Uncomfortable Fireside

Sitting around the fire. Trying to keep warm in the evening chill. Hoping to blend in. Sounds good.

But then it happens. Somebody notices you. "Weren't you with 'him'?"

Embarrassed, "Of course not!" Phew, managed to escape that one.

Not gain! "Hey, you over there. You are one of 'them'!"

Chills run down you as you quickly reply, "No way! I'm not!" You sure hope you sound convincing enough that they will leave you alone.

You panic when a third one exclaims, "You ARE one of them! You were with 'him.' I'm sure of it!"

Frantically you curse and exclaim, "Absolutely not! I am not one of THEM! And I don't know this man you are talking about! I've never seen him before!"

And then you hear it. Just the way he said it would be. It can't be coincidence. Guilt, fear, shear inner pain! You stumble outside and weep! How could you? You swore you wouldn't. Yet you did. And the look on his face!

What would you do? What would I do? What do we do when we do the same thing, just in a different way in a different setting?

Thank God for Friday - and Sunday!!

Suffering

As Jesus entered his final week before his vicarious death and victorious resurrection, he must have had deep, mixed feelings. As he entered Jerusalem the crowds cheered, proclaiming him King! Their Messiah. The one who would rescue them. A few short days later they would clamour for his execution! The week would hold much suffering and sorrow.

As we enter this week, there are many who suffer deep sorrow around us. For some life is unbearable. Some face the immanent consequences of incurable diseases. Some despair of life and choose to end theirs violently and prematurely. Others suffer in silence.

My prayer is that we all would be able to experience the final section of the following reading from Psalm 31.

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;
my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
my soul and body with grief.
My life is consumed by anguish
and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction,
and my bones grow weak.

Because of all my enemies,
I am the utter contempt of my neighbors
and an object of dread to my closest friends –
those who see me on the street flee from me.
I am forgotten as though I were dead;
I have become like broken pottery.
For I hear many whispering,
“Terror on every side!”
They conspire against me
and plot to take my life

But I trust in you, Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
My times are in your hands;
deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
from those who pursue me.
Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love. (Psalm 31:9-16)

Ignoring the Miraculous

Luke 22:1 - 23:49 - What a powerful passage. Go ahead and read it. Listen to it. It needs no comment from me. So many thoughts run through my mind as I read this passage.

What was the High Priest thinking? He orders Jesus arrested. He is present and central in the arrest. In the thick of it he someone slices off his ear. "See, this fellow is dangerous!" But then what? The very fellow he is arresting reaches out and - what? Heals his ear!! You would think that would be enough to change the High Priest's mind and he would release Jesus. But no! Just like many of us, he was so intent on his mission and pursuing what he had always thought was right that he could not see God's miraculous intervention - even when it happened to him.

And then, Jesus was crucified - for my sin! Absolutely WOW! Today, will that life-altering miracle change my course today?

World Chaos - Expect it!

Luke 21 is a sobering chapter in the Bible. Jesus foretells of immense chaos and trauma that would come on the earth. He talks of international conflict - war after war would wrack the earth. But not only that, there would be multiple cataclysmic natural disasters. The whole universe would be shaken.

Wow! Sounds kind of familiar.

Besides that, Jesus warns of persecution that would come to his followers. What a way to advertise for people to choose to follow him. His followers would be captured, tortured and killed. They would even be handed over by those closest to them.

Was Jesus trying to frighten us?

No. Actually, Jesus calmly declares that this will provide opportunity for us to tell our story. Not to worry about preparing for what we will say - He will give us the words. But what an opportunity to speak for him.

And then Jesus said, "stand firm and you will win life." Life that really matters. Life that goes on - like, forever!

Lord, may I stand strong and face the day no matter what it will bring. Compared to what Jesus said, "we ain't seen nothin' yet."

Were You There?

He told this story...

A man planted a vineyard and rented it out to some farmers. The problem was that the farmers didn't pay their rent. So the land owner sent an agent to collect the rent for him. However, the renters beat up the agent and threw him out. The land owner did not give up and he sent a second agent and then a third. But each time the renters thrashed the agent and sent him away.

Finally the land owner sent his own son to collect the rent. Surely they renters would respond and pay the rent this time. However, when he arrived the renters not only beat him, but they killed him.

Now what would the land owner do? Read Luke 20 to find out.

Easter. Next week. God sent his Son, Jesus, to rescue the world - that is you and me - after we had turned against God over and over again. What did we as humans do? We killed him. We tried anyway.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

The Battle of Jericho

The Battle of Jericho! No, not that one, this is another one. But, walls did come down. No trumpets and no casualties.

Jesus was traveling through and people were getting excited that he was building momentum to establish the Kingdom and finally they would be freed from the oppression of the Romans - and the taxes!

But, what on earth is Jesus doing? What is that hated foreigner doing up in the tree right where Jesus is about to pass? And why is Jesus stopping to look up at him and talking to him? And now, Jesus is going to his house. I can't believe Jesus would do that. I hope my kids weren't watching. That is no example to my kids on how to get rid of our oppressors!

A life was changed that day. Jesus came to bring salvation.

I love how Tom Wright stated it:

“Then Jesus says it. We thought he was on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, but this was his real mission. ‘This is what I came for – to look for the lost and to rescue them.’ Well, he’s made a lot of people happy in Jericho.

But now, as we look back from a few weeks later, we realize that something else was going on as well. Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus – and he discovered the meaning of salvation. Jesus was on his way to hang on a very different tree. And that was how salvation happened."

What Kind of Prayer is That?

Remember the story Jesus told about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector? Both came to the temple to pray. Sounds like a good thing.

The Pharisee got up to pray and elequently prayed a prayer confirming before God how he had been obedient to all the commandments. He even kept laws that were not in the Bible. And he gave thanks in his prayer. He was so grateful that he had been able to keep himself from becoming a sinner - like some others present.

Then the Tax Collector and prayerd a prayer. "Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner."

The implication is that ther Phairisee thought, "what kind fo prayer is that? Why do they let people like that in here anyway? Why do they take up valuable time in the temple with their un-tooled prayers?"

What was the purpose of Jesus telling the story. Jesus stated the purpose in Luke 18:9. "To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:..."

I wonder how many of us consider our own level of conquering sin as our spiritual standing? Of couse, we try to live free from sin. But it is not our personal success which defines our standing before God. It's not even our ability to pray elequent prayers in public.

It is our willingness to humble ourselves and declare, "Have mercy on me, a sinner oh God."

That is my prayer this morning!

Entitlement or Gratitude

Jesus was an amazing teacher. In Luke 17 Jesus was traveling and teaching as he went.

He talked about being a servant. And if you as a servant do as you are told, you should not expect a thank you - because it was your duty to do what you are instructed.

Then amazing event occurred. Ten lepers showed up. They wanted to be healed and Jesus granted their wish. One of them came back to thank Jesus.

It made me think of life in our world today. Do I expect or need thanks for things that God expects of me? And, do I give thanks to God for the many amazing blessings he pours out on me? Or am I much like one of the nine lepers?

May my life to day be a life of gratitude and service to the One who makes life possible and wonderfully worth living!

New Beginnings

When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed.

Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."

The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.

He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. 

Psalm 126:1-6

Tom Wright comments: "Restoration. Forgiveness. New starts. These are the greatest moments in the world, even if you have to wait a lifetime for them to come."

Sunday, April 6, 2014 is a perfect time to make a new start. 

Extravagant Worship

Everything is progressing like normal. The dinner was pretty good. You might have preferred a few more spices - or less. Great wine though. There are usual curious bystanders who wanted to get a close look.

But then! Are you kidding? What is she doing? Kneeling in front of him and undoing her hair. Letting her hair down like that? In front of HIM? And, no kidding, she pulls out this bottle of perfume. Where did she get that expensive stuff? She isn't is she? No, she doesn't just dab some on his feet, she empties the whole thing! And then... she dries his feet with her hair!

How dare she do that? What a waste! And the audacity!

I wonder what the other disciples were thinking? Judas blurted out, "What? That stuff could have been sold and lots of the poor could have benefited from the proceeds!"

Maybe you would have spoken up? Maybe you would haver kept quiet. Chances are, we all would have cast judgement.

And so we do with worship today. We have our opinions and judgements of how others worship Jesus. Often to the point where we no longer worship because we are pointing fingers!

I wonder what it would be like if we all just got down to what God wants. To worship Him in spirit and in truth. Genuine. Allowing our spirit to connect with His Spirit.

Go ahead. Pour out your best stuff!

Search and Rescue

Luke 15 is all about parties! The shepherd finds the lost sheep and has party. The lost coin is found and there is a party. The "lost" son returns and there is a party! And in each case there is a reason to party.

What was that reason?

In each case there was the sheep, coins and a son who remained safely at home. And in each case the shepherd, owner, father went out to search or at least longed for the safe return of that which was lost.

Today I think of what consumes much of my time and energy. Is it to hold the fort till Jesus comes? Or is it to join with Jesus as he seeks and saves the lost?

Astonishing Advertising

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?

We live in a world of indulgence, plenty and ease of life. Most of us have much more than we need, yet not nearly all we want. We also live in a world where we need to spend money to keep our economy going. Therefore merchants spend incredible amounts of money on advertising - convincing us of our absolute need for their product if we are going to manage life in any kind of meaningful fashion.

We end up doing the same with Christianity. We try to convince people to come to faith in Christ by telling them of all the ways Christ will make their life better.

The fascinating thing is, Jesus did the exact opposite. He challenged people to follow him. In Luke 14 he talks about counting the cost before we build. And then goes on to say, "...In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples." (Luke 14:33)

This makes me ask the questions: Why am I a follower of Jesus? Is it because of what he will do for me? Is it because I know he is God and he alone is worthy of my adoration? Am I giving up everything to him to be his disciple?

One Door

We used to sing the song "One door and only one, and yet its sides are two. I'm on the inside, on which side are you?" While the song may come across as judging and divisive, it comes from today's Bible reading for Lent. Luke 13 - particularly verses 22-30.

In this passage Jesus was asked if only a few people would be "saved." As was typical, Jesus answered with a story. In the story Jesus talks about a narrow gate. Many would seek the gate but would not find it. Once the owner closed the door, no one else would get in. By implication, relatively few would be saved.

I struggle with what Jesus was suggesting.  But, just because I struggle with it doesn't mean it isn't true. God is much beyond me. We want to tell God what he can or cannot do. But that really isn't our prerogative. 

My part - is to do what I need to do in light of what God tells me is reality.

Gotta help people find the door while it is still open!

Ready

We used to sing the words "Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning...." I am still not quite sure we really knew what we were singing about. And then there was the verse, "Give me gas in my Ford...." Talk about theologically deep songs!

However, in the passage I read this morning Jesus told his disciples "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet..." This sounds strange to us because the culture into which Jesus spoke is foreign to us. Yes, we have wedding banquets - or at least receptions. But we go TO the wedding reception and the groom leaves the reception with his bride. And, we don't carry lamps and keep them burning.

None-the-less, we understand Jesus was not simply talking about weddings and banquets. He was talking about the need for his followers to be prepared at all times for something that may happen at any time - without notice. Just before he left this earth Jesus promised he would one day return and nobody knows when that will take place. It could be anytime.

The question is, are we ready? Would my life be what I would want it to be? Would I be in relationship with God the way I would want it to be should today be the day Jesus comes back? If not, what do I need to do to get ready. It is probably a good idea to get on with doing just that.

O Guilt That Will Not Let Me Go

Guilt is a difficult task-master. All of us have to deal with it somehow. And how we deal with it makes all the difference. Do I try to minimize it? Do I let it eat me up? Do I try to get rid of it by blaming others? Do I let it drive me to penitent behaviour where I try to "pay for" my misdeeds?

Psalm 32 suggests that there is really only one effective way to deal with guilt - for sin, that is. When we sin against God we try to deal with it in different ways. Some of us shrug it off and say that God doesn't exist so how can we be guilty before someone who does not exist? For others, we rationalize that the Bible is not authoritative, so we are not held accountable before God according to what the Bible says. Others of us try to be good enough to help compensate for our sin. Still others wallow in sorrow of self-deprecation.

What is the best way to deal with guilt? God's way. And that is what Easter is all about. And what Psalm 32 is all about.

Blessed is the one who sin is covered. The one whose sin The Lord does not count against him. And that comes through repentance and forgiveness. The Psalmist speaks of how he was literally in pain because of harbouring sin. It is when we acknowledge before God that we have in fact sinned, when we confess it to God, that He forgives us. And God is gracious and just and will forgive us our sin - when we confess (which is acknowledging) it to God.

So, want to deal with guilt? Admit your sin to God and seek His forgiveness. Then's it's gone. Forever!

Hakuna Matata

The Serenity Prayer has come to mind at different times recently. At strange times as well. "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference."

I suppose we might tend to be anxious about discerning what those things are that we can or cannot change. 

In Luke 12:22-32 we find the teaching of Jesus concerning worry. Of all the teachings of Scripture, one of the passages we frequently completely ignore is this passage. Some people wouldn't dream of committing adultery or of killing someone else. At least wouldn't admit to dreaming about it and certainly would never do it. But worry? No problem! Do that all the time.

And being obsessed with accumulating money and stuff? Much of our time and energy is spent on doing exactly that. Actually our economy depends on us indulging our desires and buying stuff.

Jesus did say... "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Luke 12:34) And, "seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well." (Luke 12:31).

Today, may I live what Jesus taught. And don't worry, I'll be okay.

Optheology

"No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put in on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body is also full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it is dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines it light on you." - Luke 11:33-36

A few things that stand out to me as i read this passage this morning.

Usually, when I hear of the account where Jesus talked of not hiding a light under a bowl, the talk is about being a witness to the world around us so people will see Jesus in us. However, here Jesus talks about our eyes being our light and the health of our eyes determining the health of our bodies. Of course, this is figuratively descriptive for us. But it did make me think... Is it possible that we tend to be more concerned about what people will see about us rather than being concerned that we ARE who we ought to be? If we are the people we ought to be, people will see what they should see.

It also made me think about how healthy we keep our eyes. In this case, the picture demonstrates that we need to pay attention to what we fill our minds/lives with that will affect our spiritual and "character" health. Tom Wright encourages us to take note of - even record three times a day - what we have allowed our eyes to see that day. Pay attention to what you gaze upon.

Your heart will look like what you look at.

Teach Us To Pray

I wonder what the disciples were thinking? What were their motives? What were they really asking?

In Luke 11:1 we find Jesus praying and he had just finished. What were the disciples doing? Was Jesus praying quietly? Were the disciples sitting around listening? Or had Jesus gone off by himself and then came back to the disciples when he was done? What were they doing while he was praying? We don't know. We may never know.

We do know that when Jesus was finished praying the disciples asked him to do something for them. They wanted him to teach them to pray. Interesting. Why? They must have heard (or seen) that John had taught his disciples to pray. So they also wanted to learn. It would be fascinating to get my hands on a copy of John's teaching. I wonder what John included in his teaching on prayer. Would it be anything like what Jesus taught?

Whatever the case, Jesus taught them how to pray. The strange things is that they didn't ask Jesus to teach them a prayer - but HOW to pray. Fascinating isn't it, that we have taken that teaching and turned it into a prayer for us to repeat?

Communication is always far more than simply the words we utter. Yet, so often we get caught up in the words. If I am to pray in a group am I not more concerned about how I am praying and what people think of my prayer than in communicating with God? Maybe that's just me. I have to discipline myself to forget about what people think about the "words" I am using and focus on communicating with God.

After all, that is what prayer really is all about.

Who Is Your Neighbour?

Most of us have heard of the Good Samaritan. Either the actual story or at least references to someone as a good Samaritan. What is that story about anyway?

In the reading this week from Luke 10:25-37 we hear Jesus tell a story. The story is in response to a question from a lawyer. And, chances are, when a lawyer asks a question he is trying to get you to say something that will incriminate you. But Jesus was too sharp to be trapped. He answered the question with a question of his own - referring the lawyer back to the Law.

The question? "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" My first response was "how do you 'inherit' eternal life anyway?" Jesus' response was "What does the Law say? How do you interpret the Law?"

The Lawyer, obviously familiar with the Law, gave an accurate answer. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and, Love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus commended him for his answer and told him to do what the Law said.

But the Lawyer wasn't finished. He didn't really want to do what was stated so he cross-examined Jesus. "Who is my neighbor?"

Jesus replied by saying that it was really anyone who was before him at any given moment. Even if it was someone from a group (race or otherwise) that he despised and culturally should have nothing to do with that person. Someone helpless, voiceless and generally despised. "Love that person."

Ouch! Who is that for me? Who is that for you? Will I do what God asks of me or will I get a lawyer?

What's Your Excuse?

Today's excerpt from Tom Wright's book "Lent For Everyone - Luke" for our Lent reading today re Luke 9:37-62.

So: what's your excuse?

One of my students once gave me, as a present, a book called something like The Penguin Book of Excuses. It was supposed to remind me of all the times when he turned up late, or not handed an essay in on time, and had come up with more and more wonderful 'reasons' for why things hadn't worked out.

Sooner or later, most of us who know in our heart of hearts we want to follow Jesus find ourselves coming up with excuses as to why his particularly sharp demands don't really apply to us.

God knows we're human and need a rhythm of rest and refreshment. But God also knows, and Jesus obviously knew, that once we start down that road it's easy to make exceptions to all the rules when it comes to our own case. So the demand goes out. Now in this way, now in that way, Jesus is saying, 'Look! This is God's kingdom we're talking about, not a comfortable way of being religious that will let you settle down and take life at your own pace!' Are you up for that?

Yes, I know: those were special circumstances. Jesus' public career was short, and he needed people to t get on with the job at once. And yes, many of us are called to get into a longer-term mode, not to burn out with frenetic activity in a short spirit. But, again, you can't use that as an excuse for avoiding the sharp edges of God's call. Jesus never said, 'Come with me and all your happiest dreams will be fulfilled.' He said, 'Take up your cross and follow me.' Don't expect an easy time: having nowhere to call 'home' may come with the job. Don't expect that you will be able to fulfill all your social obligations: 'burying your father', whether literally or metaphorically, was one of the highest obligations in Jewish society, and Jesus says that the demands of the kingdom come before it.

And finally, plough a straight furrow. Looking back to see whether it's been straight so far will guarantee that the next bit won't be.

Today - Talk to God about the excuses you make to him. Ask him ot help you to follow him wherever he leads, and to give you the strength not to look back.