It is no longer necessary to make additional posts as all material is now posted. (Remember these are gleanings from sermons preached over 35 years.) You can find any Sunday in the three series church year in the Blog Archive.
Series A 2013- 2014
B 2014-2015
C 2012-2013
If you want to follow my new blog it is called “SPARK-IT” and is a shortened version of “Larry the Lutheran” with a picture to help capture the message. A picture and quote is also put on Facebook to invite friends to read the Blog.
Here is the link:"SPARK-IT"
This has been a heart warming experience for me. Thanks you to those who have responded to my postings. I hope they have been helpful…not all that can be said by any means, for God’s Word is a living word and always has more to be said then has been said…we will never say all that needs to be said! Having said that, I bid you farewell. Keep living in God’s love and letting God’s love live in you!
Monday, November 23, 2015
Sunday, November 15, 2015
November 22 2015 Christ the King Sunday
John 18:33-37
33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
“Not Of This World”
His Kingdom is not of this world. It is a Kingdom where things are reversed in a strange yet powerful way. The first are last and the last first. The great are the lowly and the masters are the servants. The little is much and the poor are rich. The widows mite is much and the rich peoples much is little.
A Kingdom where money is not as important as love and relationships; where nothing can happen which is beyond becoming a blessing, redeemed by God’s love. It is a Kingdom which cannot be destroyed and will never end.
“Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne and I (Napoleon Bonaparte) have built great empires. but upon what did they depend? They depended on force. But centuries ago Jesus started an empire that was built on love, and even today, millions will die for him.
“All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as the one who was born to be a king...of another kingdom.”
“Not Of This World”
The Kingdom of God came as and is yet today a surprise.
The disciples missed it...
the people missed it...
the religious leaders missed it...
the church misses it...
and we miss it more then we get it!
It isn’t always the way we see it. It’s power is weakness; its wealth is poverty; its prestige is meekness.
To be meek is not to be weak (spiritless); it is to be of a gentle spirit.
A meek person is strong enough to not have to be bias, prejudiced, close minded, defensive. A meek person is strong enough to be open, understanding, compassionate, long suffering, humble, and of such is the Kingdom of Jesus.
In the Kingdom of God we are challenged to hunger and thirst after righteousness - the wealth of the Kingdom. It is found in right relatedness, right living, right relationship to God and each other. It dares to forgive rather than condemn; be merciful rather than judgmental; patient rather than demanding. It leaves room for mistakes rather than demanding perfection.
We also are challenged to be poor in spirit...humble minded. To know that I am spiritually poor is to be open to see what I could never see if l were rich. It is to hear what I could never hear; to believe what I would never otherwise believe. It is to be open, alive, looking, questioning, searching, knocking, asking, seeking. And then discovering the promise given!
Indeed the Kingdom of God comes as a surprise.
The challenge of faith is to not miss it!
“A Kingdom Of Grace”
Jesus answer to Pilate betrays what appears to be happening and reveals a majesty which baffles Pilate and us. It is a majesty of grace by a King whose Kingdom will never be destroyed.
God is best known as a God of grace and God’s kingdom is a kingdom of grace!
In a Kingdom of grace the King is first of all a servant, truly a servant of all!
In a Kingdom of grace the bottom line is not what is cost effective, but what is fitting and appropriate for all - and fair.
In a Kingdom of grace patience is more important than efficiency; faithfulness than merit; truth than dishonesty, deception or expediency.
“Jesus addressed economic questions more frequently than he did violence, sexual morality, or heaven and hell. The most fundamental principle of biblical economics... is the notion that economic activity is not an end in itself but exists to serve higher purposes.
...The biblical emphasis is not so much on the mechanics of producing and distributing material goods as on how such activities reflect a right relationship to God and one’s neighbors. ...The primary standard the Bible gives us for judging any economic system is the priority of the poor. The righteousness of a people is to be seen in how they treat the weakest members of society.” Sojourner staff person
“We can do things to diminish our humanity and resist God’s sovereignty over us, but we cannot do things that can dethrone God nor stop Him from loving us. That is invincible.”
John 18:33-37
33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
“Not Of This World”
His Kingdom is not of this world. It is a Kingdom where things are reversed in a strange yet powerful way. The first are last and the last first. The great are the lowly and the masters are the servants. The little is much and the poor are rich. The widows mite is much and the rich peoples much is little.
A Kingdom where money is not as important as love and relationships; where nothing can happen which is beyond becoming a blessing, redeemed by God’s love. It is a Kingdom which cannot be destroyed and will never end.
“Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne and I (Napoleon Bonaparte) have built great empires. but upon what did they depend? They depended on force. But centuries ago Jesus started an empire that was built on love, and even today, millions will die for him.
“All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as the one who was born to be a king...of another kingdom.”
“Not Of This World”
The Kingdom of God came as and is yet today a surprise.
The disciples missed it...
the people missed it...
the religious leaders missed it...
the church misses it...
and we miss it more then we get it!
It isn’t always the way we see it. It’s power is weakness; its wealth is poverty; its prestige is meekness.
To be meek is not to be weak (spiritless); it is to be of a gentle spirit.
A meek person is strong enough to not have to be bias, prejudiced, close minded, defensive. A meek person is strong enough to be open, understanding, compassionate, long suffering, humble, and of such is the Kingdom of Jesus.
In the Kingdom of God we are challenged to hunger and thirst after righteousness - the wealth of the Kingdom. It is found in right relatedness, right living, right relationship to God and each other. It dares to forgive rather than condemn; be merciful rather than judgmental; patient rather than demanding. It leaves room for mistakes rather than demanding perfection.
We also are challenged to be poor in spirit...humble minded. To know that I am spiritually poor is to be open to see what I could never see if l were rich. It is to hear what I could never hear; to believe what I would never otherwise believe. It is to be open, alive, looking, questioning, searching, knocking, asking, seeking. And then discovering the promise given!
Indeed the Kingdom of God comes as a surprise.
The challenge of faith is to not miss it!
“A Kingdom Of Grace”
Jesus answer to Pilate betrays what appears to be happening and reveals a majesty which baffles Pilate and us. It is a majesty of grace by a King whose Kingdom will never be destroyed.
God is best known as a God of grace and God’s kingdom is a kingdom of grace!
In a Kingdom of grace the King is first of all a servant, truly a servant of all!
In a Kingdom of grace the bottom line is not what is cost effective, but what is fitting and appropriate for all - and fair.
In a Kingdom of grace patience is more important than efficiency; faithfulness than merit; truth than dishonesty, deception or expediency.
“Jesus addressed economic questions more frequently than he did violence, sexual morality, or heaven and hell. The most fundamental principle of biblical economics... is the notion that economic activity is not an end in itself but exists to serve higher purposes.
...The biblical emphasis is not so much on the mechanics of producing and distributing material goods as on how such activities reflect a right relationship to God and one’s neighbors. ...The primary standard the Bible gives us for judging any economic system is the priority of the poor. The righteousness of a people is to be seen in how they treat the weakest members of society.” Sojourner staff person
“We can do things to diminish our humanity and resist God’s sovereignty over us, but we cannot do things that can dethrone God nor stop Him from loving us. That is invincible.”
Sunday, November 8, 2015
November 15, 2015 25th Sunday After Pentecost
Mark 13:1-8
1 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”
2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?”
5 Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
Let me pass on to you these words of Mark E. Wegener which put this text in a healthy perspective.
.
“If you are tempted to decipher Jesus' apocalyptic predictions and discover their fulfillment in current events, remember this: Over thirty years ago a popular volume entitled The Late, Great Planet Earth (1970) was published. It predicted that the end of the world would occur soon. It sold millions of copies and can still be found on the shelves of some fundamentalist, "evangelical" bookstores. Its author made three predictions: (1) things will get a lot worse, (2) the end of the world will come soon, and (3) most people will make fun of these predictions. So, of course, as soon as responsible theologians contradicted the first two predictions, the third one automatically came true! Most amazing was the fact that this book "interpreted" dozens and dozens of biblical passages, except the clearest single statement on the subject, namely, Mark 13:32, where Jesus says, "Concerning that day or hour nobody knows."
All that we know is that Jesus will be there at the end and no matter what, it will be good! So watch, keep awake, stay alert, and don’t worry about it!
Also these words from David F. Watson, New Testament professor at Union Seminary, Dayton, Ohio.
“These are complex (words), deeply rooted in Old Testament language, history and theology. Yet, despite the difficulties that they present, they are also powerful (words) that teach us not to follow false messiahs and prophets. The dangers of overzealous nationalism and reactionary violence are clear in this passage. Violence begets violence. (Amen to that!) Followers of Jesus are to trust in God’s providential care even if the world around them seems to be falling apart before their eyes.”
And that takes a lot of faith courage!
1 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”
2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?”
5 Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
Let me pass on to you these words of Mark E. Wegener which put this text in a healthy perspective.
.
“If you are tempted to decipher Jesus' apocalyptic predictions and discover their fulfillment in current events, remember this: Over thirty years ago a popular volume entitled The Late, Great Planet Earth (1970) was published. It predicted that the end of the world would occur soon. It sold millions of copies and can still be found on the shelves of some fundamentalist, "evangelical" bookstores. Its author made three predictions: (1) things will get a lot worse, (2) the end of the world will come soon, and (3) most people will make fun of these predictions. So, of course, as soon as responsible theologians contradicted the first two predictions, the third one automatically came true! Most amazing was the fact that this book "interpreted" dozens and dozens of biblical passages, except the clearest single statement on the subject, namely, Mark 13:32, where Jesus says, "Concerning that day or hour nobody knows."
All that we know is that Jesus will be there at the end and no matter what, it will be good! So watch, keep awake, stay alert, and don’t worry about it!
Also these words from David F. Watson, New Testament professor at Union Seminary, Dayton, Ohio.
“These are complex (words), deeply rooted in Old Testament language, history and theology. Yet, despite the difficulties that they present, they are also powerful (words) that teach us not to follow false messiahs and prophets. The dangers of overzealous nationalism and reactionary violence are clear in this passage. Violence begets violence. (Amen to that!) Followers of Jesus are to trust in God’s providential care even if the world around them seems to be falling apart before their eyes.”
And that takes a lot of faith courage!
Monday, November 2, 2015
November 8, 2015 24th Sunday After Pentecost
Mark 12:38-44
38 As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
“But First...Out Of Need”
The story of the poor widow reminds us that we are called to live and give beyond our means. We can give even out of our needs and all will be well.
Fear of not having enough makes it hard for us to hear and believe that giving is so important. We should do it even when we can’t afford to do it. It is the greatest joy in life, whether we have little or much. To give much because we have been given much, we have been loved much.
She was in the hospital, dying. She had lived a simple life; devout wife, faithful church worker, loyal friend. She hadn’t asked for much and she was happy with what she had.
I stopped to see her and she asked me to get her purse out of the closet. She opened it and gave me some bills. Later I discovered that it was over $400, probably close to all she had.
Then I remembered the look of joy in her eye as she gave me the money and said use it in the church. When she died all she had was auctioned off and added to this as a memorial to spread God’s love in our lives. It wasn’t much but it was all she had. And it was given with joy! Myrtle gave much! She loved Jesus much! She loved people much!
She joined company with poor widow in our text for today.
“Try It...You’ll Like It”
This text should disturb us. It confronts us with giving which comes out of need.
The truth is that what was happening in her and to her by giving her last 2 pennies was greater then anything she could have purchased with them. They were expressive of her faith, trust, gratitude and there in, her dignity.
A dignity no amount of money could buy!
We need to give. It is basic to our humanity. We are not happy only to receive; in fact it is more a blessing to us to give then to receive. We also need to be open to receive.
There is a ministry of receiving as well as giving. Jesus let the woman put in her last 2 pennies and he received them with praise.
We need to give before we can afford to give, not only when we can afford to give.
We need to give out of our necessities not just out of our surplus.
Giving is a gift to be enjoyed.
Giving is a gift which enriches our lives.
Try it...you’ll like it!
A different way of seeing the widow’s mite.
Tracy Hartman, in New Proclamation, Year B 2012 challenges us to see this story in a different, and I would suggest deeper way.
He suggests that the main point of the story is not money, but Jesus impending “giving of his all”.
I quote: “How long would it be before they realize that the widow’s gift of all she had was an example of what Jesus was about to do, give everything he had to redeem a world gone terribly awry? How long would it be before the disciples realized that following Jesus would mean that they, too, were being asked to give their all as well? How long will it be before we, too, understand?
A thought worth pondering!
38 As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
“But First...Out Of Need”
The story of the poor widow reminds us that we are called to live and give beyond our means. We can give even out of our needs and all will be well.
Fear of not having enough makes it hard for us to hear and believe that giving is so important. We should do it even when we can’t afford to do it. It is the greatest joy in life, whether we have little or much. To give much because we have been given much, we have been loved much.
She was in the hospital, dying. She had lived a simple life; devout wife, faithful church worker, loyal friend. She hadn’t asked for much and she was happy with what she had.
I stopped to see her and she asked me to get her purse out of the closet. She opened it and gave me some bills. Later I discovered that it was over $400, probably close to all she had.
Then I remembered the look of joy in her eye as she gave me the money and said use it in the church. When she died all she had was auctioned off and added to this as a memorial to spread God’s love in our lives. It wasn’t much but it was all she had. And it was given with joy! Myrtle gave much! She loved Jesus much! She loved people much!
She joined company with poor widow in our text for today.
“Try It...You’ll Like It”
This text should disturb us. It confronts us with giving which comes out of need.
The truth is that what was happening in her and to her by giving her last 2 pennies was greater then anything she could have purchased with them. They were expressive of her faith, trust, gratitude and there in, her dignity.
A dignity no amount of money could buy!
We need to give. It is basic to our humanity. We are not happy only to receive; in fact it is more a blessing to us to give then to receive. We also need to be open to receive.
There is a ministry of receiving as well as giving. Jesus let the woman put in her last 2 pennies and he received them with praise.
We need to give before we can afford to give, not only when we can afford to give.
We need to give out of our necessities not just out of our surplus.
Giving is a gift to be enjoyed.
Giving is a gift which enriches our lives.
Try it...you’ll like it!
A different way of seeing the widow’s mite.
Tracy Hartman, in New Proclamation, Year B 2012 challenges us to see this story in a different, and I would suggest deeper way.
He suggests that the main point of the story is not money, but Jesus impending “giving of his all”.
I quote: “How long would it be before they realize that the widow’s gift of all she had was an example of what Jesus was about to do, give everything he had to redeem a world gone terribly awry? How long would it be before the disciples realized that following Jesus would mean that they, too, were being asked to give their all as well? How long will it be before we, too, understand?
A thought worth pondering!
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Nov. 1, 2015 All Saints Sunday
Matthew 5:1-12
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
“Rejoice And Be Glad”
“I’m no Saint!
I’ve made some mistakes.
I’d do some things differently.
I’d not do some things I did, and do some things I didn’t do.
I’m no Saint!” Gerald Ford as he was being considered for appointment to V. Pres.
Most of us do not consider ourselves to be saints. In fact, it is almost an insult to be called a saint. It means you are not in touch with real life. As the agnostic Robert Ingersoll describes, you are someone who is “...not quite sick enough to die nor healthy enough to be wicked.”
This is a gross contradiction! A saint is someone who is very human.
A saint is someone who wants much out of life but refuses to crush life to get it. Who is passionate enough to not hurt others as he/she drinks deeply of life.
A saint is someone who dares to live as a human with an eye towards heaven. Who can be “poor in spirit” because he/she doesn’t have to pretend. Who can be “meek” because he/she doesn’t have to always be right. Who can be” merciful” because he/she doesn’t have to judge others. Who can “hunger and thirst after righteousness” because he/she doesn’t have to have all the answers all the time.
A saint is a very human person who can “rejoice and be glad” amidst persecution, suffering, grief or pain because he/she lives on earth with an eye on heaven; and the love of God which comes from above.
“Enjoy The Luxury Of Doing Good”
We usually think of a saint as someone extraordinary. A St. Francis of Assisi, a Maximillian Kolbe - the catholic priest who took the place of a condemned polish Jew at Auschwitz and was canonized a saint in l971, or a Mother Teresa. A Raoul Wallenberg, Martin Luther King, or Dietrick Boenhoffer.
We don’t often think of ourselves as saints. Yet this is what we are - all of us!
Or at least it can be said we are called to be saints! We are called to live out our faith in the places where it makes a difference in our lives and in the lives of others. Even as we are called saints numerous times in Scripture. See Ps 31:23; Ps 31:4;Rom 1:7
This is what we are - saints! Sinners who have not yet given up and thrown in the towel.
Real alive, vibrant, passionate, gutsy human beings who struggle to make faith “ a power and passion in authority among the powers and passions of life” (P. T. Forsythe) and not just a little frosting on the cake.
The Beatitudes are our marching orders.
“poor in spirit” - humble enough to laugh at our own foolishness and not claim to have all the answers.
“mourn” - feel the sadness of life and grieve deeply.
“meek” - Not weak, but strong in a gentle way.
“hunger and thirst for righteousness” - who desire something more than the easy life.
“merciful” - compassionate; walking with those who suffer; the luxury of doing good.
“pure in heart” - living from the inside out; genuine; trustworthy; real.
“peacemakers” - something every one wants and seems to evade us all.
“persecuted” - to be a saint is no easy calling; it will mean conflict; a dangerous calling!
God calls us to be saints and God is with us, empowering us in this calling. Nothing can keep us from being happy; Nothing can keep us from enjoying the luxury of doing good, loving justice, and walking humbly with our God!
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
“Rejoice And Be Glad”
“I’m no Saint!
I’ve made some mistakes.
I’d do some things differently.
I’d not do some things I did, and do some things I didn’t do.
I’m no Saint!” Gerald Ford as he was being considered for appointment to V. Pres.
Most of us do not consider ourselves to be saints. In fact, it is almost an insult to be called a saint. It means you are not in touch with real life. As the agnostic Robert Ingersoll describes, you are someone who is “...not quite sick enough to die nor healthy enough to be wicked.”
This is a gross contradiction! A saint is someone who is very human.
A saint is someone who wants much out of life but refuses to crush life to get it. Who is passionate enough to not hurt others as he/she drinks deeply of life.
A saint is someone who dares to live as a human with an eye towards heaven. Who can be “poor in spirit” because he/she doesn’t have to pretend. Who can be “meek” because he/she doesn’t have to always be right. Who can be” merciful” because he/she doesn’t have to judge others. Who can “hunger and thirst after righteousness” because he/she doesn’t have to have all the answers all the time.
A saint is a very human person who can “rejoice and be glad” amidst persecution, suffering, grief or pain because he/she lives on earth with an eye on heaven; and the love of God which comes from above.
“Enjoy The Luxury Of Doing Good”
We usually think of a saint as someone extraordinary. A St. Francis of Assisi, a Maximillian Kolbe - the catholic priest who took the place of a condemned polish Jew at Auschwitz and was canonized a saint in l971, or a Mother Teresa. A Raoul Wallenberg, Martin Luther King, or Dietrick Boenhoffer.
We don’t often think of ourselves as saints. Yet this is what we are - all of us!
Or at least it can be said we are called to be saints! We are called to live out our faith in the places where it makes a difference in our lives and in the lives of others. Even as we are called saints numerous times in Scripture. See Ps 31:23; Ps 31:4;Rom 1:7
This is what we are - saints! Sinners who have not yet given up and thrown in the towel.
Real alive, vibrant, passionate, gutsy human beings who struggle to make faith “ a power and passion in authority among the powers and passions of life” (P. T. Forsythe) and not just a little frosting on the cake.
The Beatitudes are our marching orders.
“poor in spirit” - humble enough to laugh at our own foolishness and not claim to have all the answers.
“mourn” - feel the sadness of life and grieve deeply.
“meek” - Not weak, but strong in a gentle way.
“hunger and thirst for righteousness” - who desire something more than the easy life.
“merciful” - compassionate; walking with those who suffer; the luxury of doing good.
“pure in heart” - living from the inside out; genuine; trustworthy; real.
“peacemakers” - something every one wants and seems to evade us all.
“persecuted” - to be a saint is no easy calling; it will mean conflict; a dangerous calling!
God calls us to be saints and God is with us, empowering us in this calling. Nothing can keep us from being happy; Nothing can keep us from enjoying the luxury of doing good, loving justice, and walking humbly with our God!
Sunday, October 18, 2015
October 25, 2015 Reformation Sunday
John 8:31-36
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
“FREE TO LOVE”
The Reformation is about change. We don’t like change. We even use the Bible to keep us from change. God wants to make a new covenant with us. We don’t want it. We want the old covenant where we know what to expect and are more in charge.
God’s Word is an instrument of change and will, if we let it, change the way we look at things. It “is the source of all that is creative in the life of the Church.” (Luther) It sets us free to be new and different people.
People who put love at the center of life and let nothing keep it from doing its thing.
“FREE TO LIVE”
Jesus came that we might have live, and that abundantly.
That we might be free to live and drink deeply of this human existence, which is Gods first great gift to us.
In Christ we are free to be ourselves.
We don’t have to be like someone else. We don’t have to pretend we are more religious then we are. For God accepts us as we are.
“It’s okay to be me, because me is okay.” We are free to be!
In Christ we are free to try, to fail, and to try again. For with God there is forgiveness!
To live with Jesus is to live in forgiveness, full and free. There is no limit to Gods forgiveness. Once forgiven, we live with grateful hearts which are more powerful then any set of rules.
How great it was to have such a forgiving God!
This is the way God is. God’s grace is big enough for all our needs, and our goofs.
We are free to live!
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
“FREE TO LOVE”
The Reformation is about change. We don’t like change. We even use the Bible to keep us from change. God wants to make a new covenant with us. We don’t want it. We want the old covenant where we know what to expect and are more in charge.
God’s Word is an instrument of change and will, if we let it, change the way we look at things. It “is the source of all that is creative in the life of the Church.” (Luther) It sets us free to be new and different people.
People who put love at the center of life and let nothing keep it from doing its thing.
“FREE TO LIVE”
Jesus came that we might have live, and that abundantly.
That we might be free to live and drink deeply of this human existence, which is Gods first great gift to us.
In Christ we are free to be ourselves.
We don’t have to be like someone else. We don’t have to pretend we are more religious then we are. For God accepts us as we are.
“It’s okay to be me, because me is okay.” We are free to be!
In Christ we are free to try, to fail, and to try again. For with God there is forgiveness!
To live with Jesus is to live in forgiveness, full and free. There is no limit to Gods forgiveness. Once forgiven, we live with grateful hearts which are more powerful then any set of rules.
How great it was to have such a forgiving God!
This is the way God is. God’s grace is big enough for all our needs, and our goofs.
We are free to live!
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
October 11 & 18, 2015 20th & 21st Sundays After Pentecost
Mark 10:17-31
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’[a]”
20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is[b] to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”
29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
“The Impossible Possibility”
What is going on in this story is a battle of the wills, not just the pocketbook. A confrontation with addiction and a call to surrender. It is your story and mine!
The question is sincere for the man is sincere. But he wanted to be in control. He wanted to do it his way. “Just tell me and I’ll do it!” might well be a correct paraphrase of his dialogue with Jesus.
Jesus loved him. What follows comes out of love not judgment. He enters the man’s life at the one place where he does not want God to be, the one place he does not want to surrender.
This is always where God seeks entrance into our lives. For until we surrender where we least want to surrender, we are still in control and doing it our way. We are still seeking to be saved by good works rather than grace. We have to reach the place where we know we can do nothing, then God can do everything.
By grace we are saved, not works! Let go and let God!
“Be Godly, Not Just Good”
We try hard to be good; when we are called to be godly. We set our sights on the good life; when we are called to live the godly life. We work hard at being moral, upright citizens; yet our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God.
What ever that means - to find our rest in God - it is more then being good, moral, or even religious. It means to “fear, love, and trust in God above all things.” All things!
A lot of badness results when we measure our godliness by our goodness. To stand with the Rich Young Ruler is to stand in the presence of our own hypocrisy and start being honest with the goodness which keeps us from being godly.
Jesus words to him (and us) were (are) spoken out of love, not anger. There was so much in him that was good; yet so much that missed the mark in his life.
We are called to be godly not just good. What ever that means it does mean not only dreaming the impossible dream but also daring to believe the impossible gift of grace is ours. Then it is to dare try make a difference in the world we live in , knowing as we do so, in the words of Reinhold Niebuhr:
“Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in our lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope. Nothing which is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history;l therefore we must be saved by faith. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone;l therefore we are saved by love. No virtuous act is quite as virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as it is from our standpoint. Therefore we must be saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness.”
With God all is possible!
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’[a]”
20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is[b] to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”
29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
“The Impossible Possibility”
What is going on in this story is a battle of the wills, not just the pocketbook. A confrontation with addiction and a call to surrender. It is your story and mine!
The question is sincere for the man is sincere. But he wanted to be in control. He wanted to do it his way. “Just tell me and I’ll do it!” might well be a correct paraphrase of his dialogue with Jesus.
Jesus loved him. What follows comes out of love not judgment. He enters the man’s life at the one place where he does not want God to be, the one place he does not want to surrender.
This is always where God seeks entrance into our lives. For until we surrender where we least want to surrender, we are still in control and doing it our way. We are still seeking to be saved by good works rather than grace. We have to reach the place where we know we can do nothing, then God can do everything.
By grace we are saved, not works! Let go and let God!
“Be Godly, Not Just Good”
We try hard to be good; when we are called to be godly. We set our sights on the good life; when we are called to live the godly life. We work hard at being moral, upright citizens; yet our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God.
What ever that means - to find our rest in God - it is more then being good, moral, or even religious. It means to “fear, love, and trust in God above all things.” All things!
A lot of badness results when we measure our godliness by our goodness. To stand with the Rich Young Ruler is to stand in the presence of our own hypocrisy and start being honest with the goodness which keeps us from being godly.
Jesus words to him (and us) were (are) spoken out of love, not anger. There was so much in him that was good; yet so much that missed the mark in his life.
We are called to be godly not just good. What ever that means it does mean not only dreaming the impossible dream but also daring to believe the impossible gift of grace is ours. Then it is to dare try make a difference in the world we live in , knowing as we do so, in the words of Reinhold Niebuhr:
“Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in our lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope. Nothing which is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history;l therefore we must be saved by faith. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone;l therefore we are saved by love. No virtuous act is quite as virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as it is from our standpoint. Therefore we must be saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness.”
With God all is possible!
Monday, September 28, 2015
October 4, 2015 19th Sunday After Pentecost
Mark 10:2-16
2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 “What did Moses command you?” he replied.
4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”
5 “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. 6 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.
] 7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.’[c] So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
“Let’s Talk About Marriage”
In dealing with the sticky question of marriage and divorce Jesus goes back to the original intent of marriage as recorded in Gen., 2, before the fall into sin of Gen. 3, and reminds us that it all started out good. God created all and it was good.
The question of the Pharisees probably was loaded. (Most questions of the self-righteous are!) An attempt to trap this liberal in his own words.
But Jesus traps them. They wanted to talk about rights and advantages as under the law,
Jesus reminds them of the responsibilities which follow on those rights and advantages.
They wanted to talk about divorce, Jesus confronts them with the real issue - marriage.
Marriage is a holy estate ordained by God and to be held in honor by all.
It is hard work. It takes effort, skill, and even training.
It gives energy to life, for as Dr. Eugene Kennedy says, it is to “give life to each other.”
The real question is not, “Is divorce lawful?”
The real question is, “Is marriage life giving?”
Catholic priest: “:There is one thing worse then divorce; and that is a loveless marriage.”
“Like A Child”
To be child like is to be open, willing, receptive.
A child like faith knows a dependable confidence and assurance in the midst of life’s insecurities. It dares to ask questions and live with a certain creative mystery in the presence of a loving God. It trusts where there is no other way and rests in the love which is beyond human understanding.
It usually isn’t difficult for a child to accept a gift - it is a natural response, often with joy. The child doesn’t think about deserving the gift; the child just accepts the gift.
The Kingdom of God is ours as a gift - all we have to do is accept it.
Faith is accepting the gift of God’s Kingdom, openly, freely, confidently, joyfully.
A child also has a great capacity to trust. When we trust we believe the offer of a gift, and accept the gift without thought to why or how or why me? The gift doesn’t depend on me. It is freely given out of love; like a child I can accept it, in love.
2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 “What did Moses command you?” he replied.
4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”
5 “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. 6 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.
] 7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.’[c] So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
“Let’s Talk About Marriage”
In dealing with the sticky question of marriage and divorce Jesus goes back to the original intent of marriage as recorded in Gen., 2, before the fall into sin of Gen. 3, and reminds us that it all started out good. God created all and it was good.
The question of the Pharisees probably was loaded. (Most questions of the self-righteous are!) An attempt to trap this liberal in his own words.
But Jesus traps them. They wanted to talk about rights and advantages as under the law,
Jesus reminds them of the responsibilities which follow on those rights and advantages.
They wanted to talk about divorce, Jesus confronts them with the real issue - marriage.
Marriage is a holy estate ordained by God and to be held in honor by all.
It is hard work. It takes effort, skill, and even training.
It gives energy to life, for as Dr. Eugene Kennedy says, it is to “give life to each other.”
The real question is not, “Is divorce lawful?”
The real question is, “Is marriage life giving?”
Catholic priest: “:There is one thing worse then divorce; and that is a loveless marriage.”
“Like A Child”
To be child like is to be open, willing, receptive.
A child like faith knows a dependable confidence and assurance in the midst of life’s insecurities. It dares to ask questions and live with a certain creative mystery in the presence of a loving God. It trusts where there is no other way and rests in the love which is beyond human understanding.
It usually isn’t difficult for a child to accept a gift - it is a natural response, often with joy. The child doesn’t think about deserving the gift; the child just accepts the gift.
The Kingdom of God is ours as a gift - all we have to do is accept it.
Faith is accepting the gift of God’s Kingdom, openly, freely, confidently, joyfully.
A child also has a great capacity to trust. When we trust we believe the offer of a gift, and accept the gift without thought to why or how or why me? The gift doesn’t depend on me. It is freely given out of love; like a child I can accept it, in love.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
September 27, 2015, 17th Sunday After Pentecost
Mark 9:38-50
38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.
42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where “‘the worms that eat them do not die,
and the fire is not quenched.’
49 Everyone will be salted with fire.
50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” “
Whoever Is Not Against Us Is For Us”
First a seeming contradiction: cf Mt. 12:30 “Anyone who is not for me is really against me; anyone who does not help me gather is really scattering.”
Look to the context in which both words are spoken. Is Jesus not saying the same thing?
And what is Jesus saying? - “No one can bottle God up and keep God contained. God manifests himself in unexpected places and people; God’s spirit blows where it will and we know not where it comes from or where it goes.”
Any effort on our part to try contain God is futile. God is with those who know not God as well as those who claim to be for God. In fact, they may well be some of God’s best servants!
This is part of the mystery and miracle of God’s spirit at work in our world. We can be astonished by the irregularity of God. It is not ours to judge others; it is ours to recognize the love of Jesus at work where ever it happens in whom ever it comes.
Our idolatry may well be our blindness to this truth.
For example, a Christian leader of a large denomination saying: “God does not hear Jewish prayers, because they don’t pray in the name of Jesus.”
The one thing which becomes clear as we struggle with these words is that it is not ours to determine who is in and who is out. It is ours to be open to the many ways in which something of Jesus is hidden “in, under, and with” the most surprising places and people.
Ours is not to exclude anyone from being a part of God’s Kingdom or even try to test who is a true believer. Ours is to be open to God working in the strangest ways and the strangest people to do something of his thing - which is always something of love breaking out in our world of hate, pride and greed.
We are not to loose our saltiness - become complacent or indifferent; live our own wasted existence with no love at work in our lives. We are to affirm God’s love at work where ever, how ever, and in whom ever it appears.
Those who are against Jesus are those who would rather have it than share it, keep it than give it away, find it than lose it. Who would rather be secure, comfortable, and safe, rather than in danger, want or risk. And this is all of us who profess to love Jesus yet so easily forget that we have been blessed by grace so we can be a blessing.
When we lose sight of our call to discipleship, servant hood, and compassion, we loose the essence (the salt) of our life in Christ - which is worse then loosing a hand, foot or eye for then we are of little good to God no matter how religious we are.
38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.
42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where “‘the worms that eat them do not die,
and the fire is not quenched.’
49 Everyone will be salted with fire.
50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” “
Whoever Is Not Against Us Is For Us”
First a seeming contradiction: cf Mt. 12:30 “Anyone who is not for me is really against me; anyone who does not help me gather is really scattering.”
Look to the context in which both words are spoken. Is Jesus not saying the same thing?
And what is Jesus saying? - “No one can bottle God up and keep God contained. God manifests himself in unexpected places and people; God’s spirit blows where it will and we know not where it comes from or where it goes.”
Any effort on our part to try contain God is futile. God is with those who know not God as well as those who claim to be for God. In fact, they may well be some of God’s best servants!
This is part of the mystery and miracle of God’s spirit at work in our world. We can be astonished by the irregularity of God. It is not ours to judge others; it is ours to recognize the love of Jesus at work where ever it happens in whom ever it comes.
Our idolatry may well be our blindness to this truth.
For example, a Christian leader of a large denomination saying: “God does not hear Jewish prayers, because they don’t pray in the name of Jesus.”
The one thing which becomes clear as we struggle with these words is that it is not ours to determine who is in and who is out. It is ours to be open to the many ways in which something of Jesus is hidden “in, under, and with” the most surprising places and people.
Ours is not to exclude anyone from being a part of God’s Kingdom or even try to test who is a true believer. Ours is to be open to God working in the strangest ways and the strangest people to do something of his thing - which is always something of love breaking out in our world of hate, pride and greed.
We are not to loose our saltiness - become complacent or indifferent; live our own wasted existence with no love at work in our lives. We are to affirm God’s love at work where ever, how ever, and in whom ever it appears.
Those who are against Jesus are those who would rather have it than share it, keep it than give it away, find it than lose it. Who would rather be secure, comfortable, and safe, rather than in danger, want or risk. And this is all of us who profess to love Jesus yet so easily forget that we have been blessed by grace so we can be a blessing.
When we lose sight of our call to discipleship, servant hood, and compassion, we loose the essence (the salt) of our life in Christ - which is worse then loosing a hand, foot or eye for then we are of little good to God no matter how religious we are.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
September 20, 2015 17h Sunday After Pentecost
Mark 9:30-37
30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” 36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
“Be The Servant Of All”
It isn’t always easy to be a servant of God. It wasn’t for Jeremiah, the disciples, nor those to whom James wrote. It didn’t come naturally for them nor does it for us. It is almost contrary to our basic nature - self-preservation; taking care of #1.
It is easier to condemn and judge than to serve.
We never know enough about God to pronounce judgment on another person.
Our task as servants is to work and pray for forgiveness, understanding, reconciliation, peace. And to learn to appreciate differentness.
To be a servant is to place oneself last and not worry about what I am going to get out of it.
It is to be like Jesus who “did not regard equality with God something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.” (Phil. 2:6,7)
“Celebrity Or Servant”
“Two centuries ago when a great man appeared, people looked for God’s purpose in him; today we look for his press agent.”
“We can make a celebrity, but we can never make a hero.”
“We loose sight of the men and women who do not simply seem great because they are famous but who are famous because they are great.”
The hero was distinguished by his achievement; the celebrity by his image or trademark.
The hero created himself; the celebrity is created by the media. The hero was a big man; the celebrity is a big name.”
“A celebrity is a person who is known for his well-knownness. He is the human psedo-event.”
Quotes from Daniel Boorstien’ “IMAGE”, pp. 45-76
Chapter “From Hero to Celebrity: the Human Pseudo-Event”
We all have a desire hidden within us to be a celebrity. We would like to do our thing in a big way. Yet it is as a servant that we have been called, to do our thing in a small way, often unnoticed but by God, and maybe those who are on the receiving end of our serving.
We are called to be servants and to get lost in doing good, without keeping score.
To be a servant is to place oneself last and not worry about what I am going to get out of it.
It is to be like Jesus who did not count equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.
This is how it is in the Kingdom of Heaven!
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Sept. 13, 2015 16th Sunday after Pentecost
Mark 9:14-29
14 When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. 15 When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. 16 He asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?" 17 Someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; 18 and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so." 19 He answered them, "You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me." 20 And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. 22 It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us." 23 Jesus said to him, "If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes." 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out, "I believe; help my unbelief!" 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You spirit that keeps this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!" 26 After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, "He is dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. 28 When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" 29 He said to them, "This kind can come out only through prayer.”
I have no record of ever having preached on this text. Ether I was not scheduled to preach on the Sundays it came up, or it never was used. Which ever, I find it a bit amusing as it contains one of my favorite confessions, the farther of the boy who says honestly, out of the depths of his heart, “I believe; help mine unbelief!”
It’s like it is too much to swallow so fast yet it is so vital to his deepest needs that he lets Jesus know that he does have faith, even though he still has questions.
Don’t we all!
Faith is always accompanied by doubt, questioning, wondering, speculating, even uncertainty.
I think this is the most honest expression of faith in the New Testament! Listen to these words from Ellie Wiesel, who lived through the fanaticism of the Holocaust born of the blind belief in the superiority of the Arian race.
“I turn away from persons who declare that they know better than anyone else the only true road to God....My experience is that the fanatic hides from true debate...He is afraid of pluralism and diversity; he abhors learning. He knows how to speak in monologues only...The fanatic never rests and never quits; the more he conquers, the more he seeks new conquests....A fanatic has answers, not questions; certainties, not hesitations,(and ) as the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche expressed it, (it’s) ‘Madness is the result not of uncertainty but certainty’.”
Parade Magazine, April 19,1992
A second observation I would make of this text has to do with Jesus last statement, “This kind can come out only through prayer.” Yet it doesn’t say Jesus prayer as he healed him.
What does Jesus mean?
Could it be - (and this is a speculation based on years of struggling with prayers which didn’t seem to make any difference . i.e.lots of faith healing on TV which often raised havoc with the individual involved) - is it possible that by prayer Jesus means being in touch with God so deeply and intimately, as he was, that things happen which otherwise would never happen?
If this is close to what is hidden in these words, we need to keep prayer at the center of our lives but not at the center of our actions. Jesus often when away alone to pray. His disciples
had to ask him to teach them to pray. Prayer is not a religious action by which we let others know how religious we are. It is a secret action in which we draw strength to be compassionate as our heavenly Father is compassionate.
Something to wonder about as we wander out under the stars.
“Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith, it is an element of faith”
Paul Tillich, 20 Century Theologian
14 When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. 15 When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. 16 He asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?" 17 Someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; 18 and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so." 19 He answered them, "You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me." 20 And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. 22 It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us." 23 Jesus said to him, "If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes." 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out, "I believe; help my unbelief!" 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You spirit that keeps this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!" 26 After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, "He is dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. 28 When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" 29 He said to them, "This kind can come out only through prayer.”
I have no record of ever having preached on this text. Ether I was not scheduled to preach on the Sundays it came up, or it never was used. Which ever, I find it a bit amusing as it contains one of my favorite confessions, the farther of the boy who says honestly, out of the depths of his heart, “I believe; help mine unbelief!”
It’s like it is too much to swallow so fast yet it is so vital to his deepest needs that he lets Jesus know that he does have faith, even though he still has questions.
Don’t we all!
Faith is always accompanied by doubt, questioning, wondering, speculating, even uncertainty.
I think this is the most honest expression of faith in the New Testament! Listen to these words from Ellie Wiesel, who lived through the fanaticism of the Holocaust born of the blind belief in the superiority of the Arian race.
“I turn away from persons who declare that they know better than anyone else the only true road to God....My experience is that the fanatic hides from true debate...He is afraid of pluralism and diversity; he abhors learning. He knows how to speak in monologues only...The fanatic never rests and never quits; the more he conquers, the more he seeks new conquests....A fanatic has answers, not questions; certainties, not hesitations,(and ) as the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche expressed it, (it’s) ‘Madness is the result not of uncertainty but certainty’.”
Parade Magazine, April 19,1992
A second observation I would make of this text has to do with Jesus last statement, “This kind can come out only through prayer.” Yet it doesn’t say Jesus prayer as he healed him.
What does Jesus mean?
Could it be - (and this is a speculation based on years of struggling with prayers which didn’t seem to make any difference . i.e.lots of faith healing on TV which often raised havoc with the individual involved) - is it possible that by prayer Jesus means being in touch with God so deeply and intimately, as he was, that things happen which otherwise would never happen?
If this is close to what is hidden in these words, we need to keep prayer at the center of our lives but not at the center of our actions. Jesus often when away alone to pray. His disciples
had to ask him to teach them to pray. Prayer is not a religious action by which we let others know how religious we are. It is a secret action in which we draw strength to be compassionate as our heavenly Father is compassionate.
Something to wonder about as we wander out under the stars.
“Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith, it is an element of faith”
Paul Tillich, 20 Century Theologian
Sunday, August 30, 2015
September 6 2015 15th Sunday After Pentecost
Mark 7:31-37
31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis] 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.
33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.
36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
“The Power To Open”
Life is full of interesting and exciting possibilities. We have to be motivated or inspired to seek them. Our spiritual lives also need to be opened to all the possibilities God has in store for us.
Faith opens our hearts and minds to the love of God at work for and in us.
Faith in Jesus Christ opens our senses to the deep stimuli of life. We see what we could never otherwise see; hear what we could never hear; speak what we never dared utter.
Jesus words of forgiveness and love open us up to all the possibilities of life.
Faith is giving God permission to have at us.
“Be Open”
They couldn’t keep quiet about it; but they didn’t say all there was to say about it.
They missed the most important point - that these miracles, as with all miracles, means that salvation has come to our earth! God has come to dwell with us in human from, in the man Jesus to heal ALL our infirmities, not just of the body but of the spirit as well!
There is a healing and a wholeness which is deeper then the physical. He has come that all might be saved (be made whole from within) and come to the knowledge of the truth.
To be so saved is to be open to God’s love moving in our lives and through our lives into our world. It is to be able to smile, no matter what, and to be a beautiful, healing person for others. Physical handicaps cannot keep a ‘whole person’ down. They simply radiate joy and love, and bring healing into living. This is Christ in us, the love of God making us whole!
31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis] 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.
33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.
36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
“The Power To Open”
Life is full of interesting and exciting possibilities. We have to be motivated or inspired to seek them. Our spiritual lives also need to be opened to all the possibilities God has in store for us.
Faith opens our hearts and minds to the love of God at work for and in us.
Faith in Jesus Christ opens our senses to the deep stimuli of life. We see what we could never otherwise see; hear what we could never hear; speak what we never dared utter.
Jesus words of forgiveness and love open us up to all the possibilities of life.
Faith is giving God permission to have at us.
“Be Open”
They couldn’t keep quiet about it; but they didn’t say all there was to say about it.
They missed the most important point - that these miracles, as with all miracles, means that salvation has come to our earth! God has come to dwell with us in human from, in the man Jesus to heal ALL our infirmities, not just of the body but of the spirit as well!
There is a healing and a wholeness which is deeper then the physical. He has come that all might be saved (be made whole from within) and come to the knowledge of the truth.
To be so saved is to be open to God’s love moving in our lives and through our lives into our world. It is to be able to smile, no matter what, and to be a beautiful, healing person for others. Physical handicaps cannot keep a ‘whole person’ down. They simply radiate joy and love, and bring healing into living. This is Christ in us, the love of God making us whole!
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Aug 23 & 30. 2015 13th & 14th Sundays After Pentecost
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)
5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”
6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
“‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’
8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”
“Living From the Heart”
Words can be cheap and deceiving. We often sound different then we are inside. This is what makes communication so difficult and hypocrisy so easy, for all of us!
No one sets out to be a hypocrite. We too easily become one when we let our greed, jealousy, pride, folly keep us from being congruent from the inside out.
When our hearts are right with God, our words and deeds are going to be right for others. Such is the Kingdom of God in our midst.
Hypocrisy is anything in our lives which is not right for others, but only for us, no matter how we try to cover up what is in our hearts by words and pious platitudes.
This is not pleasing to God, nor is it of the Kingdom of God.
“A Call For Deep Things”
“The most apparent meaning of this (text) could be summarized as a criticism of surface things and a call for deep things.” (Source unknown)
Religion is not meant to be something we play at; it is not meant to be superficial, mechanical, ritualistic. It is meant to be something which comes from the heart - a heart touched by the love and grace of God.
Observing the traditions of the elders is not what is important. Living as one who has been touched by the love of God is.
This means we need to see the spiritual quality of everything we do and I mean everything!
God is in the business of changing us and deepening us. Opening us up and making us real. To be truly religious is to let God have my heart. When God has my heart, God is going to change things and rearrange my priorities and cause me to do things I otherwise would never do.
A man once said to Mother Teresa,“I wouldn’t do what you do for a million dollars.” To which she replied, “Neither would I. But I will for the love of God!”
To worship is to open our hearts to change from the inside out. It is to be challenged to be sensitized over and over again as to what it is God really desires - justice rolling down like waters and human kind truly loving one another, seeking to understand, accept differences, and live in peace.
1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)
5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”
6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
“‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’
8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”
“Living From the Heart”
Words can be cheap and deceiving. We often sound different then we are inside. This is what makes communication so difficult and hypocrisy so easy, for all of us!
No one sets out to be a hypocrite. We too easily become one when we let our greed, jealousy, pride, folly keep us from being congruent from the inside out.
When our hearts are right with God, our words and deeds are going to be right for others. Such is the Kingdom of God in our midst.
Hypocrisy is anything in our lives which is not right for others, but only for us, no matter how we try to cover up what is in our hearts by words and pious platitudes.
This is not pleasing to God, nor is it of the Kingdom of God.
“A Call For Deep Things”
“The most apparent meaning of this (text) could be summarized as a criticism of surface things and a call for deep things.” (Source unknown)
Religion is not meant to be something we play at; it is not meant to be superficial, mechanical, ritualistic. It is meant to be something which comes from the heart - a heart touched by the love and grace of God.
Observing the traditions of the elders is not what is important. Living as one who has been touched by the love of God is.
This means we need to see the spiritual quality of everything we do and I mean everything!
God is in the business of changing us and deepening us. Opening us up and making us real. To be truly religious is to let God have my heart. When God has my heart, God is going to change things and rearrange my priorities and cause me to do things I otherwise would never do.
A man once said to Mother Teresa,“I wouldn’t do what you do for a million dollars.” To which she replied, “Neither would I. But I will for the love of God!”
To worship is to open our hearts to change from the inside out. It is to be challenged to be sensitized over and over again as to what it is God really desires - justice rolling down like waters and human kind truly loving one another, seeking to understand, accept differences, and live in peace.
Sunday, August 9, 2015
August 16, 2015 12th Sunday After Pentecost
John 6:51-58
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”
This is a troublesome text. As one theologian said of it -
“The language in this text is raw and probably ought to shock our sensibilities.”
Because of these words more then one person has accused the church of advocating cannibalism. And nothing could be further from the truth!
What ever we do with these words, we dare not take them literal - for then we will miss the point of what Jesus is saying - as is often the case when the Bible is take literally. We end up with a distorted, disconnected message which leads to distorted and disconnected living.
Perhaps this is why Karl Barth said, ”I love the Bible too much to take it literal.”
These words have to be taken in context and they have to be understood in a deeper way - a way which goes beyond our rational capacity to understand and grasps mystery.
So what is it Jesus is trying to say to us today?
Robert Kyser, a Biblical scholar of today makes a good point as to what Jesus might be getting at here. in his book, “Preaching John”. He suggests that Jesus is telling the hearers that they literally need to take Jesus into themselves, make him “part of their essence”
“No arm’s-length relationship here, no safe distance between us. As (those) who long for the abundant life, we have no other way to such a life except by taking Jesus in, having him become so intermingled with our own being that we cannot separate one from the other. “ Adele Resmer, Proc. B,’06,p.179
Then, in the words of the great preacher of the past, P.T. Forsythe, faith will become “a power and passion in authority among the powers and passions of life” - our lives.
We will no longer be able to live indifferent to callings of the spirit to place faith, hope, and love at the center of our living and let nothing take its place.
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”
This is a troublesome text. As one theologian said of it -
“The language in this text is raw and probably ought to shock our sensibilities.”
Because of these words more then one person has accused the church of advocating cannibalism. And nothing could be further from the truth!
What ever we do with these words, we dare not take them literal - for then we will miss the point of what Jesus is saying - as is often the case when the Bible is take literally. We end up with a distorted, disconnected message which leads to distorted and disconnected living.
Perhaps this is why Karl Barth said, ”I love the Bible too much to take it literal.”
These words have to be taken in context and they have to be understood in a deeper way - a way which goes beyond our rational capacity to understand and grasps mystery.
So what is it Jesus is trying to say to us today?
Robert Kyser, a Biblical scholar of today makes a good point as to what Jesus might be getting at here. in his book, “Preaching John”. He suggests that Jesus is telling the hearers that they literally need to take Jesus into themselves, make him “part of their essence”
“No arm’s-length relationship here, no safe distance between us. As (those) who long for the abundant life, we have no other way to such a life except by taking Jesus in, having him become so intermingled with our own being that we cannot separate one from the other. “ Adele Resmer, Proc. B,’06,p.179
Then, in the words of the great preacher of the past, P.T. Forsythe, faith will become “a power and passion in authority among the powers and passions of life” - our lives.
We will no longer be able to live indifferent to callings of the spirit to place faith, hope, and love at the center of our living and let nothing take its place.
Sunday, August 2, 2015
August 9 , 2015 11th Sunday After Pentecost
John 6:35, 41-51
35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst...
41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven." 42 They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" 43 Jesus answered them, "Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. 46 Not that any one has seen the Father except him who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh."
“The Offense Of The Incarnation
Jesus was too human for the people of his day. He was Joseph’s son who lived in their midst. He was too human, too real, too common for them to believe he was God’s son.
We want God to be something other then human. We are not inclined to see God in the common. We don’t think of God being “ in, under, and with” everyday activities.
We want God to be a miracle worker who does things in unnatural ways.
Who takes care of the tough stuff so we don’t have to deal with it.
This is a subtle form of idolatry.
One writer called it “the offense of the Incarnation.”
We believe Jesus was spiritual; we struggle with him being human. The truth is, as a friend often said, ”To be spiritual is to be human; to be human is to be spiritual.” The most spiritual things we can do are also the most human. We dare not be afraid to be human for that is the essence of what it means to eat of the Bread of Life - it is to be humanly open, honest, compassionate, intimate.
God became so human we can’t separate God from that which is human. Every time we touch intimately, lovingly, compassionately in the midst of the pain and joy of being human, God is there with life giving bread to impart eternal life. This is a miracle beyond all miracles!
35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst...
41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven." 42 They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" 43 Jesus answered them, "Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. 46 Not that any one has seen the Father except him who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh."
“The Offense Of The Incarnation
Jesus was too human for the people of his day. He was Joseph’s son who lived in their midst. He was too human, too real, too common for them to believe he was God’s son.
We want God to be something other then human. We are not inclined to see God in the common. We don’t think of God being “ in, under, and with” everyday activities.
We want God to be a miracle worker who does things in unnatural ways.
Who takes care of the tough stuff so we don’t have to deal with it.
This is a subtle form of idolatry.
One writer called it “the offense of the Incarnation.”
We believe Jesus was spiritual; we struggle with him being human. The truth is, as a friend often said, ”To be spiritual is to be human; to be human is to be spiritual.” The most spiritual things we can do are also the most human. We dare not be afraid to be human for that is the essence of what it means to eat of the Bread of Life - it is to be humanly open, honest, compassionate, intimate.
God became so human we can’t separate God from that which is human. Every time we touch intimately, lovingly, compassionately in the midst of the pain and joy of being human, God is there with life giving bread to impart eternal life. This is a miracle beyond all miracles!
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Aug. 2, 2015 10th Sunday After Pentecost
John 6:22-35
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" 26 Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal." 28 Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." 30 So they said to him, "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, "He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' " 32 Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 34 They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." 35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
“When People Seek Jesus”
The people in our text were looking for the easy way out. They wanted a free meal; a life without difficulty, pain, suffering. They came to Jesus for the wrong thing.
For Jesus came to give life a fulness; to open life up to all its greatness as we discover the dynamic of creative living, nourished by His presence and His spirit, nourished by the Bread of Life.
Jesus didn’t come just to give us answers; Jesus came to give us himself, a living, dynamic, creative presence with us which enables us to live abundantly no matter what.
They wanted Jesus “Not because (they) saw signs, but because (they) ate their fill of the loaves.”
They wanted Jesus for the wrong reason - and so do we.
We want Jesus as an insurance policy against bad things happening to us.
Even if we are careless, greedy, indifferent. It isn’t that we want to be “renewed in the spirit of our minds” We want to have our bases covered.
But this is not how it is with God. God did not send Jesus to dwell among us so life could be a bed of roses. God sent Jesus to dwell among us so that life could be different - strangely, powerfully, eternally different!
Faith doesn’t change anything in our world. It changes something in here (heart) and here and here and here! ((eyes, ears, head) Then everything takes on a new meaning and purpose. Nothing is left untouched by this new and different perspective, which makes a new and different person.
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" 26 Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal." 28 Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." 30 So they said to him, "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, "He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' " 32 Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 34 They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." 35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
“When People Seek Jesus”
The people in our text were looking for the easy way out. They wanted a free meal; a life without difficulty, pain, suffering. They came to Jesus for the wrong thing.
For Jesus came to give life a fulness; to open life up to all its greatness as we discover the dynamic of creative living, nourished by His presence and His spirit, nourished by the Bread of Life.
Jesus didn’t come just to give us answers; Jesus came to give us himself, a living, dynamic, creative presence with us which enables us to live abundantly no matter what.
They wanted Jesus “Not because (they) saw signs, but because (they) ate their fill of the loaves.”
They wanted Jesus for the wrong reason - and so do we.
We want Jesus as an insurance policy against bad things happening to us.
Even if we are careless, greedy, indifferent. It isn’t that we want to be “renewed in the spirit of our minds” We want to have our bases covered.
But this is not how it is with God. God did not send Jesus to dwell among us so life could be a bed of roses. God sent Jesus to dwell among us so that life could be different - strangely, powerfully, eternally different!
Faith doesn’t change anything in our world. It changes something in here (heart) and here and here and here! ((eyes, ears, head) Then everything takes on a new meaning and purpose. Nothing is left untouched by this new and different perspective, which makes a new and different person.
Sunday, July 19, 2015
July 25, 2015 9th Sunday After Pentecost
Mark 6:45-56
53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
Jesus did heal. Miracles did and do happen. But they are not always obvious, because some times they happen in a different way.
“A miraculous healing of a physical illness is wonderful. But even more impressive … is the way God's grace gives some people the courage to live creatively, and even joyously, within their suffering. The profound faith of those who live with crippling affliction or disease-ridden bodies does not look spectacular to many. But their confidence in God and love for others are as beautiful a miracle as any physical one you're apt to ever see.”
Peter W. Marty
53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
Jesus did heal. Miracles did and do happen. But they are not always obvious, because some times they happen in a different way.
“A miraculous healing of a physical illness is wonderful. But even more impressive … is the way God's grace gives some people the courage to live creatively, and even joyously, within their suffering. The profound faith of those who live with crippling affliction or disease-ridden bodies does not look spectacular to many. But their confidence in God and love for others are as beautiful a miracle as any physical one you're apt to ever see.”
Peter W. Marty
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
July 19, 2015 8th Sunday After Pentecost
Mark 6:30-3430 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
What do you suppose Jesus said to them?
We can be safe to say it would be a word of encouragement, not a word of judgment or guilt. Like his words in the Sermon on the Mount...or his parables.
They were ‘like sheep without a shepherd.. He would speak to them as a Shepherd. On behalf of a God who cares. And a people who care.
To know that there is a God who cares we need a people who care. As a poor tenant once said. “If your God doesn’t care about the rats in my apartment; I don’t care about your God.”
The Church is people who care, share, and congregate - come together to be the people of God and to do together what we could never do alone.
There is a shepherd and there is a flock.
There is a God who cares and a people who care. - and they are us!
“And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while."
There is a tension between “being alone” and “being compassionate”.
We can try to live with no compassion or we can try to live never saying no.
The first can be cold and indifferent; the second can be exhausting and draining of all energy. Both extremes are dangerous; both ways have their strengths and weaknesses.
In either we need to get away and be recharged for living as God would have us live - compassionate and responsible.
We need to spend time alone so we can truly be with others in compassion.
Alone time feeds our souls; energizes us; fills us; renews us.
If I don’t take time for myself; I don’t have much to give you either.
To be compassionate is to be with someone; it is to help them so they can do what only they can do to make life what God meant it to be.
For as Henri Nouwen writes,
“Compassion is the fruit of solitude and the basis of all ministry. ...
Let us not underestimate how hard it is to be compassionate. It is hard because it requires the inner disposition to go with others where they hurt, were they are weak, vulnerable, lonely and broken. But this is not our spontaneous response to suffering. What we desire most is to do away with suffering by fleeing from it or finding a quick cure." .
“What becomes visible here is that solitude molds self-righteous persons into gentle, caring, forgiving persons who are so deeply convinced of their own sinfulness and so fully aware of God's even greater mercy that their whole lives become ministry. In such a ministry there is hardly any difference left between doing and being...our whole being witnesses to the light that came into the darkness." The Way Of The Heart, pp. 20,22
32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
What do you suppose Jesus said to them?
We can be safe to say it would be a word of encouragement, not a word of judgment or guilt. Like his words in the Sermon on the Mount...or his parables.
They were ‘like sheep without a shepherd.. He would speak to them as a Shepherd. On behalf of a God who cares. And a people who care.
To know that there is a God who cares we need a people who care. As a poor tenant once said. “If your God doesn’t care about the rats in my apartment; I don’t care about your God.”
The Church is people who care, share, and congregate - come together to be the people of God and to do together what we could never do alone.
There is a shepherd and there is a flock.
There is a God who cares and a people who care. - and they are us!
“And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while."
There is a tension between “being alone” and “being compassionate”.
We can try to live with no compassion or we can try to live never saying no.
The first can be cold and indifferent; the second can be exhausting and draining of all energy. Both extremes are dangerous; both ways have their strengths and weaknesses.
In either we need to get away and be recharged for living as God would have us live - compassionate and responsible.
We need to spend time alone so we can truly be with others in compassion.
Alone time feeds our souls; energizes us; fills us; renews us.
If I don’t take time for myself; I don’t have much to give you either.
To be compassionate is to be with someone; it is to help them so they can do what only they can do to make life what God meant it to be.
For as Henri Nouwen writes,
“Compassion is the fruit of solitude and the basis of all ministry. ...
Let us not underestimate how hard it is to be compassionate. It is hard because it requires the inner disposition to go with others where they hurt, were they are weak, vulnerable, lonely and broken. But this is not our spontaneous response to suffering. What we desire most is to do away with suffering by fleeing from it or finding a quick cure." .
“What becomes visible here is that solitude molds self-righteous persons into gentle, caring, forgiving persons who are so deeply convinced of their own sinfulness and so fully aware of God's even greater mercy that their whole lives become ministry. In such a ministry there is hardly any difference left between doing and being...our whole being witnesses to the light that came into the darkness." The Way Of The Heart, pp. 20,22
Thursday, July 2, 2015
July 12, 2015 7th Sunday After Pentecost
Amos 7:7-15
7...behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. 8 And the LORD said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said, "Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass by them; 9 the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jerobo'am with the sword." 10 Then Amazi'ah the priest of Bethel sent to Jerobo'am king of Israel, saying, "Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words. 11 For thus Amos has said, 'Jerobo'am shall die by the sword, and Israel must go into exile away from his land.'" 12 And Amazi'ah said to Amos, "O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there; 13 but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom." 14 Then Amos answered Amazi'ah, "I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, 15 and the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'
Amos’ words had a bite to them which left him less than popular.
"Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are in the mountain of Sama'ria, who oppress the poor, who crush the 4:1
21 "I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. 22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and cereal offerings, I will not accept them, and the peace offerings of your fatted beasts I will not look upon. 23 Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. 24 But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. 5:21-24;
4 "Woe to those who lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the midst of the stall; 5 who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and like David invent for themselves instruments of music; 6 who drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! 7 Therefore they shall now be the first of those to go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves shall pass away." 6:4-7
Amos was certainly not very popular in his day. He spoke the truth no matter how much it hurt. He didn’t do it to get rich; he had a sense of calling and mission. He did it because the Spirit of God compelled him to do it! And he was asked to “go away to the land of Judah” so as to not disturb the comfortable life of Israel.
God interrupted his life - as God does ours - and compels us to speak a word of truth.
When we do we will not be popular; but we will be speaking a word God wants said.
We need a prophet like Amos today, lest we are lulled to sleep in our idolatries and injustices! We need to be confronted with the evil in our midst - even in our lives - lest we are deceived into thinking that we know God’s will for all things and know what is best for all people.
It hurts - to face the truth of our own prejudices, hypocrisy, self-righteousness. Yet it is only as we do that the Word of God transforms our lives and turns us into instruments of grace in a world of hate.
7...behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. 8 And the LORD said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said, "Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass by them; 9 the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jerobo'am with the sword." 10 Then Amazi'ah the priest of Bethel sent to Jerobo'am king of Israel, saying, "Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words. 11 For thus Amos has said, 'Jerobo'am shall die by the sword, and Israel must go into exile away from his land.'" 12 And Amazi'ah said to Amos, "O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there; 13 but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom." 14 Then Amos answered Amazi'ah, "I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, 15 and the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'
Amos’ words had a bite to them which left him less than popular.
"Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are in the mountain of Sama'ria, who oppress the poor, who crush the 4:1
21 "I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. 22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and cereal offerings, I will not accept them, and the peace offerings of your fatted beasts I will not look upon. 23 Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. 24 But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. 5:21-24;
4 "Woe to those who lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the midst of the stall; 5 who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and like David invent for themselves instruments of music; 6 who drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! 7 Therefore they shall now be the first of those to go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves shall pass away." 6:4-7
Amos was certainly not very popular in his day. He spoke the truth no matter how much it hurt. He didn’t do it to get rich; he had a sense of calling and mission. He did it because the Spirit of God compelled him to do it! And he was asked to “go away to the land of Judah” so as to not disturb the comfortable life of Israel.
God interrupted his life - as God does ours - and compels us to speak a word of truth.
When we do we will not be popular; but we will be speaking a word God wants said.
We need a prophet like Amos today, lest we are lulled to sleep in our idolatries and injustices! We need to be confronted with the evil in our midst - even in our lives - lest we are deceived into thinking that we know God’s will for all things and know what is best for all people.
It hurts - to face the truth of our own prejudices, hypocrisy, self-righteousness. Yet it is only as we do that the Word of God transforms our lives and turns us into instruments of grace in a world of hate.
Sunday, June 28, 2015
July 5, 2015 6th Sunday After Pentecost
Mark 6:1-13
1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.
Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
It’s hard to be a prophet among those you grew up with; those who remember the pranks you pulled
and find it hard to believe you could amount to much of anything.
Who did Jesus think he was? GOD!
God can’t be this human, this close, this real!
When God comes to us in too human a way and challenges us to change our ways, we too “take offense at Him”.
We like to keep God boxed up in our rituals where we are in control.
But God will not let us do that. God is not a rabbits foot, a good luck charm, an easy way out of the difficulties of life.
God desires to enter into the changes and chances of life with us, and there make a difference not by offering new power
or easy answers which eliminates all the bad and protects us from suffering, but offering a power make perfect in weakness -
the power of love…of grace which is sufficient for all our needs.
“I asked God for strength that I might achieve,
I was made weak, that I might learn humility to obey.
I asked for health, that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy,
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given lie, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing I asked for--but everything I hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all men, most richly blessed.”
Anonymous Civil War Soldier
1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.
Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
It’s hard to be a prophet among those you grew up with; those who remember the pranks you pulled
and find it hard to believe you could amount to much of anything.
Who did Jesus think he was? GOD!
God can’t be this human, this close, this real!
When God comes to us in too human a way and challenges us to change our ways, we too “take offense at Him”.
We like to keep God boxed up in our rituals where we are in control.
But God will not let us do that. God is not a rabbits foot, a good luck charm, an easy way out of the difficulties of life.
God desires to enter into the changes and chances of life with us, and there make a difference not by offering new power
or easy answers which eliminates all the bad and protects us from suffering, but offering a power make perfect in weakness -
the power of love…of grace which is sufficient for all our needs.
“I asked God for strength that I might achieve,
I was made weak, that I might learn humility to obey.
I asked for health, that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy,
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given lie, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing I asked for--but everything I hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all men, most richly blessed.”
Anonymous Civil War Soldier
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