Fifth Sunday in Lent

It's once again Sunday -- the day when we feast and celebrate the resurrection of Christ! More details can be found at http://lentendevotions.blogspot.com/
Some things to think about this week:

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"I think joy and sweetness and affection are a spiritual path. We're here to know God, to love and serve God, and to be blown away by the beauty and miracle of nature. You just have to get rid of so much baggage to be light enough to dance, to sing, to play. You don't have time to carry grudges; you don't have time to cling to the need to be right."
- Anne Lamott, From http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080305/CULTURE/439077059


"At any given point in time, each of us, as believers, can take a look at the spiritual landscape and share from our perspective what we see. We can share the real impressions in our heart about what God's Spirit is doing in our lives, in the church, and in the world today. In fact, when we do that, we find greater revelation in the sharing of vision with one another."
- From http://kingdomgrace.wordpress.com/2008/02/28/prophetic-words/

"You are different. You are different because now you know that God exists, and [God] alone matters. It is an overwhelming, awesome thought.... You are different in the sense that now all people belong to you and are part of you, and you belong to all people. At the same time, you belong only to God, and you belong to [God] totally. There is a distinction between you and others, and at the same time, there is no distinction at all, but a blending of all into one. The demarcation that exists is a spiritual one, born of what you have lived and what you can never explain."
- Catherine de Hueck Doherty "Soul of My Soul", From http://blog.beliefnet.com/godspolitics/2008/01/voice-of-the-day-you-are-diffe-1.html

President Jimmy Carter opened the conference with a challenge that strikes at the heart of division within the Baptist and Christian church at large. Carter named the wedge issues that have fragmented the church - from the ordination of women to homosexuality, abortion, capital punishment, etc. - and then asked the participants whether a shared belief in the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ and a commitment to spreading the gospel was more important than all these divisions combined. Carter compared these divisions to the ones that Paul addressed in his letters to the early church in Corinth. According to Carter, "these animosities have become a cancer that is mestacizing in the body of Christ."
- From http://blog.beliefnet.com/godspolitics/2008/02/a-new-baptist-unity-for-social.html

Lent Day #28

Matthew 22:34-40 (ESV)
34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" 37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

THOUGHTS:
One of the fads of Christianity of the past decade has been the WWJD craze. There are T-shirts, bracelets, books, and more all reminding us to ask ourselves "What Would Jesus Do?" It's a valid question, but if we want to boil discipleship down to one question, is it the best question?

Jesus said over and over again that he was here to do the will of God. Maybe a better question is "What is God calling me to do in this situation?" It's not as catchy, I know. Maybe I'll have to work on that.

Or maybe the answer is staring at us right here in these verses. Jesus is flat out asked what the most important commandment. Frequently, Jesus answers questions with more questions. This time he doesn't. He says that "all the Law and the Prophets" -- the bulk of Hebrew scripture -- can be boiled down to loving God and loving our neighbor. In a bit more detail, we are to love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. In ***, Jesus includes "all of your might" in the list. Think about these items. Our heart is associated with our feelings that bubble up from our gut. Our soul is viewed as our spiritual essence. Our mind is how we logically process and understand information. Our might encompasses our determination and physical endurance. We are to love God with the totality of our being -- with EVERYTHING we are.

Do we even have *control* over ALL of these aspects? If they are involuntary, can we train these aspects of ourselves?

How do we love God with all of our heart, and all of our soul, and all of our mind, and all of our might?

Maybe instead of WWJD, we should ask in each situation "How do I show love for God and neighbor?"

PRAYER:
Dearest Lord, help us to learn to love you with all of our heart, soul, mind, and might. Thank you for being with us as we go through our days. Please immerse us in your grace and peace. In the name of Jesus, the Christ, your son. AMEN.

Lent Day #27

Psalm 118:24-29 (NIV)
24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.
27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you.
29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.



THOUGHTS:
Today, most of you are in the midst of another day of chilly rain. Meanwhile, I'm in Ohio/Kentucky where it is snowing. Now, I love snow -- it's so beautiful as it floats down from the sky and blankets the earth in a covering of white. It's also fun to play in! That being said, the headline for the local newspaper today reads, "worst storm of the year". I just spend 75 minutes traveling 22 miles on slippery highway in my wife's lightweight car.



I'm here for a wedding, and I find myself praying that everyone has safe travels and is able to make it to this happy event. Yesterday at the rehearsal, the view from the pavillion overlooking Cincinatti was stunning. Today, I can no longer see the skyscrapers across the Ohio River when I look out of my hotel window. Will we see the lights of the skyline at night ... or merely the wall of white that we see now? Predictions call for as much as 13 inches of snow to fall before we drive to Columbus tomorrow. Driving in this isn't much better than getting soaked while walking across campus.



It's easy to rejoice in the beautiful sunny spring days that come. It's the days like these when the weather throws us for a loop that maybe we need to remember to rejoice. Your gut instinct may not be joyful, but take the time to be thankful for another day of experiences -- another day of life. Celebrate God's love for you. This day, rejoice!



PRAYER:
Oh God, we praise you for this day. It may not be what we wanted or expected, but we rejoice in the bounty of all that you have made. In Jesus name, AMEN.


NOTES:
Yes, this picture was actually taken out of my hotel room window and there really are abundant skyscrapers just past the bridges in the wall of white...

Lent Day #26

1 Corinthians 10:23-33 (ESV)
23 "All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

THOUGHTS:
What does Paul mean here? It is easy to understand that "not all things are helpful" ... that "not all things build up". His main point here is about food, but it is clear when he says "whatever you do" in verse 31 that he intends for this type of thinking to apply to extend to everything.

We know that there are many things we can do that are harmful or destructive. Some of these things are There are many things we know are harmful and destructive. There are things that can be done and said that tear down our neighbor and our environment. Paul indicates that it's also not helpful to do things that lead others away from faith. He says that we shouldn't do those things that lead others away from faith ... away from God.

He says that his liberty should be determined by "someone else's conscience" (verse 29). I have a hard time with this. I agree that we shouldn't be hypocrites -- that we live according to our beliefs. Yet, should we also try to live within a box of what others believe a Christian should be like? There are people who believe a Christian should never drink a drop of alcohol, yet Jesus drank wine. I could list for paragraphs various things that people think "good Christians" should or should not do -- with no scriptural basis.

So what does this passage mean for us today?

PRAYER:
Dear God, help us to wrestle with Your Word. Help us to live in the questions, knowing that we find you in the struggle and sometimes answers aren't the point. Allow us to immerse ourselves in you, that we might truly live. AMEN.

Lent Day #25

Romans 8:1-2 (ESV)
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

THOUGHTS:
In Jesus the Christ we have been set free from the law of sin and death. What does this mean to you?

Do you live any differently because of this knowledge? Do you think this frees us to do whatever we want with no consequences? Probably not. We all know that there are consequences for our actions. We can hurt those around us. We know that we should love God and neighbor...

Maybe this "law of the Spirit of life" has set us free to love neighbor even when the law doesn't require it.

How does this impact your life?

PRAYER:
God, we ask that you are with us each day -- that every day you help us to set our hearts and minds on your ways -- that you help us to use this freedom we find in Jesus for doing your work here and now. Please lead us and guide us all the days of our lives. AMEN.

Lent Day #24

Isaiah 43:22-26 (ESV)
22 "Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob;
but you have been weary of me, O Israel!
23 You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings,
or honored me with your sacrifices.
I have not burdened you with offerings,
or wearied you with frankincense.
24 You have not bought me sweet cane with money,
or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened me with your sins;
you have wearied me with your iniquities.
25 "I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake,
and I will not remember your sins.

26 Put me in remembrance; let us argue together;
set forth your case, that you may be proved right."

THOUGHTS:
The speaker here is God (see Isaiah 43:15). There is a common perception is that God is all wrath and retribution in the Hebrew Scriptures ... and that the Christian Scriptures are all Jesus, love, and grace. In truth, we find a lot of love and grace throughout the Bible (and yes, there is some smiting too). It's not a simple story about a "vengeful God" and a "loving Jesus" who shelters us from God's smiting. Sometimes, it seems like God is a bit moody, but we see repeatedly where God loves all of creation. God tries time and time again to reconcile the world even in the midst of his dissatisfaction with our sins. God seeks to draw us in under God's wings and hold us close.

God gives us free will and then longs for us to focus our attention on God. Sometimes I can't help thinking that God seems immature -- that God's jealously seems to win out and control decisions. In these times, I am comforted that God kept trying and trying to erase the roadblocks that kept us far away -- that God is always doing new things (see Isaiah 43:19). At the times I want to argue with God, I take comfort in the fact that this is part of the Judeo-Christian heritage. It isn't sacrilegious or irreverent or heretical to argue with God. God invites us to argue together -- insisting that we could even be proved right! (See Isaiah 43:26 above.)

One of my favorite things about this passage is the imagery of God's forgiveness in verse 25. It says that when God forgives us, our sins are no longer remembered -- the forgiveness is so complete that it is like the sins never even happened! Here is another translation of Isaiah 43:25 (JPS)

"It is I, I who -- for My own sake --
Wipe your transgressions away
And remember your sins no more."

Wait -- for whose sake? God forgives us for God's sake. Why?

I think maybe God will do whatever it takes to erase the things that separate us from God.

What do you think?

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, we thank you for the sheer depth of your love. Help us to remember that your ways are not our ways, and help us to do our part to remove the walls we build up between us and You. We know that we can't do it on our own. We want to dwell freely in your shadow and to recognize Your Spirit moving in the world around us. In Jesus name, AMEN.

Lent Day #23

Luke 5:17-26 (ESV)

17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, "Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—he said to the man who was paralyzed—"I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home." 25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. 26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, "We have seen extraordinary things today."

THOUGHTS (By Pastor Dan Krewson):

Jesus forgives sins. We may have been taught this so many times that we pass it by unquestioningly. Yet this text reminds us, that those who first encountered Jesus were astounded that he would claim to forgive sins. That was God's area of expertise. How is it that this carpenter turned preacher, Jesus of Nazareth, could say such a thing? Do you remember when the power of forgiveness astounded you? As a boy, I recall my brothers and I broke a ceramic eagle clock (while playing football in the house!). Our parents weren't around when it happened so we debated whether to glue it back together and not tell them, or confess and bear the brunt of the consequences. When it was all said and done we did both - admitted our mistake and then glued its wings back together in hopes of a reprieve! Much to our delight, mom and dad were not as concerned with the ceramic clock as they were with teaching us the power of forgiveness (of course, we did not play football again inside!). But they made it clear they still loved us - and they placed that mended eagle clock on top of the TV from then on - perhaps knowing that the glued-on wings would serve as a constant reminder to the power of forgiveness. Those who encounter Jesus discover that in his presence - there is forgiveness of sin - what an amazing and wonderful gift! Give thanks for the power and release which comes when forgiveness mends a broken relationship or a broken heart.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY'S JOURNEY:

(By Rev. Peter Trow)

Let there be respect for the earth,
Peace for its people,
Love in our lives,
Delight in the good,
Forgiveness for past wrongs
And from now on, a new start.

Fourth Sunday in Lent

It is Sunday and we once again celebrate the resurrection of the Christ. Sundays aren't part of Lent -- they are days when we recognize that the tomb is empty and we shout for joy! For more info on this, track back through past Sundays at http://lentendevotions.blogspot.com/
Some thoughts for the journey:

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To put away judgmentalism is to practice grace. It's the recognition that if you experienced your neighbor's situation as they experience it, that you, too, might sin as they sin. In terms of your religious practice, grace doesn't change the terms of sin. It does change, however, your response to sin. And isn't that what love is supposed to be about?
-- From http://treereach.blogspot.com/2008/02/judgmental.html

"Too often I looked at being relevant, popular, and powerful as ingredients of an effective ministry. The truth, however, is that these are not vocations but temptations. Jesus asks, "Do you love me?" Jesus sends us out to be shephers, and Jesus promises a life in which we increasingly have to stretch out our hands and be led to places where we would rather not go. He asks us to move from a concern for relevance to a life of prayer, from worries about popularity to communal and mutual ministry, and from a leadership built on power to a leadership in which we critically discern where God is leading us and our people."
-- Henri Nouwen "In the Name of Jesus", From http://blog.beliefnet.com/godspolitics/2008/01/too-often-i-looked-at.html

A quote from the film "A Time for Burning":
"the gospel is not about an air-conditioned building and stained-glass, it is a place where men reach for justice, love, and understanding." - bill youngdahl, the white pastor who lost his job over this simple request.
-- From http://kathyescobar.com/2008/02/26/a-time-for-burning/


"To live, we must daily break the bread and shed the blood of creation. ... When we do this knowingly, lovingly, skillfully, reverently, it is a sacrament. When we do it ignorantly, greedily, clumsily, destructively, it is a desecration. ... In such desecration, we condemn ourselves to spiritual and moral loneliness and others to want." How can your life be a living sacrament to the wonders of creation?
-- Wendell Berry, "The Gift of Good Land", From the ELCA's "Living Earth: A 40-Day Reflection on
Our Relationship With God's Creation"