. I think He does that on purpose so that I’ll recognize that the answer came from Him.

Maybe God has a bounty available to us that we are just not seeing.

Sometimes when we focus on that last crumb of bread we see starvation.  However, God replies, “They shall eat their fill and have leftovers.” Amen.

“Live in Love as Christ Also Loved Us”

“Live in Love as Christ Also Loved Us”

There is the command: Live in love as Christ loved us. What does that look like and how do we do it?.

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved. - Ephesians 2:4-5

How are we loved by Jesus?

Jesus said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” - John 15:9-17

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God In Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:37-39

    I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20

We are loved beyond any other possible love.

But what are we to about the command: Live in love as Christ loved us. What does that look like and how do we do it?.

    In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he gives a list of  concrete actions that Paul suggests, and they all have their foundation in the love of God. Today we are called to  “Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us” (Eph. 5:1-2, NRSV).

What does it mean to imitate God? Earlier in this passage, Paul gives a helpful list of actions to consider.  I like lists because I can check them off as I’ve completed them and it shows me where I need to do further work. I’ve compiled a list from the scripture and had it printed at the end of the bulletin. Let’s take a look at the list.

[ ] Get rid of lies. Christians are commanded to share the Good News. For our witness to be trustworthy, we need to get rid of the lies in our lives.  I hear you thinking, “But I don't lie.” Well, that's a lie According to a 2002 study conducted by the University of Massachusetts, 60% of adults can’t have a ten minute conversation without lying at least once. But even that number makes it sound better than it really is; those people in the study who did lie actually told an average of 3 lies during their brief chat. And I know you’re sitting there right now insisting you would be part of the 40% that didn’t lie. That’s what the liars in the study thought, too. When they watched the taped conversations back, they were shocked at how many fibs they had told.

So what do the scriptures say about lies?

Proverbs 12:22 “The LORD detests lying lips but he delights in people who are trustworthy. Psalms 34:13 “keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.”
 And of course number 9 of the 10 commandments, “Thou Shalt Not bear false witness.” Revelations 21:8 tells the end of liars, “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Being a liar is judged as harshly as murderers, perverts, and idolaters. Not good company to be in.

[ ] Speak the truth. Okay, here is the opposite side of the coin.

Alex Luckerman M.D. started in Psychology Today, “Imagine developing a reputation for tactful but complete honesty upon which others know they can always rely. What an invaluable resource you'd become! People who say they want to hear the truth but are in reality more interested in being praised will quickly learn either not to ask you for your views or that the value of hearing the truth, no matter how painful, is greater than keeping their egos protected because it affords them the opportunity to reflect and self-improve. Others often have a far more accurate perspective on our character flaws than we do. If we're genuinely interested in improving ourselves or our work, what we need from them isn't flattery; it's the truth.” and here are supporting scriptures:

Ephesians 6:14 “Stand firm then with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.” John 4:24 “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and truth.” John 16:13 “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.”

Here is one that I missed getting into the checklist … don’t be angry with me.

[ ] Be angry but don’t sin. Is it possible to be angry and not sin? The answer is “Of course it is.” Repeatedly we read of God’s anger in the Old Testament and it is impossible for God to sin. But can we, you and I, be angry without sinning? It is harder for us but if we have righteous anger … that is anger at the same thing that God is angry about … we can do it.

Moshe Ratson MBA, MS, LMFT believes that anger had many positive benefits

1. Anger is embedded in our primitive need to live and protect ourselves against aggression. Anger drives people to be extremely vigilant about threats and sharpens our focus.

2. When you experience physical and emotional distress, anger strongly motivates you to do something about it. As such, anger helps you cope with the stress by first discharging the tension in your body, and by doing so it calms your “nerves.” That’s why you may have an angry reaction and then feel calm afterward.

3. Anger protects what is ours, helping us feel in charge rather than helpless.

4. In day-to-day situations, anger serves as a positive force to motivate us to stand up for ourselves and creatively find solutions to the challenges we face.

5. If things are not the way they are supposed to be and need to change, anger propels us to do something and motivates us to find solutions to our problems.

6. Anger serves as an internal guidance system that indicates something is not quite right, that someone has treated us unjustly or unfairly. Anger helps communicate to others: “You’d better treat me fairly; otherwise, you’ll pay a high cost.”

7. Anger tries to eliminate whatever prevents us from realizing our desires. It energizes and pushes us to act in service of achieving our goals and working toward our ideals.

8. When we are angry, we often feel positive about our ability to change the situation, empowering us to take action and move from an undesirable position to a desirable one.

9. Anger serves as a social and personal value indicator and regulator. It is activated when our values are not in harmony with the situation we face.

10. Anger also strongly asserts our position and may lead to compliance by others. Anger drives us to respond to conflict in a way that helps us bargain to our advantage.

11. If anger is justified and the response is appropriate, usually the misunderstanding is corrected, leading to increased cooperation.

12. Anger may lead to better outcomes in business negotiations. While two parties negotiate, the negotiator who seems angrier may be in a better position to tilt the agreement in their favor.

13. Anger is a raw, “superficial” emotion that prevents (defends/blocks) you from feeling even more painful emotions.

14.  Anger provides insight into ourselves, as it is the layer of deeper issues that are most hidden. This is why it is important to trace the trail of anger and dig down to find and address its source.

15. Anger can make you a better person and can be a force of positive change. It provides insight into our faults and shortcomings.

16. Individuals willing to embrace uncomfortable emotions such as anger, rather than avoiding or repressing them, have greater emotional intelligence

However, we have to be careful to not make the anger personal … because then it becomes about us and sin can come in.

[ ] Don't go to bed angry or as some translations say, “Don’t let the sun set on your anger.” If you remember that the Jewish day begins at sundown, you will understand that this means to not carry your anger over to the following day.  The longer anger goes unresolved the more it begins to ferment. That is when it becomes a sin.

[ ] Quit stealing  This one should be so self evident that we don’t have to discuss it. However we humans tend to judge stealing in terms of the value of the item. Stealing a car is very bad … stealing a paperclip isn’t. Unfortunately God sees things in black and white. Either it is a theft or it isn’t. Remember the parable of the talents? A man gives him servants some cash and leaves for awhile. He comes back and asks for an accounting. Two have invested the money and earned more for the master. One hides it and only returns what was given to him. The master rewards the faithful ones and says, “because you were faithful with the little, I’ll trust you with more.” It works in reverse. If you can’t be trusted with the little, you’ll never be trusted with more.

[ ] Work hard  I’ve seen people who worked hard who never made headway. So, there is more to what Paul is saying than “putting your back into it.” Some people work as though they are running in place … it is all up and down motion … not forward motion. We must work, it is part of the curse of sin. Adam was told by God, “By the sweat of your brow, you will produce food to eat until you return to the ground.”

John Wesley had this to say about work, “Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.” And that part about giving all you can leads right into the next item on the check list.

[ ] Share with those in need   Be sympathetic to the needs of others. I found over twenty places in the bible where God commands his people to take care of the widows, the orphans, and the foreigners. Jesus simply said to treat others as you want to be treated. Every day we are surrounded by those in need. Some need physical assistance and some need emotional support. Some need material things like a bag of groceries or a tank of gas. But what each of them needs is for you to share the love of God with them.

[ ] Speak only what is good   James 1:26 reads, “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.” Proverbs 16:28 “A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.” Okay, it is confession time for me. I’m a teaser. I do it without malice. However, sometimes it goes too far and I have really offended or hurt someone. I need to keep a tighter rein on my tongue. “If you can’t say something good about someone … don’t say anything!” is what I need to keep in mind.

[ ] Don't upset the Spirit. The Spirit of God is love. Anything that is not love grieves or saddens the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 16:14 “Let all that you do be done in love.”

[ ] Don't hurt anyone   There are so many ways to hurt a person. Physically, Emotionally, Socially, and all the other “lys”. The children song that says,

“O be careful little hands what you do
O be careful little hands what you do
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little hands what you do
O O be careful little hands what you do
O be careful little hands what you do
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little hands what you do.

And

O be careful little mouth what you say

Remember, sticks and stones may break my bones but hurtful words will stick with a person forever.

[ ] Get rid of bitterness.   Joanna Weaver, a Christian author wrote, “Bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” Bitterness is the watered down version of anger. We spoke earlier about being angry without sinning. Bitterness is anger deep in sin. Bitterness, like a virus, begins small but continues to grow if you don’t destroy it.

[ ] No hot tempers  James 1:19-20 “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

[ ] Stop Loud quarreling  Proverbs 15:18 “a hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.”  Be patient. Think, in a hundred years will it still be important who's right and who is wrong? If it won't be, the it's really not important now either.

[ ] No cursing  Okay, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.” is the second of the ten commandments. Our words have power. Listen to what Jesus said in

Matthew 16:19, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you imprison, God will imprison. And whatever you set free, God will set free."

[ ] Get rid of hatred. (1 John 3:15) Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.”  Proverbs 10:12 gives the cause and the cure, “Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.”

[ ] Be kind.  Kindness is love dressed in work clothes. Kindness seems such a simple thing and yet it is the greatest example of the love of God at work in a person’s life.

[ ] Have sympathy.  Sympathy is the ability of understand the feelings of others. It is different from empathy and more useful. As an example, if you see a person caught in quicksand and have empathy, you would climb into the quicksand with him. However if you had sympathy, you would understand their distress and work to get them out of the quicksand.

[ ] Be Forgiving. “Forgive us our trespasses (sins) as we also forgive others.” As we forgive … in the same way we forgive … forgive us. God said, “I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember it no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34) And also, “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”) That is how He forgives; completely. That is what we are to strive for to forgive and never bring them back to our lips or minds.

[ ] Imitate the love God has shown you.  God loved us before we knew him. He loved us as we were … warts and all. (Romans 5:8) But loved us enough to not leave us there. He changed us, made us new again. ( 2 Corinthians 5:17) We are able to love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:10)

Here ends the lesson.

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Labor Day”

Sermon:. “Labor Day”
    Have you ever considered how strange of a holiday Labor Day is? Have you ever sent anyone a Labor Day card? No. Not even the greeting card industry has figured out what to do with Labor Day. It is a day when we celebrate Labor by not laboring. This country was built by those who worked, who worked hard and worked smart. The fact that the United States embraced democracy and free enterprise made it unique among the countries of the world. People were free to develop their inventions and innovations and receive the reward for those ideas. It was such a revolutionary idea that it has literally changed the world in which we live. The Christian  work ethic had a lot to do with this success.

    From the beginning mankind has used work as a service to God. Even before sin came into the world, God had work for man. Genesis 1:27-28 reads, “So God created humans in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female.  God blessed them and said, "Be fertile, increase in number, fill the earth, and be its master. Rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that crawl on the earth."  And Genesis 2:15 says,
“Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to farm the land and to take care of it.” After sin entered the world the nature of work changed. It became harder. Genesis 3:17-19
Then he said to the man, "You listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree, although I commanded you, 'You must never eat its fruit.' The ground is cursed because of you. Through hard work you will eat food that comes from it every day of your life.  The ground will grow thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat wild plants. By the sweat of your brow, you will produce food to eat until you return to the ground, because you were taken from it. You are dust, and you will return to dust."


When God choose an earthly father for his son, he selected a working man, a carpenter. Jesus was a carpenter too. He learned how to work with wood and stone. He had calluses on his hands and so did his first four disciples. Though we don't know the occupations of all of the disciples, most likely they were also from the working class.

Our labor is a form of worship to the Lord, if we have the right attitude about it.  That's what Colossians 3:23-25 says, “Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly as though you were working for your real master and not merely for humans.  You know that your real master will give you an inheritance as your reward. It is Christ, your real master, whom you are serving.” Another translation says to “work heartily” (ESV). Yet another says to “work willingly” (NLT). The Amplified Bible adds “from the soul.” Ephesians 6:7-8 shares a similar concept: “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.” In essence, this is the Christian work ethic. We are commanded to put forth our best efforts, to work from our heart and soul at whatever we do. We are accountable to God and stewards of the gifts He has given us. Our work flows out of our gratefulness to Him.

When I read Leviticus 23:22 once more, I saw something that I'd missed before. “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God”  Did you see it? God does not tell the people to harvest everything and then simply give food to the poor. Instead, He tells them to leave enough of the grain to allow the poor to work for themselves. Work has a way of giving us a sense of purpose, productivity, and dignity.

The Proverbs and Ecclesiastes contain some wise sayings regarding work. Proverbs 14:23 says, “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Proverbs 6:6-11 says, “Go to see the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.” Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” A strong work ethic is confirmed, with warnings concerning slackness.

The New Testament contains another important principle regarding work: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10); that is, the refusal of an able-bodied man to work should have the consequence that he lacks food. Paul also says that an “idle” man who refuses to work should not be part of the church (verse 6). Paul and his companions set a good example of hard work: “We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you” (verses 7-8).

Christians should work hard. Work is integral to life, and approaching work as God-given will give us more pleasure in it. We can work cheerfully and without complaint because we are working for the Lord who loves us and has redeemed us. A good work ethic can also be a witness to others. “Matthew 5:16
In the same way let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16). The world takes notice of our efforts and wonders why we do what we do.

It is important to note that the Bible does not condone workaholism. We do not work merely to amass worldly wealth (in fact, Matthew 6:19-34 warns about this). Matthew 6:19-20
"Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal.  Instead, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust don't destroy and thieves don't break in and steal.”

We work to bring glory to God. We also do not work ourselves into the ground or to the extent that our health is damaged or our families suffer.

God is more interested in relationship with us than He is in what we do. God instituted the Sabbath at the beginning of creation. He did the work of creation for six days and then ceased. God is omnipotent; He did not need rest; He was setting an example for us. In the Ten Commandments, God confirmed both the importance of work and rest. “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work” (Exodus 20:9-10a).

    Though, by the times Jesus began his earthly ministry, the Sabbath traditions had made it into something that bound men rather than give them rest. Jesus rebuked those restrictions and said, “the Sabbath was made for man” (Mark 2:27). It is a gift that we are wise to accept. So, while Christians are called to have a strong work ethic and to work hard at all that they do, they are also called to take times of rest.
                 
  Here’s the Good News this Labor Day weekend Sunday morning, you don’t have to be scared where St. Luke says that Jesus said, “… none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.”    There’s more to what the Carpenter’s Son was getting at in the context of that reading. (Luke 14:25-33) So don’t sell your car or your big screen TV, or take your baby’s favorite toy away from him.  You do not have to take that line literally.
      … Now for the bad news.  A better, more accurate English paraphrase makes Jesus’ true point more clearly, “You can only be my disciple if you are willing lay everything on the line for God’s sake- for the sake of love, social justice, and for the common good of God’s people and world.”   You need to be willing to lay it all on the line.
That’s what Jesus was getting at.  And, like any carpenter’s son- which meant in Jesus’ time that he was a carpenter too- Jesus knew that in order finish what you want to build you need to plan your work, work your plan, get your materials together and be sure to count the cost AND, once you commit to it, you need to be willing to lay everything on the line to get it done.  That’s what commitment is. That’s the cost of discipleship, the willingness –the spirit and the drive to keep the faith once you commit to building your life within the Kingdom of God. And we do need to take that seriously.
  Now Jesus also talked like a carpenter in today’s teaching.  He didn’t waste words. He got to the bottom line quickly, and he offered down to earth examples emphasizing the wisdom and necessity of being as sure as you can be about helping build the Kingdom of God from this day forward and, most importantly, that you commit to it.
 You heard His curt directive, “You can’t just SAY you want to follow me, you have to be willing to roll up your sleeves and pick up the cross itself and follow me.”  Again, you have to be willing to lay it on the line for love-for God, and we need to commit to seeing it through until all God’s children are safe and secure and free – until we are whole.  That’s the spirituality behind our identity as people of Christ. It’s a spirituality wherein whatever we do is influenced – is informed by- is strengthened by the commitment to doing our best job, seeing things through, and respecting the efforts of others who are working God’s plan as well.
  God has spoken through the prophets and specifically through the life of Jesus Christ to say that the plan is the same for all God’s children: That we learn to live together and thrive together in peace – in balance with nature-in union with God and in peaceful co-existence with all.  That’s THE PLAN, that’s the noble goal God made us to help accomplish.
   And little by little humankind has made strides toward the goal over the centuries in many respects.  I believe our growing awareness of ways to protect nature and care for our local ecological systems is a true gift IF we will take up that cross, IF WE WILL COMMIT OURSELVES TO IT.

YOUR GOSPEL

MUSINGS - September 12 2018.

YOUR GOSPEL

Mark 1:1-11
"This is the beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The prophet Isaiah wrote, "I am sending my messenger ahead of you to prepare the way for you." "A voice cries out in the desert: 'Prepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight!'" John the Baptizer was in the desert telling people about a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. All Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went to him. As they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. John was dressed in clothes made from camel's hair. He wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. He announced, "The one who comes after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to bend down and untie his sandal straps. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River. As Jesus came out of the water, he saw heaven split open and the Spirit coming down to him as a dove. A voice from heaven said, "You are my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with you."

Mark wrote that "this is the beginning of the Good News about Jesus." But then he quoted what Isaiah head written about 700 years earlier.
Matthew began his gospel with the ancestry of Jesus starting with Abraham.

Luke started his gospel with John the Baptist story.

John began his gosble "In the beginning." Not a beginning but the beginning of everything. And Jesus was there.

Each of these men had their own encounter with Jesus and so their version of the Good News was different. Each is equally important, as is your version of the Gospel. What is the Good News that you have to share