The Angel Gabriel is asking Mary for a favor. This is Gabriel’s second appearance in this Christmas story. The angel had already visited Zechariah and left him speechless. The powerful presence of an angelic messenger left the religious leader silent. He wasn’t able to speak for nine months. Then in the sixth month of the pregnancy of Elizabeth, Angel Gabriel came to visit Mary. Mary keeps her thoughts to herself. The angel said: “Greetings favored one” – one who God brings grace
Mary’s angelic visitor comes to ask a favor! Hey, um God wants to fulfill the promise of sending a savior to the world that will be Immanuel and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever and his kingdom will reign forever and ever. He will grow and the favor of God is upon him (Luke 2:40). You will raise him as your own child and watch him mature into a man. You’ll even have to watch him die on a cross before all of Jerusalem! Do you mind helping out? Can you help with me with this favor? She was open to doing God a favor.
When the angel said, “Mary, Most favored one”, it doesn’t mean that God chose Mary because of a certain quality. The Latin translation and if you grew up Roman Catholic, you would know is “Hail Mary, Full of Grace”. This perspective leads to a sort of Marian devotion. It lifts Mary up really high because we think that God plays favorites. She is not God’s favorite child or God is not playing favorites! She hasn’t earned God’s favor; God is bringing favored upon her; Mary is the recipient of Grace. The word “favored one” in the Greek is charitoo; is from “charis” and it means grace, endue with special honor:—highly favoured.
What kind of favor is he asking for? My wife helped give some kid a jump in his truck at the store today. I picked up my brother in Niles and drove him to the airport! Doug Haugen was available for pastoral care emergencies while I was gone. We all participate in doing and receiving favors from others.
We have all received a favor or done a favor. It means to do it without expecting something in return. When someone asks, “Can you do me a favor”, you don’t keep a tally of how many they have done and how many you have done for them. Sometimes we may feel that we have lost favor with others or with God. Yet today we are reminded that we have all received favor; found favor
This favor would leave Zechariah and Elizabeth’s life’s changed forever. Their son would be the one who prepare the way for Jesus, John the Baptist, and John would die at the hands of King Herod. The angel’s favor would leave Mary changed forever. Nothing like being a favorite child and the burden and responsibility that calling carries. Pregnancy is never easy or safe from complications. The hope that Gabriel proclaims is a vulnerable hope - fragile, ambiguous, contrary to experience.
So much of our lives is spent operating out of fear. On the way to the airport, signs remind us of the Orange threat level. We are afraid to stand before our relatives who are hurting during this season and offer just our ears like Zechariah. We are afraid to offer a favor to a friend or a family member because we know we’ve been burned before. We are afraid to land at Midway knowing that there is ice and snow everywhere as we land on Friday mid-morning. We fear what will happen as we get older, watching our relatives and friends get sick.
The angel brings a word of comfort by saying: Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. I’m afraid that I have fallen out of favor with God? How can I find favor with God? Being favored also offers a promise. The angel Gabriel said to both Zechariah and to Mary, “Don’t be afraid! Don’t be afraid. You are the Favored One, God is with you. God is calling you do bear and birth new life this Christmas as we enter the favor of God’s good graces in Christ.
I spoke words of encouragement on Thursday to my sister and family at the funeral of her husband, Larry Ellington, who died in Mississippi on Monday. I spoke the words of Jesus when spoke Jesus words to the disciples in John 14: “Do not let your hearts be troubled; don’t let them be afraid. In my father’s house there are many mansions, If it were not so would I go and prepare a place for you so that where I am you may be also. And you know the place that I am going.”
We have found favor with God and there is room for us all in God’s house. We are called by the one who favors us; who fancies us; and has done us the greatest favor ever! The one who favor you has offered a substitute to take your place. What a great favor! We are called to by God today, who is knocking on the window; who is ringing the bell. Do me a favor, open the door, and let ‘em in; yeah, yeah; yeah, yeah, yeah! Even if you don’t open the door; the messengers of God are being sent to you again in this favorable season. We receive this favor like Mary, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord. Let it be with me according to you word.”
Let us pray: Gracious God, you have granted us your favor and welcomed us back into your favor. We are granted your favor and you call us to share that favor with others. Guide us in this favorable season, we pray in Jesus name, Amen.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Luke 1:26-28 - "The Greatest Favor" (12-21-08)
The Angel Gabriel is asking Mary for a favor. This is Gabriel’s second appearance in this Christmas story. The angel had already visited Zechariah and left him speechless. The powerful presence of an angelic messenger left the religious leader silent. He wasn’t able to speak for nine months. Then in the sixth month of the pregnancy of Elizabeth, Angel Gabriel came to visit Mary. Mary keeps her thoughts to herself. The angel said: “Greetings favored one” – one who God brings grace
Mary’s angelic visitor comes to ask a favor! Hey, um God wants to fulfill the promise of sending a savior to the world that will be Immanuel and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever and his kingdom will reign forever and ever. He will grow and the favor of God is upon him (Luke 2:40). You will raise him as your own child and watch him mature into a man. You’ll even have to watch him die on a cross before all of Jerusalem! Do you mind helping out? Can you help with me with this favor? She was open to doing God a favor.
When the angel said, “Mary, Most favored one”, it doesn’t mean that God chose Mary because of a certain quality. The Latin translation and if you grew up Roman Catholic, you would know is “Hail Mary, Full of Grace”. This perspective leads to a sort of Marian devotion. It lifts Mary up really high because we think that God plays favorites. She is not God’s favorite child or God is not playing favorites! She hasn’t earned God’s favor; God is bringing favored upon her; Mary is the recipient of Grace. The word “favored one” in the Greek is charitoo; is from “charis” and it means grace, endue with special honor:—highly favoured.
What kind of favor is he asking for? My wife helped give some kid a jump in his truck at the store today. I picked up my brother in Niles and drove him to the airport! Doug Haugen was available for pastoral care emergencies while I was gone. We all participate in doing and receiving favors from others.
We have all received a favor or done a favor. It means to do it without expecting something in return. When someone asks, “Can you do me a favor”, you don’t keep a tally of how many they have done and how many you have done for them. Sometimes we may feel that we have lost favor with others or with God. Yet today we are reminded that we have all received favor; found favor
This favor would leave Zechariah and Elizabeth’s life’s changed forever. Their son would be the one who prepare the way for Jesus, John the Baptist, and John would die at the hands of King Herod. The angel’s favor would leave Mary changed forever. Nothing like being a favorite child and the burden and responsibility that calling carries. Pregnancy is never easy or safe from complications. The hope that Gabriel proclaims is a vulnerable hope - fragile, ambiguous, contrary to experience.
So much of our lives is spent operating out of fear. On the way to the airport, signs remind us of the Orange threat level. We are afraid to stand before our relatives who are hurting during this season and offer just our ears like Zechariah. We are afraid to offer a favor to a friend or a family member because we know we’ve been burned before. We are afraid to land at Midway knowing that there is ice and snow everywhere as we land on Friday mid-morning. We fear what will happen as we get older, watching our relatives and friends get sick.
The angel brings a word of comfort by saying: Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. I’m afraid that I have fallen out of favor with God? How can I find favor with God? Being favored also offers a promise. The angel Gabriel said to both Zechariah and to Mary, “Don’t be afraid! Don’t be afraid. You are the Favored One, God is with you. God is calling you do bear and birth new life this Christmas as we enter the favor of God’s good graces in Christ.
I spoke words of encouragement on Thursday to my sister and family at the funeral of her husband, Larry Ellington, who died in Mississippi on Monday. I spoke the words of Jesus when spoke Jesus words to the disciples in John 14: “Do not let your hearts be troubled; don’t let them be afraid. In my father’s house there are many mansions, If it were not so would I go and prepare a place for you so that where I am you may be also. And you know the place that I am going.”
We have found favor with God and there is room for us all in God’s house. We are called by the one who favors us; who fancies us; and has done us the greatest favor ever! The one who favor you has offered a substitute to take your place. What a great favor! We are called to by God today, who is knocking on the window; who is ringing the bell. Do me a favor, open the door, and let ‘em in; yeah, yeah; yeah, yeah, yeah! Even if you don’t open the door; the messengers of God are being sent to you again in this favorable season. We receive this favor like Mary, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord. Let it be with me according to you word.”
Let us pray: Gracious God, you have granted us your favor and welcomed us back into your favor. We are granted your favor and you call us to share that favor with others. Guide us in this favorable season, we pray in Jesus name, Amen.
Mary’s angelic visitor comes to ask a favor! Hey, um God wants to fulfill the promise of sending a savior to the world that will be Immanuel and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever and his kingdom will reign forever and ever. He will grow and the favor of God is upon him (Luke 2:40). You will raise him as your own child and watch him mature into a man. You’ll even have to watch him die on a cross before all of Jerusalem! Do you mind helping out? Can you help with me with this favor? She was open to doing God a favor.
When the angel said, “Mary, Most favored one”, it doesn’t mean that God chose Mary because of a certain quality. The Latin translation and if you grew up Roman Catholic, you would know is “Hail Mary, Full of Grace”. This perspective leads to a sort of Marian devotion. It lifts Mary up really high because we think that God plays favorites. She is not God’s favorite child or God is not playing favorites! She hasn’t earned God’s favor; God is bringing favored upon her; Mary is the recipient of Grace. The word “favored one” in the Greek is charitoo; is from “charis” and it means grace, endue with special honor:—highly favoured.
What kind of favor is he asking for? My wife helped give some kid a jump in his truck at the store today. I picked up my brother in Niles and drove him to the airport! Doug Haugen was available for pastoral care emergencies while I was gone. We all participate in doing and receiving favors from others.
We have all received a favor or done a favor. It means to do it without expecting something in return. When someone asks, “Can you do me a favor”, you don’t keep a tally of how many they have done and how many you have done for them. Sometimes we may feel that we have lost favor with others or with God. Yet today we are reminded that we have all received favor; found favor
This favor would leave Zechariah and Elizabeth’s life’s changed forever. Their son would be the one who prepare the way for Jesus, John the Baptist, and John would die at the hands of King Herod. The angel’s favor would leave Mary changed forever. Nothing like being a favorite child and the burden and responsibility that calling carries. Pregnancy is never easy or safe from complications. The hope that Gabriel proclaims is a vulnerable hope - fragile, ambiguous, contrary to experience.
So much of our lives is spent operating out of fear. On the way to the airport, signs remind us of the Orange threat level. We are afraid to stand before our relatives who are hurting during this season and offer just our ears like Zechariah. We are afraid to offer a favor to a friend or a family member because we know we’ve been burned before. We are afraid to land at Midway knowing that there is ice and snow everywhere as we land on Friday mid-morning. We fear what will happen as we get older, watching our relatives and friends get sick.
The angel brings a word of comfort by saying: Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. I’m afraid that I have fallen out of favor with God? How can I find favor with God? Being favored also offers a promise. The angel Gabriel said to both Zechariah and to Mary, “Don’t be afraid! Don’t be afraid. You are the Favored One, God is with you. God is calling you do bear and birth new life this Christmas as we enter the favor of God’s good graces in Christ.
I spoke words of encouragement on Thursday to my sister and family at the funeral of her husband, Larry Ellington, who died in Mississippi on Monday. I spoke the words of Jesus when spoke Jesus words to the disciples in John 14: “Do not let your hearts be troubled; don’t let them be afraid. In my father’s house there are many mansions, If it were not so would I go and prepare a place for you so that where I am you may be also. And you know the place that I am going.”
We have found favor with God and there is room for us all in God’s house. We are called by the one who favors us; who fancies us; and has done us the greatest favor ever! The one who favor you has offered a substitute to take your place. What a great favor! We are called to by God today, who is knocking on the window; who is ringing the bell. Do me a favor, open the door, and let ‘em in; yeah, yeah; yeah, yeah, yeah! Even if you don’t open the door; the messengers of God are being sent to you again in this favorable season. We receive this favor like Mary, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord. Let it be with me according to you word.”
Let us pray: Gracious God, you have granted us your favor and welcomed us back into your favor. We are granted your favor and you call us to share that favor with others. Guide us in this favorable season, we pray in Jesus name, Amen.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Mark 1:1-8 - "Prepare Which Way?" (12-7-08)
John the Baptist is screaming for people to prepare! There he is out at the
These words of John the Baptist call out to us with the words of Isaiah, “Prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight his path. John is quoting Isaiah 40: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.” This map shows that the people were living in exile along the Tigris and
This is a season of preparation. We are preparing for Christmas. Perhaps in some ways, John the Baptist is preparing us again for Christmas the way Saint Nicolas is preparing us! The main difference is John the Baptist will confront the forces that defy God and have his head cut off. Yet our focus on Santa Claus begins to prepare us for Christmas. Yet yesterday was the day we remember the birth of Saint Nicholas. December 6th is the day we remember the birth of Saint Nicholas, who was born in 270AD and died in 346AD. He was known as Nicholas of Myra in Modern Day Turkey. He became a priest and bishop, serving the poor and providing for the basic needs. He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him.[1]
Saint in the Latin in Santus, which of course led to Santa and the Nicholas turned into Nick or Claus, we have eventually Santa Claus. Well Nathan shared that the Danish tradition is to leave a boot out for Saint Nicolas. So after the Eagle Scout ceremony on Friday, Nathan and I did such a thing. I told him that Saint Nicholas usually brought food or left money for the food pantry. Lo and behold on Saturday morning, there was a can of soup and $5 in their boots for the food pantry.
We are all preparing for Christmas. One thing we do to prepare for Christmas in our family is to make cookies. Well Tammy does the baking. Yet I decided to make oatmeal raisin chocolate chip cookies with the kids on Monday as a way to prepare. They were up on the chair and I had the kitchen aid mixer. Put that in my hands and it turned into a power tool. I cranked it up to ten and the kids were watching the dough spin and spin. It was cool. Yet I wasn’t prepared well because I added a tablespoon of baking soda instead of a teaspoon – bad after taste. I asked the kids if they wanted a taste of the dough and Nathan said, “You don’t eat it with uncooked eggs”. And I said, “You are right young man, don’t ever do that!” Also, with the batter being so whipped, the cookies came out flat. “They don’t look like Oma’s cookies.”
There are so many things to prepare to celebrate Christmas. We all have different things we do to prepare for Christ. There are many different ways to prepare. You have to pull out the lights, the tree, decorations, cookies, shop and plan for parties and gifts. How do you prepare for Christmas? What are some of the things you do to prepare? Often some of these vary things we do to prepare have to do with the way we prepared and celebrated Christmas in the past. Putting up the tree with the kids this year I was able to share the stories of many of the ornaments. We went shopping for gift certificates for Tammy and the kids told her we shopped. They didn’t say what we got her but they told her we went shopping.
Yet the preparation puts so much pressure on us to have a joy-filled Christmas when things just don’t seem very joyful. Yet today, let’s prepare by going back to the beginning of what Christmas is all about. Let’s prepare for Christmas by looking to the past. We go back to the beginning of the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ. John tells us of the coming of Christ and the people prepare to receive Christ by confessing and repenting of their sins. Even if we are not yet prepared or ready, Christ comes to us; catching us unprepared and unrepentant. Even if we are not prepared to be filled with so much joy this season, Christ comes to us and surprises us with a joy found in struggle. Nothing shall stand in the way! Make straight a highway!
Let us pray: Gracious God, you catch us busy and unprepared to receive Christ today. You come to us and bear the price of our sin upon the cross. The exile is over and a way has been made for us through Christ. Guide us in this way until that final way is made clear. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Mark 13:24-37 - "The Last Lecture: Keep Awake" (11-30-08)
Randy Pausch had been diagnosed with cancer and later died at age 47 this past July of 2008. He delivered his last lecture in September of 2007 and had the 400 seat lecture hall filled. Over the course of 53 conversations with Jeffrey Zaslow, they wrote a book called The Last Lecture. He appeared on Oprah and was ABC News one of its three Persons of the Year. Keep awake is what Randy Pausch tried to tell people before he died this past summer.[1]
Jesus was lecturing the disciples one last time before his death and resurrection. It wasn’t in a classroom but probably on the road to
When that day arrives, the elect will be gathered. There is no mention about what happens to the unbelievers. This reminds us that we are not to judge others. We should not rush to judge those who reject the gospel; nowhere does Jesus to focus their attention upon the fate of unbelievers; nor should we spend much time telling them where they might go. We are called to be awake and to watch. We should have care and attention of the garden at which you are called to serve; take care of the assigned tasks that are your responsibility.[2]
Now in the Old Testament, there were three main examples about staying awake[3]. The main image of staying awake during the night is that of the watchman. The first image is that of those serving in the vineyard garden. They would build a watchtower around a vineyard to keep out thieves in the night. It was a sin to fall asleep on the job. The second image of those that were to stay awake as watchmen were the guards on the city wall. They would warn the city that they were going to be attacked. They would sound the alarm and make the city aware of what was going to happen. The third image of the watchman in the Old Testament is from the role of the prophets. The Prophets were called to keep awake toward evil that lies nearby. They would warn the people and be convicted themselves of the sin that is ever near. The prophets sometimes sounded like a man who was lecturing the people and warning them about the consequence to their poor behavior.
So we are called to stay awake. We are called to beware and be-aware this Christmas season. We were made very aware my friends of the 6am wake up call to go shopping on Friday. We were very aware that the K-mart sale was ending at noon on the buy one get one free “Leapster” games that were on sale. Of course I was aware of the stressful driving season when I went to get the car and meet Tammy over at Borders, where she was buying a book for herself so that I could give it to her for Christmas – my kind of shopping. In the parking lot, there was all this honking as someone was impatiently waiting to nab a handicap parking spot from someone who was slowly getting ready to leave. Ah, beware of the shopping stress!
We are very aware that Christmas is coming as soon as we have heard the music playing on the radio since the end of October; or we have seen the endless catalogs in the mail or those advertisements on television. We know that the marketing of Christmas is all around us long before it is actually here.
So today we are aware that advent has begun. Advent means Coming – Christ has come; Christ is here; Christ will come again. Today we celebrate three advents of Christ. Christ has come to bring life. Christ is here present in the midst of us wherever to or more are gathered in his name, and in the bread and wine; and in the word proclaimed when we share the word with one another in action and in words. Christ will come again and there will be no more pain, no more sorrow. He shall reign forever and ever.
Yesterday I was invited to join a “Facebook” group called the “Advent Conspiracy”. I’ve been getting into blogging the past few months. Initially I thought it was some anti-Advent group. Some people don’t like Advent because they want to get right to Christmas. You know what December 25th is? Christmas! Not a trick question. The twelve days of Christmas are AFTER Christmas. We are still in Advent and we are waiting patiently. Well the group “Advent Conspiracy” is described this way, (whisper) “Advent Conspiracy is an international movement restoring the scandal of Christmas by substituting compassion for consumption”[4]. Oh, what a prophetic word today you are called to hear and be awake and alert.
Beware of consumption! Be-aware of compassion. Be-aware of the gift of life that is Christ. WAKE UP and beware of falling into lethargy as Christians. Be-aware that Jesus is coming to us soon and we don’t know when. God is waking us up from our slumber. We are called to keep awake. To be servants tending to the assigned tasks each of us has in life.
A few years ago, there was a study that showed two out of three kids will sleep through the fire alarm sounding in your home. They have new ones that you can record your voice and it will play over and over again to wake them up. Not that they listen to your voice while they are awake, but they will more readily wake up when they hear you warning them to wake up.
God is trying to whisper to us to wake up and beware of that great fire. Listen to the sweet voice of God calling out to you this day as we gather. Let us pray: Gracious God, you are calling out to us to hear your voice today. We gather in this season of waiting uncertain about celebrating anything. Many feel loss or fear or pain during this season. Speak to us with your sweet voice that we may hear you calling to us. We pray in Jesus name, Amen.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Matthew 13:1-9 - "Planting Seeds of Faith" (11-23-08)
The teens that just did that skit about the parable of the sower have sure sprouted up into leadership around here. We never know how God’s supernatural ability will take root. So we praise God that the seed is spread out upon various soils, sometime in a very foolish manner without regard to the soil type.
It was the fall of 1988 when Robert Olson of
Jesus was drilling into the disciples the generous spirit of God when he taught them the parable of the sower. The sower went out to sow! There was no preparation of the soil. There was neither removal of the rocks from the rocky area nor any weed removal or fertilizing. It seems so careless not to make sure the soil is ready before you drill the seed into the ground. It seems so wasteful to spend time throwing everywhere instead of intentionally planting seeds in the best soil. It is a broadcast spreader of seed this sower seems to be instead of being responsible for the sowing of the seed everywhere. Perhaps we wouldn’t receive the word of God if it were contingent on the condition of our heart before the seed was planted.
Jesus drilled into them that the promises of God would fall upon all kinds of people, not just those whose soil was good or ready. The word of God was cast upon everyone who had ears. The seed is planted upon those who path is shallow or feeling downtrodden; upon those who life was rocky because of financial uncertainties and upon those who were caught up in the thorns of heartbreak. We gather today to celebrate the good news of Jesus Christ is still being cast out today for us, for hearts, at different times of our lives, are like these four soils and the promises of God are being drilled into us.
We gather today to remember that the church is called to cast the word out generously. The church was planted here in 1992, the year when most of these teenagers were born. We can give God thanks and praise for the “supernatural activity”[1] of God to cause such growth in these young people who led our worship last night. We have watched the faith community grow and develop as we’ve shared the grace of Christ.
A few weeks ago I preached for the fortieth ordination anniversary of Pastor John Harder. He was my first pastor from 1970-1977 at
We are called to recommit our time, talent and treasures into planting seeds of faith here in this place. We don’t worry about the harvest. We don’t take credit for the growth. The Bible says that we plant, we water but God gives the growth.
In Psalm 126, we heard today that those who sow in tears will reap with armloads of joy. It was risky business planting the seeds that could have been used for food. Psalm 126 reminds us that sowing meant you had to depend on that which you didn’t see. You could see these seeds from this years harvest and they could be crushed and made into bread from for those hungry mouths you had to feed most of the winter long and into spring. But the farmer’s family would have to set some of the seeds aside to plant in the spring. I can’t imagine crying over planting seeds uncertain about whether they would turn into another harvest come fall. But perhaps they did with dear longing in their hearts cried with a trust in their heart that the one who provided for them this past year would provide again for them next year. They took that percentage of seeds one must surrender in order to allow God to make something new and more for the future harvest. The result will bring joy and salvation.
Let us pray: Gracious God, you cast your seed of good news upon our hearts today. We gather to ask you remove the stones away and bring healing to the thorny places. Root us deeper in our trust that you will provide that we may sow the word wherever we go, in Jesus name, Amen.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Risky Faith - Matthew 25:14-30 (11-16-08)
Matthew 25:14 – “A man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them.” This man in the story of Matthew 25:14 entrusted everything to these three slaves. There is great risk in giving everything to others with the hope that they will do what the master wants and for the purpose of the master. There is such risk in life; in driving a car, in getting on a plane, on entering a hospital or entering into relationship with others.
There was a risk when I signed the release agreement with the cardiologist on Tuesday. I had a nuclear stress test with an echo cardiogram. The other two gentlemen were older than I was who sat there waiting. The form would release the doctor if something were to happen. My paper work said that 1-10,000 die from the test. About a month ago I found out that my 54 year old sister was going to have an aortic valve replacement and bi-pass. My test turned out just fine but I wanted to know my situation. When I thought about the fact that 1 out of 10,000 people die doing this stress test, I realized that 3 of 100 people die in aortic valve surgery. We all face risks everyday.
These three slaves were called to use their talents and risk losing everything for the sake of building up the
What’s interesting about the reunion of these two slaves is that they said to their Master when he returned, “Master, you handed over to me”. They both viewed the master as the one who gave them what they had. Their life time of working income was a gift from God. They viewed God as generous. The last slaves view of the Master? His response the return of the Master, “‘Master, I knew that you were harsh…” This slave viewed the Master as harsh. He view of God was not one of generous but of harshness. God was mean. God was not fair and was going to punish.
The worthless slave didn’t see that God was willing to risk everything between now and eternity upon our understanding that everything is a gift. The point of giving it to them was that others would benefit, the lost, the least and the last from the last story in Matthew 25 about the sheep and goats. God gave these three slaves a lifetime of wages for the sake of putting it to good use to the benefit of others. Perhaps we think that God is hard on us. There is a purpose we have been given much that we might be good stewards of all that we have been given so that others might benefit.
There is great risk that God has taken to place gifts into our hands until that day when he returns, Matthew 24 and Matthew 25 are about what we do until Jesus returns. We don’t know when he will return, but he will. We wait for the fullness of the
Christianity is at risk of going by the way side my friends not because of any major external threats or great evil that lies outside of us. At the risk of sounding like a mad man up here, we must see that the greatest risk Christianity is facing today in the middle class suburban world is that of consumerism. I risk sounding like an alarmist when I say that we have so much stuff that does not sustain. We risk just becoming some sort of social club instead of the body of Christ.
As we approach Christmas, we forget what the season is all about. Okay, here are a few simple questions. Whose birthday do we celebrate on Christmas? Christ! Yes! Great job! So who should get the presents? Christ! Yes. Tell that to your kids. We’ve kept track of our Christmas spending the past two years and we are changing things this year. We are not sending out cards. We send out about 200 cards plus postage we spend about $140. We’ll email one out with my poem and a cute photo. We’ll use that money for some hunger program.
So as we approach the advent season, we can trust in the promises of God. I want to encourage you to look for the signs that Jesus was right, the signs that show right now that the Spirit Jesus sent is living and moving and active in the world to accomplish Jesus' work among us to care for those least, last and lost. They're out there: large and small signs. Here's a large one. Living Waters gave away in mission support and social ministry programs locally and globally over $40,000 in 2007. This is a great sign for our congregation. It is a value that we have that we are called to give it away. I’m not sending out Christmas cards this year to save money and use it to participate in the ELCA food programs. These new members need to know that we are a very risky faith congregation that trusts in the promises of God.
On Wednesday, I had one risky experience. I had needed a new wiper blade on the driver side and went to AutoZone to replace it. I’ve replaced the rubber blade before where you slide it in but now they say just replace the entire blade since my blade was functioning at about 80%. Well I bought the $5 item and went outside to replace it. I took the old one off pretty easily. I was following the instructions with the new one but couldn’t figure it out. There was this little plastic piece and I just couldn’t figure it out. I’m sure the guys insider were just laughing. Then I heard a voice crying in the wilderness. “Need help” one of the guys from inside asked. Sure. He told me it was upside down; clicked it in and it was done. I said, “What’s this little piece for?” He said, “I don’t know, some blades need that I guess.” I risked looking foolish asking for help but help came. For God has promised that one day, God will wipe away all forms of suffering: no more hunger, foreclosure, disease, no pain. We see through a windshield wiper dimly but then we shall see clearly. We can trust in the promises of God enough to risk living as Jesus taught us with grace and joy to use the talents and treasures to bring a sign of God’s great gifts. Let us pray: Gracious God, until that day when you wipe away every tear form our eye, we pray that you will use our gifts for your glory. Bring healing and strength to us in the journey, in Jesus name. Amen.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
John 8:31-36 - "A Reforming Faith" (10-26-08)
So if the son makes you free you will be free indeed. When will we be made free? The verb tenses here from John chapter 8 are all future tenses. The verb is 3rd person singular so it’s plural. The truth will make you free again and again into the future. This means that Jesus is telling us that we will be made free in Christ again and again. But why are we not free in a permanent state to live in this household that we are invited into?
We know that the door keeps getting slammed in our face. We are locked out of this life of freedom and we end up creating our own traditions and manners by which we feel some control of our own destiny. We are imprisoned by our conforming to the idea that we can in some way stay free on my own. We think we can keep the door of grace open on our own. There are various mental, emotional or psychological doors that we try to just push open ourselves so that we may stay permanently free. But we have no place in this house of faith lest we are invited. This is the focus of reformation Sunday.
We are called again today to turn and enter into this freedom! God who formed us in the mother’s womb is continuing to reform us and calls us to reform. Jeremiah 7:3 says that God says “Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place.” Reform in the Greek word is diorthose which means channel to make things right and to straighten thoroughly; rectification. This is where we get the word orthodox, getting back to the basics.
So we recall today that it was October 31, 1517 that Martin Luther posted on the website the 95 THESIS or points of contention that he wanted to discuss further. Inspired by the Holy Spirit to seek to reform the church, he was a part of a reformation movement.
It was then in 1529 that the reformers sent a document that was called Protestatio, and hence, the entire group of reformers came to be branded “Protestants.” Thus, we who belong to any of the denominations that have sprung from the Reformation root have our beginnings in a protest movement firmly inspired by the reforming work of the Holy Spirit.[1] We don’t celebrate “protestant” Sunday but reformation Sunday.
Now the reformation continued in 1999. The Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation signed the Joint Declaration of Faith back in the same place where the reformation started. I had the chance to preach there. It is my hope that we will invite them next year on Reformation Day to preach here and have a service of prayer together.
God is continuing to reform the church. I saw this happening in the past week when I attended a Catalyst prayer meeting of church leaders of
God continues to reform us in Christ through worship, prayer, scripture and community that we might know the more excellent way and be a people of reconciliation. When we gather for worship, we are reminded of how imprisoned we are before God. Prayer and scripture expose us to the truth about ourselves and a door slams in our face for we are not free. We are slaves to sin which causes us to conform to the ways of the world. We gather to know the truth about ourselves and to hear the good news of Christ who WILL set us free again and again.
These young people today who are affirming their faith have transformed and matured in the past few years. They have been formed in the image of God and have grown up before our very eyes. I can’t believe you are taking this step of faith. Yet you are called to turn again and again to Christ who will show you how to care for one another in a world that wants everyone to conform to materialism, individualism and Christian denominationalism. You are free to not attend confirmation class – it was never called conformation class. You are confirming your faith and the word confirm means “with strength” and conviction you are saying yes to Christ as your Lord and Savior. You are invited to confirm your faith every day
So when someone asks you when you were saved, you can say like all of us that we were saved 2000 years ago outside of the city of
Let us pray: Gracious God, you continue to reform and reshape us into your people. Reform this world and let it begin here with us who gather. Even when we don’t want to be changed or transformed, your holy spirit grabs us and creates life where there is death. Reform us today, we pray in Christ’s name, Amen.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Matthew 22:19-22 - "Everything Belongs To God" (10-19-08)
19Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” 21They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
Taxes – we love taxes. In 2007, the first of the
Could you imagine if Jesus was asked that question today? People would wait with baited breath to see how he would answer this question. Is he a real American or does he know Exodus 20:4 where it says “you shall have no graven images”. Ah, perhaps we worship the almighty dollar more than we care to admit. Jesus is in a lose-lose situation today. Two groups are about to question Jesus. The Herodians are a group we know very little about. “But their name suggests that they were a secular political party”[1] that support Herod,
The Pharisees didn’t like the tax and wanted to trip Jesus up so that the crowds would see that he supported Herod,
So the Pharisees handed Jesus a denarri, the coin used for the tax or tribute that was worth a days wages. Notice here that Jesus does not have one of these coins himself in his pocket handy and available. They give Jesus one of their very own coins that they had pocketed. They anticipate that he will give back this coin worth a days wages. They are in possession of the blasphemous coin, not Jesus! So Jesus asked, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” he asks them. “The emperor’s, or Kaysar/the Czar or Caesar” they answer, wondering what he’s getting at.
Then, in one quick move, he slips completely out of their trap. “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, (pause – see Hare Commentary) and to God the things that are God’s” (vv. 19-21). Perhaps then Jesus took that coin and then put it in his pocket or gave it to a beggar in the streets. Charles Campbell suggested a few years ago that perhaps Jesus speaks to the power groups with a sense of sarcasm or humor, pocketing the coin to point out that that nothing belongs to the emperor!
We have heard this passage and figured that Caesar and God are two authorities that are on the same and equal ground. This is foolish. Yes, we are called to pay taxes to support the governments desire to provide for order and the welfare for all people and we are to support and pray for leaders and hold that government accountable. “Christians are necessarily bound to obey laws save only when commanded to sin; for then they ought to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29)”[2] But to think that God and Caesar are equal is not correct. Caesar owns nothing.
What belongs to us? Nothing! That is why we practice first fruits giving. We give our offering of 10% before we pay the other bills. We don’t wait to see what we have left over to give back to God through the church and other social ministry programs. If we waited to give to God after we paid bills we would give much less. We give because we know that nothing belongs to us. We get to live on 90% income. We remember Psalm 24:1 -“The earth is the Lord’s and everything within”. We read Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God created…” We remember Exodus 20 – “You shall have no other Gods; no graven images” Also from Genesis 1 we remember that “God created us in God’s image” – we have been stamped in the image of God and belong to God. You and I belong to God. You do not own your own self or rights to what you want. Your life is to bring God glory and God has made you his own. There are no minting errors and indeed today, we remember to trust that everything does belong to God.
Let us pray: Gracious God, we are your children for you have created us and claimed us. Guide us as we put our trust in your. In Christ we pray, Amen.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Philippians 4:4-7 - "Rejoice IN the Lord" (10-12-08)
“The Kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.” (Matthew 22:2). We are reminded today of this great wedding banquet that is being thrown for Jesus Christ and we are all invited. Jesus has invited everyone to the banquet. The table is ready and the party is about to begin. Yet none of those invited are showing up. There were many things going on. The invitation now is for all people; those who are good and bad. Then someone in Matthew 22:12 doesn’t have a wedding garment on and is thrown out. This reminds us all that we gather and are clothed not with our own sense of goodness but with the garment of Christ.
We gather today discouraged by the news all around us this week. Dissatisfaction with the past and those things we have done or failed to do. Discouragement with the present and the uncertainty of our investments that has stole our joy away. We gather with distrust of the future and where things will go from here in our personal life and faith life. We have forgotten the blessings of yesterday. We are indifferent to the calling of today and we are uncertain about the security regarding tomorrow.
Our joy is gone. The lack of joy is a consequence of man’s separation from God, and the presence of joy is a consequence of the reunion with God.[1] Often we think that our joy is only found in things we can control. We often confuse joy with happiness. Happy relates to the word happenings; the situation or circumstances we are in that might bring us happiness.
This Tuesday we have much to celebrate! It was October 14, 1908 that the Chicago Cubs won their second World Series in a row! Dynasty! What a celebration and festival. The banquet of celebration was all around. But now we gather today while the world is in a series of financial troubles and we have no joy.
We find out joy in the LORD! There is great joy IN this invitation and the feast that has been prepared for all of us. As we gather here in this place the table is set and we are called to celebrate IN the lord. We celebrate around this table knowing that God is not far off. The altar’s presence reminds us that we celebrate with Christ really present. We rejoice in the Lord for God is near and we are invited yet again.
Paul was writing to the people of
Yet there are reminders that no matter the circumstance, we are called to rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. As Karl Barth put it, the joy that Paul describes is a defiant "nevertheless,"[2] which draws strength from the gospel story and from laying one's deepest concerns before God "with thanksgiving." The Psalmist said, “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice & be glad in it.” Nehemiah wrote during difficult situation, “The Joy of the Lord is my strength.” Paul writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!”
We gather at this banquet to celebrate the birth, life, death and resurrection. This parable of the banquet from Matthew 22:1-14 is just a few days before Jesus will die. The opposite of joy, Paul Tillich stated, is sorrow. We gather knowing that joy is often found in the midst of sorrow. What is the Christmas song about joy? “Joy to the world, the Lord has come. Let earth receive her King. Let every heart, prepare him room and heaven and nature sing; and heaven and nature sing; and heaven and heaven and nature sing.” Yes, it seems too early for Christmas but every Sunday is Christmas and Easter wrapped together.
Yesterday I was returning from teaching a Diakonia class and wanted to stop at Target to find a new water bottle that is BEP free. I learned a lot at the Mission Gathering this week about Environmental Stewardship. So I’m walking through Target yesterday and pass the Halloween decorations and then I pass one isle filled with… yes, Christmas cards. You can at least get started on this part of the Christmas tradition they were saying. So it connected with what I discovered this week, that the Christmas card as we know it, was designed in 1843 by the artist J.C. Horsley. It measured about the size of a postcard. From this design, one thousand cards were lithographed and hand-colored three years later for Sir Henry Cole, first director of the
We are called to rejoice in the Lord in all circumstances, especially in the difficult ones. Matthew 5:11-12 says that when you experience rejection in the name of Christ, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.” We can pray to the Lord in all of our challenging circumstances, making our requests be made known. What you will receive is the peace that goes beyond our human understanding. “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.” Let us pray: Gracious God, we call upon you in all our circumstances knowing that our joy is IN you and not in the happenings around us. Guide us as we gather at this banquet to know and share your grace, in Christ we pray, Amen.
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