Thursday, March 31, 2011
Proverbs 5
***Proverbs 5*** "There's a price for every promise you don't keep" - Clay Walker (see video) One of the most important things that Solomon has to say to his children is to keep the sanctity of marriage. An interesting statement from a man who supposedly had 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11)... but we won't go there. Solomon was the child of King David and Bathsheba, a woman that David stole from Uriah, a good man. David saw Bathsheba bathing on a rooftop and had to have her. He made her come to the palace while her husband was off at war. Then... well they committed adultery. David then sent Uriah to the front line of the battle so that he would be killed, then David married Bathsheba. I imagine that David lived with regret for the rest of his life over what he did. It must have tore him apart. How could it not? Anyone with a heart would feel terrible for doing such a thing. This story is unfathomable to me, just like having 7oo wives and 300 girlfriends. I have 1 wife. 1 wife that I made a promise to, that I would be faithful to until I die. I know people that have made the same promise I did to somone else, but broke their promise and gave in to lust. And everyone they know are victimized. The person that loves them the most is the one that's hurt the most. Then the kids and family. Then the friends... if you were friends with a couple, they both are mad at you now. Then there is verse 10 "lest strangers feast on your wealth"... there is a reason lawyers drive nice cars. All that's left is shattered relationships, empty bank accounts... and lonliness. That is the price of a broken promise. It's not worth it. The seductive voice of lust is a liar...
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Proverbs 3 & 4
***Proverbs 3*** "Do not be jealous of violent people" Our society loves violence. Violence within the law, but violence nonetheless. We watch football to see a middle linebacker level a wide receiver coming over the middle. We watch NASCAR to see crashes at 175 miles per hour. We watch men in a ring or an octagon beat each other up until one man either gives up or is unable to get up. We watch movies with $200 million dollar budgets with everything under the sun blowing up, and we think for a second that maybe James Bond does have a cooler life than I do. And we give these people, those who are most violent, honor and wealth. We buy their jerseys, we have pictures of them in our gamerooms. We are violent people. I know some of you might be thinking that men are violent and women are delicate roses... It just so happens that I grew up with 2 olders sisters that shared clothes, so don't try that nonesense here! It's nothing new. Human society has always honored the violent. Knights and warriors have been honored in every tribe on earth. The message of God is different though. Our God is not a God of violence but of suffering. Our God opposes the bully and stands for the oppressed. So much so that our God sent his Son, to be the victim of humanity's violent ways, so that we would know how much each of us are loved. I wonder why they don't make jerseys for Jesus? ***Proverbs 4*** Solomon is pretty clear what he wants for his children... above all else he wants them to be wise. He writes it over and over, and in doing so he constantly urges them learn more. To seek a higher level of understanding. It's interesting. One would expect a father to pass on words of wisdom, something that he has learned. I think many fathers today teach their children what they know, they pass on a skill or trade. Solomon is not interested in that, what he is trying to pass on is an unquenchable desire for more learning. He's not teaching them a thing, he's teaching them to learn as many things as possible. We would serve our children well if while teaching them math and grammar, we taught them why learning is so important, and even though school work eventually ends, learning never ends. I was talking with a teacher last week and she was sharing some frustrations she has. Because of the economy school districts are having to let teachers go, and classroom sizes are getting bigger and bigger. Teachers are overwhelmed and the children are suffering because of it. It's a hard time to be a student and it's a hard time to be a teacher. But we can afford to build $50 million high school football stadiums. Violence wins again! (I know, I know... it's a different budget)
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Proverbs 1 & 2
Happy Tuesday afternoon and welcome as we journey through Proverbs... the book of wisdom. Hopefully when we are done, we will all be a little smarter. ***Proverbs 1*** v.18 "These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves." I think it's safe to say that we have all encountered bad people. People who are motivated only by their own personal gain and will do anything, run anyone over to get what they want. Nowadays we aren't really scared of people hiding behind bushes, but people that wear ties and promise us the moon... Someone like Bernie Madoff. Often times it doesn't feel like these people are ambusing themselves, but they are ambushing us. They have enjoyed all the benefits that come from being super-wealthy, while so many are left to pick up the pieces after their nest-eggs were hit by a wrecking ball. So how is it that they ambush themselves? I believe that the most important thing on this world is relationships. If one has a relationship with God and with one's family and neighbors, then anything can happen, and it will be ok. The wicked do not have real relationships. The people that surround them only do so out of fear or they are in it for their own benefit. But what happens when it all comes crashing down? v. 26 "I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you." They ambush themselves and destroy all of their relationships, they end up alone. But are we so innocent? Have we never hurt someone else? Of course we have, we have each done and said wicked things. I am reminded of the famous scene of The Unforgiven with Clint Eastwood, when the kid says "Well I guess he had it coming" and Clint says, "We all have it coming kid." We do... death is coming for all of us, disaster will strike us all. But we won't end up alone... That's the good news. ***Proverbs 2*** We know the author of Proverbs is Solomon, but could it be that this book was written to his children? v1 "My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you..." I could probably look up the Hebrew and figure it out, but I don't really want to. Besides, this is more a devotional thing than a theological essay. I'm just going to think that it is written from a father to a child. With that lens, we read this as wisdom which is being passed down from generation to generation. What a great gift to leave to your children, a book that has all the wisdom that one has learned in a life. Something a child can hold on to and read often as they grow and mature. It makes sense. It's what pilots do. If a pilot is flying from LA to New York and experiences turbulence, he will share that information with the pilots coming behind him. Problems in life are a lot easier to deal with when we can see them coming. I remember so many lessons from my parents and grandparents growing up, things that have made me the person I am today. I remember my grandma used to say "never make fun of anyone, because God made them, so if you make fun of them you make fun of God." That has stuck with me for a long time. I wonder if we are getting away from teaching our children. They are so busy with everything they have going on that when they get home everyone is tired and ready to relax, do homework, and go to bed. The most important thing we can leave children is knowledge. Maybe we can write our own books... or maybe we can read them this book.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Micah 7
***Micah 7***
"You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea"
I remember watching a video in a high school science class about the bottom of the ocean. Not the sandy bottom that Michelle and I enjoyed on our honeymoon in Cancun... but the bottom of the middle of the ocean.
The average depth of the ocean is a little more than 2 1/2 miles. And somewhere around Guam it is around 5 miles deep. The ocean is deep. So deep that sunlight doesn't make it down there. The water is very cold, it is dark, and the pressure is so intense that it makes research very difficult.
That is where God casts our sins. Somewhere that we will never see again. It's a powerful image, the thought of Jesus standing on the beach with a bag of sins on his back. He takes the bag in his hands swings them back and then heaves them in to the middle of the ocean... where they disappear to a place where no light will ever again shine on them.
And the amazing thing is, that in the bag is every sin we have ever committed, not one is left out. And it's not just our sins, but everybody's sins... remember 1 John 2:2 "and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for our sins only but also for the sins of the whole world."
Maybe there is a reason that it is so hard to research the bottom the ocean, maybe we aren't supposed to see what is down there.
Writing this blog made me think of my favorite Jimmy Buffet song. In the song he says about the ocean "in your belly you hold the treasures few have ever seen." The problem is, there is more than just treasure down there. (some parts of the song aren't real churchy, but it's Friday)
See you on Tuesday when we start Proverbs! (you'll like Proverbs)
"You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea"
I remember watching a video in a high school science class about the bottom of the ocean. Not the sandy bottom that Michelle and I enjoyed on our honeymoon in Cancun... but the bottom of the middle of the ocean.
The average depth of the ocean is a little more than 2 1/2 miles. And somewhere around Guam it is around 5 miles deep. The ocean is deep. So deep that sunlight doesn't make it down there. The water is very cold, it is dark, and the pressure is so intense that it makes research very difficult.
That is where God casts our sins. Somewhere that we will never see again. It's a powerful image, the thought of Jesus standing on the beach with a bag of sins on his back. He takes the bag in his hands swings them back and then heaves them in to the middle of the ocean... where they disappear to a place where no light will ever again shine on them.
And the amazing thing is, that in the bag is every sin we have ever committed, not one is left out. And it's not just our sins, but everybody's sins... remember 1 John 2:2 "and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for our sins only but also for the sins of the whole world."
Maybe there is a reason that it is so hard to research the bottom the ocean, maybe we aren't supposed to see what is down there.
Writing this blog made me think of my favorite Jimmy Buffet song. In the song he says about the ocean "in your belly you hold the treasures few have ever seen." The problem is, there is more than just treasure down there. (some parts of the song aren't real churchy, but it's Friday)
See you on Tuesday when we start Proverbs! (you'll like Proverbs)
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Micah 5 & 6
***Micah 5***
"O Little Town of Bethlehem..."
We often read from this chapter at Christmas, because the birth of Jesus fulfills Micah's prophecy.
But I think we lose out on the significance of Jesus being born in Bethlehem. Bethlehem was a small clan, it wasn't a power player in the political realm of Israel. One would expect that the Savior would be born in Jerusalem, right down the street from the temple. And the Savior would be the child of religious leaders who were wealthy and powerful.
Nope, that's not the way it happened and that's not the way God works. God works in the most unlikely places and uses the most unlikely people... The son a virgin who was raised by a carpenter.
And yet creation was redeemed through him.
Maybe we need to start focusing on the unlikely places in our lives to see what God is doing.
Stop focusing on Jerusalem and start focusing on Bethlehem.
Stop focusing on the past and start focusing on the future.
Stop focusing on our church and start focusing on God's church.
Stop focusing on us and start focusing on others.
Stop focusing on celebrities and start focusing on those in need.
Stop focusing on fear and start focusing on love.
Stop focusing on our differences and start focusing on what we have in common.
Maybe you haven't seen Jesus working... maybe you're looking for him in the wrong place.
***Micah 6***
In Micah 6 we have what I believe is the Old Testament equivalent to Jesus' greatest commandment. "To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
The first two are pretty hard.
Acting justly means to treat other people right. To strive for justice in the world. But who defines what justice means? The definition of justice changes all the time. 25 years ago my cousin Billy was killed by a drunk driver... it was a tragedy that effected many people that I love. But the punishment for the driver would be a lot different if it had happened today. Our understanding of justice has changed.
How are we supposed to hit a moving target? We love.
I once heard a pastor say that mercy is a shield God uses to protect us from the punishment we deserve. I like that. God's mercy is a result of God's love, therefore I believe that to love mercy means to love God back. I met someone for lunch today that wanted to talk theology. It was a great meeting, he asked many great questions and had some insightful thoughts. He said that we can not accept God, we can only stop trying to deny Him. Once we give up the charade, then God's love flows in and there is nothing we can do to stop it. I really think this is a powerful statement. Once we stop running from God and accept the fact that God's love for us is not an option, then we understand mercy... how can we not love God back?
But the truth is that we screw up on both every day, which is why the third is so comforting. God understands that life is a journey, but we aren't expected to journey alone. God is there with us, every step of the way. And no matter how many times we screw up, God never leaves us to journey alone.
The humility comes in the realization that God is not with us because of who we are, but because of who God is. We haven't done anything to deserve His companionship.
"O Little Town of Bethlehem..."
We often read from this chapter at Christmas, because the birth of Jesus fulfills Micah's prophecy.
But I think we lose out on the significance of Jesus being born in Bethlehem. Bethlehem was a small clan, it wasn't a power player in the political realm of Israel. One would expect that the Savior would be born in Jerusalem, right down the street from the temple. And the Savior would be the child of religious leaders who were wealthy and powerful.
Nope, that's not the way it happened and that's not the way God works. God works in the most unlikely places and uses the most unlikely people... The son a virgin who was raised by a carpenter.
And yet creation was redeemed through him.
Maybe we need to start focusing on the unlikely places in our lives to see what God is doing.
Stop focusing on Jerusalem and start focusing on Bethlehem.
Stop focusing on the past and start focusing on the future.
Stop focusing on our church and start focusing on God's church.
Stop focusing on us and start focusing on others.
Stop focusing on celebrities and start focusing on those in need.
Stop focusing on fear and start focusing on love.
Stop focusing on our differences and start focusing on what we have in common.
Maybe you haven't seen Jesus working... maybe you're looking for him in the wrong place.
***Micah 6***
In Micah 6 we have what I believe is the Old Testament equivalent to Jesus' greatest commandment. "To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
The first two are pretty hard.
Acting justly means to treat other people right. To strive for justice in the world. But who defines what justice means? The definition of justice changes all the time. 25 years ago my cousin Billy was killed by a drunk driver... it was a tragedy that effected many people that I love. But the punishment for the driver would be a lot different if it had happened today. Our understanding of justice has changed.
How are we supposed to hit a moving target? We love.
I once heard a pastor say that mercy is a shield God uses to protect us from the punishment we deserve. I like that. God's mercy is a result of God's love, therefore I believe that to love mercy means to love God back. I met someone for lunch today that wanted to talk theology. It was a great meeting, he asked many great questions and had some insightful thoughts. He said that we can not accept God, we can only stop trying to deny Him. Once we give up the charade, then God's love flows in and there is nothing we can do to stop it. I really think this is a powerful statement. Once we stop running from God and accept the fact that God's love for us is not an option, then we understand mercy... how can we not love God back?
But the truth is that we screw up on both every day, which is why the third is so comforting. God understands that life is a journey, but we aren't expected to journey alone. God is there with us, every step of the way. And no matter how many times we screw up, God never leaves us to journey alone.
The humility comes in the realization that God is not with us because of who we are, but because of who God is. We haven't done anything to deserve His companionship.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Micah 3 & 4
***Micah 3***
Scholars believe that Micah was written sometime around 725 BC, that's over 2,700 years ago. That is a long time ago. But it sounds like things weren't much different back then. The leaders were more focused on themselves than doing what is right for the people.
I have promised that I will never talk partisan politics when I am speaking or writing as Pastor Nick. It's really easy for me to keep that promise because I am disgusted with both parties right now.
It seems that our political leaders have lost sight of what made America so great and are more focused with their own re-election. They aren't even allowed to think for themselves anymore, instead they must vote the way that the party has decided. And nothing important gets done.
(I know that there are exceptions, but this is my blog)
One of the reasons that Micah is revered as a prophet is because Israel listened to him, they changed there ways and heeded the warning. They turned the ship around and avoided disaster.
No country can flourish when its leaders are focused on themselves. Israel was able to make the necessary changes, I think we can too.
**Sidenote: My politics... Here are the changes I believe we should make, just in case you wanted to know. Understand my context, I am from the Detroit area, grew up in middle-class family and minored in political science. We need a balanced budget, we need to pay down debt and we need to make sure every child has a chance. When we have a surplus, we need to send the money to China instead of sending each American enough to go out for a nice dinner. We need to take a hard look at our foreign aid policy; I don't expect people to give to the church using a credit card but that is what America is doing, borrowing money to give to others... some of whom don't need it. (I'm not saying we shouldn't help those in need, we just need to be sure our aid is going to those in need and not sending the President of Egypt $2 billion dollars a year for his savings account) We need to strip lobbyist of their power and find alternative energy sources. We need to be sure that our American soldiers, the true heroes are fighting enemies who intend to do us harm... not just those who dislike us. Those are my thoughts, I won't say them from the pulpit and I don't expect anyone in my congregation to agree with me, though some might.
***Micah 4***
Micah seems to have a pattern. He speaks harsh words and then he gives hope. This hope is in the form of a promise. The promise is that many nations will return to the Lord and on His Holy Mountain they will find peace.
As long as nations and leaders are focused on themselves the world will never know peace. But when they all return to the Lord, they will all know peace. Their weapons will be destroyed and made into something new something with a new use, something that fulfills God's purposes.
And the reason is they won't need their weapons... "no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken."
My politics, which are 3 inches up your screen, come from the same place most political beliefs come from a strong mixture of faith and fear. But like my father's weedeater, it is probably a 4-1 mix... 4 units of fear to one unit of faith.
I am fearful that if we don't balance our budget and pay down our debt China will stop buying our treasury notes and we will see economic armageddon. I am fearful that if every child is not given a chance to succeed that the problems in Detroit will spread to other urban areas. I am fearful that if we do not find alternative energy sources that gas will get to $8 a gallon and we will struggle to pay our electric bills. I am fearful that my children are going to inherit the Titanic after it has hit the iceberg.
Which is why the promise of not having anything to fear sounds so sweet to my ears. All we need to do is hear the Lord Almighty speak.
Anytime now God is going to speak....
Wait for it...
I'm ready...
And...
Nothing?
God has already spoken, on the cross through Jesus. God has spoken and the message loud and clear is I LOVE THE WORLD. In return we are asked to love God and love each other. If we took these commandments seriously we wouldn't have anything to fear... remember last week when John wrote that love casts out fear.
God has spoken and continues to speak in every act of love on earth. It is up to you and I to be God's voice. It is up to you and I to bring about change, to bring about peace.
It is up to you and I to love.
Speak through us O God. Amen.
Scholars believe that Micah was written sometime around 725 BC, that's over 2,700 years ago. That is a long time ago. But it sounds like things weren't much different back then. The leaders were more focused on themselves than doing what is right for the people.
I have promised that I will never talk partisan politics when I am speaking or writing as Pastor Nick. It's really easy for me to keep that promise because I am disgusted with both parties right now.
It seems that our political leaders have lost sight of what made America so great and are more focused with their own re-election. They aren't even allowed to think for themselves anymore, instead they must vote the way that the party has decided. And nothing important gets done.
(I know that there are exceptions, but this is my blog)
One of the reasons that Micah is revered as a prophet is because Israel listened to him, they changed there ways and heeded the warning. They turned the ship around and avoided disaster.
No country can flourish when its leaders are focused on themselves. Israel was able to make the necessary changes, I think we can too.
**Sidenote: My politics... Here are the changes I believe we should make, just in case you wanted to know. Understand my context, I am from the Detroit area, grew up in middle-class family and minored in political science. We need a balanced budget, we need to pay down debt and we need to make sure every child has a chance. When we have a surplus, we need to send the money to China instead of sending each American enough to go out for a nice dinner. We need to take a hard look at our foreign aid policy; I don't expect people to give to the church using a credit card but that is what America is doing, borrowing money to give to others... some of whom don't need it. (I'm not saying we shouldn't help those in need, we just need to be sure our aid is going to those in need and not sending the President of Egypt $2 billion dollars a year for his savings account) We need to strip lobbyist of their power and find alternative energy sources. We need to be sure that our American soldiers, the true heroes are fighting enemies who intend to do us harm... not just those who dislike us. Those are my thoughts, I won't say them from the pulpit and I don't expect anyone in my congregation to agree with me, though some might.
***Micah 4***
Micah seems to have a pattern. He speaks harsh words and then he gives hope. This hope is in the form of a promise. The promise is that many nations will return to the Lord and on His Holy Mountain they will find peace.
As long as nations and leaders are focused on themselves the world will never know peace. But when they all return to the Lord, they will all know peace. Their weapons will be destroyed and made into something new something with a new use, something that fulfills God's purposes.
And the reason is they won't need their weapons... "no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken."
My politics, which are 3 inches up your screen, come from the same place most political beliefs come from a strong mixture of faith and fear. But like my father's weedeater, it is probably a 4-1 mix... 4 units of fear to one unit of faith.
I am fearful that if we don't balance our budget and pay down our debt China will stop buying our treasury notes and we will see economic armageddon. I am fearful that if every child is not given a chance to succeed that the problems in Detroit will spread to other urban areas. I am fearful that if we do not find alternative energy sources that gas will get to $8 a gallon and we will struggle to pay our electric bills. I am fearful that my children are going to inherit the Titanic after it has hit the iceberg.
Which is why the promise of not having anything to fear sounds so sweet to my ears. All we need to do is hear the Lord Almighty speak.
Anytime now God is going to speak....
Wait for it...
I'm ready...
And...
Nothing?
God has already spoken, on the cross through Jesus. God has spoken and the message loud and clear is I LOVE THE WORLD. In return we are asked to love God and love each other. If we took these commandments seriously we wouldn't have anything to fear... remember last week when John wrote that love casts out fear.
God has spoken and continues to speak in every act of love on earth. It is up to you and I to be God's voice. It is up to you and I to bring about change, to bring about peace.
It is up to you and I to love.
Speak through us O God. Amen.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Micah 1 & 2
***Micah 1***
I have a friend that had a heart attack a few years ago. He was told that his heart attack was caused by his smoking and that he needed to quit. He was a younger guy when he had the heart attack and there is still a chance for him to live a long, healthy life. But he still secretly smokes. Very few people knowe he does, but he does.
My wife loves to watch the television show The Biggest Loser. In the beginning of the season they take the unhealthy contestants to see a doctor, and the doctor tells them how unhealthy they are. He tells them what their obesity is doing to their body and the morbid truths related to being that unhealthy. He tries to give them the worst case scenario so they are scared enough to change their lives.
That is the role of a prophet. That is what Micah is doing. Micah is pronouncing God's judgment to the Israelites, Micah is giving them the worst case scenario so that they will change.
God is threatening to turn their land into a heap... to destroy it unless they change their ways. The good news is that it is not too late. Just like my friend and the contestants on The Biggest Loser there is time to turn their lives around and do what God requests of them so that they might be spared from destruction.
I don't know what is going on in your life that is causing you pain or is an obstacle to your relationship with God. But as long as you are reading this blog I promise you, it is never to late to change your life. I'm not writing about salvation, Jesus already accomplished that, what I'm writing about it living the best life possible.
I know the Joel Osteen Corporation came out with a book about it... but I don't promise wealth. But we can often control our health, we can control how we value relationships and we can decide if we want to strive to be a better person.
Hear the prophet... he is speaking to all of us.
***Micah 2***
Finally, some words of hope at the end of the second chapter.
Though pain and suffering are coming, God promises that He will be present throughout. God will be a shepherd tending his flock.
I think that we lose out on a lot of the shepherd imagery in the bible because there aren't many shepherds left. I think that I am in the minority of all Americans because I actually know someone who is a shepherd, although it's more of a hobby than a job.
Shepherding is one of the world's oldest professions, dating back to over 6,000 years ago. The job of a shepherd is to feed, tend to and protect the flock of sheep.
God feeds His people, with manna in the desert and with bread and wine every Sunday.
God tends to His flock through the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit.
God is a protector. Through Jesus' death on a cross we are protected from sin, death, and the devil.
It was a promise made to a group of people nearly 3,000 years ago and it is a promise for us today. Through the pain and suffering of this life, God is there.
But unlike sheep, we have the freedom to live the life we want to live. We can run away from the shepherd and find the places where wolves and demons dwell.
We can let the shephered be the shepherd by acknowledging that we are sheep and trusting that the shepherd has a better path for us.
I have a friend that had a heart attack a few years ago. He was told that his heart attack was caused by his smoking and that he needed to quit. He was a younger guy when he had the heart attack and there is still a chance for him to live a long, healthy life. But he still secretly smokes. Very few people knowe he does, but he does.
My wife loves to watch the television show The Biggest Loser. In the beginning of the season they take the unhealthy contestants to see a doctor, and the doctor tells them how unhealthy they are. He tells them what their obesity is doing to their body and the morbid truths related to being that unhealthy. He tries to give them the worst case scenario so they are scared enough to change their lives.
That is the role of a prophet. That is what Micah is doing. Micah is pronouncing God's judgment to the Israelites, Micah is giving them the worst case scenario so that they will change.
God is threatening to turn their land into a heap... to destroy it unless they change their ways. The good news is that it is not too late. Just like my friend and the contestants on The Biggest Loser there is time to turn their lives around and do what God requests of them so that they might be spared from destruction.
I don't know what is going on in your life that is causing you pain or is an obstacle to your relationship with God. But as long as you are reading this blog I promise you, it is never to late to change your life. I'm not writing about salvation, Jesus already accomplished that, what I'm writing about it living the best life possible.
I know the Joel Osteen Corporation came out with a book about it... but I don't promise wealth. But we can often control our health, we can control how we value relationships and we can decide if we want to strive to be a better person.
Hear the prophet... he is speaking to all of us.
***Micah 2***
Finally, some words of hope at the end of the second chapter.
Though pain and suffering are coming, God promises that He will be present throughout. God will be a shepherd tending his flock.
I think that we lose out on a lot of the shepherd imagery in the bible because there aren't many shepherds left. I think that I am in the minority of all Americans because I actually know someone who is a shepherd, although it's more of a hobby than a job.
Shepherding is one of the world's oldest professions, dating back to over 6,000 years ago. The job of a shepherd is to feed, tend to and protect the flock of sheep.
God feeds His people, with manna in the desert and with bread and wine every Sunday.
God tends to His flock through the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit.
God is a protector. Through Jesus' death on a cross we are protected from sin, death, and the devil.
It was a promise made to a group of people nearly 3,000 years ago and it is a promise for us today. Through the pain and suffering of this life, God is there.
But unlike sheep, we have the freedom to live the life we want to live. We can run away from the shepherd and find the places where wolves and demons dwell.
We can let the shephered be the shepherd by acknowledging that we are sheep and trusting that the shepherd has a better path for us.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
2 John & 3 John
***2 John***
This is an interesting little letter. It's so short, it reminded me of an email. Maybe, if John had the technology this could have even been a text message.
Two important things stick out to me.
1. This letter is written to a woman. A woman who was doing important work for the Kingdom of God. When John says children, he means members of her congregation, or community. It's funny that it only took us 2,000 years to let women be pastors again. If you don't think women should be called to ministry, I'd love to introduce you to my friend Pastor Kerstin.
2. This letter is a warning to slow down. Abiding Grace Lutheran Church, the congregation where I serve has surpassed all expectations since we first opened our doors 7 months ago. We have more members and a larger budget than anyone ever dreamed imaginable. We have gotten to this point because we have let Gdo lead us. We realize that human efforts could not have made this happen.
And now we meet to ask "now what?" We have been told on numerous occasions that nothing fails like success. What this means is that because of our early success we could become very comfortable with where we are and stop listening for God's guidance. But there is a danger in moving too fast. The danger is that we do what we think is best instead of waiting for God to lead us.
I was at a training last month and met a pastor who started a congregation in Orlando. He talked about the long process of finding a permanent building for his community to meet in. He told stories of all the different possibilities and how him and the leadership team would pray and pray and pray about each opportunity. The whole time I am thinking to myself "I am not that patient, if something comes available and we can afford it, let's do it."
I need to learn patience. I need to learn to wait for God to lead me. We as a church need to make sure that every decision we make is grounded in scripture, otherwise we might leave God behind.
The same is true for life. When Moses went on the mountain he waited 7 days for God. How long do you think it took for his patience to run out... 30 minutes? 3 hours? 3 days?
Life is full of important choices, choices God wants to help us through. Just remember that God answers in his time, not ours. Be patient with God and the path you are supposed to be on will become much more clear.
And that my friends is the only time that my blog will be longer than the book of the bible it is written about!
***3 John***
Apparently there is someone in the church that doesn't get it... Diotrephes.
Sometimes we get to so excited about something, we take more ownership that we ought to.
We must always remember that it is not our church, it is God's church. If we want to run something, join the girl scouts. God has to run God's church. I was blessed to do my internship Calvary Lutheran Church, a wonderful community of believers with a Spirit-filled leader, Pastor Phil. Their new website is God's heart, human hands.
That is the church.
Same with the gospel. It is not our gospel, it is Jesus'. If we share the gospel, we have to share Jesus' gospel.
Because his gospel, and God's church are gifts for us.
Help us Lord, to let you be in charge. Amen.
This is an interesting little letter. It's so short, it reminded me of an email. Maybe, if John had the technology this could have even been a text message.
Two important things stick out to me.
1. This letter is written to a woman. A woman who was doing important work for the Kingdom of God. When John says children, he means members of her congregation, or community. It's funny that it only took us 2,000 years to let women be pastors again. If you don't think women should be called to ministry, I'd love to introduce you to my friend Pastor Kerstin.
2. This letter is a warning to slow down. Abiding Grace Lutheran Church, the congregation where I serve has surpassed all expectations since we first opened our doors 7 months ago. We have more members and a larger budget than anyone ever dreamed imaginable. We have gotten to this point because we have let Gdo lead us. We realize that human efforts could not have made this happen.
And now we meet to ask "now what?" We have been told on numerous occasions that nothing fails like success. What this means is that because of our early success we could become very comfortable with where we are and stop listening for God's guidance. But there is a danger in moving too fast. The danger is that we do what we think is best instead of waiting for God to lead us.
I was at a training last month and met a pastor who started a congregation in Orlando. He talked about the long process of finding a permanent building for his community to meet in. He told stories of all the different possibilities and how him and the leadership team would pray and pray and pray about each opportunity. The whole time I am thinking to myself "I am not that patient, if something comes available and we can afford it, let's do it."
I need to learn patience. I need to learn to wait for God to lead me. We as a church need to make sure that every decision we make is grounded in scripture, otherwise we might leave God behind.
The same is true for life. When Moses went on the mountain he waited 7 days for God. How long do you think it took for his patience to run out... 30 minutes? 3 hours? 3 days?
Life is full of important choices, choices God wants to help us through. Just remember that God answers in his time, not ours. Be patient with God and the path you are supposed to be on will become much more clear.
And that my friends is the only time that my blog will be longer than the book of the bible it is written about!
***3 John***
Apparently there is someone in the church that doesn't get it... Diotrephes.
Sometimes we get to so excited about something, we take more ownership that we ought to.
We must always remember that it is not our church, it is God's church. If we want to run something, join the girl scouts. God has to run God's church. I was blessed to do my internship Calvary Lutheran Church, a wonderful community of believers with a Spirit-filled leader, Pastor Phil. Their new website is God's heart, human hands.
That is the church.
Same with the gospel. It is not our gospel, it is Jesus'. If we share the gospel, we have to share Jesus' gospel.
Because his gospel, and God's church are gifts for us.
Help us Lord, to let you be in charge. Amen.
1 John 5
1 John 5
This morning I preached a funeral for someone that I had never met. I had never met her family either, or any of her friends. It was hard.
As I walked through the cemetery I found myself looking at the headstones and at the years that folks had been born and when they died.
A lot of people don't have long lives. Stuff happens and people we love die.
I heard it said that the only difference between humans and chickens is that we see the axe above our head... we know that we are going to die. We can run and hide, but death finds us all.
Which is why John found it so important to write these words "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know you have eternal life."
When we are stripped of all our earthly things. When our money goes, when our home goes, when our mind goes, when our body goes... when we have nothing left... we have eternal life.
I have a hard time remembering that though. I get caught up in the struggles and worries of this life. Eternal life is something I put in the back of my mind, because I don't know what it is going to look like. It's hard to believe in what we can't see.
But we can see the promise... the promise of eternal life in the Sacraments. Blood and water. Communion and Baptism.
For now, that's all we have... but in the end, it's all we need.
This morning I preached a funeral for someone that I had never met. I had never met her family either, or any of her friends. It was hard.
As I walked through the cemetery I found myself looking at the headstones and at the years that folks had been born and when they died.
A lot of people don't have long lives. Stuff happens and people we love die.
I heard it said that the only difference between humans and chickens is that we see the axe above our head... we know that we are going to die. We can run and hide, but death finds us all.
Which is why John found it so important to write these words "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know you have eternal life."
When we are stripped of all our earthly things. When our money goes, when our home goes, when our mind goes, when our body goes... when we have nothing left... we have eternal life.
I have a hard time remembering that though. I get caught up in the struggles and worries of this life. Eternal life is something I put in the back of my mind, because I don't know what it is going to look like. It's hard to believe in what we can't see.
But we can see the promise... the promise of eternal life in the Sacraments. Blood and water. Communion and Baptism.
For now, that's all we have... but in the end, it's all we need.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
1 John 3 & 4
***1 John 3***
"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God"
I think we take for granted that God is a loving, almighty parent and we are God's children, children that God loves and loves and loves.
Of course we are God's children, God created us. But creating something doesn't mean you have to love it.
Think of the things we create. We make dinners, we build houses, we write blogs, we make and create all kinds of things, but it doesn't mean that we have to love them. They are not our flesh and blood.
We are not God's flesh and blood, we were created in the image of God, we are not created from God. It would be the equivalent to making a statue in our image, then having that statue walk and talk.
Jesus is God's one and only begotten child. Jesus was God's flesh and blood.
But God chose us to be sons and daughters, to be his family, to be his children. And he did so not because he had to, but because he wanted to. He was compelled to because of his love for us. And there is no greater sign of that love than the death of his only begotten son, his flesh and blood nailed to a cross for us.
That's the sacrifice God made for his family.
***1 John 4***
Last night a group of members from Abiding Grace met for amazing burgers and bible study.
We were studying Acts chapter 10 and the story of the Centurion Cornelius. It says that he was a Godfearing man... and that was a good thing.
Then our text today says that perfect love drives out fear. So should we fear God or not?
And the answer is... no we shouldn't... but yes we should.
If God is perfect love then there is no reason to fear to God. God is the beginning of, and end of all life. So when life is ending we should not fear, because that is where will be with God. Instead we should respect God's omnipotence and be grateful for God's love. (Which may be what the word Godfearer means)
BUT
We humans aren't really good with relationships. We have never experienced perfect love in our lifetime. People that we are closest to have hurt us by things they have said or haven't said, things they have done or haven't done... no one is perfect. (Although my wife is very, very close!)
How can we fully trust something we have never experienced? We do so on faith. Faith by definition comes with a certain amount of doubt, and that doubt is where fear comes in.
Fear is normal, but it should not rule our lives... love should. And since God is love, in the end, God should.
It's all semantics anyway.
"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God"
I think we take for granted that God is a loving, almighty parent and we are God's children, children that God loves and loves and loves.
Of course we are God's children, God created us. But creating something doesn't mean you have to love it.
Think of the things we create. We make dinners, we build houses, we write blogs, we make and create all kinds of things, but it doesn't mean that we have to love them. They are not our flesh and blood.
We are not God's flesh and blood, we were created in the image of God, we are not created from God. It would be the equivalent to making a statue in our image, then having that statue walk and talk.
Jesus is God's one and only begotten child. Jesus was God's flesh and blood.
But God chose us to be sons and daughters, to be his family, to be his children. And he did so not because he had to, but because he wanted to. He was compelled to because of his love for us. And there is no greater sign of that love than the death of his only begotten son, his flesh and blood nailed to a cross for us.
That's the sacrifice God made for his family.
***1 John 4***
Last night a group of members from Abiding Grace met for amazing burgers and bible study.
We were studying Acts chapter 10 and the story of the Centurion Cornelius. It says that he was a Godfearing man... and that was a good thing.
Then our text today says that perfect love drives out fear. So should we fear God or not?
And the answer is... no we shouldn't... but yes we should.
If God is perfect love then there is no reason to fear to God. God is the beginning of, and end of all life. So when life is ending we should not fear, because that is where will be with God. Instead we should respect God's omnipotence and be grateful for God's love. (Which may be what the word Godfearer means)
BUT
We humans aren't really good with relationships. We have never experienced perfect love in our lifetime. People that we are closest to have hurt us by things they have said or haven't said, things they have done or haven't done... no one is perfect. (Although my wife is very, very close!)
How can we fully trust something we have never experienced? We do so on faith. Faith by definition comes with a certain amount of doubt, and that doubt is where fear comes in.
Fear is normal, but it should not rule our lives... love should. And since God is love, in the end, God should.
It's all semantics anyway.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
1 John 1 & 2
I was going to start Micah this morning, but during Sunday school a couple days ago the youth group and I started talking about what love means. This conversation led us to 1 John, which led to the designing of a t-shirt. So... we are going to do 1, 2 & 3 John this week. It's at the very end of the bible, almost to Revelation. We will start Micah next week.
***1 John 1 ***
I have to admit, this is my favorite book of the bible.
I read this chapter and am reminded of who I am and who God is.
I am a sinner. If I say that I am not a sinner than I am deceiving myself and calling God a liar. There is no way around the fact that I am a sinner. I am imperfect.
God is light, apart from God is darkness. Not like night, where it is dark but there is still some light from the moon and stars... apart from God life is can't see your hands in front of your face pitch-black. The kind of dark where you are afraid to take a step because you have no idea what is around you.
As sinners, we prefer the darkness. There is comfort in the darkness. There are voices that we trust coming from the darkness:
"It's ok to lie if you won't hurt anyone"
"You can look as long as you don't touch"
"No one will know"
These voices most often come from within, and they lead us away from the light.
But hear this... or read it THE LIGHT IS MORE POWERFUL THAN THE DARKNESS. God's love is more powerful that our sin.
Which means no matter how deep we get in sin and darkness if we but confess our sins God will cleanse us from all unrighteousness and bring us back to path of the light.
We can not walk the path of light of alone, we must journey with and be led by God.
Lead us O God, today and everyday. Amen.
***1 John 2***
I used to hear a lot about the antichrist and about how he was coming soon to take over control of the world and all kinds of evils would happen. Many different people have claimed that they know who the antichrist is and usually it is someone who differs from them politically.
John believes that there is not one antichrist that is going to come and rule in darkness but there are many who will come... and many who are have already come.
Anyone who denies Christ and the Father are antichrists. Anyone who works against God's desires for humanity are antichrists.
That means we should not be looking for one person, but many. Thousands, maybe millions or billions. (Sidenote: Most scholars believe that the antichrist character in Revelation is a reference to Emperor Nero)
Actually, it means that we whould not focus on worrying about who the antichrist is. Instead, we should focus on how we are living our lives. Are we living in the light and doing what God desires? Or are we wandering in darkness?
Let it shine!
***1 John 1 ***
I have to admit, this is my favorite book of the bible.
I read this chapter and am reminded of who I am and who God is.
I am a sinner. If I say that I am not a sinner than I am deceiving myself and calling God a liar. There is no way around the fact that I am a sinner. I am imperfect.
God is light, apart from God is darkness. Not like night, where it is dark but there is still some light from the moon and stars... apart from God life is can't see your hands in front of your face pitch-black. The kind of dark where you are afraid to take a step because you have no idea what is around you.
As sinners, we prefer the darkness. There is comfort in the darkness. There are voices that we trust coming from the darkness:
"It's ok to lie if you won't hurt anyone"
"You can look as long as you don't touch"
"No one will know"
These voices most often come from within, and they lead us away from the light.
But hear this... or read it THE LIGHT IS MORE POWERFUL THAN THE DARKNESS. God's love is more powerful that our sin.
Which means no matter how deep we get in sin and darkness if we but confess our sins God will cleanse us from all unrighteousness and bring us back to path of the light.
We can not walk the path of light of alone, we must journey with and be led by God.
Lead us O God, today and everyday. Amen.
***1 John 2***
I used to hear a lot about the antichrist and about how he was coming soon to take over control of the world and all kinds of evils would happen. Many different people have claimed that they know who the antichrist is and usually it is someone who differs from them politically.
John believes that there is not one antichrist that is going to come and rule in darkness but there are many who will come... and many who are have already come.
Anyone who denies Christ and the Father are antichrists. Anyone who works against God's desires for humanity are antichrists.
That means we should not be looking for one person, but many. Thousands, maybe millions or billions. (Sidenote: Most scholars believe that the antichrist character in Revelation is a reference to Emperor Nero)
Actually, it means that we whould not focus on worrying about who the antichrist is. Instead, we should focus on how we are living our lives. Are we living in the light and doing what God desires? Or are we wandering in darkness?
Let it shine!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Philemon
***Philemon***
Every time I read this chapter... or book, I wonder why it's in the bible.
The entirety of the book of Philemon is a short letter that is written from one person to another person... asking a favor.
It's not a letter from Paul to a church. It's not a story about the amazing things the church is doing. It's just a letter to a guy named Philemon asking for a favor.
But it is theologically rich.
I love that Paul feels like he has the authority to tell Philemon what to do, but he decides not to. Instead he prefers to appeal to him on "the basis of love."
It kind of reminds me of when I worked security at a nightclub. When someone was a little overserved we let them decide to leave "on the basis of love." When all along we had the authority to make them leave... which is where the analogy breaks down because we often had to put our authority to use.
But it also says a lot about the relationship between us and God.
God has the authority to tell us what to do... He created us after all. But God never chooses to use His authority, instead God chooses to teach us through love.
We in turn are not supposed to be mindless robots doing what our creator forces us to do, but we follow God's laws because of the love He showed us on the cross. Where He paid all our debts, just like Paul offered to do for Onesimus. We aren't enslaved to a person, but to our sin...
And our hope is not in a letter written with ink, but an eternal promise written in Jesus' blood.
Every time I read this chapter... or book, I wonder why it's in the bible.
The entirety of the book of Philemon is a short letter that is written from one person to another person... asking a favor.
It's not a letter from Paul to a church. It's not a story about the amazing things the church is doing. It's just a letter to a guy named Philemon asking for a favor.
But it is theologically rich.
I love that Paul feels like he has the authority to tell Philemon what to do, but he decides not to. Instead he prefers to appeal to him on "the basis of love."
It kind of reminds me of when I worked security at a nightclub. When someone was a little overserved we let them decide to leave "on the basis of love." When all along we had the authority to make them leave... which is where the analogy breaks down because we often had to put our authority to use.
But it also says a lot about the relationship between us and God.
God has the authority to tell us what to do... He created us after all. But God never chooses to use His authority, instead God chooses to teach us through love.
We in turn are not supposed to be mindless robots doing what our creator forces us to do, but we follow God's laws because of the love He showed us on the cross. Where He paid all our debts, just like Paul offered to do for Onesimus. We aren't enslaved to a person, but to our sin...
And our hope is not in a letter written with ink, but an eternal promise written in Jesus' blood.
Ecclesiastes 11 & 12
***Ecclesiastes 11***
The author of Ecclesiastes would make a good financial planner. It is good to diversify one's investments... in more than just 7 or 8 things.
We spend our lives building wealth so that when we get older we can retire and enjoy life without worrying about work and finances. It's important to invest our money in such a way that it grows steadily with low risk.
So of course it is good to be diversified.
It is also good to share the gospel of Jesus Christ in many places, to invest in many people, because we never know who is going to soar and who isn't.
I became a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Romeo, MI in 1988, 23 years ago. My pastor, Pastor Mark came the same year. One of his many gifts was his ability to relate to youth. He was great with us, and he loved every kid. He has seen hundreds of kids go through that church, some have left the faith, some go to church every Sunday, and one is a pastor. But he treated every kid the same. He invested in people.
We should too. That is what it means to make disciples.
But in the end, there can be no diversification. Our hope is not in many things but one God. It is Christ alone that saves us... not a mutual fund.
***Ecclesiastes 12***
"Remember God in your youth"
Our denomination has a vacuum where the young people should be. We have a lot of people 40+, but not many 15-40. (I'm not saying 40 is old, I'm just saying it's not considered "youth" anymore)
Let it be said... or typed... THE CHURCH HAS FAILED THE YOUTH.
The youth aren't interested in church because of the church.
I worked for 2 years at Jacob's Porch, which is the Lutheran campus ministry at Ohio State. I promise you there are youth who want to know Jesus... there are youth who want to live out His commandments of love and make a difference, but the church hasn't given them the opportunity,
Lutheran worship and theology is great, but we need to do something with it that makes the world a better place. That is what the youth are interested in.
Set aside the politics of church and re-focus on the purpose of church.
Remember... the church of Jesus Christ does not have a mission... the mission of Jesus Christ has a church... every decision should be made with that in mind.
************************************************
We are officially done with Ecclesiastes! Tomorrow we will read Philemon. It is near the middle of the New Testament and it is only one chapter long. Page 1106 if you have the same bible I do.
The author of Ecclesiastes would make a good financial planner. It is good to diversify one's investments... in more than just 7 or 8 things.
We spend our lives building wealth so that when we get older we can retire and enjoy life without worrying about work and finances. It's important to invest our money in such a way that it grows steadily with low risk.
So of course it is good to be diversified.
It is also good to share the gospel of Jesus Christ in many places, to invest in many people, because we never know who is going to soar and who isn't.
I became a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Romeo, MI in 1988, 23 years ago. My pastor, Pastor Mark came the same year. One of his many gifts was his ability to relate to youth. He was great with us, and he loved every kid. He has seen hundreds of kids go through that church, some have left the faith, some go to church every Sunday, and one is a pastor. But he treated every kid the same. He invested in people.
We should too. That is what it means to make disciples.
But in the end, there can be no diversification. Our hope is not in many things but one God. It is Christ alone that saves us... not a mutual fund.
***Ecclesiastes 12***
"Remember God in your youth"
Our denomination has a vacuum where the young people should be. We have a lot of people 40+, but not many 15-40. (I'm not saying 40 is old, I'm just saying it's not considered "youth" anymore)
Let it be said... or typed... THE CHURCH HAS FAILED THE YOUTH.
The youth aren't interested in church because of the church.
I worked for 2 years at Jacob's Porch, which is the Lutheran campus ministry at Ohio State. I promise you there are youth who want to know Jesus... there are youth who want to live out His commandments of love and make a difference, but the church hasn't given them the opportunity,
Lutheran worship and theology is great, but we need to do something with it that makes the world a better place. That is what the youth are interested in.
Set aside the politics of church and re-focus on the purpose of church.
Remember... the church of Jesus Christ does not have a mission... the mission of Jesus Christ has a church... every decision should be made with that in mind.
************************************************
We are officially done with Ecclesiastes! Tomorrow we will read Philemon. It is near the middle of the New Testament and it is only one chapter long. Page 1106 if you have the same bible I do.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Ecclesiastes 9 & 10
***Ecclesiastes 9***
Today is Ash Wednesday, a day when we are reminded that we will all one day return to dust. It says in Genesis 2:7 that God made man from the dust of the ground and science has proven that when we are die our bodies slowly return to dust... or we can speed up that process and be cremated.
Dust...
I hate dust, but no matter what I do I can't stop it from collecting on my furniture in my house. That's what dust does, it finds a place to settle and stays until something wipes it away.
The author of Ecclesiastes believes that just like dust, we find a place to settle and stay until something wipes us away... it may be war, disease, famine... anything really.
And just like the dust on my dresser we do not control when our end comes. Death is certain, for some it comes way too early and for others it waits... but it comes for all.
The verses from Ecclesiastes 9 that jumps at me today is verse 7-9... eat your food with gladness, drink your wine with a joyful heart and enjoy life with your wife, whom you love.
Take time to enjoy the small things. Eat your favorite food often and don't get so obsessed with work that you forget to be in love with someone.
Because we never know when the rag is coming.
But we have hope that the rag is not the end.
***Ecclesiastes 10***
I don't know about you but I am ready to be done with Ecclesiastes. Up until now work and wealth were meaningless, now a house leaks because of laziness and money is the answer for everything! Make up your mind!
What really sticks out to me is verse 4, "calmness can lay great offenses to rest."
So often we react in haste without thinking about the consequences of our actions. We mis-read what someone is trying to say and respond inappropriately, starting a conflict when one wasn't necessary.
The great majority of conflicts could be resolved if we learned to communicate better, and we comminucate our best when we are calm.
This verse reminds me of the Cuban Missle Crisis and President Kennedy taking 13 days to remain calm and make the best decision possible... and avoiding nuclear war.
The same concept holds true for our relationships. Chances are you have surrounded yourself with good people, people who you trust and care for.
But all people say and do stupid things. Expect that of others and yourself. If we can learn to not overreact, we can forgive and build stronger relationships.
But who knows, maybe money is the answer to everything! (I can't believe the bible says that)
Today is Ash Wednesday, a day when we are reminded that we will all one day return to dust. It says in Genesis 2:7 that God made man from the dust of the ground and science has proven that when we are die our bodies slowly return to dust... or we can speed up that process and be cremated.
Dust...
I hate dust, but no matter what I do I can't stop it from collecting on my furniture in my house. That's what dust does, it finds a place to settle and stays until something wipes it away.
The author of Ecclesiastes believes that just like dust, we find a place to settle and stay until something wipes us away... it may be war, disease, famine... anything really.
And just like the dust on my dresser we do not control when our end comes. Death is certain, for some it comes way too early and for others it waits... but it comes for all.
The verses from Ecclesiastes 9 that jumps at me today is verse 7-9... eat your food with gladness, drink your wine with a joyful heart and enjoy life with your wife, whom you love.
Take time to enjoy the small things. Eat your favorite food often and don't get so obsessed with work that you forget to be in love with someone.
Because we never know when the rag is coming.
But we have hope that the rag is not the end.
***Ecclesiastes 10***
I don't know about you but I am ready to be done with Ecclesiastes. Up until now work and wealth were meaningless, now a house leaks because of laziness and money is the answer for everything! Make up your mind!
What really sticks out to me is verse 4, "calmness can lay great offenses to rest."
So often we react in haste without thinking about the consequences of our actions. We mis-read what someone is trying to say and respond inappropriately, starting a conflict when one wasn't necessary.
The great majority of conflicts could be resolved if we learned to communicate better, and we comminucate our best when we are calm.
This verse reminds me of the Cuban Missle Crisis and President Kennedy taking 13 days to remain calm and make the best decision possible... and avoiding nuclear war.
The same concept holds true for our relationships. Chances are you have surrounded yourself with good people, people who you trust and care for.
But all people say and do stupid things. Expect that of others and yourself. If we can learn to not overreact, we can forgive and build stronger relationships.
But who knows, maybe money is the answer to everything! (I can't believe the bible says that)
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Ecclesiastes 8
***Ecclesiastes 8***
Why do bad things happen to good people?
I think every one of us has been frustrsated in the same way the author of Ecclesiastes was in chapter 8. The wicked get what the righteous deserve and the righteous get what the wicked deserve.
Sometimes it just doesn't seem fair.
The truth is this... we are all bad people. That's what sin is, it corrupts us and we are stained by it. Sure, there are some people that are better than others, but no one is righteous. We may be good Christians 23 hours and 45 minutes per day, but there is still that 15 minutes where we give someone the finger for cutting us off, or we do not show proper respect to our parents, or we lust after that person or that new thing that our friend has that we have to have now.
We are all in the same boat when it comes to our ability to be righteous.
On Sunday I was ordained. It was a magical day. Hundreds of friends and family came to be a part of the worship and stayed for the dinner. There was so much love pouring out... it was humbling and overwhelming. All the while I kept thinking to myself "I don't deserve this." There is no way that I could have earned the love that I was given on Sunday.
That is why grace is such good news. Grace, by definition can not be earned, only given.
The question we should be asking is "why do good things happen to bad people (us)?"
Because of grace. Every gift we have been given is a sign of grace. And there is no greater sign of grace than this "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, so that those who believe in Him shall not perish but have eternal life"
We are only righteous because He is righteous. We are saved because He saved us.
Why do bad things happen to good people?
I think every one of us has been frustrsated in the same way the author of Ecclesiastes was in chapter 8. The wicked get what the righteous deserve and the righteous get what the wicked deserve.
Sometimes it just doesn't seem fair.
The truth is this... we are all bad people. That's what sin is, it corrupts us and we are stained by it. Sure, there are some people that are better than others, but no one is righteous. We may be good Christians 23 hours and 45 minutes per day, but there is still that 15 minutes where we give someone the finger for cutting us off, or we do not show proper respect to our parents, or we lust after that person or that new thing that our friend has that we have to have now.
We are all in the same boat when it comes to our ability to be righteous.
On Sunday I was ordained. It was a magical day. Hundreds of friends and family came to be a part of the worship and stayed for the dinner. There was so much love pouring out... it was humbling and overwhelming. All the while I kept thinking to myself "I don't deserve this." There is no way that I could have earned the love that I was given on Sunday.
That is why grace is such good news. Grace, by definition can not be earned, only given.
The question we should be asking is "why do good things happen to bad people (us)?"
Because of grace. Every gift we have been given is a sign of grace. And there is no greater sign of grace than this "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, so that those who believe in Him shall not perish but have eternal life"
We are only righteous because He is righteous. We are saved because He saved us.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Ecclesiastes 6 & 7
***Ecclesiastes 6***
Back in 2002 I was lucky enough to go build houses in Fiji with Habitat for Humanity. Preparing for the trip was a long process. I had to raise money, get shots and get a passport. But what I couldn't prepare for was the way the trip was going to change me. I knew that I was going to be in a village with some of the poorest people in the world, and I was going to feel sorry for them for the rest of my life.
Then I went. And I was right, the people were very poor. The water they drank was rain collected from their corrugated steel roof. But they had something that Americans don't... real community. Every night they would gather as a family to eat dinner, sing songs and tell stories. The same way that their family had done everyday for generations and generations... aunts, uncles, moms, dads, grandparents, kids... everyday.
When I left Fiji, I wasn't feeling sorry for them, but I was feeling sorry for us. I love my family... but I don't get to see them very often. I live in Texas, my sister lives in Atlanta, and my other sister and parents live near Detroit. I have an uncle in Denver, an aunt in Memphis, cousins in Orlando, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Denver, Minneapoils, North Carolina and Memphis... and a whole bunch of family still in Detroit. We have lived so far apart for so long that some have become like strangers to me.
They have nothing, but they are happy because they have each other. We have big TV's, big houses and big cars... we have wealth, posessions and honor...but in the end who really has more?
***Ecclesiastes 7***
"It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools."
When I worked for Chrysler, my territory was Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire and my office was in Boston. I traveled a lot around the northeast and met a ton of good people. I noticed that the people who live in the northeast are different than the people who live in the south, they are more blunt.
People in the south are gentle and kind. People in the northeast are honest and blunt. I read a book by Ernie Harwell, he was the longtime voice of the Detroit Tigers and he was from Georgia. He wrote in his book that it was more important to be kind than it was to be right.
The truth is, we like people to say what we want to hear... even if its not the truth. Often times, we don't want to hear the truth, we don't want to know what someone is really thinking because it might hurt our feelings. Often times we mistake the truth for meanness.
But in the end, all that matters is the truth. Studies have shown that divorce rates are much lower in the northeast than they are in the south. The only communication that matters in marriages and in life is the truth. (There is no evidence that people in the northeast tell the truth more often than people in the south, it is only my experience and I realize I am painting with a really broad brush and divorce rates may have nothing to do with anything, but it's my blog and I think it's an interesting point)
If we tell people only what they want to hear then we are playing the role of the fool. And if we only listen to what we want to hear then we are a fool.
Don't play the fool and don't let yourself be fooled. Instead tell the truth in love and demand others to do the same for you. Otherwise, communication is meaningless.
See you on Tuesday!
Back in 2002 I was lucky enough to go build houses in Fiji with Habitat for Humanity. Preparing for the trip was a long process. I had to raise money, get shots and get a passport. But what I couldn't prepare for was the way the trip was going to change me. I knew that I was going to be in a village with some of the poorest people in the world, and I was going to feel sorry for them for the rest of my life.
Then I went. And I was right, the people were very poor. The water they drank was rain collected from their corrugated steel roof. But they had something that Americans don't... real community. Every night they would gather as a family to eat dinner, sing songs and tell stories. The same way that their family had done everyday for generations and generations... aunts, uncles, moms, dads, grandparents, kids... everyday.
When I left Fiji, I wasn't feeling sorry for them, but I was feeling sorry for us. I love my family... but I don't get to see them very often. I live in Texas, my sister lives in Atlanta, and my other sister and parents live near Detroit. I have an uncle in Denver, an aunt in Memphis, cousins in Orlando, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Denver, Minneapoils, North Carolina and Memphis... and a whole bunch of family still in Detroit. We have lived so far apart for so long that some have become like strangers to me.
They have nothing, but they are happy because they have each other. We have big TV's, big houses and big cars... we have wealth, posessions and honor...but in the end who really has more?
***Ecclesiastes 7***
"It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools."
When I worked for Chrysler, my territory was Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire and my office was in Boston. I traveled a lot around the northeast and met a ton of good people. I noticed that the people who live in the northeast are different than the people who live in the south, they are more blunt.
People in the south are gentle and kind. People in the northeast are honest and blunt. I read a book by Ernie Harwell, he was the longtime voice of the Detroit Tigers and he was from Georgia. He wrote in his book that it was more important to be kind than it was to be right.
The truth is, we like people to say what we want to hear... even if its not the truth. Often times, we don't want to hear the truth, we don't want to know what someone is really thinking because it might hurt our feelings. Often times we mistake the truth for meanness.
But in the end, all that matters is the truth. Studies have shown that divorce rates are much lower in the northeast than they are in the south. The only communication that matters in marriages and in life is the truth. (There is no evidence that people in the northeast tell the truth more often than people in the south, it is only my experience and I realize I am painting with a really broad brush and divorce rates may have nothing to do with anything, but it's my blog and I think it's an interesting point)
If we tell people only what they want to hear then we are playing the role of the fool. And if we only listen to what we want to hear then we are a fool.
Don't play the fool and don't let yourself be fooled. Instead tell the truth in love and demand others to do the same for you. Otherwise, communication is meaningless.
See you on Tuesday!
Ecclesiastes 4 & 5
***Ecclesiastes 4***
The more we read of Ecclesiastes the more I think that the writer really needs a hug. Clearly he is depressed and having trouble finding the point of life. He says that the dead are happier than the living and the happiest are those who are never born.
I think we all can relate to that. Life is hard.
I listen to a lot of sports talk radio when I'm driving and recently I heard an interview with a retired football player. He said that when he was new in the league he was so afraid of getting cut from the team that he would sleep under his bed so that the coaches couldn't find him. He did this for years... slept under his bed to hide from bad news.
There are times when we all want to hide under our bed. Hide from doctors and what they might say, hide from our boss so that we can't be told that we no longer have a job, hide from bill collectors, hide from the mortgage company, hide from whatever bad news is coming. But the reality is we can not hide from life. And bad news comes, it hits hard and it hurts.
And we have to pick up the pieces and try to move on.
But there is great wisdom in these melancholy words. The wisdom of friendship, of community.
Life is too hard to make it through alone. We need each other. We need friends and family to pick us up when we fall. That's what love is... being there for each other in their times of need.
Do your friends know they can call you anytime no mater what? Do you know you can call your friends anytime no matter what?
If not, what's the point?
***Ecclesiastes 5***
An ancient Jewish Rabbi named Gamaliel used to say "Everything is decreed by God, except the fear of God."
We were all created in the image of God. But we were not created to be mindless robots, like a clone army. Instead God gave us free will and the ability to decide for ourselves how much we fear God.
Fear is a great motivator. In high school fear makes us do all kinds of things, like pretend to be someone we're not and do things we don't want to do to fit in... you know, peer pressure. As adults we fear all kinds of things, read my post for Ecclesiastes 4.
But do we fear God? Should we fear God?
I don't think we do fear God. In Jesus. God revealed to the world a love that is beyond comprehension, so when we think of God we think of love. How can we fear God when God loves us so much?
But I think we should fear God when we are God's enemies. And don't kid yourself, we are all God's enemy at one time or another.
When we are a part of oppression we are God's enemy. Never been a part of oppression? Where are the clothes you're wearing from? Do you know who made your shirt? Could it have been a 10 year old in China or Singapore? It's impossible to escape institutionalized oppression.
When we speak for God and our message is anything other than love, then we are God's enemy. Unless of course God has called you to be a prophet.
When we do what God has asked us not to do we are God's enemy. When we don't love our neighbors we are a force working against God's goal for humanity.
We should have a healthy fear of God. Enough fear to motivate us to fight for God's goals. To stand up to the oppression in our neighborhoods and around the world. Enough fear to think long and hard before we speak for God and enough fear to take God's commandments of love seriously.
It is only when we have a healthy fear of God that we can be truly grateful for grace. Grace saved us from something... Something bad, something to fear.
Thank you Lord for being powerful enough to punish us and loving enough not to. Amen.
The more we read of Ecclesiastes the more I think that the writer really needs a hug. Clearly he is depressed and having trouble finding the point of life. He says that the dead are happier than the living and the happiest are those who are never born.
I think we all can relate to that. Life is hard.
I listen to a lot of sports talk radio when I'm driving and recently I heard an interview with a retired football player. He said that when he was new in the league he was so afraid of getting cut from the team that he would sleep under his bed so that the coaches couldn't find him. He did this for years... slept under his bed to hide from bad news.
There are times when we all want to hide under our bed. Hide from doctors and what they might say, hide from our boss so that we can't be told that we no longer have a job, hide from bill collectors, hide from the mortgage company, hide from whatever bad news is coming. But the reality is we can not hide from life. And bad news comes, it hits hard and it hurts.
And we have to pick up the pieces and try to move on.
But there is great wisdom in these melancholy words. The wisdom of friendship, of community.
Life is too hard to make it through alone. We need each other. We need friends and family to pick us up when we fall. That's what love is... being there for each other in their times of need.
Do your friends know they can call you anytime no mater what? Do you know you can call your friends anytime no matter what?
If not, what's the point?
***Ecclesiastes 5***
An ancient Jewish Rabbi named Gamaliel used to say "Everything is decreed by God, except the fear of God."
We were all created in the image of God. But we were not created to be mindless robots, like a clone army. Instead God gave us free will and the ability to decide for ourselves how much we fear God.
Fear is a great motivator. In high school fear makes us do all kinds of things, like pretend to be someone we're not and do things we don't want to do to fit in... you know, peer pressure. As adults we fear all kinds of things, read my post for Ecclesiastes 4.
But do we fear God? Should we fear God?
I don't think we do fear God. In Jesus. God revealed to the world a love that is beyond comprehension, so when we think of God we think of love. How can we fear God when God loves us so much?
But I think we should fear God when we are God's enemies. And don't kid yourself, we are all God's enemy at one time or another.
When we are a part of oppression we are God's enemy. Never been a part of oppression? Where are the clothes you're wearing from? Do you know who made your shirt? Could it have been a 10 year old in China or Singapore? It's impossible to escape institutionalized oppression.
When we speak for God and our message is anything other than love, then we are God's enemy. Unless of course God has called you to be a prophet.
When we do what God has asked us not to do we are God's enemy. When we don't love our neighbors we are a force working against God's goal for humanity.
We should have a healthy fear of God. Enough fear to motivate us to fight for God's goals. To stand up to the oppression in our neighborhoods and around the world. Enough fear to think long and hard before we speak for God and enough fear to take God's commandments of love seriously.
It is only when we have a healthy fear of God that we can be truly grateful for grace. Grace saved us from something... Something bad, something to fear.
Thank you Lord for being powerful enough to punish us and loving enough not to. Amen.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Ecclesiastes 3... and a video
***Ecclesiastes 3***
A time to blog... a little later than normal. I'm just doing one chapter today... but it's an important one!
There is a season for everything. It's good to think of stages of our life as seasons.
I grew up just outside of Detroit where I was able to experience all 4 seasons every year.
Summer was great! No school, baseball every day and fishing on the Detroit River.
Fall was good. My birthday is in fall, it's football season and watching leaves turn colors and fall to the earth is beautiful.
Winter is terrible. Everything is dead, it gets dark early and it's really cold.
But then there is spring... the snow melts, the flowers bloom, Ernie Harwell is on the radio broadcasting Tiger baseball and hope springs anew.
Life is full of ups and downs. Some ups last for a long time and some downs feel like they will never end.
I am very proud to say that I am a Lutheran and a Detroiter, although both the Lutheran Church and the city of Detroit have been experiencing some rough years.
People are leaving the church and people are leaving the city. The church doesn't have any money and the city is broke. Both are stuck in the middle of winter.
I've heard it said that mainline churches, as we know them, will be gone in 20 years. And Detroit is just barely hanging on. But spring is coming.
Jesus had seasons to his life. He was a traveling preacher and performed miracles in the summer. In the early fall his enemies began to plot against him, in mid-fall he was arrested and flogged and on the last day of fall he was crucified. He was dead, like winter for three days. But he rose again, just like the flowers of spring... and since then he has been giving new life to all.
I think it's a good time to be the church. The Lutheran church needed to be refocused, to have a renewed passion for the mission of Jesus Christ. As long as the church never forgets who they are, then the future of the church is bright... because it is God's church.
The city of Detroit needs to be refocused too. No longer can an entire population be dependent upon one industry. I am proud that Detroit is the Motorcity, but it needs to make more than just motors to rebound. I don't have all the answers, but I have faith. Faith that the people of Detroit are going to make it to spring. Faith that the race tensions that hangover from the 1960's will be overcome, faith that the can-do attitude that made Detroit so great won't be overcome by fear and anxiety... And I have faith in God. Faith that God loves Detroit as much as any other city in the world and God wants the best for the people of Detroit.
The greatest gifts God has given us are faith. hope and love. I have faith in the city and in God, I hope for spring and it is love that is going to make it happen.
I posted a song by Kid Rock below. I think it says everything that I wish I could. This post is about Detroit, but it's also about everyone everywhere. We all go through hard times, we all persevere with the help of God, and we all overcome, just like Christ overcame death.
"Even though it's bittersweet and brings us to our knees, it makes us who we are in times like these."
Lord of all people and places, we pray that you would be with us in the long, dark days of winter and that you would bring each of us into spring. Help us overcome all the ups and downs in life and lead us to the eternal spring, which you have prepared for us. Amen.
A time to blog... a little later than normal. I'm just doing one chapter today... but it's an important one!
There is a season for everything. It's good to think of stages of our life as seasons.
I grew up just outside of Detroit where I was able to experience all 4 seasons every year.
Summer was great! No school, baseball every day and fishing on the Detroit River.
Fall was good. My birthday is in fall, it's football season and watching leaves turn colors and fall to the earth is beautiful.
Winter is terrible. Everything is dead, it gets dark early and it's really cold.
But then there is spring... the snow melts, the flowers bloom, Ernie Harwell is on the radio broadcasting Tiger baseball and hope springs anew.
Life is full of ups and downs. Some ups last for a long time and some downs feel like they will never end.
I am very proud to say that I am a Lutheran and a Detroiter, although both the Lutheran Church and the city of Detroit have been experiencing some rough years.
People are leaving the church and people are leaving the city. The church doesn't have any money and the city is broke. Both are stuck in the middle of winter.
I've heard it said that mainline churches, as we know them, will be gone in 20 years. And Detroit is just barely hanging on. But spring is coming.
Jesus had seasons to his life. He was a traveling preacher and performed miracles in the summer. In the early fall his enemies began to plot against him, in mid-fall he was arrested and flogged and on the last day of fall he was crucified. He was dead, like winter for three days. But he rose again, just like the flowers of spring... and since then he has been giving new life to all.
I think it's a good time to be the church. The Lutheran church needed to be refocused, to have a renewed passion for the mission of Jesus Christ. As long as the church never forgets who they are, then the future of the church is bright... because it is God's church.
The city of Detroit needs to be refocused too. No longer can an entire population be dependent upon one industry. I am proud that Detroit is the Motorcity, but it needs to make more than just motors to rebound. I don't have all the answers, but I have faith. Faith that the people of Detroit are going to make it to spring. Faith that the race tensions that hangover from the 1960's will be overcome, faith that the can-do attitude that made Detroit so great won't be overcome by fear and anxiety... And I have faith in God. Faith that God loves Detroit as much as any other city in the world and God wants the best for the people of Detroit.
The greatest gifts God has given us are faith. hope and love. I have faith in the city and in God, I hope for spring and it is love that is going to make it happen.
I posted a song by Kid Rock below. I think it says everything that I wish I could. This post is about Detroit, but it's also about everyone everywhere. We all go through hard times, we all persevere with the help of God, and we all overcome, just like Christ overcame death.
"Even though it's bittersweet and brings us to our knees, it makes us who we are in times like these."
Lord of all people and places, we pray that you would be with us in the long, dark days of winter and that you would bring each of us into spring. Help us overcome all the ups and downs in life and lead us to the eternal spring, which you have prepared for us. Amen.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Ecclesiastes 1 & 2
***Ecclesiastes 1***
"Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever."
It seems like going green is getting more and more popular these days. Scientist warn about global warning, companies advertise that their product is good for polar bears and our recycle bin is more full every week than our garbage can. But why do we do it?
I have heard people say that we need to save the earth... which I don't think is accurate. The earth has been around a long time. I just googled "How old is the earth" and the internet says that it is over 4 billion years old.*
You and I are not going to destroy something that has survived for 4 billion years. The earth has an amazing ability to adapt to change. We are not saving the earth.
We are making the earth a better place to live. It is better for us if the polar ice caps are bigger, it is better for us if we do not plow through the world's natural resources, and it is better for us if we keep landfills to a minimum. Going green is about us.
But we are not saving ourselves, Jesus already saved us. I would argue that going green is fulfilling Jesus' commandment to love our neighbors. We can't possibly love everybody, but we can care for the earth so that it is a better place for everybody to live.
But I'm keeping my Dodge Ram.
*Sidenote: Some Christians would argue that the earth is 6,000 years old and was created in 6 days... I don't agree with that, there is too much in science to convince me otherwise, but I respect their belief. I have heard every argument Under the sun on both sides, and I choose to believe that God waited 4 billion years for you and for me... it gives a whole new meaning to "love is patient."*
***Ecclesiastes 2***
This blog is meaningless. But then again, everything is meaningless according to the author.
Especially work and the accumulation of wealth. Seems like things 3,000 years weren't much different than they are today. Our society is driven by the accumulation of wealth.
Before I went to seminary I worked for Chrysler with a guy named Ron. Ron was in his 60's and had been with Chrysler for a long time. He could have retired any day, but he just kept working, kept building his wealth. He finally did retire, he moved down south to his retirement house and died 2 months later.
It is a sad story, but not an uncommon one. The quest for wealth is a scary road. It can change people, can lead to ruined marriages and can cause people to make bad decisions. It often leads to a meaningless life.
I'm not saying that working is a bad thing. But doing something with the sole motivation of getting rich is not a good way to live.
Instead we are called to be motivated by God's love... but how far are we willing to take it?
Here is the questions I have been struggling with: Am I willing to pay $5 per gallon for gas if it means that people who have been oppressed are now living as free people in a democracy? (Of course I realize that the price of gas is set by greedy commodity investors and oil executives... but it is still a fair question.)
Am I motivated by wealth or by God's love? The truth is I am motivated by both... we all are. We must live with both.
But know this: we will be fulfilled by one and the other is meaningless.
"Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever."
It seems like going green is getting more and more popular these days. Scientist warn about global warning, companies advertise that their product is good for polar bears and our recycle bin is more full every week than our garbage can. But why do we do it?
I have heard people say that we need to save the earth... which I don't think is accurate. The earth has been around a long time. I just googled "How old is the earth" and the internet says that it is over 4 billion years old.*
You and I are not going to destroy something that has survived for 4 billion years. The earth has an amazing ability to adapt to change. We are not saving the earth.
We are making the earth a better place to live. It is better for us if the polar ice caps are bigger, it is better for us if we do not plow through the world's natural resources, and it is better for us if we keep landfills to a minimum. Going green is about us.
But we are not saving ourselves, Jesus already saved us. I would argue that going green is fulfilling Jesus' commandment to love our neighbors. We can't possibly love everybody, but we can care for the earth so that it is a better place for everybody to live.
But I'm keeping my Dodge Ram.
*Sidenote: Some Christians would argue that the earth is 6,000 years old and was created in 6 days... I don't agree with that, there is too much in science to convince me otherwise, but I respect their belief. I have heard every argument Under the sun on both sides, and I choose to believe that God waited 4 billion years for you and for me... it gives a whole new meaning to "love is patient."*
***Ecclesiastes 2***
This blog is meaningless. But then again, everything is meaningless according to the author.
Especially work and the accumulation of wealth. Seems like things 3,000 years weren't much different than they are today. Our society is driven by the accumulation of wealth.
Before I went to seminary I worked for Chrysler with a guy named Ron. Ron was in his 60's and had been with Chrysler for a long time. He could have retired any day, but he just kept working, kept building his wealth. He finally did retire, he moved down south to his retirement house and died 2 months later.
It is a sad story, but not an uncommon one. The quest for wealth is a scary road. It can change people, can lead to ruined marriages and can cause people to make bad decisions. It often leads to a meaningless life.
I'm not saying that working is a bad thing. But doing something with the sole motivation of getting rich is not a good way to live.
Instead we are called to be motivated by God's love... but how far are we willing to take it?
Here is the questions I have been struggling with: Am I willing to pay $5 per gallon for gas if it means that people who have been oppressed are now living as free people in a democracy? (Of course I realize that the price of gas is set by greedy commodity investors and oil executives... but it is still a fair question.)
Am I motivated by wealth or by God's love? The truth is I am motivated by both... we all are. We must live with both.
But know this: we will be fulfilled by one and the other is meaningless.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)