continuing our journey

It has been awhile since I have written. It seems as we continue our journey through Lent time has a way of getting away. At least that sounds like a convienent excuse. The reality is that I need to discipline myself more to at least write once a week if not two to share with those who take time to read the blog.
Last Sunday we continued our journey from the Garden to the cross and beyond. We started with the first Sunday of Lent with the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden and Jesus in the wilderness. I talked about temptation and how it can grab ahold of us. I discussed that as much as we want to blame the devil or Satan for our moments of weakness, the reality is that the devil has no power over us that we do not give to him. That is not to say that the evil forces do not tempt us to give into the power of evil. When we succomb to the forces of evil, we do so with the choices that we make. Often we attempt to rationalize, excuse ourselves, or deny our responsibility for the choices that we make. Temptation can begin by making us doubt ourselves and what we know is correct. Adam and Eve were like that. The snake caused them to doubt God's word and that was the start. In the wilderness, the devil also tried to cause Jesus to doubt his calling. Another way of falling into temptation is becoming only interested in what is in it for me.
There is here in Omaha a car commercial that uses that very phrase. Sometimes it seems to become a mantra for justifying actions both as an individual, community and even as a nation. Temptation works by making us more concerned about ourselves and what we have than what happens in the world around us. Another way that we can become seduced by temptation is by mis-using scripture to support whatever our agenda is. Even the devil uses scripture to try to tempt Jesus. The last way of temptation is power. Power can be economic, control of resources that are needed for survival, or military.
That was the start of our journey to recognize and to remember where we are going and to resist being pulled off our path. Last week we focused on the call of Abram and the story of the scribe and Jesus. We discussed that sometimes our lenten paths require us to leave what if familiar to travel to the unknown. Jesus and his disciples were constantly on the move. If we are going to be faithful it means that we have to get our feet in gear. It means not allowing fear, lack of security, or belonging to cause us to not go forth in this world to proclaim the good news. I have a member who heard once the expression "the frozen chosen." The expression was more aimed at the idea that it is wrong to express one self emotionally during worship services. But sometimes I feel that it might describe churches in general. It is natural to resist change but as John Wesley felt that if we build churches that people will become more concerned about the building than about the people that we are to be serving. There needs to be a balance between caring for ourselves and caring for others. We cannot afford to be the frozen chosen when it comes to help those in need.
This week we will be examining where we can find grace on our journey. Often where we find grace may be in the place we least expect to find it and with the people that we would least expect. Stay tuned as we continue our journey.