2013 January 2

As I sit here at home recovering, I am working on my sermons for Sunday.  For once Epiphany actually falls on a Sunday.  During Advent, I was preaching on a Different Kind of Christmas based on Mike Slaughter’s book, Christmas Is Not Your Birthday.  The recommendation for Epiphany was a different road.  I also follow a Methodist lay person who blogs as the Naked Alien.  There was something about what he said that I wanted to share.  He uses the lectionary and either reframes it or often will have reflections regarding the scriptures.  Here is what he shared with the story of the Magi found in Matthew 2.

“

When Herod was King, eastern boffins came to Jerusalem after the birth of Jesus. "In our observatory, we saw a new star come to life, marking the birth of your new king. Where might we find him? We want to honor him and pay our respects." Geeks don't always exhibit the best of skills in social graces - King Herod was terrified of this omen.

He stepped out to meet with his own egg-heads and theology nerds: "Where will the Messiah be born?"

"Our studies of the works of the Prophets tell us that it will be in Bethlehem."

Herod then met in secret with his visitors. Feigning to share their interest in science and learning, he discovered from them the exact time and day that the star first appeared. "Here is a pass. Go to the village of Bethlehem. If you find the king, hurry back and tell me. I also want to honor him and pay my respects!"

Wise-men but none-the-wiser, they set out. The star's final position confirmed the Bethlehem hypothesis. They were overwhelmed with the joy of success. They entered the house where the new family was living. Seeing the baby with his mother, they knelt down. In addition to the gold and frankincense that Isaiah had listed on the baby-shower registry, they gave the baby embalming myrrh as well. See what I mean about them not always being socially appropriate or sensitive?

God removed their blinders and they decided it probably wasn't such a good idea to go back to Herod after all, so they snuck out of town the back way singing a song where they pretended to be kings...

Herod was severely pissed-off, so he sent his thugs to kill all the babies in the small quiet village that had always seemed so safe - until hell fell upon them.

(Retelling of Matthew 2:1-12 and 16-18) “

We in telling the story often fail to spend time with the slaughter of the innocents and that the holy family became refugees in Africa.  The birth of our Savior was not a Hallmark event but one that threatened those who felt that prosperity, power, and prestige were marks of being blessed.  Jesus’ family were poor, powerless, homeless and certainly not prestigious. 

So how in telling this story can we be more faithful to our savior?  Are we who live in a society of privilege and who for the most part are prosperous going to react as the magi or King Herod in our choices?

Sunday we will reflect on the different road.  For those who read this check out Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken.

Shalom

2013 January 1

So today starts a new year.  It has been quite the eventful year.  I was watching television prior to the Nebraska game and there was a commercial that stated that rather than this being a day for making resolutions it be a day of commitments to have a healthier life.  Which was ironic, as I have been fighting a sinus infection that has lasted two weeks.  Yet the idea of commitment appeals to me.  I would see it not a physical healthier life but a  spiritual one as well.  Maybe that is why we committed to doing something different with our Sunday 5 pm service.  The focus is on living our faith with purpose.

What if all of us would live our lives with some sense of purpose knowing that we are chosen by God.  Would we live differently if we really believed and acted on that belief?  I would like to think so.  I have seen this year examples of acting for a higher purpose.  I was so disappointed by the election ads for both parties that seemed to exemplify what is wrong in our nation.  Just as my cynicism reached the heights, God showed that what we focused on through the media is not what our country is about.  During the fires this summer, I saw communities put aside differences (no concern about red cups or blue cups) and come together for the greater good.

I pray that this year we can find more that we have in common and focus on the greater good of our nation and our communities.  This is the destiny that our Lord Jesus would want.  Let’s hold each other accountable for the common good of Loving God and Loving Neighbor.

The Last Day of June

I am beginning to finalize my sermon for tomorrow.  I will be preaching on 2 Corinthians 8:7-15.  This is often used during stewardship campaigns as a way of encouraging people to remember to do what they said they would do.  Talking about this in the middle of summer seems slightly out of place or is it?  During summer attendance is often down and giving also seems to take a dip.  It seems often during the summer we struggle as to what we can pay and often find that we have to stay close to a budget or at times not pay mission shares and hope and pray that we can make them up by the end of the year.

It is at these times we most need to hear what Paul has to say.  It is not just money though that was his concern about the collection going to Jerusalem to feed the orphans and widows.  It is not even about equality.  What it is about is accountability and giving of time, talent, and treasure in an apportioned fashion.  As the fires burn in Colorado and tens of thousands of people are displaced, losing everything, we who suffering from drought still have in our possessions the resources to help those in need.  Paul tells that giving is tied to our relationship with our Creator and our Savior.  Because of the grace God has given to us, we are called to share that grace with others.

I came across notes from Gil Rendel’s Journey in the Wilderness.  What I find helpful is his statements about a call to action not just for the local church but for the general church.  I believe what he had to say in this book as well as his book Back to Zero can apply to the local church as well.  In many of our ways of doing things we are so influenced by the past traditions and norms of those who are no longer with us, we lose sight of our current situations.  In Back to Zero, he discusses the differences that we need to adopt from being consumers (those who look to others for the answers) to become citizens (those who take responsibility and accountability of what their current situation is).  He believes as I do we are surrounded by abundance but have bought into the philosopher of scarcity.  When we believe that there is a scarcity of resources, it leads us to feel that we need to accumulate, protect, and hoard what we have.

One part of that type of thinking can lead to an inner focus and taking care of ourselves and in the process a new generation can become lost to us.  We as local church members need to look at the reality of the economic, social, and missional field that we live in.  I believe for churches to become vital it will require not some program given to them but will require the members of the church to be responsible and accountable.  God has provided us the talents and the gifts of grace to do His work in this world.  My prayer is that we will take on the challenge to reach out to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

Easter Monday 2012

Today as I reflect on Easter one thought continues to occur for me.  We have been studying Adam Hamilton’s 24 Hours That Changed the World.  Having taught this bible study once before, I decided to do a sermon series regarding what we were studying.  Somehow as I prepared the sermon series and with the study I was especially reminded that Jesus chose to lay down his life not just for the general sins of the world but for my sins.

I am truly humbled to think that he would love me so much to endure what he did.  One statement that Adam put in his book was regarding Major Tammy Duckworth who was a helicopter pilot in Iraq.  Her copter was shot down.  Knowing that the insurgents would be coming, her fellow soldiers rather than leaving her rescued her despite her losing her legs.  She is quoted as saying, “You have to get up every day and seek to live in such a way as to be worthy of that kind of effort and sacrifice.”  Adam uses that to talk about the power of sacrificial love. “We are to look at the cross of Jesus and say, ‘I have to strive to live in such a way as to be worthy of that sacrifice.’ We are meant to be changed by the atonement and in turn practice sacrificial love toward others.”  I hope that my life is such that Jesus finds it worthy of what he did for me.  My prayer is that you would also find it to be inspiring of your life.

Lenten Journey

This coming Sunday begins the sermon series that is based on Adam Hamilton’s book 24 Hours That Changed the World.  We will begin on Thursday evening following sunset and meeting in the upper room.  Our bible study will begin for both group next Wednesday at 6:30.  After next week we will be meeting Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 and Wednesday at 6:30.

The first sermon will be on the upper room.  Throughout the series I will be following the path of Jesus.  We will then go in greater depth in the bible study.  I hope to video the sermons for those who will not be near a radio to listen.  I will try to get copies for those who wish to see the services.  stay tuned.

Passing the mantle

Tomorrow I will be focusing on what it means to pass the mantle of leadership and discipleship.  The main scripture comes from 2 Kings 2:1-14.  The story of Elijah and Elisha regarding the passing of the inheritance of prophecy.  There is a parallel with the gospel story of Jesus and the transfiguration found in Mark 9.  Also the parallel with Moses and Joshua in Deuteronomy passing the leadership to the next generation.  Today we also face the need to pass the mantle of leadership and discipleship to a new transition in our churches.  As the churches begin to face the post-modern age, we need to allow the emergence of the new Christianity which honors the stories and scripture but can emphasize the leadership of the new generation.
It should be interesting time for us to give our mantle of leadership to those who follow.  Maybe that is what being transfigured is all about.

February 16 Thursday

It seems that has been forever since I have written anything on my blog.  I decided that I needed to put some ideas down so that I can begin the process of preparation for Lent which starts next Wednesday.  This Lent season I will be preaching on the 24 Hours that Changed the World.  This will pair up with Adam Hamilton’s Bible study of the same name.  We will be starting on Thursday after sun set and end on Friday before sun set.  We will then celebrate Easter morning and the empty tomb.

Until then, I will be preaching on the transfiguration this Sunday.  I am going to use the lectionary passage from 2 Kings 2:1-12.  The story of Elijah and Elisha is insightful for me about what it means to pass the mantle of responsibility.  With the transfiguration story found in the synoptic gospels, we see this passage.  Appearing with Jesus are Moses and Elijah.  Moses the one to whom God gave the Torah and his inherited prophet Elijah were two of the most important spokespersons for Israel. Jesus has inherited that responsibility and more.  Yet, also present were the three disciples.  Now they are also called upon to take up the mantle following the resurrection and Pentecost.  Now we are called to take up the mantle.  I believe that this is a wonderful reminder as we enter into the Lenten season.