Musings of a Methodist Minister

A Cowboy's Prayer

2018-03-06T08:37:00.002-08:00

One of our Nomads shared this during their daily devotions, and I thought I'd share it with you.

Jake The Rancher

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him

while he is near: Isaiah 55:6

Jake the rancher went one day

To fix a distant fence.

The wind was cold and gusty,

And the clouds were gray and dense.

As he pounded the last staples in,

And gathered tools to go,

The temperature had fallen

And the snow began to blow.

When he finally reached his pickup,

He felt a heavy heart;

From the sound of that ignition,

He knew it wouldn't start.

So Jake did what most of us would do,

If we would have been there---

He humbly bowed his balding head,

And sent a heart-felt prayer.

As he turned the key the last time,

He softly cursed his luck;

They found him, three days later,

Frozen stiff in that old truck.

Now Jake had been around in life,

And done his share of roamin'

But he was shocked when he saw heaven,

For it looked just like Wyomin'.

Of all the saints in heaven,

His favorite was Saint Peter;

And when Jake got to heaven,

Well, guess who was the greeter?.

They set and talked a minute or two,

Or maybe even three;

There wasn't no one keepin' score---

In heaven, time is free.

"Ive always heard," Jake said to Pete,

"That God will answer prayer.

But the one time when I asked for help,

Well, He just plain wasn't there."

"Does God answer the prayers of some,

But not the prayers of others?

That don't seem exactly right---

I thought all men were brothers."

"Or does He randomly reply,

Without good rhyme or reason?

Or maybe it's the time of day,

The weather or the season."

"Now I ain't tryin' to act smart,

It's just the way I feel.

And I wondered could you tell me,

Just what the heck's the deal?"

Peter listened very patiently,

And then when Jake was done,

There were smiles of recognition,

And he said, "So you're the one!"

"That day when your truck wouldn't start,

And you sent your prayer a'flyin'

You gave us all a real bad time,

With hundreds of us tryin' "

"A thousand angels rushed to check

The status of your file,

But you know, Jake, we hadn't heard

From you in quite a while.

And though all prayers are answered,

And God ain't got no quota,

He didn't recognize your voice,

And started a truck in North Dakota!"

~ Bill Jones, Cowboy Poet~

Musings of a Methodist Minister: Thoughts on Palm Sunday and Holy Week

2017-04-06T11:10:00.001-07:00

Musings of a Methodist Minister: Thoughts on Palm Sunday and Holy Week: In the United Methodist Church, as well as other liturgical churches that use the lectionary, a three year guide of scriptures for ministers...

Thoughts on Palm Sunday and Holy Week

2017-04-06T11:05:00.001-07:00

In the United Methodist Church, as well as other liturgical churches that use the lectionary, a three year guide of scriptures for ministers to preach from, we celebrate Palm/Passion Sunday, and have since 1969. Many believe the reason for this is concern that people will not come to Holy Week services during the week, and that it is important for people to have an opportunity to remember the passion of Christ that led to the resurrection. I've found that whether or not that was the reason for the change, the reality was often that attendance was much lower, or even nonexistent, when the services were held during the week, so I used Palm/Passion Sunday as a means of keeping people from going straight from Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem into Jesus' resurrection. However, I want to change that for this year.

Let me begin by saying that as I was trying to research the subject, I found few cited references as to why we should or should not celebrate Palm/Passion Sunday, from the argument that I lifted above to the argument that we are simply going back to following the Ancient Church's tradition of beginning the service with the reading of the passion, followed by the liturgy of the palms. If I can find better information with references as to where the information came from, then I will consider changing my thinking.

From a theological point of view, one of the greatest concerns I have with Palm/Passion Sunday is the concept that every Sunday is considered a mini Easter, a time for remembering the Resurrection. In fact, the 40 days of Lent does not count the Sundays of the season as part of the 40 days. While the 40 days of reflection is based, in part, on Jesus' temptations in the wilderness after having fasted for 40 days, we do not have the ability to go that long without being reminded of the Good News of the empty tomb.

Another concern I have is that by combining the two, we loose focus on one or the other. The church will either read the Passion narrative first, followed by ta focus on the Palms, or by reading the story of the triumphant entry, followed by the more overwhelming reading of the passion. Either way, it is hard to adequately address both in one worship service.

This Sunday, therefore, I am focusing on Palm Sunday. We will have the palms. We will sing "Hosanna, Loud Hosanna", and other songs of joy. However, I want to challenge people to come to our Maundy Thursday service the Thursday before Easter, so we can remember Jesus with the disciples the night he was betrayed. I want to encourage you to come Friday evening to remember the day of the resurrection, a service that will move many to tears, as we reflect on our own role in the crucifixion story. I want to invite you to come to worship Easter morning, as we move from death on a cross to an empty tomb and Jesus' revelation to Mary.

Let us make this week a week of true reflection, as we consider the gift of the Palms, the Passion, and the glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ!

The Healing of the Ten Lepers, Texas Style

2016-10-11T07:20:00.000-07:00

Once there were ten college football quarterbacks who had lost their ability to play. They were shunned and off by themselves, wondering what, if anything, the future held for them. The quarterbacks were from all over; University of Texas, Texas A&M, Southern Methodist, Baylor, Houston, etc.

One day, the late great John Heisman appeared at a distance. "Mr Heisman, have mercy on us! We've lost our abilities as quarterbacks!" the group cried out! Heisman told them to return to their teams and to tell their coaches they were to be starters again. As they left, they were tossing the ball around and found that they were once again able players.

One of these, upon realizing he was healed, ran back to John and threw himself at Heisman's feet. Now, he was from Oklahoma! Heisman looked at the young man and said, "Did I not save 10 of you? Where are the nine? Today I tell you that this year you will win the Heisman trophy."

This story tells us about the outsider's life of gratitude. Through Jesus Christ we have salvation. We are to live our lives in response to that. If we truly understand the magnitude of this gift from God, then we cannot help but to be grateful people.

What do people see when they look at you? Do they see someone who is grateful for the gift of God's salvation? Do they see you as someone who, no matter the situation, is joyful in all things? The leper who returned was a Samaritan, one who was despised by the Jewish people, yet he was the only one to return to Jesus to give thanks.

Let us live our lives in response to Jesus' mercy on us. Let us live as grateful and joyous people!

The Twelfth Day of Christmas

2016-01-06T09:07:00.000-08:00

Today, January 6, 2016, is the 12^th day of Christmas, also known as Epiphany for Christians. It is the day we recognize Mathew’s account of the Magi coming to see young Jesus, bringing him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. This is the time we recognize that Jesus came not only for the Jewish people, but also for the Gentiles, as represented by the wise men. According to the United Methodist Book of Worship, “The Epiphany (Manifestation) of the Lord (January 6), an even more ancient celebration among Christians than Christmas, originally focused on the nativity, incarnation, and baptism of Christ. Today we celebrate the coming of the three wise men (magi), who brought gifts to the Christ child. For this reason, in Puerto Rico and in most Latin American countries this day is observed as Three Kings Day or Dia de Los Reyes. It marks the end of the Christmas Cycle, which began the First Sunday of Advent.”[i] It is interesting that we have some misconstrued information about the wise men based not on Scripture, but on tradition. Most Christians, if asked, will tell you that there were three kings (or wise men or magi, depending on the way the word is translated). Even our United Methodist Book of Worship says that Epiphany is to “celebrate the coming of the three wise men.”[ii] One favorite Christmas song is “We Three Kings.” And in Latino churches, Epiphany is know as Dia De Los Reyes, or Three Kings Day.[iii] Tradition has actually named the three wise men as Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar.[iv] However, Matthew 2:1-12 only tells us that there were wise men, without names or numbers to clarify. Why has tradition suggested there were three? Likely, because they brought three gifts.

Another misconception about the magi is when they visited Jesus. Many assume they appeared the night Jesus was born. However, this does not match up with Luke’s Gospel, as Luke has Jesus born in a stable, but the magi visit Jesus in a house. The magi, likely astrologers from modern day Iran, would have had to travel some 800 to 900 miles to get to Jesus, indicating they could have been following the star that led to him for months, even years![v] In fact, I did not put the magi in our Nativity scene until this morning, and even then it was with some feeling of disappointment that my Nativity is a stable and does not include a house.

I find it interesting that Matthew’s account of the three wise men is not found in any other gospel, and that Luke’s account of the shepherds coming to see Jesus is also not found in any other gospel. Each of these gospels was meant to appeal to a different audience. As such, the way the story is passed down in different faith communities allows the aspects of the story most relevant to the community to be remembered. For Luke, it is significant that Jesus be remembered for serving the “least and the lost,” i.e., the shepherds. Matthew, on the other hand, wrote to a community that was being persecuted, or at least ridiculed by Jewish leaders. His gospel focuses on Jesus coming first to reform Judaism (he was, after all, the son of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), but also reaching out to the Gentiles, or non-Jewish people (hence the magi or wise men). In the end, the two gospels point out that the gift of God’s son, Jesus Christ, was intended for all people; that anyone, regardless of upbringing or tradition, can receive salvation through him. In other words, God’s son is as much meant for us as he was for the shepherds and the magi long ago.

So celebrate Epiphany, the time we recognize the arrival of the magi, but more important, celebrate the gift of Jesus Christ coming into your life for your salvation.

[i] United Methodist Book of Worship (Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 1992) 295

[ii] UMH BOW, 295

[iii] UMH BOW, 295

[iv] http://www.gotquestions.org/three-wise-men.html

[v] http://www.gotquestions.org/three-wise-men.html

New Year Resolutions

2015-12-29T09:21:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought about where the concept of New Years resolutions come from? They date back at least as far as the time of the Babylonians, who saw the new year as a time to return things borrowed and to fulfill their debts. In Medieval times, after Christmas, knights were to lay their hands on peacocks and vow to be more chivalrous. Many religious groups, especially Christians, make resolutions at the start of the new year to become more perfect in their faith by becoming more aware of their imperfections and trying to improve upon them. John Wesley, the Father of Methodism, developed a Covenant Renewal Service to be used, at the very least, on January 1. Wesley felt the service should be used regularly, and led congregations in the service whenever he visited them but insisted that all Methodists should participate in the Covenant Renewal service at the first of the year. The purpose of the service was to make a commitment to reaffirm our faith in, and service to Jesus Christ.

While we will not be having a Covenant Renewal service this January 1, I am reprinting part of the service for your consideration. I'd like to suggest that we make a new tradition in our homes by starting each year reading the covenant renewal, and considering how we will respond to it. But I also recommend that we remember this covenant renewal at other times o our lives, as well. Perhaps we remember as we celebrate birthdays, or as we mourn deaths. Perhaps we remember when we receive an unexpected blessing. May we often reaffirm our covenant with God.

If you are alone on New Year's day, read the service aloud. Hear the words and let them come to life for you. If you are with others, choose one person to lead the service as others respond. Again, read the service aloud and pay attention to the words. Let them come to life within you, challenging you to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ.

WESLEY'S COVENANT SERVICE

INVITATION

Commit yourselves to Christ as his servants. Give yourselves to him, that you may belong to him. Christ has many services to be done. Some are more easy and honorable, others are more difficult and disgraceful.

Some are suitable to our inclinations and interests, others are contrary to both.

In some we may please Christ and please ourselves. But then there are other works where we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves.

It is necessary, therefore, that we consider what it means to be a servant of Christ.

Let us, therefore, go to Christ, and pray:

Let me be your servant, under your command. I will no longer be my own. I will give up myself to your will in all things.

Be satisfied that Christ shall give you your place and work.

Lord, make me what you will.

I put myself fully into your hands:
put me to doing, put me to suffering,
let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you,
let me be full, let me be empty,
let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and with a willing heart
give it all to your pleasure and disposal.

Christ will be the Savior of none but his servants. He is the source of all salvation to those who obey.

Christ will have no servants except by consent;

Christ will not accept anything except full consent to all that he requires.

Christ will be all in all, or he will be nothing.

Confirm this by a holy covenant.

To make this covenant a reality in your life, listen to these admonitions:

First, set apart some time, more than once, to be spent alone before the Lord; in seeking earnestly God's special assistance, and gracious acceptance of you; in carefully thinking through all the conditions of the covenant; in searching your hearts whether you have already freely given your life to Christ. Consider what your sins are. Consider the laws of Christ, how holy, strict, and spiritual they are, and whether you, after having carefully considered them, are willing to choose them all. Be sure you are clear in these matters, see that you do not lie to God.

Second, be serious and in a spirit of holy awe and reverence.

Third, claim God's covenant, rely upon God's promise of giving grace and strength, so you can keep your promise. Trust not your own strength and power.

Fourth, resolve to be faithful. You have given to the Lord your hearts, you have opened your mouths to the Lord, and you have dedicated yourself to God. With God's power, never go back.

And last, be then prepared to renew your covenant with the Lord. Fall down on your knees, lift your hands toward heaven, open your hearts to the Lord, as we pray:

COVENANT PRAYER

O righteous God, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, see me as I fall down before you. Forgive my unfaithfulness in not having done your will, for you have promised mercy to me if I turn to you with my whole heart.

God requires that you shall put away all your idols.

I here from the bottom of my heart renounce them all, covenanting with you that no known sin shall be allowed in my life. Against your will, I have turned my love toward the world. In your power I will watch all temptations that will lead me away from you. For my own righteousness is riddled with sin, unable to stand before you.

Through Christ, God has offered to be your God again if you would let him.

Before all heaven and earth, I here acknowledge you as my Lord and God. I take you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for my portion, and vow to give up myself, body and soul, as your servant, to serve you in holiness and righteousness all the days of my life.

God has given the Lord Jesus Christ as the only way and means of coming to God.

Jesus, I do here on bended knees accept Christ as the only new and living Way, and sincerely join myself in a covenant with him. O blessed Jesus, I come to you, hungry, sinful, miserable, blind, and naked, unworthy even to wash the feet of your servants. I do here, with all my power, accept you as my Lord and Head. I renounce my own worthiness, and vow that you are the Lord, my righteousness. I renounce my own wisdom, and take you for my only guide. I renounce my own will, and take your will as my law.

Christ has told you that you must suffer with him.

I do here covenant with you, O Christ, to take my lot with you as it may fall. Through your grace I promise that neither life nor death shall part me from you.

God has given holy laws as the rule of your life.

I do here willingly put my neck under your yoke, to carry your burden. All your laws are holy, just, and good. I therefore take them as the rule for my words, thoughts, and actions, promising that I will strive to order my whole life according to your direction, and not allow myself to neglect anything I know to be my duty.

The almighty God searches and knows your heart.

O God, you know that I make this covenant with you today without guile or reservation. If any falsehood should be in it, guide me and help me to set it aright. And now, glory be to you, O God the Father, whom I from this day forward shall look upon as my God and Father. Glory be to you, O God the Son, who have loved me and washed me from my sins in your own blood, and now is my Savior and Redeemer. Glory be to you, O God the Holy Spirit, who by your almighty power have turned my heart from sin to God.

O mighty God, the Lord Omnipotent, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you have now become my Covenant Friend. And I, through your infinite grace, have become your covenant servant. So be it.

And let the covenant I have made on earth be ratified in heaven.

Amen.

Prepare the Way of the Lord

2015-12-01T11:41:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday marked the first Sunday of Advent, the season of preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ, and the beginning of the Christian year. According to the United Methodist Book of Worship, “Advent is a season of four weeks including four Sundays. Advent derives from the Latin adventus, which means "coming." The season proclaims the comings of the Christ—whose birth we prepare to celebrate once again, who comes continually in Word and Spirit, and whose return in final victory we anticipate. Each year Advent calls the community of faith to prepare for these comings; historically, the season was marked by fasts for preparation. Each Sunday of Advent has its distinctive theme: Christ's coming in final victory (First Sunday), John the Baptist (Second and Third Sundays), and the events immediately preceding the birth of Jesus Christ (Fourth Sunday).”[1]

The first “coming” we prepare for is fairly obvious, especially in a commercial world. Christmas music starts playing as early as Halloween, as retailers entice us to find the perfect gifts for those we love. This distracts us from recalling the birth narrative, including the angel's visit to Mary, the birth of John the Baptist, Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem, the birth of the savior of the world in a barn, and the visit of the shepherds. The humbling events that lead up to Jesus' birth show just what kind of a child he was. It is important that we remember the events leading up to Jesus' birth, as well as the birth, itself.

The second “coming” is a remembrance of the presence of the Messiah with us in “Word and Spirit”. This is a reminder that we do not look at Jesus as simply a fact from history, but that we see him present in the world around us. We see Jesus present in the faces of those around us who are hurting, who need to be ministered to in the name of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus speaks of those who are served or not served as being the least of his brothers and sisters. So Advent is a reminder that we are called to serve those around us.

The third “coming of Jesus” we remember during Advent is the second coming, or the apocalypse, the end of the world as we know it. Throughout Scripture, including sayings of Jesus, we hear of the signs of the end of the world. These signs of the end of the world are not meant to cause us to live in fear! Rather, they are signs for us to live our lives as though every minute might be our last; that when we see wars, famine, and disasters, they should be a reminder for us to be constantly working to bring about the Kingdom of God. Being Christian does not mean being afraid; it means living in a way in which we offer hope and joy in a world that can sometimes be discouraging, fearful, and painful. We should be a light for those who live in darkness.

This Advent, let us be a people of preparation. Let us open our hearts and minds to the coming of Jesus Christ. Let us offer hope to those who feel life is hopeless. Let us offer peace to those whose lives are full of conflict. Let us offer love to those who feel they are unlovable. Let us offer Christ, as we prepare to receive him once again.

[1] United Methodist Book of Worship, Nashville; The United Methodist Publishing house, 1992, pg. 238

The Whole Armor of God

2015-08-19T08:11:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 6:10-20

¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. ¹¹Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹²For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. ¹⁵As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. ¹⁶With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.

¹⁹Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.

I've tended to stay away from preaching the Epistles, as I often feel I am not educated enough to really interpret them as well as I would like. However, at times I challenge myself to grow in my understanding of Scripture by researching, studying, praying over, and preaching on Scriptures I would otherwise avoid. This week is one of those times. My focus is on a fairly familiar passage from Ephesians, where the writer tells us to put on the whole armor of God. While many are familiar with the passage, I am not sure how much thought we give to the power of the passage. The war imagery gives us a stark picture of the dark reality of the times. On first reading the passage, my thought is that the church in Ephesus was preparing itself to wage war with the Romans, who were persecuting Christians at the time. However, the author clearly sates that the battle is not against flesh and blood, but against "spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (vs. 12)." How was the church at Ephesus to fight dark spiritual forces? How are we to fight dark spiritual forces today?

We fight the forces by first recognizing how they are manifest, then by suiting up for battle. The manifestation of these forces is known to us in the form of those who act counter to the will of God. It is not the individual that we are fighting, as they are enslaved to the dark forces in the same manner that we are enslaved to God through Jesus Christ. This is very important to recognize. Our battle is not to conquer evil people, but to offer people hope and salvation. This is where the armor imagery comes to light. Consider the armor we wear:

· The first piece of equipment we are told to put on is the belt, which stands for truth or righteousness. A Roman soldier in good standing was to wear his belt with the sword attached at all times. This was the sign that he was a soldier. The belt was not only meant to carry the sword, but also to show that the wearer was a soldier. If a soldier was insubordinate, he would be stripped of his status. Loss of the belt mean loss of status. For Christians, the belt represents truth. We live in the truth that Jesus is the Christ and we live according to that truth.

· The next piece of the uniform is the breastplate. This defensive piece of equipment protects the vital organs of the Roman soldier. For the Christian, the breastplate is righteousness. Being righteous protects us from the temptations of the dark spiritual forces.

· Next comes the footware. The military sandals gave the warrior protection on the soles of his feet to keep him upright and able to fight. For the Christian, the sandal is the gospel; we stand firm on the gospel of Jesus Christ, and are strengthened through that gospel.

· The next piece of equipment was the shield, a large, lightweight piece of metal that could easily protect the body during combat. For the Christian, the shield is faith. When we are uncertain and afraid, our faith gives us courage and hope.

· Next comes the helmet, protecting our brains and our heads. For the Christian, the helmet is salvation. We cannot be killed spiritually; we have new life (salvation) in Jesus Christ.

Finally, the soldier is equipped with a sword, the only offensive weapon in the soldier's uniform. For Christians, the sword represents the Holy Spirit, or the word of God. Think about this--all the defensive pieces of armor God gives to us, and only one weapon for offence. God equips us with armor to identify and protect ourselves from head to toe. Yet, God only gives us one simple weapon for spreading the gospel. There is no mention of a dagger, of bow and arrow, of spears or javelins. We are not divided into infantry or cavalry. We have one simple role in the war on the spiritual forces of darkness--proclaim the gospel through our words and deeds. Live after the example of Christ, and we will overcome the forces of evil. God will take care of the rest.

Musings of a Methodist Minister: No Greater Love

2015-08-12T09:11:00.003-07:00

Musings of a Methodist Minister: No Greater Love: Luke 22:14-23:56 14 When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 He said to them, “I have eagerly d...

Musings of a Methodist Minister: No Greater Love

2015-08-12T09:11:00.001-07:00

Musings of a Methodist Minister: No Greater Love: Luke 22:14-23:56 14 When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 He said to them, “I have eagerly d...

No Greater Love

2015-08-12T08:52:00.001-07:00

Luke 22:14-23:56

¹⁴When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. ¹⁵He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; ¹⁶for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” ¹⁷Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; ¹⁸for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” ¹⁹Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁰And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

²¹But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. ²²For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!” ²³Then they began to ask one another, which one of them it could be who would do this.

I am concluding a series of series of sermons about God using imperfect people to accomplish God's work. As I consider all the imperfect people God used, none stands out more than Judas Iscariot. Judas is a troubling figure in scripture. He seems to be doomed for doing the will of God, which is quite troubling to me. As a result, I've been studying the scriptures and legends around his role in Jesus' death and how God used him.

Only Matthew and Acts speak of Judas' death, and they do not agree with each other. Matthew tells that Judas hanged himself, while Acts tells that Judas fell and was disemboweled. The Gospel of Judas, written in the first century A.D., tells that Judas was actually asked by Jesus to betray him as part of God's plan, while the Gospel of Barnabas, which was written much later, says that Judas was actually the one who was crucified, and Jesus ascended directly to Heaven. These varying accounts bring to light the fact that people have been troubled from the beginning about God's use of Judas in the crucifixion narrative.

As I read the accounts of the betrayal of Jesus, I believe that Judas was forgiven of his sin. Judas went to the Chief Priests to offer to betray Jesus, and was paid thirty pieces of silver to do so. He then was with Jesus and the twelve at the Last Supper. This is key to my understanding of grace, the sacrament of Holy Communion, and the forgiveness of Judas. Jesus served all twelve disciples, including Judas, the bread of his body, and more significantly, the cup of the new covenant, which is forgiveness of sins not through blood sacrifice, but through belief in Jesus Christ. Jesus had to be betrayed. Jesus had to die at the hands of sinful people in order to offer redemption to sinful people. In fact, I believe that each of us, when we sin, share responsibility in the betrayal and death of Jesus Christ. We must, or we can not share in the gift of redemption through Jesus Christ.

I shared this theology with a colleague, who dismissed it based on the response of Jesus. Jesus said, "...woe to the one that one by whom he is betrayed (Luke 22:22), which my colleague interpreted as Jesus condemning Judas to Hell." I disagree, however. I believe the words of Jesus had more to do with his wrestling with his own humanity. We don't see the human side of Jesus often in Scripture. Yet on the night of his betrayal and day of his crucifixion it is starkly obvious. Jesus condemns the very man he has just given the cup of salvation to. He asks God in the garden to remove the cup, if it is possible. He tells the disciples they will all fall away and deny them. He collapses under the weight of the cross he carries to Golgotha. He is the first of the three condemned men to die. Jesus' words to Judas were his human words spoken in the grief and despair of a man facing a cruel and torturous death. Yet even in this grief, Jesus offers his betrayer the cup of salvation. And if the sin of betraying Jesus Christ can be forgiven by Jesus Christ, how much more can our sins be forgiven?

So let us take heed of the words of Martin Luther: "Be a sinner and let your sins be strong, but let your faith in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death and the world."¹ Acknowledge that we are sinful, but through faith in Christ, our sins are forgiven. Glory to God!

1 Sin Strong: A Letter From Luther to Melanchthon Letter no. 99, 1 August 1521, From the Wartburg (Segment) Translated by Erika Bullmann Flores from: Dr. Martin Luther's Saemmtliche Schriften Dr, Johannes Georg Walch, Ed. (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, N.D.), Vol. 15,cols. 2585-2590. Letter no. 99, 1 August 1521, From the Wartburg

Wrestling With God

2015-08-06T09:17:00.000-07:00

Genesis 25:29-34

²⁹Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. ³⁰Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!” (Therefore he was called Edom.) ³¹Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” ³²Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” ³³Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. ³⁴Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Comedian Chris Farley had a skit on Saturday Night Live called, "The Chris Farley Show." In the skit, he would interview actors, but instead of asking them about upcoming movies, or allowing them to share projects they were working on, he would ask inappropriate questions. He was nervous, and would ask if the interviewee remembered a particular scene from a previous movie, saying, "That was awesome!" He then would realize how badly the interview was going, would hit himself on the head, and would call himself an idiot. When I read the story of Jacob swindling Esau out of his birthright, I imagine Esau as Chris Farley on the Chris Farley Show.

Jacob and Esau were constantly at odds. Jacob was loved by his mother, while Esau was loved by his father. Each tried to outdo the other. It got so bad that at one point Jacob had to run away because Esau planned to kill him! Jacob went to stay with his Uncle Laban, who was about has dubious as Jacob! Jacob lived with Laban's family for 20 years, marrying his two daughters and making him a very rich man. However, Laban and Jacob, like Esau and Jacob, were constantly trying to deceive the other for personal gain. Jacob came to a point where he knew he had to leave, lest Laban get the other hand and Jacob loose everything. But where was there to go?

Jacob nervously decided to take his wives and children and return home to Esau. As he drew near, he sent servants with troves of gifts to try to soften his brother. However, the servants said Esau would not receive the gifts and that he and 400 men were coming to greet Jacob. Jacob divided his children among their mothers and sent them a ways off in an effort to keep them safe. As he waited, a man wrestled with him through the night, and in the morning, Jacob had the upper hand. Jacob demanded a blessing from the stranger. The man asked Jacob's name. When Jacob responded, the stranger revealed his true identity by saying, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed (Genesis 32:28)."

In the morning, Esau came to greet Jacob. Esau welcomed his brother with open arms and without a grudge. Esau refused the appeasement gifts, saying that he already had enough. Being reunited with his brother was all the gift he needed.

Jacob has two encounters with God throughout the story. The first is when he is running away from Esau, and the second is on the eve of the brothers being reunited. At no other point does Jacob pray to God, talk to God, or even make reference to God. Yet God changed his name to Israel, making him the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. You see, God does not choose perfect or pious people to do God's work. If God only used perfect or pious people, there would be no one for God to use. No matter your shortcomings, your sins, your flaws, God can use you. You just have to be open with God. You may even have to wrestle with God. In that wrestling, God makes you stronger and better able to do God's work.

Hear more about Jacob, Esau and Laban this Sunday in church.

Top Ten Reasons God Created Eve

2015-07-28T08:42:00.000-07:00

If you missed church on Sunday, or just wanted to remember the opening joke, here it is:

Top Ten Reasons Eve Was Created

10. God was worried that Adam would frequently become lost in the
    garden because he would not ask for directions.

 9. God knew that one day Adam would require someone to locate
    and hand him the remote.

 8. God knew Adam would never go out and buy himself a new fig leaf
    when his wore out and would therefore need Eve to buy one for him.

 7. God knew Adam would never be able to make a doctor's, dentist, or
    haircut appointment for himself.

 6. God knew Adam would never remember which night to put the garbage
    on the curb.

 5. God knew if the world was to be populated, men would never be 
    able to handle the pain and discomfort of childbearing.

 4. As the Keeper of the Garden, Adam would never remember where he
    left his tools.

 3. Apparently, Adam needed someone to blame his troubles on when 
    God caught him hiding in the garden.

 2. As the Bible says, It is not good for man to be alone!

 1.  When God finished the creation of Adam, He stepped back, 
     scratched his head, and said, "I can do better than that!"

From http://www.yuksrus.com/religion_adam_and_eve.html

Snake in the Garden

2015-07-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Genesis 3:1-7New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The First Sin and Its Punishment

3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die; 5 for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God,[a] knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

The grace of God is central to my theology. Without grace, we have no hope for a right relationship with God. Some Christians tend to equate God's grace as a New Testament concept, with the God of the Old Testament being the God of wrath. For these, it is as if God was angry and jealous until he became a parent, at which point God became loving and merciful. Yet, the first act of grace in Scripture appears to come from the first book of the Bible, and involved the first 2 humans.

The story tells us that Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden, where they did not have to worry about what they would eat or how they would live. Food grew in abundance in the Garden, and while they were naked, they were not aware of their nakedness, and were, therefore, not ashamed. In the garden was a tree, whose fruit was forbidden to Adam and Eve. They had been informed by God that if they ate of the fruit, or if they simply touch it, or they would die.

One day, the serpent, which walked upright and talked at the time of Adam and Eve, spoke to Eve and asked her, "Did God really say you cannot eat of the fruit in the garden?" Eve replied that they could eat of all the fruit except for the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, telling the serpent that it would kill the humans. The serpent informed Eve that she would not die, but that her eyes would be open, and she would know right from wrong and become like God. The fruit looked desirable, and the the serpent's arguments made sense. Who wouldn't want to be like God, after all. She took a bite of the fruit, and it was good! Meanwhile, Adam appeared and questioned his wife about what she was doing. Eve shared the serpent's information with her husband, and being the dutiful spouse, Adam also ate of the fruit. Immediately they knew they were naked, and they were afraid. The Scripture tells us that they sewed fig leaves together to make loin clothes, which is humorous, as fig leaves are poisonous to people, causing a rash which can last for weeks!

Then it happened. They heard the voice of God in the garden, and they were afraid, so they hid in the bushes. The Lord called out and asked where they were, and Adam responded that they heard God coming, they knew they were naked, and they hid. God asked Adam how they knew they were naked, questioning whether they had eaten of the tree with the forbidden fruit. Adam's response to God is that of many men today who find themselves in trouble--"The woman YOU put at my side, she gave me the fruit!" The interrogation now turns to Eve, while Adam breathed a sigh of relief, believing he was off the hook. The woman quickly pointed out that the serpent had tricked her. At this, God begins to explain the consequences of their actions, starting with the serpent. The serpent would no longer walk upright, but would slither on its belly, instead. The woman and her offspring would hate snakes, and snakes would hate people. Humans would strike at the heads of the snakes, and snakes would strike at the heels of the humans.

Next, God turned attention to the humans. Eve was told that her desire would be for her husband, and that she would bare children as a response. She was also told that having children would be painful. Finally, God tells Adam that the ground will now be filled with weeds and thistles, and that Adam would have to work the land in order to eat. Life would no longer be a picnic for the humans.

This is where the punishment ends, and I believe many loose sight of the act of grace present here. God makes clothes out of animal skins for the man and the woman, presenting them something less irritable and more lasting than fig leaves. God then sends them out of the garden to keep them from eating from another tree, the Tree of Life. This tree offered immortality, something that may seem appealing in a perfect world with no suffering and no work, but something that would be dreaded by people who suffer. By sending the two away from the Garden, he gave them an end to their suffering. This is truly Good News!

You see, we are like God, in that we know the difference between good and evil. We are like God in that we have free will. We are not like God in that we do not always to do the good. There is suffering in the world. We have to work to succeed. Yet there is an end to our earthly suffering through death. This is a gift from God, and the first act of grace in Scripture.

Holy Thursday and the Forgiveness of Sins

2011-04-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

In recent years I have had a shift in my theology. It is a shift which has to do with the forgiveness of sins, and it centers on the so-called Last Supper. Further, the shift is a result of Jesus' revealing who would betray him. You see, at the Passover meal, Jesus broke bread for all the disciples, and likewise shared the cup with all of the disciples. As he passed the cup, he said that it was his blood poured out for the New Covenant and for the forgiveness of sins. Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus, was present at that meal. As I understand it, then, Judas, who had already been paid to betray Jesus, received forgiveness of his sin! If Judas could be forgiven, how much more can we receive forgiveness of our sins?

Now, some have told me in response to this idea that Judas was forgiven of his sins prior to actually turning Jesus over to be crucified, and I see that is a valid interpretation of the Scripture. Those who disagree will point out that Jesus said of Judas that it would have been better for him to have never been born. I respect this interpretation, as I said, but offer a few thoughts in response. First, in the Passion of Christ we see the humanity of Jesus for the first time. For example, in the garden he prays, "If it is possible, Lord, take this cup away from me." He asks his Father if he can take the earthly way out. It is significant for us to see this humanity. It is critical that we see Jesus, though wanting to escape the pain and humiliation of the arrest, trial and execution, turns to the divine, fulfilling the plan of the Great I Am. We receive the grace of God through Jesus Christ through his ability to let the Divine overcome the human. But the human aspect still struggles within him. I argue that when Jesus told Judas it would have been better for him to never have been born, that this was the humanity of Jesus speaking out.

However, the greater reason I believe in the forgiveness of Judas' sin has to do with an argument I once heard. A very anti-Semitic Christian was arguing with a Jewish-Christian in a Bible Study. The Anti-Semite referred to the Jewish-Christian woman as a Christ Killer, to which she retorted that it was the Romans who crucified Jesus. Back and forth they went, trying to decide who really killed Jesus. As they argued more and more passionately, I found myself intrigued. Finally, I burst out a response to the 2 of them which I would like to say was my own profound utterance. However, the response actually came from God! My response was that they were both right, but that they also both were guilty of crucifying Jesus Christ. You see, in order to participate in the Forgiveness of Sins, we need to first realize that we all sin. Anytime we have turned our backs of Jesus Christ, we have, in essence, participated in driving the nails into his hands. When we turn the backs on those whom Jesus calls the least of his brothers and sisters, we turn our backs on Jesus, himself. And When we turn our backs on Jesus, it is our own betrayal of our Lord! Unless we realize our sins, we cannot participate in the forgiveness of those sins!

So today, as we remember the Last Supper and the betrayal of Jesus, let us also remember our own role in that betrayal. Let us reflect on the times we have turned our back on the Least of Jesus' brothers and sisters.Let us repent of that sin, and recognize that it is our action our failure to act that makes us like Judas. Let us receive that life-giving cup of forgiveness, that we may truly understand what forgiveness of sins means.

In grace and peace,

Michael

The End of the World as We Know It: Thoughts About the Earthquake in Japan and Unrest in Egypt and the Middle East

2011-03-12T06:05:00.000-08:00

For moths we have been watching as revolutions change the balance of power in Tunisia, Greece and Lybia. The implications of these revolutions are far-reaching, affecting the United States in many ways. We have seen gas prices rise at a time when gas prices usually go down. We fear how this instability will affect our safety and security in the United States.

Yesterday we watched the fires burning out of control in Japan as a tsunami ripped over parts of the country after the largest earthquake on record hit the island. As I am writing, Kyodo News Agency is reporting more then 9,500 people unaccounted for in Minamisanriku, Japan. I've followed the Facebook status of a friend and former classmate in Japan, bringing the situation even closer to home.

My students often ask me if I think 2012 is going to happen, a reference to the end of the Mayan calendar and the idea that with the end of the calendar will come the end of the world. I always reply, "Yes, it will happen. And so will 2013, and 2014, and so on." At times we find our selves living in utter fear of the end of the world. False prophets take worldly disasters and turn them into apocalyptic signs. They feed off of fear, misquoting Scripture, telling people the end is near. One of these false prophets blamed the attack on the World Trade Center on homosexuality in the United States, saying God was punishing us for these homosexual acts. I find it interesting that Jesus spoke at great lengths against divorce and adultery in the Bible, yet these false profits engage in both, yet Jesus never says a word about homosexuality, and they find this to be one of their hot topics! I am anxious to hear the response of the false prophets to the devastation in Japan! What reasons will they give for why God did this, and how do they think we should respond?

I for one do not believe that God causes disasters, natural or otherwise. I believe that God's desire is for us to live faithful and healthy lives. We are not to live in fear of tomorrow, but in joy for today. When people suffer, I believe God pains, too. I also believe that God has expectations of us in the face of tragedy; we are to find these times as a time to renew our faith and our commitment to God. These are not signs of the end of the world or of the second coming. When someone tells us that they know when the world is going to end, they are claiming to have wisdom beyond that of the Son of God. Jesus said “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." (Matthew 24:36) However, when we see these signs, God calls us to remember to live each day as if it is our last! What does that mean? It means to make amends with our enemies and with God. It means to love God and our neighbor with all our heart and mind and soul. It means to live for today, without worrying about what tomorrow will bring!

So in the aftermath of the tsunami and earthquake and the unrest in Northern Africa and the Middle East, I challenge you to live not in fear, but in love. Consider how you can serve those in Japan as they mourn thousands of their citizens' deaths. Consider how you can bring hope and good news to those around you. Do not focus on the fear of the unknown tomorrow brings, but on the hope and joy that is in the present. Live each day as if it were your last, loving as much as you can, giving as much as you can, and worshiping God as much as you can! Tomorrow will have its own problems. Live in peace!

Lenten Sacrifices

2011-03-10T12:42:00.000-08:00

Yesterday began the season of Lent, the 40 days before Easter, not counting Sundays. We don't count Sundays because Sundays are to be mini-Easters, a time to celebrate, not sacrifice. The idea of the sacrifice is reminiscent of Jesus's time in the wilderness, where he fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, and was famished, leading up to his temptations by Satan. Forty days was also the length of time of the flood which destroyed and purified the world, and the Hebrews wandered for 40 years in the wilderness, again, a time of sacrifice prior to entering the Promised Land.

Lent is preceded by Mardis Gras, or Fat Tuesday, which bothers me. Why would we overindulge in food or partying as a way of kicking off Lent, a time of Sacrifice. It reminds me of the story of the preacher who was found drunk in a bar, flirting with a married woman. When asked how he could do such a thing, he responded, "Hey, I can't preach against sin if I don't know what it is!"

When I was younger, my Lenten sacrifice was always popcorn. Why, you ask? Because I don't like popcorn. I listened to people say they were giving up chocolate or candy or soda for Lent, and when I would ask why, they would say, "I need to lose weight. The idea of a sacrifice during Lent did not really make sense to me. After all, why would God want me to punish myself? However, as I studied Scripture and Church Tradition, I began to understand the Lenten Sacrifice in a new way. The purpose of the Sacrifice is not to make us suffer. Rather, the purpose of the sacrifice is to draw us closer to God. That which we give up, if we give up anything at all, is intended to bring us closer to God, and to deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ. So, in giving something up, we find a way to replace the void that it creates with God. Sometimes the Sacrifice is something that gets in the way of our relationship, altogether, in which case we try to make it a permanent change in our lives. Other times, we give up something we enjoy, in order to fill the void with God. Either way, we grow in our relationship with God in the process.

There have been 3 life-changing Lenten Sacrifices I have made in the past. The first was anger. I would bottle up my anger, then when I could not control it any more, I would go by a car and let the anger be released with hostility toward the car dealer. One year I decided to change that. When I found myself getting angry, I would stop, step away, spend some time in prayer, then reengage in the situation. I have to admit, it took longer then 40 days to make the change, but now people who know me are amazed when I say that I have had problems with anger. Anger got in the way of my relationships with other people, and consequently got in the way of my relationship with God.

The second life-changer was when I fasted on Wednesdays. The intention was not to lose weight, though that should have been a prime motivator. During the breakfast hour, when I would normally eat, I read one of John Wesley's sermons. At lunch, I would journal my reflections on the sermon. At dinner, I would work on my own sermon for the coming Sunday, using Wesley as a guide. I replaced the times that I was hungry with times that I was studying God's word, as interpreted by the founder of the Methodist Church. I found Wesley to be fascinating in theology, though dry in delivery. And I found myself reflecting more on my sermons then I ever had in the past.

The last life-changer was when I gave up shoe leather. Shoe leather, you may ask? Yes, that is what I said. You see, I realized that I had become quick to comment on what people said or did. I was like Peter in the Gospels: always first to speak, not always saying the right things. So for Lent, I gave up putting my foot in my mouth. I tried to approach situations in a more reflective way, hearing what people said, then considering how I responded. I found that through reflection I was better able to understand what people were saying, as I was not quick to judge them. I found that prior to giving up shoe leather, I was already forming a response to what I thought someone was going to say before they finished what they were really saying, which was often not what I thought it was. This reflective listening helped me to improve my relationships with people, which consequently helped me improve my relationship with God.

I have not decided if I will give something up for Lent this year. If I do, it will be done to help me to become closer to God. I would also ask that if you decide that you want to give something up for Lent, you will consider how it will make you closer to God, for that is what the Lenten Sacrifice is all about! If you do give something up meaningfully and thoughtfully, you will find Easter morning to me much more rewarding, for you will not be thinking about a distant God, but about the Lord and Saviour you are in a great relationship with.

The Form of Worship, Isaiah 58:1-9

2011-02-03T09:35:00.000-08:00

Isaiah 58 tells about God's people having the form of faith without the function, something that happens all too often, I believe. The people cry out to God, asking why God does not see or recognize their fasting or acts of righteousness. God replies with a great voice that their fasting is for their benefit, not God's. Their fasting leads to quarreling and fighting, as well as to the oppression of others. The righteous acts of the people are for show, a measure to make themselves feel better about who they think they are.

The story is the same today as it was back then. Too many people who call themselves Christian have the form of faith and worship without the function. I've heard it said that this is "Sitting on the premises, not standing on the promises." There are many who consider themselves Christians because they go to church, but outside of that, we would have no idea that they were Christian. I remember, for example, coming home from church one Sunday and stopping by the grocery store on the way. I parked in the back of the lot and walked across to the store. As I got close to the store, I came across two women in different cars fighting for the same parking spot. Both women were dressed to the nines, looking like they were coming from church. One had a huge Bible on her dashboard, the other with a plastic Jesus on the dash board and a "Honk if You Love Jesus" bumper sticker. They were honking and shaking fists at each other. I went into the crowded store, waited in a long line to pay for my loaf of bread, and came back out maybe 15 minutes later, only to find the two women still fighting over the same spot! The weather was perfect, the parking lot was not completely full, and they could have already both been parked and in the store shopping if they were not fighting over the spot. They had the form of faith (the Bible, plastic Jesus, bumper sticker, and having come from church), but they sure did not have the function! There was no love of neighbor in the interaction. There was no turning the other cheek or giving of one's coat or cloak. There were 2 self-centered women who felt entitled to a decent parking space.

There are many threats to Christianity today. I've heard people speak of Islam being the biggest threat to the Christian faith, while others have said it is homosexuality, and still others abortion. However, the biggest threat to Christianity today is none of these external forces. If any external force were to be a threat to Christianity, it would only be because the greatest threat had already played out. This greatest threat to Christianity is those who call themselves Christian while not living that calling! Those who are quick to condemn others, those who turn their backs on the needy, those who do not love God and neighbor, those who are sitting on the premises! For Christianity to flourish, we must return to standing on the promises! Worship is the starting point, not the focal point. Worship is where we hear what God wants so when we leave we can do God's will.

So where are you? What will you do to live your faith? God is not looking for a good show. God is looking for action. Do not be like the people of Israel which Isaiah spoke to. They thought God would look favorably upon them for their worship. While God does want us to worship, God also wants us to live that worship. Thanks be to God!

1 Corinthians 1:18-31; The Calling of the Fools

2011-01-24T10:19:00.000-08:00

In this passage of Scripture, Paul talks about what we believe: Christ Crucified. He explains that this was difficult for the people of his time, both Jewish and Greek. He says that the Jews want signs and the Greeks want wisdom, and that with Christ Crucified we have neither.We have no sign, only faith, to tell us that Christ Jesus was crucified, and with his Crucifixion there is no secret wisdom. There is just the knowledge that our sins are forgiven!

Paul then goes on to talk about who God calls. He tells his audience that most of them are not wise, nor are they born of noble birth or power, yet God called them because they believed in the simple story that Jesus came into the world, lived among us, died at the hands of angry and sinful men, and was raised from the dead. In addition, they believed that through this they had forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. This was good news for these who had little by worldly standards. And the reason God did this, according to Paul, is to shame the wise and the powerful by offering something greater then they have to offer to much simpler people.

"1:27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 1:28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 1:29 so that no one might boast in the presence of God."

The worst that God has to offer is much greater then the best that those in the world have to offer. We would do well to remember this! Nothing we do is good enough to earn us a spot with the Crucified Christ, yet we are there with him, by the grace of God. What we have from God is more then we can give to ourselves; it is more then church leaders or national politicians can give. And it is our for the taking. All we need to do is have faith in Jesus Christ, and him crucified! Thanks be to God!

Luke 6:20-31: The Sermon on the Plain

2010-10-27T11:06:00.000-07:00

The gospels of Matthew and Luke both have similar sermons referred to as the Beatitudes or The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew) or the Sermon on the Plain (Luke). While there are subtle differences between the two accounts, they are, in general, very similar. The purpose is to address suffering in this life, and to help us to persevere until the life to come. The most obvious difference between the two accounts, in my opinion, is that Matthew tends to "spiritualize" the passage, while Luke sees the human condition amongst the hearers as more concrete. For example, Matthew says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit," while Luke says, "Blessed are you who are poor." Many biblical scholars believe that Matthew's account was written for a wealthier audience which would not relate as well to the concept of a sermon that blesses the poor and that looks down upon the rich. Luke's gospel, on the other hand, may have been written for more the working class, as well as women, widows, and those with disabilities. While I tend to prefer Luke's way of remembering the words of Jesus, I feel they are both equally strong passages of Scripture which offer a message of hope to those who suffer in this lifetime.

This coming Sunday is Halloween, or All Hallow's Eve, a day commemorating the end of summer. This holiday is the day before the Christian festival of All Saints' Day, a time to commemorate those who have died in the Faith. According to Roman Catholic tradition, All Saints' Day celebrates the Beatic Vision of those who have died. The Beatic Vision is the direct seeing of God, where we no longer rely on faith, but we see God face to face. Beatic vision--sounds similar in root to beatitudes. That seems fitting to me. Beatitude means to have a sense of blessing. Beatic vision means to see God face to face. What greater blessing is there then that? The end of our Christian lives brings us into the presence of God!

Notice that I said the end of our Christian lives brings us into the presence of God. I did not say that the purpose of our Christian lives brings us into the presence of God. Meeting God is the end of the journey, not the purpose of it. Too many times people lose sight of this; they believe they practice and live their faiths in order to come into God's presence. When that happens, we miss the joy of the journey; we miss the real reason for living our faith. We are called to live our faiths in order to bring about the Kingdom of God here on earth, as it is in heaven. If our focus is only on what happens when we die, we miss the opportunity to help people see the presence of God in our everyday lives. We miss the opportunity to minister, to share faith, to help others grow in God's grace. Our Christian lives should be about living to create a legacy, in order to help people grow. The legacy is not one of us, per se, but is the legacy of guiding others to the beatic vision. That is what it is to be brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. We offer aid to those who suffer in whatever means we are able to, but more important, we offer hope about what comes at the end of the suffering of the world. We don't cause people to fear death, nor to come to death too hastily; yet we teach people to realize with joy that their is a beatitude, or blessing at death, which is a new birth and the opportunity to stand in the presence of God.

This All Saints' Day, let us not remember those who have attained the beatic vision with sorrow. Instead, let us look with joy at how they have written the legacy of Jesus Christ on our hearts and the hearts of others. Let us celebrate the many who have come to know Jesus Christ or come to know Jesus Christ more fully through the way they lived their lives. Then let us follow their examples in the way we live our lives, that we, too, may write his legacy on the hearts of others. Let our goal be to help others find Jesus Christ in this life; for when we do, we will be able attain the beatic vision not just for us, but for those whose lives we allow God to touch. Then we can truly say, "Thanks be to God!"

More on Prayer

2010-10-22T13:19:00.000-07:00

I recently visited a church and found myself both bothered and entertained by the "Minister of Spirituality." Are not all ministers to be ministers of spirituality? Isn't that the basis of our faith? For this man, one of his duties included the pastoral prayer. His prayer lasted at least 10 minutes, and seemed like even longer. The theme of the prayer appeared to have little to do with interceding on the church's behalf to offer their petitions to God, and more about correcting the sermon the senior pastor had just given. It was a showdown in which the prayer was preaching his own sermon based on the theme the other preacher had followed. He danced and strolled along the stage as he prayed, leading to the entertainment. I could not keep my eyes closed as I watched him perform, and I felt like he wanted us to see him, anyway. This time had much to do with him, and little to do with God, worship and prayer.

I do not offer a pastoral prayer in my church, in part because I've heard too many prayers that were like the one mentioned above. The intent seems to be mere performance at best, and sometimes downright gossip at worst. At times the pastoral prayer sounds more like an excerpt from A Prairie Home Companion then a conversation with God. Prayer is not intended to be showy. Rather, prayer is intended to be conversation with God. The pharisee who bragged about being different from the sinner was not concerned with God in his prayer; he was concerned that people see him and how good he was. His prayer was a performance intended to make him look good in front of others. In fact, the best prayers often are the ones that don't have flowery or spiritual words. They come from the heart with simple, everyday language. One of my favorite references to prayer comes from Paul, who says, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." (Romans 8:26)

How do you pray? Are you concerned about what others will think when you pray? Are you embarrassed by your wording and phraseology? If so, then you may want to rethink your prayer life. Don't worry about impressing others with you prayers; worry only about God. And remember the role of the Spirit in prayer, to interceded on our behalf with sighs too deep for words. Let your prayers be between you and God only; do not worry about what others think. When you let go of the human aspect of prayer, then the Spiritual aspect takes over and you commune with God, and you experience God communing with you.

Grace and peace,

Michael

Musings of a Methodist Minister: Luke 18:9-14 Why Bother with Prayer?

2010-10-18T15:05:00.000-07:00

Musings of a Methodist Minister: Luke 18:9-14 Why Bother with Prayer?: "What is the purpose of prayer? For some it seems to be a way of getting things. We pray for healing from illness or for the end of financi..."

Luke 18:9-14 Why Bother with Prayer?

2010-10-18T15:04:00.000-07:00

What is the purpose of prayer? For some it seems to be a way of getting things. We pray for healing from illness or for the end of financial hardships, or for stability within our relationships. When we pray like this, it is as if we believe that God makes us suffer so that we will beg God to do something for us. Is this really the nature of prayer? And if it is, then why doesn't God always answer us? Is God too busy to hear all the prayers that are offered? I have heard it said that "God always answers prayers, but sometimes the answer is 'no.'" How does God choose which prayer to answer? Is it the person with the most faith? Or the one who prays the most often? Perhaps God answers the prayers of the ones who give the most money to their church. Or maybe, prayer is not about getting what we want from God.

While watching a televangelist one morning, I heard him say that if you worship correctly, God would give you what you want. Proper worship meant watching his program, and setting up a direct debit of 10% of your income to go to his church each week. And to show that this worked, he had a couple on that spoke of how they wanted a new car, so they worshiped for it. They attended the church via their satellite dish and sent their drafts off with due diligence. And it worked. The man's mother was killed in a very bad car accident. The family hired a great lawyer, and got a multi-million dollar settlement because of her death. With the settlement they were able to buy a new car and sent a tithe to the church.

If I were to worship or pray for something, I am not sure I would find it comforting that God killed a family member in order to help me get it. Does a loving God kill innocent people in order to help out other people? If that were the case, then I don't think I would want anything to do with that God at all!

In fact, there is only one real thing to ask for from God, as far as I can tell, and that is forgiveness of sins. Hear this parable of Jesus:

Luke 18:9-14 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."

Prayers of petition, I believe, should be about recognizing our need for God, especially our need for the forgiveness of sins. The tax collector went away justified because he asked God to forgive him of his sins, and God did. Prayer is not about bragging on who we are or what we have done. It is not about asking for things, for material gifts. It is about our relationship with God, and as Christians, it is about our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It is about keeping us centered in our recognition of what we truly need from God, which is not the material or physical things of this world, but the spiritual gift which prepares us for the next world. Prayer is about communion with God. Communion: a common union. Through prayer we have that common union with God. And God, like the father of the prodigal son, welcomes us into that union every time we ask God to. God always answers the prayer which asks that our sins be forgiven. And the answer is always a resounding yes.

Genesis 32:22-31

2010-10-17T06:41:00.000-07:00

32:22 The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 32:23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. 32:24 Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 32:25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 32:26 Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me." 32:27 So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." 32:28 Then the man said, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed." 32:29 Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him. 32:30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved." 32:31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.

Jacob was a trickster. The youngest of 2 twins, we are told he came out grasping the heel of his brother, Essau. He was a momma's boy, favored by his mother for his good looks and his skill in domestic affairs. He also was very much like his mother's brother, Laban, another deceitful man who would trade whatever he had to make a quick buck. Jacob had stolen his brother's birthright and blessing, and was forced to move away in order to escape Essau's wrath. He went to spend time with Laban, where he became wealthy and where he also found himself crosswise with family, this time with Laban.

The passage above comes from Jacob's escape from Laban and return to his home. He and Laban had sworn an oath not to pursue each other any longer, as long as each stayed on their designated side of the desert. Now the question was how to work things out with Essau. How do you approach a brother you've never gotten along with, whom you have stolen from, and whose favor you now need for your survival? This thought must have been heavy on Jacob's mind as he moved across the wilderness toward his home. All Jacob knew was wrestling with people.

So it should come as no surprise that when Jacob stopped for the night he found himself in a wrestling match. This time he was wrestling with an apparent stranger, a man who seemed to attack for no apparent reason. Some have referred to the man as an angel of God, but Jacob believed he was wrestling with God himself. The wrestling was fierce and went on through the night to daylight. In the midst of the chaos the stranger pokes Jacob's hip, causing it to be dislocated. Yet Jacob did not stop wrestling with the man, and kept a tight hold on his opponent. The man demanded that Jacob release him, yet Jacob refused unless he first received a blessing, perhaps because he was still worried about seeing his brother, whose blessing he had stolen from their father. The man asked Jacob his name, and Jacob responded. The man then said, "You are no longer Jacob, but Israel, for you have now wrestled with God and with men and have prevailed." The man already knew Jacob's name, but he wanted to hear Jacob say it; he wanted Jacob to acknowledge that he was one who wrestled with everyone around him, as his name suggested. The man then gave his blessing to Jacob and went on his way.

What happened there on that evening? Why did Jacob have to wrestle with God? Why was his name changed? This is a coming of age story. We might say that Jacob grew up in this event. The name change was a gift from God, allowing him to return home to his brother in peace. The limp from the dislocated hip was a sign of maturity or old age; people seem to have more difficulty getting around as they age. Yet with that age there is often wisdom, which Jacob seems to have received with the blessing.

Have you ever wrestled with God? I think we all need to do this to grow in our faith. Too many times we are afraid to challenge God, to spiritually wrestle with God. We have a feeling that it is wrong and will make God upset. Yet we never really grow in a relationship until we challenge it. We need to push the boundaries and see the response. Wrestling with God is a necessary part of our faith journey. In fact, we would not even be here to talk about our faith if Jacob had let go of his opponent. We owe it to ourselves and to God to wrestle spiritually. If we don't, we will never really get to know God. But if we do, we will receive God's blessing!

So go, and wrestle with God!

Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7, continued

2010-10-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

As I prepared to preach on this passage of scripture last Sunday, I began thinking about Bill. Bill started coming to church shortly after I started my second stint at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, the church I now serve. I knew his name and knew he was on the rolls, but had never met him until he showed up one Sunday. He was a friendly man, very pleasurable to visit with, and seemed to have a good faith. He owned a car dealership right across from the Boys & Girls Club I worked at, so one morning I walked over to visit and have a cup of coffee. Bill informed me that he had stopped going to church because he and a former minister did not get along. But he was back, now, not because there was a new minister, but because he decided that he needed his church home more then he needed to be in a disagreement with the minister. Part of me, honestly, was nervous about someone who had left the church over a conflict with a minister, though Bill came across as very sincere and genuine, and his like-ability far outweighed my concerns.

Within the past year, I believe, Bill has been diagnosed with cancer of the lungs and throat. I've visited with him at church and after church several times since his diagnosis, and have always been amazed at how positive he is about life. After a few visits, I asked him what his prognosis was, and Bill told me that his doctor told him he could have as much as 2 years to live. He did not cry, shake or show much emotion about the news, though it was obvious that he was aware of what he was saying. He immediately started talking about what had been good in his life. He talked about his children and his grandchildren. He spoke of friends, including one he had invited to the church and who had become quite active. He would speak of his illness when I asked him questions about it, but his illness was not what was most important in his life. And in all the conversations, Bill would talk about God and the church.

I look forward to my visits with Bill. With each time I see him, he helps me to grow in my faith. He is more of a spiritual leader for his minister then his minister is for him, and for that I give thanks to God.

In 22 years of ministry, I've been around many people who have received news that they were dying. I say dying instead of terminally ill, because as Christian people, I feel we need to claim death--that is the only way we can enter into the next life. In that time, I've noticed that there are 3 typical responses to news that one is dying. The first is to give up. This is typically the response from people who are at best weak in their faith, and at worst have no faith at all. Their feeling seems to be that God has inflicted them and is punishing them, and they chose to simply quit living. Their deaths are often quick, and also often painful, both physically and spiritually.

The second response tends to be from those who know about faith, even pronounce their faith, but really do not know how to live their faith. The response of this group tends to be a belief that they can beat the illness and cheat death. They live like they are not sick, and often their positive attitude even extends their lives beyond that doctors' prognosis. However, in the vast majority of cases they still succumb to death in the end, and even question why God did not take their suffering away. Their deaths can cause them to be spiritually alone and isolated, wondering why God did not save them from death.

Then there are people like Bill, who know that death is a part of life, and that it is a necessary part if we want to participate in the resurrection and entrance into God's kingdom. He does not ignore his death, nor does he linger on it. Instead, he remembers the life he has lived, continues to live life to the fullest he is able, and he inspires others to grow in their faith.

When the people of Judah were taken into exile, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah, telling the people they would be captives for a long time. In fact, they would be in exile for at least 2 generations, according to God. In other words, many would not live to see a return to Judah. But Got spoke in a positive way, not focusing on how they would die in Babylon, but instead focusing on how they should live in this foreign land. He talked about them growing gardens and eating their produce. He spoke of finding wives and husbands. He challenged them to have children and grandchildren. And God told them to seek the welfare of these foreigners, and to pray for them to God, that in their welfare would be Judah's welfare.

So live your lives, even when you have cause to suffer. Follow Bill's example. Know that yes, the suffering will pass, but how you live determines whether this suffering makes you spiritually live or die. Be people of faith, not just saying you have it, but living it. And in all things, seek the joy of God. After all, when death finally does set in, it leads us to new and everlasting life through Jesus Christ. Live your faith, and show others how we can overcome suffering by seeing the good, that is, the presence of God all around us.