I have decided to use my blog for the next few weeks to reflect on what I plan to preach on Sunday as well as other ideas that might have some connection no matter how tenuous that might be. This week the lectionary is from the Gospel of John chapter 13:31-35 that talks about the new commandment Jesus makes in that we are to love one another. I will also use the Psalm 148 to look at the BHAG of what it means to be a church (Big Hairy Audacious Goal). Today I wanted to share an article from "Crazy Talk" regarding love.
Love not a thing that is blind but the act of actually seeing the needs of others and of putting their needs higher than yourself or your needs.
"You can't love your car. Or your house. Or your rubber ducky. Your car/house/ducky may be nicer than any of ours, but if you 'love' them, you're really just loving what you have--thus, you are just being devoted to your own self, your own pleasure, and your own happiness. If you think you love your car, you need a whack upside the read and a serious reevaluation of priorities.
Love is not a sentiment or an emotion. It is not something you feel but action you take on behalf of others. And love certainly isn't blind. Love stares the suffering and needs of neighbor--and even of the enemy!--hard in the face. And then does something about them.
If you have a problem with this, you might have a problem with God. We are only able to love because God first loved us (see 1 John 3:16). God's very nature is love, since God's actions of creation, redemption, and sanctification are continuous acts of love. Seeing as the world doesn't stop existing for people who are jerks, we can know that God's love is unconditional." (Crazy Talk: A Not-So-Stuffy Dictionary of Theological Terms, Rolf Jacobson editor,2008, p110).
What is interesting about this is that in our study Monday nights on the Beatitudes, the author wrote that much sin is caused by our self-love. We had quite the discussion about self-love and the love of God and neighbor.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Hearing 3
I had said that I would get the Greek for hear that is used in the scripture from the Gospel of John chapter 10. I will add it to here and emphasize that meaning 2 is what I would focus on.
191 avkou,w akouo {ak-oo'-o}
Meaning: 1) to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf 2) to hear 2b) to attend to, consider what is or has been said 2c) to understand, perceive the sense of what is said 3) to hear something 3a) to perceive by the ear what is announced in one's presence 3b) to get by hearing learn 3c) a thing comes to one's ears, to find out, learn 3e) to give ear to a teaching or a teacher 3f) to comprehend, to understand
Origin: a root; TDNT - 1:216,34; v
Usage: AV - hear 418, hearken 6, give audience 3, hearer 2, misc 8; 437
5719 Tense - Present (See 5774) Voice - Active (See 5784) Mood - Indicative (See 5791) Count - 3019
The scripture would indicate that not only hearing and attending to but considering what is said and understanding are an important part of hearing.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Listening 2
I don't know about you but there have been times someone has said to me, "Are you listening to me?" I have to admit that sometimes the person is right that I am not listening or even hearing what they are saying. When I am distracted by other thoughts, worrying about things, anticipating what I am doing, I am not focusing on the person. Sometimes when I am in a hurry, I do not pay attention and want the other person to cut to the chase of what they want. When I do this, I miss not only the words the person is saying but also what those words mean to the person.
For me listening or hearing depending on one's preference, means not only knowing the words but also what lies underneath those words. If as the dictionary.com suggests that hearing is listening and perceiving, then to be fully present to another requires that we make the effort to be truly with that person. Then and only then, do we see not only the words but also the impact of those words on others.
In the gospel of John, those who are arguing with Jesus and demand to know whether or not he is the Messiah have listened and even witnessed what Jesus has said and done but do not perceive who he is. In fact the Greek for which in most English translations say tell us plainly or don't keep us in suspense really could be translated stop annoying us with what you claim.
Yet it should not be them that are annoyed but Jesus who continues to be misunderstood. I know that when I make the effort to say something that I feel is important and others either don't listen or twist what I say to fit their perceptions, I feel annoyed. Jesus uses this as one more time to try to get them to listen to what he offers to those who would not only listen to him but perceive who he is.
The question becomes are we taking time to listen and perceive Christ in our lives today? Let's vow that today we will put down our lists, our busyness, our distractions, and take time to be with Jesus for at least 15 minutes.
For me listening or hearing depending on one's preference, means not only knowing the words but also what lies underneath those words. If as the dictionary.com suggests that hearing is listening and perceiving, then to be fully present to another requires that we make the effort to be truly with that person. Then and only then, do we see not only the words but also the impact of those words on others.
In the gospel of John, those who are arguing with Jesus and demand to know whether or not he is the Messiah have listened and even witnessed what Jesus has said and done but do not perceive who he is. In fact the Greek for which in most English translations say tell us plainly or don't keep us in suspense really could be translated stop annoying us with what you claim.
Yet it should not be them that are annoyed but Jesus who continues to be misunderstood. I know that when I make the effort to say something that I feel is important and others either don't listen or twist what I say to fit their perceptions, I feel annoyed. Jesus uses this as one more time to try to get them to listen to what he offers to those who would not only listen to him but perceive who he is.
The question becomes are we taking time to listen and perceive Christ in our lives today? Let's vow that today we will put down our lists, our busyness, our distractions, and take time to be with Jesus for at least 15 minutes.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Hearing and listening
I finished with my sermon on choices and the paths that we choose and the ability God has of opening new possibilities in our lives. I discussed like Paul what would be the blinding light that one would have to experience to open ourselves to God's grace. I also talked about Ananias who could have chosen a path of vengeance and hatred for an enemy and instead traveled that least traveled path of forgiveness, love, and mercy.
This week the lectionary continues with the gospel of John. It focuses on chapter 10:22-30. The entire chapter deals with Jesus as the shepherd and the one who the sheep know. He is the true shepherd as compared to Ezekiel 34 which focuses on the evil shepherd. The image of the good shepherd had messiah overtones. This pericope begins to focus on the confusion about Jesus as to whether or not he is the Messiah. The concern is are the people able to hear the voice of the Master.
I began to reflect on the idea of the hearing versus to listening and to whether or not there is a difference between the two. Tomorrow I will be presenting the Greek for this but I would like to suggest that maybe there is a difference even though we use both words in English to mean the same.
I decided to look up both words at Dictionary.com. For listen as a verb it means to pay attention in order to hear. To hear means not only to listen but to perceive. Maybe what we can discern from the scripture is that the sheep don't just hear the words but they perceive the messenger for who he is.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Choices Choices Choices 3
I want to continue to talk about the choices that we make. Tomorrow I will be taking about different paths that we can take based on Paul's conversion and the poem by Robert Frost, "The Road Not Taken." We are presented in life options of what is possible. Sometimes we seem to find ourselves caught up in a situation and wonder what we did to find ourselves in such circumstances. I know that I often had people tell me that they did not do anything or make any decisions that led them to their predicament. They would claim that they had no other choice. While I would agree about certain natural disasters or genetic conditions, but for most there has been choices recognized or not that have led them to their situation.
When I was counseling, I came across this poem that I would use as an allegory that might help people recognize that very little in life is done without decisions on our part. The problem is that one may not realize or recognize that they are making those decisions. I had lost who had written the poem but found this on the internet.
“There’s a Hole in my Sidewalk“, by Portia Nelson
Chapter 1.
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost…
I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.
Chapter 2.
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I cant believe I am in this same place.
But it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter 3.
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in… its a habit.
But, my eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
Chapter 4.
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
Chapter 5.
I walk down another street.
What strikes me about this and the lection for Sunday is that Paul was walking down a path that had a huge hole in it. When Jesus confronted him, he began the process of realizing the decisions that he was making. He then walked down another path and thank God for that. So when I am tempted to say that what is happening is not my fault, I need to recognize the decisions that I make that have contributed to the problem as well as the decisions that I can make to remedy the problem. Too often we are quick to be critical and offer not anything as a means of resolution. Even in times when what is happening may have nothing to do with our choices, such as natural disasters, how we respond is our choice. Let us choose that way Christ would want us to choose with love, grace, mercy, and charity.
When I was counseling, I came across this poem that I would use as an allegory that might help people recognize that very little in life is done without decisions on our part. The problem is that one may not realize or recognize that they are making those decisions. I had lost who had written the poem but found this on the internet.
“There’s a Hole in my Sidewalk“, by Portia Nelson
Chapter 1.
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost…
I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.
Chapter 2.
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I cant believe I am in this same place.
But it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter 3.
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in… its a habit.
But, my eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
Chapter 4.
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
Chapter 5.
I walk down another street.
What strikes me about this and the lection for Sunday is that Paul was walking down a path that had a huge hole in it. When Jesus confronted him, he began the process of realizing the decisions that he was making. He then walked down another path and thank God for that. So when I am tempted to say that what is happening is not my fault, I need to recognize the decisions that I make that have contributed to the problem as well as the decisions that I can make to remedy the problem. Too often we are quick to be critical and offer not anything as a means of resolution. Even in times when what is happening may have nothing to do with our choices, such as natural disasters, how we respond is our choice. Let us choose that way Christ would want us to choose with love, grace, mercy, and charity.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Choices Choices Choices 2
Last night at our Wednesday service, I reflected on the scripture in John 21. As I contemplate the choices that I am making in my life the question arises as to how do I make the best choice that I can. This chapter in the Gospel of John whether written or not by the original author is immaterial to what was being said. Following the two appearances of Jesus with the disciples, Peter decided to go fishing. Whether it was a means of trying to deal with the emotional turmoil of the past week and taking a breath or he and the rest of the disciples returned to their normal work, we don't know. We just know they went fishing.
I know that in my life I have experienced the roller coaster of feelings maybe not to the same extent as the disciples. When I am caught up in exuberant joy, grief, fear, uncertainty, anxiety, and even depression, there comes a time that I need a break. For me it is not fishing. For me it is a quiet place somewhere outdoors away from as much noise and busyness that I can find. It is at that time I feel most renewed and am able to go forward. I reflect on the beginning of Jesus' ministry where he spent 40 days in the wilderness. There are times that I can empathize with the need to reflect on what we are called to do.
So regardless of why the disciples went fishing, they were unable to catch any fish until Jesus appeared on the shore and told them to let down their nets. The story reminds of the synoptic gospels story of the call of the disciples in a similar fashion. Then and only then were the disciples able to catch not just some fish but an abudance of fish.
We too need Christ in our lives and in our choices for us to live abundantly with what God calls us to do. No church, committee, or person will be as successful and effective if we do not take time to listen to what Christ is calling us to do. No advertising campaign, no marketing will take the place of Jesus. Rather than being concerned of what is in it for me, I need to remember that I do what I do for the glory of my Creator. That is true for not just as a pastor, but even when I go out fishing.
I know that in my life I have experienced the roller coaster of feelings maybe not to the same extent as the disciples. When I am caught up in exuberant joy, grief, fear, uncertainty, anxiety, and even depression, there comes a time that I need a break. For me it is not fishing. For me it is a quiet place somewhere outdoors away from as much noise and busyness that I can find. It is at that time I feel most renewed and am able to go forward. I reflect on the beginning of Jesus' ministry where he spent 40 days in the wilderness. There are times that I can empathize with the need to reflect on what we are called to do.
So regardless of why the disciples went fishing, they were unable to catch any fish until Jesus appeared on the shore and told them to let down their nets. The story reminds of the synoptic gospels story of the call of the disciples in a similar fashion. Then and only then were the disciples able to catch not just some fish but an abudance of fish.
We too need Christ in our lives and in our choices for us to live abundantly with what God calls us to do. No church, committee, or person will be as successful and effective if we do not take time to listen to what Christ is calling us to do. No advertising campaign, no marketing will take the place of Jesus. Rather than being concerned of what is in it for me, I need to remember that I do what I do for the glory of my Creator. That is true for not just as a pastor, but even when I go out fishing.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Choices choices choices 1
I have been away from sharing my thoughts that it feels strange to sit here and write about what is happening. Lent and Easter tend to be busy times for churches that once again proclaim the Good News that Christ is alive and active in our world today. It is also a time that many faithful make sure to attend worship services. Easter is the most important Christian holy day for it is the foundation of our beliefs. Often after the Easter services are done there is often a let down of attendance in worship services. We forget that Easter is every day not just one day out of the year and that the season of Easter lasts 50 days. What I would pray is that we remember Christ in all of our choices that we make knowing that he is with us and empowers us in the Holy Spirit.
Last Sunday I attended a good friends church and they had Holy Humor Sunday. This is a movement that was based on some of the writings of the ancient patriarchs that talked about the great joke that God did on Satan by raising Jesus from the dead. My friend based her sermon from the verse in Nehemiah 8:10. I would encourage the reader to read Nehemiah to get an idea of what the concerns that the exiles had when they returned home. Actually one should also read Ezra as well. The exiles returned to Jerusalem to a city that had been sacked and the temple destroyed. In their return they came across the book of law by Moses and the people wept and mourned as they had not been living by the law. Nehemiah proclaimed that rather than just mourn the people needed to remember that God had remembered them and rejoice.
How often we tend to bring to God our tears and petitions but find it difficult to bring our joy and laughter. In most of the services that I do and ask for joys and concerns the number of concerns are probably 3 times as many as joys. I know that when I did counseling as a psychotherapist and would ask people to list characteristics that they liked about themselves and also what they would like to change, most people could list several areas of change but had difficulty stating what they like about themselves or that they were gifted.
God created us as a whole person and declared us good. As we live and make choices, we tend to either affirm our Creator or we drift away. We need to remember that God gave us tears to mourn, a community to affirm, and laughter to heal.
This coming Sunday I will be talking about choices and Paul's conversion story. I will also be using the poem by Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken. Every day we make choices and for the rest of the week I will be discussing the choices that we make.
Last Sunday I attended a good friends church and they had Holy Humor Sunday. This is a movement that was based on some of the writings of the ancient patriarchs that talked about the great joke that God did on Satan by raising Jesus from the dead. My friend based her sermon from the verse in Nehemiah 8:10. I would encourage the reader to read Nehemiah to get an idea of what the concerns that the exiles had when they returned home. Actually one should also read Ezra as well. The exiles returned to Jerusalem to a city that had been sacked and the temple destroyed. In their return they came across the book of law by Moses and the people wept and mourned as they had not been living by the law. Nehemiah proclaimed that rather than just mourn the people needed to remember that God had remembered them and rejoice.
How often we tend to bring to God our tears and petitions but find it difficult to bring our joy and laughter. In most of the services that I do and ask for joys and concerns the number of concerns are probably 3 times as many as joys. I know that when I did counseling as a psychotherapist and would ask people to list characteristics that they liked about themselves and also what they would like to change, most people could list several areas of change but had difficulty stating what they like about themselves or that they were gifted.
God created us as a whole person and declared us good. As we live and make choices, we tend to either affirm our Creator or we drift away. We need to remember that God gave us tears to mourn, a community to affirm, and laughter to heal.
This coming Sunday I will be talking about choices and Paul's conversion story. I will also be using the poem by Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken. Every day we make choices and for the rest of the week I will be discussing the choices that we make.
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