scripture spot

Jesus Is Coming: Tell the Truth

2010-12-09T06:43:00.000-08:00

We have been talking about how to celebrate a non-traditional, counter-cultural Advent through our study of The Advent Conspiracy and through a sermon series about what it really means that "Jesus Is Coming."
Last week we read Matthew 3:1-12, about John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness to "prepare the way of the Lord." We talked about how Jesus turns the world-as-we-know-it upside-down. And we talked about the epidemic of bullying today and in Jesus' day, and how Jesus came to stop the bullying.
This week our scripture is Matthew 11:2-11. It is again about Jesus and John the Baptist. John sends messengers to ask Jesus if he is indeed the Messiah. Jesus replies with the truth: "The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor." [TNIV] In other words, Jesus came for the last, the lost and the least. Jesus came to speak the truth to power, always a dangerous undertaking. John the Baptist spoke the truth to power and ended up with his head on a platter. Jesus spoke the truth to power and ended up on the cross - but then showed us that the cross was not the end.
Today's reading from the devotional book Jesus Calling by Sarah Young says this about taking risks with Jesus:
"Be willing to go out on a limb with Me...Your desire to live a risk-free life is a form of unbelief...In order to follow Me wholeheartedly, you must relinquish your tendency to play it safe...As long as you stay close to Me, My sovereign Presence protects you wherever you go."
Jesus Is Coming. Tell The Truth. No Matter The Cost. Do Not Be Afraid.

Losing Focus

2010-11-29T09:16:00.000-08:00

Several of you have asked for the text of the YouTube video we watched in worship last Sunday. It was uploaded to YouTube by Lastrumpet 08. Here it is:
"My child you lost focus because you concentrate on your current situation, your circumstances that you are in. The things of this world are distracting you all the time.
Some are worried about the wrong things in life. I promised, seek first My kingdom and My righteousness then I will add all the other things unto you.
Do not lose focus but yield to My Spirit who will guide you every step of the way. If you focus on Me all the time you will walk in faith, not by sight because you will know I will not fail you. I will work all things out for good at My time. Trust Me.
My child, if you focus on the storms you will sink. Get your eyes off the storms and focus on Me. I will calm every storm. I am greater than the storms.
My child, do you understand your problem? You keep losing focus all the time.
You must practice, remind yourself all the time to stay focused on Me, not on the things of this world. It will sidetrack you.
Think about the things above, My everlasting Kingdom, not the things on this earth, it will vanish but the things above are of eternal value.
Focus on Jesus."

Stay Focused

2010-11-23T13:00:00.000-08:00

The Gospel reading for the 1st Sunday of Advent is Matthew 24:36-44. In it, Jesus says, "If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
So...how do you stay focused on Jesus in the midst of all the Thanksgiving and Christmas hullabaloo? I just learned that a member of my congregation arrived at church last Sunday morning, looked at the bulletin and saw that we were not singing any of the traditional Thanksgiving hymns, and walked out. I'm such a silly pastor...I thought it was more important to stay focused on the church holy day of Christ the King Sunday than on the secular holiday of Thanksgiving - the day before Black Friday, the kick-off of the Christmas shopping madness. And if this individual had only stayed long enough to hear the announcements, s/he'd have learned of the ecumenical Thanksgiving service to be held on the Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving. That service includes the hymn "Come Ye Thankful People Come."
This is the problem in the USA today. People -even people who call themselves Christians - don't want Jesus. People want "the holiday season" with all the Hallmark trimmings. No matter that you post "Jesus is the reason for the season" on Facebook - if you spend all your time, energy and money on the trappings of the secular season, you're not getting it. Santa Claus has triumphed over the incarnation, and the Easter Bunny has triumphed over the resurrection.
What do you think would happen if all of us who call ourselves Christians forgot about our decorations and shopping and fancy meals and just focused on the birth of Jesus and how he taught us to live? Would this world look a whole lot more like the Kingdom of God?

"Sainthood for Dummies"

2010-11-03T10:18:00.000-07:00

This week's scripture, Luke 6:20-31, is Luke's version of Matthew's "Sermon on the Mount." It is often called "The Sermon on the Plain" because it takes place after Jesus and the disciples have come down from the mountain on which Jesus has chosen the 12 apostles. The first part of the text, verses 20-26, the "blessings and woes" are addressed specifically to Jesus' disciples. The second part, verses 27-31, are addressed to all who are listening.
If you're familiar with the "...for Dummies" series of books, this reading could be called "Sainthood for Dummies." In the Protestant tradition we believe that all Christians are part of "the communion of saints" referred to in The Apostles' Creed. "Sainthood" is not for set-apart holy people, but for all believers. And The Sermon on the Plain is Jesus' summary of how "the saints" are called to live.
Questions for reflection: What do the "blessings and woes" mean to you? Is this the same or different from what they might have meant to Jesus' original listeners? Do you find them comforting or threatening? How about the instruction to "do good to those who hate you"? How hard - and how counter-cultural -- is that! Do we, individually and as a society and a nation, "do to others as you would have them to to you"? Or are we more likely to "do to others as they have done to us," or even "do to others before they have a chance to do to us"? How might the world be transformed if every Christian made the effort to live out The Golden Rule every day?

A Fresh Start

2010-10-27T12:01:00.000-07:00

Today's scripture is from Luke 19:1-10. As Jesus continues on the road to Jerusalem, teaching and healing as he goes, he comes to Jericho. There a crowd gathers to see him. In that crowd is a man named Zacchaeus. The scripture says that Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector, and very wealthy. Zacchaeus was also short so, in order to see Jesus, he had to climb a tree. Jesus sees Zacchaeus sitting in the midst of the foliage and calls him out. Jesus tells him that he's coming over to Zacchaeus' house to spend the night. The crowd gets very upset because Zacchaeus made his living by cheating them, by collecting more taxes than the people really owed. They are angry that Jesus is spending his time with the likes of him. But Zacchaeus has a conversion experience due to his encounter with Jesus. He publicly promises to give half of what he owns to the poor, and to pay back 4 times as much to the people he's cheated.
So...who is Zacchaeus today? The bailed-out bankers? The Wall Street weasels? The ponzi-scheme practitioners? Do we think they deserve a fresh start? The crowds around Jesus didn't think Zacchaeus merited Jesus' attention, yet it was Jesus' attention that turned Zacchaeus' life around...and had great positive impact on the lives of those in his community.
The last verse of this scripture says, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Are there ways in which you are lost in your life? You may not be unscrupulously wealthy like Zacchaeus, but there are many other ways of being lost. The story of Zacchaeus tells us that, no matter how lost you are, or how you are lost, Jesus is looking for you. Jesus can find you even if you're hiding up in a tree, or down in your basement, or deep in a bottle. And Jesus offers what we all need most: a fresh start. A chance to wipe the slate clean, to make amends and to have all be forgiven, to go forward into a new life with Jesus as our guide. Will you take Jesus up on his offer? Will you welcome him into your home? Will you stop lying and cheating your way through life and get honest with yourself, with others, and with Jesus about what your true priorities are? Will you, like Zacchaeus, be willing to change your priorities? If the answer is "yes", then you have already received your fresh start. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory in Jesus Christ.

God's Pledge

2010-10-13T12:42:00.000-07:00

This Sunday's scripture lesson will be from the prophet Jeremiah, chapter 31, verses 27-34. Jeremiah criticizes the Southern Kingdom of Judah and the city of Jerusalem for being unfaithful to God. He predicts that God will judge the people with a painful future. But once the people are suffering, Jeremiah speaks words of comfort, healing and restoration from God to the people of Judah. These verses from chapter 31, especially verses 31-34, are God's pledge to God's people. God pledges to make a new covenant with the people, a covenant in which God's law will be written in their hearts.
Questions for reflection: Have you ever experienced a time of "exile", a time in which you felt, and lived your life, far away from God, a time when you were unfaithful to God? What was that time like? What does it mean to have God's law written on your heart? How is this different from learning God's law by reading the Bible, going to church, discussing your faith with your Christian friends? Why does God pledge to write the law on our hearts? Is it possible to be unfaithful to what is in the very core of our hearts? What does it mean to you to return from exile, to "come home to the Lord"?

Through the Eyes of A Child

2010-10-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

This Sunday will be our annual Children's Sunday. Karen Golden, our Director of Educational Ministries for Children and Youth, will be preaching. Her scripture text is: Mark 10:13-16: The Little Children and Jesus. Our children and youth will help to lead worship.
Questions for reflection: Do you remember what it was like to see life through the eyes of a child? How was it different from the way in which you see life now? What does it mean to have the faith of a child? What is the difference between a "childish" faith and a "childlike" faith? To which does Jesus call us in this scripture? Reflect and pray on this statement from Karen's message: "Whether we are children or were once children, we are all children of God."

It's Okay to Cry

2010-09-29T07:34:00.000-07:00

This week's scripture is from Lamentations 1:1-6. The Book of Lamentations, which comes between Jeremiah and Ezekiel, is a mini book of psalms of lament about the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. It is a community crying out to God in despair over the terrible things that have happened to them.
We also live in a community in which painful things have happened to many of us. In addition to all the "normal" troubles of life, such as illness and family problems, we are in the midst of a serious economic crisis. Many people have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, and new ones are hard, if not impossible, to find. Many people are losing their homes due to unethical mortgage lending practices. Many people are losing their retirement savings, or are already retired and finding it very hard to make ends meet. Yet we live in a culture that tells us it's not okay to cry.
The Bible teaches something very different. The Book of Lamentations and many of the psalms are examples of people pouring their hearts out to God in tears. We live in a culture that is so afraid of any sign of weakness that this kind of lament is foreign to us. Yet it is most necessary. God will strengthen us in our weakness, but first we have to admit to that weakness. We have to admit that we can't do it all by ourselves and that often our attempts to do so only make matters worse. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 God says to the Apostle Paul: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
Reflect on this: when was the last time you cried to God? What happened when you did? If it was so long ago that you can't remember, what stops you? What do you think of this statement that's making the rounds on Facebook: "Depression is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign that you have been strong for too long"? Depression is often described as "anger turned inwards." What happens to you when you don't cry: do you get irritable, angry, even rageful? Or do you get depressed?

Hitting Bottom

2010-09-22T08:17:00.000-07:00

This week's Gospel lesson comes from Luke 16:19-31. It is one of Jesus' hardest teachings about the purpose of wealth in this world. When read with Matthew 25:31-46, we receive a full picture of what it means to live as Jesus' disciples. We cannot merely say, "Lord, Lord," we must live our lives as the Lord Jesus wants us to live.
Questions for reflection and comment: Who are the beggars at your gates? How have you responded? Have you ever been a beggar at a rich person's gate? How did that person respond? What does Jesus mean in verse 31: "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead"? What will it take to convince you that Jesus means what he says about the moral obligation of those who have much to help those who have little? Does Jesus tell us anything about Lazarus' moral character in this parable? Does Jesus make a distinction between "the deserving poor" and "the undeserving poor"? Does he tell us how Lazarus became a beggar -- through poor choices or through no fault of his own -- or does that simply not matter to Jesus?
What do you know about Abraham, Moses and the prophets in the Old Testament?
For further study: Abraham's story is told in the Book of Genesis. Moses' story is told in the Book of Exodus. For prophetic references read Amos: 5: 21-24, 8:4-12; and Micah 6:6-8. How are these scriptures reflected in Jesus' parable of the rich man and Lazarus?

The Slippery Slope

2010-09-16T06:05:00.000-07:00

This week's scripture lesson is from Luke's Gospel, chapter 16:1-15. In it, Jesus tells the parable of the "dishonest manager", or the "shrewd manager." This is one of the most confounding of Jesus' parables. It appears, on a quick reading, that he is praising the manager for his dishonest ways. Upon deeper reflection, this is not the case at all.
Questions for prayer and reflection on this parable are: What is Jesus' attitude towards wealth in general, as reflected in all the Gospels? How does Jesus portray the overall character of the manager? What "slippery slope" is he on? Is this parable of particular value to us as we face the current economic crisis? If so, how? What is "the word of the Lord" to us in this parable? What does it mean, in practical terms of daily life, that we cannot serve both God and money?

Joy in Heaven

2010-09-08T07:47:00.000-07:00

For Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010 please read Luke 15:1-10
This scripture contains 2 of Jesus' best-known parables: the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the lost coin. The context is: Jesus has collected a crowd of "sinners" who are anxious to hear his teachings. The religious leaders do not like this. They criticize Jesus for welcoming and eating with "sinners." So Jesus tells 2 parables to demonstrate how there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over all the righteous people who do not need to repent.
Questions for reflection and comment: Who are the "sinners"? Are the religious leaders as righteous as they think they are? Who are the people that Jesus is really calling to repentance here? What's the difference between the way in which sheep get lost and the way in which a coin gets lost? In other scriptures Jesus refers to himself as the Good Shepherd who seeks out the lost sheep. What is the significance of Jesus using a woman as the example of the one who seeks out the lost coin? According to this scripture, with whom should present-day Christians spend most of our time: with other Christians, or with those whom church and society label "sinners"?

The blog is back!

2010-09-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

My apologies for neglecting this space over the summer.
The purpose of this blog is for readers to have the opportunity to read, think about, pray about, and comment on, the scripture that will be used during worship on the following Sunday.
For Sunday, September 5, 2010: Read Luke 14:25-33.
Questions for reflection: What does it mean to "count the cost" of something before we do it? How do we "count the cost" of things we say/do in our secular lives? Are there often unintended consequences to even our best thoughts and actions? What does Jesus mean when he asks us to "count the cost" of being his followers? What, if anything, has it cost you to follow Jesus? What is the difference between "cheap grace" and "costly grace"? Has believing in "cheap grace" weakened our commitment to Jesus Christ here in the USA? If so, how?

Healing; Casting Out Demons

2010-04-29T13:39:00.000-07:00

Read Matthew 8:28-34 and Luke 13:10-17: What does it mean to you that Jesus was able to cast out demons and evil spirits? Do you imagine demons to be miniature devils with horns and a tail, wearing red pajamas? Or are they something more insidious, more sly, more dangerous than that cartoon characterization? Are there any "demons" in your life: demons like addictions, irrational fears, bitterness and hatred, anything that keeps you from trusting God? Meditate on these scriptures and on the power that Jesus has over the demons in them. Then ask Jesus to cast out the demons in your life, whatever they may be.

"Unbelievable!"

2010-03-31T12:05:00.000-07:00

Read Luke 24:1-12, Luke's account of the Resurrection. Read it as if you were reading it for the very first time. Does it sound "unbelievable"? How would you feel if you were one of the women at the tomb? One of the men back at the house? How would you feel if you were Peter? What does the Resurrection of Jesus mean for your faith, for your life? Have you ever experienced "resurrection" - times when one or more doors closed for you, times when you felt lost and deadened, only to find a new door or window flying open? Between now and Easter Sunday allow yourself to experience the "good-by" of the Last Supper and the despair of the crucifixion. And on Easter morning, wake up with the joyful assurance that He Is Risen! Christ Is Risen Indeed! A happy and blessed Easter to all.

For God So Loved The World

2010-03-17T07:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was "John 3:16" day on Facebook. Read John 3:16. Read it in several different translations. Meditate on it and let its meaning sink deeply into your heart.

Whose Job Is It?

2010-03-10T07:58:00.000-08:00

Read Matthew 28:16-20: This scripture is called "The Great Commission." Right before the resurrected Christ is taken up to heaven, he gives these instructions to his followers: go to all nations and make disciples in his name. Sometimes in the church we forget that this is our true mission statement, directly from the mouth of Jesus. Sometimes we forget that the mission statement of The United Methodist Church is: to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Sometimes we live like this story:
"This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody could it but Nobody realized the Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done."
Does this sound familiar? What will you do next time there's an important job to be done in the name of Jesus Christ, for the mission and ministry of his church?

Psalm 63:1

2010-03-04T09:17:00.000-08:00

Read Psalm 63:1. How often do we seek a realtionship with God with the same intensity that we would search for water in the desert? Trying to live without a relationship with God is like living "in a dry and parched land where there is no water." As we prepare to water and fertilize our gardens with the coming of Spring, let's also remember to water and fertilize the gardens of our souls.

Building the Church

2010-01-14T10:10:00.000-08:00

Read Acts 1:1-14 The Book of Acts is about building the Church. It shows how the first generation of disciples carried the Good News of Jesus Christ "to the ends of the earth." But before they did anything or went anywhere, verse 14 tells us that they gathered together in prayer as they awaited the arrival of the promised Holy Spirit.
What does this teach us about building the church today? Too often our established congregations forget about "building the church" and instead spend their energy "keeping up the building." What is the real purpose of a church building? Is it a place in which to build mission and ministry, a place in which to gather together in prayer so that we may be empowered by the Holy Spirit to be Christ's witnesses "to the ends of the earth", a place from which we practice extravagant generosity in the name of Christ? Or is the building to be kept as a pristine sanctuary, an empty museum of a long-ago era, even a mausoleum for the relics, the dry bones, of a once-living faith?
This is the real question, the real litmus test, of the faithfulness of any congregation to the call of the Gospel. And as we journey through the Book of Acts we will see that all the obstacles we face to building the Church today -- and more -- were faced and overcome by the faithfulness of those first generations of witnesses for Christ. May the Holy Spirit empower us to go and do likewise.

Watch, Wait and Receive

2009-12-17T09:37:00.000-08:00

Read Malachi 3:1-4 and see how God watches closely over us like a refiner who sits to watch the refining of silver. The way the refiner knows when the refining process is finished is when he can his image reflected in the silver. Let us live our lives so that God's image can be reflected in us, as we watch for the coming of the Christ Child, the very image of God on earth.
Read Zephaniah 3:14-20 and note how the prophet says "on that day" and "at that time," without telling us when that day and time will be. We are to wait patiently for God's time, which is often different from our time.
Read Micah 5:2-5a: It is from Bethlehem, one of the smallest clans of Judah, that the Messiah will come. May we make ourselves small and humble enough to receive God's great gift of the Holy Infant who is soon to come.

Praise!

2009-11-25T07:30:00.000-08:00

Read Jeremiah 33:14-16. As often happens, the Sunday after Thanksgiving is also the First Sundayof Advent. Advent is the season in which we joyfully anticipate the coming of the baby Jesus. As we sit around the Thanksgiving table and think of everything we have to be thankful for, let's remember to be thankful that God's promise to us through the prophets of the Old Testament has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Our church theme for the First Sunday of Advent is "Praise!" Let's remember to praise God as we look forward to Christmas. Let's take some time out from our "Black Friday" madness to remember the true reason for the season: God's great gift to us in Jesus Christ, our "star child" and "earth child."
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! And have a blessed Advent!

Son Rise

2009-11-20T10:29:00.000-08:00

Read 2 Samuel 23:1-7 and Matthew 1:17: King David in the Old Testament is one of the most important figures in Jesus' lineage. In the scripture from 2 Samuel, King David writes about the legacy he hopes to leave as one who has ruled over people in righteousness and in the fear of God. King David was one of the greatest kings Israel ever had, but his greatest legacy is as the forefather of the One who is King of the World.
What legacy do you hope to leave? What are you doing now to make it happen?

Watch Out!

2009-11-05T10:31:00.000-08:00

Read Mark 12:38-44: Who do you relate to most in this story? Do you give to the church, to charity, to people in crisis and need, only out of your leftovers? Do you believe only the super-rich should be responsible for giving: the movie stars, rock stars, star atheletes, and multi-gazillionaires? Or can you relate to the poor widow: willing to give all she had for a greater good? Use this week as a time to examing your spending and giving patterns. What can you do to bring them into balance?

Where Is God When Stuff Happens?

2009-10-15T09:22:00.000-07:00

Read Job 23:1-9, 16-17 and Job 38:1-7, 34-41. Have you ever wondered where God is when bad things are happening in your life? Have you, like Job, wanted to call God to account? God's answer to Job's call is: "I'm God and you're not!" Is this a satisfactory answer for you? Why or why not?

Why Does Stuff Happen?

2009-10-08T08:24:00.000-07:00

Read chapters 1 & 2 of the Book of Job. Read Deuteronomy, chapter 28. What do you think about "retributive justice" as outlined in Deuteronomy? What do you think about Job's suffering, knowing that he is innocent of any wrongdoing? Do you believe that God uses undeserved suffering as a way to test our faith? When "stuff happens" in your life, do you respond like Job does in chapter 2, with: "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Or do you respond like Mrs. Job, who advises Job to: "Curse God and die!"?

Where is Your Heart?

2009-09-30T12:19:00.000-07:00

Read Luke 12:32-34: In verse 34 Jesus says: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." In the coming week let us ask ourselves: Where is my heart? What do I treasure most in life? Where does my relationship with God come on my list of priorities? How will I respond to Jesus' call in these verses? Is Jesus calling me to change something in my life, right here, right now?

Pray Always

2009-09-24T09:45:00.000-07:00

Read James 5:13-20: I see this scripture as a challenge to make God an integral part of our daily lives. James calls us to take everything to God in prayer. A joy? Give thanks. A sorrow? Ask for comfort. A problem? Ask for guidance. God is not only the Creator of the Universe who sent Jesus Christ to save us, God is our intimate conversation partner through all the events of day to day living. Try it out for a week and see what a difference regular prayer can make.

Christian Living: Needs vs. Wants

2009-09-17T06:38:00.000-07:00

Read James 3:13-4:10: What causes fights and quarrels among us? James is absolutely right: it usually comes from what the Bible calls "coveting": wanting what someone else has to the extent of wishing [and sometimes doing] them ill. James says that if we set our priorities right, if we first want a relationship with God in Jesus Christ, if faith is the first priority for all of us, there will be far less quarreling and fighting, envy and hatred, disorder and evil in our lives and in the life of the world. Do you believe this? Try an experiment this week: Figure out what your priorities are. The way to do this is to pay attention to what you spend most of your time, talent and treasure on. Once you've discovered your priorities, ask yourself: are these the priorities I really want? Or have I just accidentally stumbled into them? The good news is: there's always time to change our priorities.

Talk is Cheap

2009-09-09T08:28:00.000-07:00

Read James 3:1-12. This is only one of many verses in which the Bible warns us of the dangers of gossip and other forms of "cheap talk." Why are we so ready to speak ill of others that the Bible has to remind us over and over not to do it? How can we remember to tame our tongues? Here is one idea: We can THINK:
"T - is it true?
H - is it helpful?
I - is it inspiring?
N - is it necessary?
K - is it kind?
If what I am about to say does not pass those tests, I will keep my mouth shut!"
-- Alan Redpath

Christian Living: Playing Favorites?

2009-08-31T09:21:00.000-07:00

Read James 2:1-17. Then consider: God's grace is for everyone. In Jesus' first sermon he read from the prophet Isaiah: " 'The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor'...Then he rolled up the scroll...He began by saying to them, 'Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.'" [Luke 4:18-21, TNIV]
Jesus continues to call us, right here, right now, to proclaim good news to the poor: in how we think, in how we act, and in how we vote. What would Jesus say about a health care system, in the richest country in the world, that rations care based on income, and bankrupts many who are ill or in need of long-term care?

The Golden Rule

2009-08-24T15:18:00.001-07:00

Did you know that what Christians know as the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is a universal value in all world religions? Check out www.teachingvalues.com and look for "The Universality of the Golden Rule".

Being a Christian in 2009

2009-08-14T09:34:00.000-07:00

This summer we have been exploring what it means to be a Christian in 2009. Our study is based on Galatians 5:22-23, commonly known as "the fruits of the Spirit". The apostle Paul writes: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." [TNIV]
So often we think of these qualities in terms of what our culture teaches us: Love is about romance and sexual attraction; joy is what we feel when good things happen to us; practicing peace and patience is foolish because we have to get ahead; being kind, good and gentle means we're the nice guy/gal who will finish last; and faithfulness and self-control are pretenses we hide behind while we try to get away with whatever we can.
Jesus and Paul teach us very different things about these qualities. They teach us that this is how we will live when we accept the love of God in Jesus Christ into our lives. Christ's love will transform us so that we can love with commitment, be joyful even in the midst of trouble, and live with the assurance that peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of God.
What do these words, these qualities, "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" mean to you? What do they mean for your life?
More about kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control in future posts.

2009-07-23T07:25:00.000-07:00

Planning a Picnic: John 6:1-15:
This scripture is one of the few scriptures about Jesus' miracles that appear in all four Gospels. In it he feeds 5000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish. The references in the other Gospels are: Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:32-44; Luke 9:10-17.
In each of the Gospels, Jesus is teaching his disciples and a crowd follows them. Soon they realize that it's dinner time and the crowd has nothing to eat. In John's version a small boy has 5 barley loaves and 2 fish. In Matthew, Mark and Luke it is the disciples themselves who have this small amount of food. In each case, Jesus takes what is available, blesses it, and multiplies it so that everyone can eat their fill. Also in each case, the disciples collect 12 basketfuls of leftovers.
Although it appears that the crowds spontaneously followed Jesus out into the wilderness, it is clear that Jesus had a plan for this picnic. The plan was to show the people that he is the Bread of Life - what better way to show this than through a miracle of providing actual food? Jesus is the Bread of Life who takes whatever we offer him and multiplies it for the benefit of all who are in need.
In what ways has Jesus blessed and multiplied what you've offered him? Blessings can come through our finances, our health, our relationships or just being in the right place at the right time to witness a miracle. Jesus performed this miracle by multiplying bread and fish, but the greater miracle is the miracle of life all around us.

Sleeping Through the Storm

2009-06-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

Sleeping Through the Storm: Mark 4:35-41:
An anonymous quote goes like this: "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain." In this scripture Jesus appears to be sleeping through a storm that threatens to swamp the boat that he's in with the disciples. What do you think he's trying to teach by this behavior? What are the storms that rage in your life, making you feel like you're being swamped? Where do you think Jesus is during those storms? Asleep on a cushion in the boat? Or holding your hand to help you dance in the rain?

Spirit Talkers

2009-05-26T12:12:00.001-07:00

Acts 2:1-21: This scripture describes the first Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit/Wind/Breath of God blew through the gathered disciples. They began to speak in other languages, languages that made the Good News of Jesus Christ understandable to everyone who heard them, each in her/his own language. How does the Holy Spirit give us power to be Spirit Talkers today? What language is Holy Spirit language? Some would make it the language of exclusion, the language of lists that try to keep people on the outside of God's grace. But true Holy Spirit language is language that is understood by all, that includes all, that welcomes all. May the Holy Spirit/Wind/Breath of God blow through us all and make us Spirit Talkers.

Remembering

2009-05-21T08:14:00.000-07:00

Acts 1:1-14: This is the scripture for the Ascenscion of Christ, which this year falls on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. It leads us to ask: how do we remember those who have sacrificed for us?
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, allowed himself to be crucified for us. Then God raised him from the dead to prove that death does not have the last word. But the risen Christ told his disciples not to hold on to him, that he had to ascend back to God in heaven. This was not happy news for the disciples, who wanted Jesus to stay and make everything the way it was before. But Jesus promised them the Holy Spirit, who would come and fill them with the power to be his witnesses throughout the world. And the disciples waited in Jerusalem, and "they all joined together constantly in prayer."
And so today, we, too, are called to await the coming of the Holy Spirit into our lives. We, too, are called remember all who have sacrificed for us. We, too, are called to join together constantly in prayer for the power of the Holy Spirit to come upon us and make us Christ's witnesses "to the ends of the earth." May it be so.

Holy Week - the Journey

2009-04-06T10:57:00.000-07:00

Scriptures: Palm Sunday - Mark 11:1-11; Holy Thursday - John 13:31b-35; Good Friday - Psalm 22:1-18 & John 18:1-19:42; Easter - John 20:1-18
The journey through Holy Week began on Palm Sunday with Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. By Thursday evening, when Jesus and his disciples celebrated their last supper together, things had changed drastically. In those few days Jesus said and did things that challenged and offended the powerful elites of Jerusalem and of Rome, and they arranged for what they thought would be his destruction. By Friday the crowds who'd shouted "Hosanna" on Sunday were shouting "crucify him", and his disciples fled in terror and grief. But on the following Sunday, on Easter, God proved that the powerful elites of this world do not have the last word. On Easter Sunday God has the last word, raising Jesus from the dead, and raising us with him.
The journey through Holy Week begins with the triumph of human adulation and takes us through a meal of healing love, to betrayal, abandonment, suffering, grief and despair. and finally, to God's ultimate triumph in the resurrection. Wherever life has taken you, may you find hope and strength for the journey in reflecting on these events of Jesus' final journey. May God use Holy Week to lead you to greater wholeness.

Created for Good Works

2009-03-19T07:10:00.000-07:00

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10: So often when we read this scripture we read only through verse 9: that we have been saved by God's grace and not by any works of our own. How does the meaning of this scripture change for you when we add verse 10: that we have been created by God in Christ Jesus in order to do good works? What good works do you do as a result of your relationship with God in Jesus Christ?

Facedown before God

2009-03-09T19:15:00.000-07:00

Scripture: Genesis 17:1-3
What would make you, like Abraham, fall facedown before God? What would make worshiping God so exciting that you'd never want to miss church on Sunday? How do you know that you are "standing in God's presence, on holy ground?"

Growing Up

2009-02-18T10:43:00.000-08:00

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-14
In this scripture the prophet Elijah is taken up to heaven after "passing the mantle" to Elisha. Are there people who have "passed the mantle" of discipleship to you? What does it mean to you to be a disciple? What does it mean to "grow up" - to become a grown-up - in discipleship? What are some of the obstacles you've overcome? Are there are still obstacles in your path? Are you ready to ask for "a double portion" of the Holy Spirit?

It's a Secret

2009-02-10T14:07:00.000-08:00

This week's scripture: Mark 1:40-45
In this scripture Jesus heals a leper and then warns him not to tell anyone who it is that healed him.
Who do we think of as "lepers" today? Are there illnesses and/or life circumtances that make us think "unclean, unclean" - about others or about ourselves?
And why the secrecy? Is Jesus simply protecting his time and energy from the masses in need of healing? Or is there a deeper reason for keeping this secret?

Touched by Jesus

2009-02-03T06:34:00.000-08:00

Scripture for the week: Mark 1:29-39

In this scripture Jesus heals the sick and drives out demons with his touch. What does it mean to be "touched by Jesus" in our lives today? Do you believe Jesus still heals the sick today? If so, what about all the people who pray just as hard for healing for themselves or a loved one, and the sick person dies? What demons does Jesus drive out today and how?

"Follow me"

2009-01-25T14:21:00.000-08:00

Scripture for Jan. 25, 2009: Matthew 8:18-22:
For discussion:
What does it really mean to follow Jesus? In this scripture Jesus says his followers will have nowhere to lay their heads. And he tells a disciple who wants to wait to follow Jesus until after he's buried his father: "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
How does this compare with the "Christianity of convenience" that our culture promotes? How does this compare with the "prosperity gospel" promoted by so many popular preachers? What does this scripture say about what it really means to follow Jesus?

weekly reading

2009-01-07T20:10:00.000-08:00

Matthew 6:25-27:

Anxiety rules our lives in these times. Jobs are lost, homes are lost, security in the material world in which we set such great store is lost. Yet Jesus tells us clearly not to worry, that we are of ultimate value to God and God will take care of us.

What do you think? Do you truly feel that you are valuable to God? Do you trust God to meet your needs, especially in these anxious times?

"Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"