Prophet

Matthew 11:7-11

When John's disciples left to report, Jesus started talking to the crowd about John. "What did you expect when you went out to see him in the wild? A weekend camper? Hardly. What then? A sheik in silk pajamas? Not in the wilderness, not by a long shot. What then? A prophet? That's right, a prophet!

Probably the best prophet you'll ever hear. He is the prophet that Malachi announced when he wrote, 'I'm sending my prophet ahead of you, to make the road smooth for you.'

Let me tell you what's going on here: No one in history surpasses John the Baptizer; but in the kingdom he prepared you for, the lowliest person is ahead of him. For a long time now people have tried to force themselves into God's kingdom.

But if you read the books of the Prophets and God's Law closely, you will see them culminate in John, teaming up with him in preparing the way for the Messiah of the kingdom. Looked at in this way, John is the 'Elijah' you've all been expecting to arrive and introduce the Messiah.

"For a long time now, people have been trying to force themselves into God's kingdom..."

Have you ever been guilty of that attempt?

I know I have.

Sometimes, it seems, Christian folks can have the propensity for trying their best to impress God.

"Something for nothing" is a tough concept for us. If God loves us enough to send his son to live and die and rise again, then surely our hard work will be needed forever to pay off the debt, right?

That's exactly the kind of thinking that Jesus was trying to help us overcome.

Following Jesus isn't a buttoned-down sort of enterprise. It's not about having it all worked out, in order and presented in the most impressive way possible.

Instead, sometimes receiving the grace of Christ means we'll be pushed into the wilderness...into the places where we learn to depend on God the most. Like John, we may sometimes become a little wild-eyed for the experience...but also more full of love and the Holy Spirit's power.

Our celebration of Christ's birth is now only a few days away. May this Christmas season help us again remember that our King lay in a "lowly" manger, and that God always loves to work in the most unlikely of places...even our own lives.

Prayer: Like John the Baptist, may we each carry the character of a prophet into the lives of those around us. Show us the "wilderness" places where we can struggle and grow stronger in our faith.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: (No blog) Isaiah 35:6-10

No blog until 2008! The daily devotional blogs will return on Monday, January 7th. Many, many thanks to those of you who have made this site a daily stop on your spiritual walk. It's humbling to me, and I always appreciate having you here.

Christmas Worship at SOTH:

This Sunday, December 23: Regular worship schedule at 9 and 11 AM with Sunday School for all ages at 10:15.

Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion at both services: 5 and 7 PM. Childcare available for 2 and under.

We hope you'll make SOTH part of your Christmas celebration this year!

Expectation

Matthew 11:1-6 (Message)

When Jesus finished placing this charge before his twelve disciples, he went on to teach and preach in their villages.

John, meanwhile, had been locked up in prison. When he got wind of what Jesus was doing, he sent his own disciples to ask, "Are you the One we've been expecting, or are we still waiting?" Jesus told them, "Go back and tell John what's going on:

The blind see,
The lame walk,
Lepers are cleansed,
The deaf hear,
The dead are raised,
The wretched of the earth learn that God is on their side.

"Is this what you were expecting? Then count yourselves most blessed!"

As the old phrase says..."If it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck...it's probably a duck."

I love what Jesus has to say about himself, when asked about his identity by the disciples of John the Baptist.

"Do the blind see? Do the lame walk? Is this what you expected?"

Where is God at work today? Where is the presence of Christ working hard and producing the kingdom around us?

Are lives changed? Is sin overcome? Do the spiritually "dead" and "lame" begin to walk and live new lives of faith and transformation?

Most of all...do those considered "wretched" by the world learn that "God is on their side?"

Where these things happen...the messiah has been found.

Jesus question still hangs in the air for those of us who would follow him today. As we come to the close of this Advent season and begin to celebrate the birth of Christ....

Is this what we expected? God, give us these expectations...and bring them into reality through the work of your spirit in our hearts.

Prayer: The world today still wonders about Jesus..."are you the one we've been expecting?" May you give your disciples grace to live in such a way that the truth of Jesus may be known in all places.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Matthew 11:7-11

Stay

James 5:7-10 (The Message)

Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master's Arrival.

You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time.

Friends, don't complain about each other.

A far greater complaint could be lodged against you, you know.

The Judge is standing just around the corner.

Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God.

What a gift life is to those who stay the course!

You've heard, of course, of Job's staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That's because God cares, cares right down to the last detail.

Imagine: A farmer plows the field ---- and plants the seeds.

The first good rains of spring begin to soak the ground in the days that follow.

Good sunshine comes next, just the kind you need to warm the ground and germinate the seeds.

One week goes by...then another.

More good rain, more good sun.

Still nothing.

What should that farmer do?

It's obvious, right? She should dig up all the seeds and see what the problem is, right?

After all, taking those seeds out of the ground to see what's going on is the only way they'll ever sprout.

Wrong...of course.

Anyone who has ever planted a seed knows that most of the time, sprouting seems to take longer than we'd like.

Growth into a strong, mature, fruit-yielding plant takes even longer still.

Gardening teaches patience. Because it's a requirement.

What about life...church...ministry...discipleship?

Rarely do the important relationships in our lives sprout and bloom as quickly as we might like. There is NO perfect church. There is NO perfect family, school, organization, program or peer group.

For the people of Israel, the Messiah's arrival took longer than anyone imagined or wanted. For the kids among us who right now wait on the arrival of Christmas morning, patience may be a virtue, but it's no fun whatsoever.

James says that we are like farmers...with seeds in the ground...patiently waiting for the rain that will do its "slow but sure" work.

What could that mean in each of our lives?

It might mean that we ask God to forgive us for all the times that we've pulled perfectly good seeds out of the ground, just to check and see when they'd be ready.

It might mean that we have something to learn today...something about patience...and God's timing...and the things that matter most.

Prayer: As we wait and prepare during this Advent season, we ask for the gift of patience. May we see this Fruit of the Spirit growing in our lives, watered and sustained by God's presence.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Matthew 11:1-6

Joy

Isaiah 35:1-5 (NIV)
The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.

Conventional wisdom these days says that the current "postmodern" generation has a particular liking for metaphors.

Sometimes, the deepest things of faith and life can't be easily communicated in a straightforward way. What we need is the power of symbol.

How about this passage from Isaiah for a powerful symbol of joy?

When the messiah comes --- the desert will be glad --- it will rejoice and shout for joy.

Wouldn't it be great to hear that sound?

Joy, it seems, is often directly attached to the fulfillment of our deepest held longings and dreams. If that is the case, then Christmas (by way of Easter) is the ultimate source of our joy.

There was nothing Israel had longed for more than the King --- who would sit on David's throne and restore peace, justice and righteousness to the people. God's favor, and promise...fulfilled.

Joy.

What joy there must have been for the shepherd who witnessed angels and then gathered at a stable on that very first Christmas.

But even greater joy must have been felt by the women who gathered at the tomb on that first Easter Sunday morning. Where there was brokenness...healing. Where there was only death and pain...life and joy.

Joy that would make the desert shout out loud.

Prayer: Lord, we are thankful for last week's rain and the life that it sustains. The image of "parched land" blooming under your watchful care is a powerful one for us. We depend on your love to sustain us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: James 5:7-10

Forever

Psalm 146:5-10

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God,

the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
the LORD, who remains faithful forever.

So much power in such a few, simple lines of scripture.

Last night, as I gathered with the youth of our church, a game of "ask the preacher Bible questions," also known as "stump the chump" broke out.

Pretty quickly, the discussion took a familiar turn.

"What about the big bang?"

"What about dinosaurs?"

"Can God really know everybody and everything?"

"Where do we really go when we die?"

"Where does the Bible come from?"

Really, all of those questions come from the same basic place..."how do I accept things that I don't understand?"

All of us would love to know the "answers" to the big questions of life.

But the best answer we'll ever have is to be found in the few lines of scripture we read here today.

That's the only answer there really is...

Our hope is in the Lord: "the maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them. The Lord, who remains faithful forever."

How could a little baby born 2,000 years ago, surrounded by animals in a livestock shed and laid in a feed trough really be the savior of the world?

Because the maker of that world loves us so much...and thankfully works in mysterious ways.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your love that does not end. You are faithful forever, and in ways beyond our imaginations. Increase our faith, that we might accept the gift of your love.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-5

Winnow

Matthew 3:4-12 (NRSV)

⁵⁶

Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ⁸⁹¹⁰

11 ‘I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’¹²

Winnowing fork?

Threshing floor?

Granary? Chaff?

Unquenchable fire?

There are a lot of terms in this sermon from John the Baptist that we either don't understand in our modern non-agricultural world...or the ones that we do understand are just plain scary.

Well, a trip through the dictionary tells us that "winnow" just means to "separate or distinguish valuable from non-valuable parts."

That might seem a little scary, but it's absolutely necessary in our lives. Our deepest prayer should be that God would winnow-away at us our whole lives long.

There's so much that we can do with our time, talents and energies that aren't all that valuable. There are so many distractions and potential wastes of all that God has given us.

Sometimes, we just need a good "threshing"to give us focus and concentrate the "good stuff."

God does this kind of work in all kinds of ways. Sometimes, the process is painful. However, the more open we become to the work that God seeks to do within us, the more possible it becomes for us to embrace change...and to see that God is bringing us to a greater state of purity and preparation.

So our prayer becomes...winnow Lord, winnow-away in our lives...

Prayer: We pray for clean hands and pure hearts. Cleanse the chaff within us by the power of your winnowing fork and gather us as wheat into your barn.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end, Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture (No Blog): Isaiah 11:6-10

Thunder

Matthew 3:1-3 (Message)

While Jesus was living in the Galilean hills, John, called "the Baptizer," was preaching in the desert country of Judea.

His message was simple and austere, like his desert surroundings:

"Change your life. God's kingdom is here."

John and his message were authorized by Isaiah's prophecy:

Thunder in the desert!
Prepare for God's arrival!
Make the road smooth and straight!

John the Baptist absolutely looked and acted like a crazy man.

While the world kept spinning and everyone moved about their daily lives, he had opted out.

He spent his time immersed in this act of worship called baptism. He preached --- yelled, probably --- this message of preparation.

"Prepare for God's arrival!"

This is the season of Advent. There's nothing magical or particularly special about these days, unless we decide to assign them special focus in our walk with Christ.

That's a great thing to do. Because there are seasons when we need to reflect, and focus. Otherwise, we might lose sight of what Christmas really is all about.

A few weeks ago, my son returned from a field trip to the local fire station. He told me about the blue "blazes" that adorn all of our streets and highways.

I'll have to admit that I never noticed them.

You see, wherever fire hydrants are located, you'll see a bright blue reflector, off center, parallel to the hydrant, in the roadway.

They're there to point firefighters to the source of their ability to fight...water.

What if John the Baptist if Jesus' "blue blaze," standing at attention, waiting for us to look and listen?

He points the way to the source.

As we move through this day together, let's get our hearts ready...to look and find.

Prayer: We remember the calling and vision of John the Baptist. May we hear his words, repent, and make a straight path for the messiah in our hearts.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Matthew 3:4-12

Root

Isaiah 11:1-5 (NIV)

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -

and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;

but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.

He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

Sometimes, life may look lost...only to return when we least expect it.

Have you ever seen an old stump, the remains of a once tall tree...send up a new shoot?

I can think of a sweetgum tree that I once cut down. I didn't like where it was and the prickly balls it produced each fall were an annoyance in our yard.

The tree didn't care. It grew back. It's what they do.

Often, a tree that grows back from an old stump will be even stronger and more vigorous than the original.

In the south, each spring we see crape myrtles pruned back severely. The new growth comes rapidly, with wonderful blooms in the summer.

"Jesse" was the father of King David. He was the ancestor of the royal line of Judah. By the time Isaiah wrote these words, that proud tree had been brought low.

God's people lived in exile, but still held hope that one day the old, seemingly dead stump might yet spring to life.

Christmas, then, as well as Easter, is a celebration of life in the face of death.

Before Jesus rose from the tomb on Easter morning, he was born...like the first green shoot that rises from its ancient roots.

He is the anointed one, the messiah, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, a King in the line of David...from the "stump" of Jesse.

"From his roots, a branch will bear fruit." As that branch bears fruit, may we learn to also be "branches," connected to Christ the vine.

Prayer: May the roots of Jesse give life this Advent season, and bear fruit in the life of Christ all around us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Romans 15:4-13

Blessed

Psalm 72:1-7, 17-18 (NIV)

Endow the king with your justice, O God,
the royal son with your righteousness...

...He will be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.

In his days the righteous will flourish;
prosperity will abound till the moon is no more...

...May his name endure forever;
may it continue as long as the sun.
All nations will be blessed through him,
and they will call him blessed.

Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel,
who alone does marvelous deeds...

Long, long ago the Psalmist expressed a deeply held longing. One day, he hoped, God would send the King of Justice and Righteousness.

There was hope...of a messiah...who would set all things right. His reign and rule would endure forever.

As Christians, we believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of this prayer.

This prayer, and its answer...are the centerpiece of our joy and peace in living.

God's purposes will be fulfilled. We can live in the strength of that assurance. God, and God alone, does marvelous deeds. We have the privilege and joy of living in those deeds each day, and learning to take part in them as we grow deeper in Christian faith and Holy Spirit connection.

Sometimes, we just need to be still and realize the magnitude of what we believe.

Psalm 72...fulfilled.

All praises to God...in Christ...rain on a newly mown field...like showers watering the earth.

Prayer: We join the words of the prayer, many thousands of years old: "Give the King your justice O God...may his name endure forever."

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-5

Control

"The Last Judgment" by Michelangelo

Matthew 24:40-44 (NIV)

Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.

Two women will be grinding with a hand mill;

one will be taken and the other left.

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Most of us human beings manage to make our way through life by assuming that we pretty much are in control of things, and know about what's going to happen in a given day.

And, most of the time, we manage to live with the illusion that we're right.

But as long as we're really "in control," God can't be.

We have to give up, and admit that we need to be dependent on the one who has made us and loves us. Wisdom admits how much it doesn't know.

The owner of the house in Jesus' parable didn't know at what hour of the night the thief would come. If he had, then he would have been ready. Of course. Then, he could have controlled the outcome.

But there's a lot we don't know. And that's ok. In fact, it 's the only way that God's grace has a chance to work in our lives.

What's the difference between those two who were plowing their field side-by-side or working at the hand mill?

One was taken while the other was left...and I think that one had learned to trust God and be open to his power, while the other had clung to the illusion of control and self-suffiency.

Today is a good day to learn to turn loose, like a child taking its first steps toward a parent. Keep watch and be ready for the turns that the divine drive may make on this path of life.

Prayer: Father, we pray that you would make us watchful for the times and places today when the presence of Christ may show up in our lives.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: (No blog) Psalm 122:5-9

Worship this week at SOTH: Let's keep our Advent momentum going this week with some great worship services and Sunday School for kids, youth and adults.

This week's scripture for Sunday is from the first chapter of Luke. God sent the angel Gabriel to speak to Mary about the impending birth of Jesus. Her response tells us so much about how we can find joy in life and especially at Christmas.

"Finding the Joy of Christmas" this Sunday at SOTH: Worship at 9 and 11 AM.

Sunday School at 10:15 "Heartshapers" for kids (age Pre K through 5th grade): this curriculum has gotten off to a wonderful start, with great teachers and fun, Bible-based lessons each week!

Youth Sunday School: Ages 6th-12th grade with Jeff Murfree, from the Student Life Bible Study

Final Sunday installment of "The Frazzled Female" women's study @ the Ranch. A new women's study is forming and will begin in January.

"Seekers" class open to everyone, each Sunday at the Ranch, 10:15

Pastor's Advent Study, "Finding the Joy of Christmas" in the Sanctuary, 10:15

We'll see you there! Adam

Ready

Matthew 24:36-39 (The Message)

"But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows.

"The Arrival of the Son of Man will take place in times like Noah's.

Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ark.

They knew nothing—until the flood hit and swept everything away.

Last night, while cruising channels before falling asleep, I came across a TV Preacher.

He was seated behind a desk, and his well-shined silver hair was so stiffly sprayed that it wouldn't have budged in a hurricane-force wind.

This man is not new to the TV Preacher-market. In fact, he's made a living there for decades.

His show is all about "prophecy," and his content is usually just downright frightening. He uses pieces and snippets of scripture to "prove" things like why Iran harbors the antichrist, and that, "The End is Near."

He's fixated on Armageddon and the apocalypse. He has skillfully created an alternate reality in which he and his followers live. It just so happens that he is the center of that universe because he has all the knowledge.

I've never heard him point to the verse of scripture we read today.

I've never heard him remind us that Jesus said that even he himself did not know the day and the hour of his return.

Con men like this TV preacher have been around for centuries.

They make us cynical, and their biggest negative impact on Christianity is that they make taking Jesus' return seriously look like a joke.

But followers of Jesus are to have the character of people who wait with expectation.

Noah looked like a crazy man when he prepared for the flood that God had said would surely come. Recently, the movie "Evan Almighty" reminded us just how silly Noah must have looked to those around him, and even how silly he must have felt at times, himself.

I think the lesson that we should take from Noah...and Jesus...is that time is short for us all, no matter exactly what happens when.

The days of our lives are just a blink of history's eye, and the time to prepare, and expect...is now.

Jesus' followers should have the strength of knowing that anyone who claims prophetic knowledge of times and dates, or fixation on the exact events of the "apocalypse" stands in opposition to the words of Jesus himself.

But we should also know that Jesus himself tells us to "be ready."

What we have for sure is today. Let's watch and see what God may do.

Prayer: Remind us that no one knows the exact day and time, but to be prepared as disciples for whatever may come. Hold us in your heart and lead us by the Holy Spirit, we pray.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Matthew 26:40-44

Dawn

Romans 13:11-14 (Message)

But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God.

The night is about over, dawn is about to break.

Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed.

We can't afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight.

Get out of bed and get dressed! Don't loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!

The "snooze" button is an interesting device of modern life.  

You know, it's that big button on top of your alarm clock.  The one that you slap at to stop the squawking when your alarm goes off each morning.  

It buys sleep, in 7 minute increments.  I actually know folks who set their alarm 30 minutes early, just so they can slap the snooze button 3 or 4 times.  

Everybody has different rituals for waking up, but the time comes for us all when sleep must end.  

I remember one of my favorite college professors, late in one spring term, who said, "where do you think all those students are who started out this semester skipping class and drinking too much?"  

"Where do you think they are now that they've realized that they can't pass their classes, that they'll soon be facing their parents, that their scholarships will be lost?"  

"Do you think they're out at a club, or at a party having a great time?"  

"It's Wednesday morning, 9 AM...where do you think they are?"  

"They're asleep."  

"I've seen it year after year," he said.  "Once reality sinks in and the parties stop...they just sleep more and more.  It's the closest they can come to just disappearing."  

The Apostle Paul...Jesus Christ...and this season of Advent invites us to wake up.  We're invited to be prepared.   These moments spent in prayer are a good time to ask God to wake us to the world he has created all around us.    

We watch, and wait...awake and looking for the presence of God among us, in our midst.  

Prayer:  May we realize that now is the time for following Jesus with all our hearts.  Help us to be up and awake, ready for what this day may bring us.  

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be.  World without end.  Amen.  

Tomorrow's Scripture:  Matthew 24;36-39

Worship

Psalm 122:1-4 (Message)

When they said, "Let's go to the house of God,"
my heart leaped for joy.

And now we're here, O Jerusalem,
inside Jerusalem's walls!

Jerusalem, well-built city,
built as a place for worship!

The city to which the tribes ascend,
all God's tribes go up to worship,
To give thanks to the name of God—
this is what it means to be Israel.

In a sense, we Christian worshipers symbolically re-enact this passage of Psalm 122 every Sunday.

With great joy, we gather back together, from all our different locations...back to "Jerusalem," to worship God together.

A great friend of mine in ministry began a church a few years ago that was based first on the involvement of all members in small discipleship groups, or "cells" in the old, organic, Wesleyan language.

He told me, "most churches think backwards...that the primary existence of the church is Sunday worship, but really that time should just be a weekly gathering of the disciples who've been out studying, worshiping and serving all week long."

I think he was right on...Jerusalem is not where we live and breathe...but it's a place of great joy that we need to enter regularly...so that we can continue to be the "body" of Christ, first and most importantly, in our homes, jobs, schools...all week long.

Worship is fun because we are united with our friends and extended families. We see people we love, care about and are connected with...and we share that odd church-word, "fellowship," together.

But even more importantly, it's sacred because we focus our hearts and minds, and offer all that we are to something greater than ourselves. We open ourselves, with thankful hearts, to God.

This Sunday morning...."gathering day," may our hearts "leap for joy" just like the heart of the Psalmist.

"All the tribes go up for worship...this is what it means to be Israel..."

And what it means to be the Church.

Prayer: May we rejoice at every opportunity for worship and to "go into the house of the Lord." We pray for hearts that are prepared to worship during this season of Advent.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Romans 13:11-14

Peace

Isaiah 2:1-5 (NIV)

This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

In the last days
the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established
as chief among the mountains;
it will be raised above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.

Many peoples will come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths."
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.

Come, O house of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the LORD.

Every person's prayer really should be that this prophecy from Isaiah would come quickly to pass.

Christian people should long for the day when, "he will settle disputes for many peoples."

Isaiah's image of swords and spears melted down and hammered into agricultural implements is a beautiful one.

If only we could spend as much time producing as destroying.

War must be one of the greatest signs of our broken, sinful humanity. We have used our God-given gifts of intellect and curiosity to devise ever more lethal weapons of mass destruction.

There are times when even followers of Jesus must realize that living in this broken world may mean fighting for justice and defense of the innocent.

But first, and always, there should be prayers for peace. There should be a real commitment to non-violence. Living that commitment certainly is not easy.

But it is the vision for the Kingdom that God gave Isaiah. May he give that vision to us all.

Prayer: We long for the day when the Prince of Peace will rule and we will not train for war anymore. May we beat our own personal swords into plowshares, and sew peace, not violence, in our world.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Psalm 122:1-4

King

Luke 23:33-38 (NIV)

When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."

The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."

There was a written notice above him, which read:

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

This past Sunday was known in liturgical or "church" time as "Christ the King" Sunday. The readings this week are set to remind us that our citizenship lies in Christ's kingdom, and that our ruler is a king unlike any other.

The irony of today's reading, of course, is that those who nailed the inscription, "King of the Jews" above Jesus' head did not realize the truth of their gospel proclamation.

With a reading this powerful, there's not much that I need to say. Instead, I invite you to take these moments and soak in two pieces of Christian tradition that remind us of what it means to call Jesus Christ "The King" of our lives.

From "The Akathist Hymn," an ancient Christian hymn to Jesus from the Eastern Orthodox Tradition, dating to the first centuries of our faith, and still prayed in Orthodox churches on the Fridays of Lent...

Jesus, God before the ages.
Jesus, King almighty.
Jesus, Master long-suffering.
Jesus, Saviour most merciful.
Jesus, my Guardian most kind.
Jesus, be gracious unto my sins.
Jesus, take away my iniquities.
Jesus, pardon my unrighteousness.
Jesus, my Hope, forsake me not.
Jesus, my Helper, reject me not.
Jesus, my Creator, forget me not.
Jesus, my Shepherd, lose me not.

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.

"Shepherds Rejoice, Lift Up Your Eyes," by Isaac Watts, 1707 and sung widely in the Sacred Harp tradition of the southeastern U.S., 19th century...

“Shepherds, rejoice! lift up your eyes,
And send your fears away;
News from the regions of the skies,
Salvation’s born today.

“Jesus, the God Whom angels fear,
Comes down to dwell with you;
Today He makes His entrance here,
But not as monarchs do.

“No gold nor purple swaddling bands.
Nor royal shining things;
A manger for His cradle stands,
And holds the King of kings.

“Go, shepherds, where the Infant lies,
And see His humble throne
With tears of joy in all your eyes,
Go, shepherds, kiss the Son.”

Prayer: There is no greater image of your love for us than the sacrificial death of Christ upon the cross. May we learn the power of humble service, and that true strength is always sacrificial.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture ( No Blog ) Luke 23:39-43

Worship this Sunday returns to our regular schedule, 9 and 11 AM. Sunday School this week at 10:15 and every Sunday.

Adult Classes: Seekers and "The Frazzled Female" women's study, both meeting at the Ranch. Youth SS led by Jeff Murfree, every Sunday in the Ranch youth room, 6th grade and up. Pastor's Advent study in the Sanctuary -- this week, "Dealing with materialism at Christmas."

Children's Sunday School --- "Heartshapers," a wonderful new curriculum, and many thanks to the great teachers who are leading this exciting program for kids age pre-K through 5th grade. Children's classes in the church building, 10:15 every Sunday.

Christmas Decorations at the Church: Our CCC Team will be leading the congregation in decorating the church for the Advent and Christmas seasons, tomorrow at SOTH -- 2 PM. Everybody is invited to come out and have fun together!

Rescue

Buchenwald Concentration Camp, liberated by U.S. 3rd Army, April, 1945


Luke 1:67-79 (The Message)

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he came and set his people free.

He set the power of salvation in the center of our lives,
and in the very house of David his servant,

Just as he promised long ago
through the preaching of his holy prophets:
Deliverance from our enemies
and every hateful hand;

Mercy to our fathers,
as he remembers to do what he said he'd do,

What he swore to our father Abraham—

a clean rescue from the enemy camp,
So we can worship him without a care in the world,
made holy before him as long as we live.

I feel sure that as long as I live, I'll never forget that "little old man."

Though his name, and the name of the country church where he worshiped have already left my memory, his face has not...and neither has his story.

As my father (who was this man's pastor) and I stood with him on the little front steps of that church building, we watched the sun come up on Easter Sunday morning.

I was just a child, and although I didn't understand all the history of the war, I knew enough to understand the power of what he told us:

"On Easter Day, 1945, I was liberated from a Nazi concentration camp, where I'd been held as a prisoner of war."

The tears began to trickle down his old, tough cheeks, and we stood quietly because there just wasn't anything else to be said.

Maybe, until we are in real pain, and in a situation beyond our own ability and resources, we may not fully understand the power of what it means to be "rescued."

Or, in his words, "liberated."

God's promise to his people...when exiled in Babylon or Assyria...or victims of genocide at Buchenwald...is one of rescue.

So many died. So many, seemingly, didn't find the rescue that God had promised. But I know that if that Saint of the Lord had died in that camp, he would have died with his faith in Jesus still intact.

Rescue would have come, and living or dying, he would have lifted his praises to God.

That good man faithfully led the little congregation in the singing of hymns every Sunday. He was not a gifted singer. The piano was badly out of tune, and played by a self-taught pianist.

Before that Easter morning, I sometimes wondered what kept him showing up each Sunday, without fail, decade on end.

He was thankful. And humble. And joyful.

He'd been rescued. Saved. Liberated.

May it be so for all of us.

Prayer: When we find ourselves in the shadow of darkness and the path of death, we pray for rescue, guidance and that our feet would find your path of peace. May you save us from temptation and deliver us from evil.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end, Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Luke 23:33-38

Path

Luke 1:68-74 (The Message)

Present the offer of salvation to his people,
the forgiveness of their sins.

Through the heartfelt mercies of our God,
God's Sunrise will break in upon us,
Shining on those in the darkness,
those sitting in the shadow of death,

Then showing us the way, one foot at a time,
down the path of peace.

I love the idea of God "showing us the way, one foot at a time."

Last night, I was driving home through a congested part of metro Atlanta. An accident had happened somewhere up ahead.

The four-lane highway turned into a massive parking lot. I wasn't going anywhere, and I was running out of gas.

The toughest part was that I just couldn't see ahead. I couldn't know what was causing the problem. I didn't know how long the jam would last.

And, I was running out of gas.

Pretty good metaphor for how we feel sometimes, huh?

Eventually, of course, the accident cleared and the road opened back up.

But I had already made a different decision. I drove across the median and went back the other direction. I found a gas station and the fresh confidence that a full tank brings.

When I made that turn, I wasn't sure it was the right decision. Maybe I was turning from a gas station just ahead...but I had no way to know.

Living life takes trust...and faith. We humans just don't have the ability to see very far beyond our own noses. We just don't know what the right decisions are...even as we have to make them and then take our chances with the consequences.

But scripture promises us that there is a God out there who wants to order our steps. He will show us the way, one foot at a time, down the path of peace.

Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Give us just enough vision to follow you today, one foot at a time.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Luke 1:75-79

Learn

Colossians 1:9-20 (The Message)

...As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work.

We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives.

It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us...

...From beginning to end he's there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding.

Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross...

"As you learn more about how God works," Paul says...

Isn't that a mouthful?

Who can imagine learning more about the workings of God? And yet, that kind of learning has to be the goal of all who follow in the path of Jesus.

Maybe another way to talk about this learning is, "insight," or "perspective."

What allowed Paul to rejoice in his hardships and sufferings? What kept him so assured of God's purposes in Jesus, even when things looked their darkest, both for him and the tiny band of Christian disciples that he led?

An understanding of how God works.

God works for redemption. In Jesus, we're told, "all things hold together."

The world around us tempts that understanding every day. As I scan the news this morning, there are stories of abducted children, murder and evil of all kinds.

How can God allow us to be so bad?

The truth is, there is so much good around us as well. I know, too, that on this day, millions of acts of kindness and goodness will be done throughout the world.

I know that where "unendurable" things have happened, those who endure in faith will claim victory over that evil in the name of Jesus and all that is good, right and holy.

I think Paul's greatest fear might have been that Jesus' people would ever just give up. And so he reminds us: Jesus' grace is spacious, towering and beautiful. All things will fit together...because "God so loved" this world.

Prayer: It is beyond our imaginations to truly imagine how all created things hold together in Christ: but our faith and experience tell us that it is true. May we be reconciled to God through the life of Christ.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Luke 1:68-74

Shepherd

Jeremiah 23:1-6 (NIV)

"Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD.

Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people:

"Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done," declares the LORD.

"I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number.

I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the LORD.

"The days are coming," declares the LORD,
"when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign wisely
and do what is just and right in the land.

In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name by which he will be called:
The LORD Our Righteousness.

I don't know very much about sheep.

OK, I don't really know anything at all about them.

But, of course, one can learn just enough to become dangerous out there on the internet.

Here's what wikipedia says about sheep, for what it's worth:

One calls a sheep that roams furthest away from the others an "outlier," this sheep ventures further away from the safety of the flock to graze, due to a larger flight zone, or a weakness that prevents it from obtaining enough forage when with the flock, while taking a chance that a predator, such as a wolf, will attack it first because of its isolation.

Another sheep, the bellwether, which never goes first but always follows an outlier, signals to the others that they may follow in safety. When it moves, the others will also move. The tendency to act as an outlier, bellwether or to fight for the middle of the flock stays with sheep throughout their adulthood; that is unless they have a scary experience which causes them to increase their flight zone.

I guess I always thought that sheep would "flock" together to protect the weak among them. But that's not true.

"Flocking" actually protects the strong. The strongest sheep fight their way into the center, while the "outliers" take their chances with the wolves because they don't really have any choice.

Sheep really do need a shepherd.

So do we.

After years of being scattered and vulnerable, due to the work of bad "shepherds" and their exile into Babylon, the "Good Shepherd" told the prophet Jeremiah that he was coming back to care for the flock.

The longed-for hope of the people was about the be fulfilled: a King...a shepherd...who would rule in the line of David.

We believe that King is Jesus. His shepherd's hook moves us toward the narrow path. The "days are coming" when we will celebrate the shepherd's birth. In him, we don't have to fight for the middle of the pack. He loves us all...especially the outliers.

Prayer: There are moments when we find ourselves afraid and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd. May we know that Christ is King of our lives, and live in the peace and courage he gives us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Colossians 1:9-20

Fresh

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5; 13-17 (The Message)

Now, friends, read these next words carefully.

Slow down and don't go jumping to conclusions regarding the day when our Master, Jesus Christ, will come back and we assemble to welcome him.

Don't let anyone shake you up or get you excited over some breathless report or rumored letter from me that the day of the Master's arrival has come and gone. Don't fall for any line like that...

...Meanwhile, we've got our hands full continually thanking God for you, our good friends—so loved by God!

God picked you out as his from the very start. Think of it: included in God's original plan of salvation by the bond of faith in the living truth.

This is the life of the Spirit he invited you to through the Message we delivered, in which you get in on the glory of our Master, Jesus Christ.

So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter.

May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.

The crazy lady on the bike in the front was yelling at us...

"Push it! You're stronger than you think you are!!!"

Somehow, the quasi-maniacal strength in her voice made me think that she might just be right.

You see, I've been really back to exercising now for all of about a month. Against all my better judgment, I followed the advice of the pros at the gym and started taking the "ride" class. You know, the one where you furiously ride a stationary-bike-to-nowhere, blowing and going for all you're worth for the better part of an hour.

Here's my crazy confession: it's kind of fun. Weird.

Challenge is a good thing, when you know there is also support, encouragement and the possibility that you might just be able to do it after all.

I think our faith is supposed to work that way, too.

We're not stronger than we think we are...but Jesus at work within us...should never, ever be underestimated.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of getting to gather with some close clergy friends. The mood of the day might best have been described in a single word: tired. Yep, preachers do get tired too. Even spiritually.

But here's the great news. We're not the first, and we're not alone. The Thessalonians got tired, distracted, and forgetful of the message they had received.

I love what Paul tells them. "Jesus himself...and God our Father...will put a fresh heart in you."

Awesome. Just what we need, and its the gift we can receive.

There is always a spiritual second wind. Use this coming Thanksgiving week as that opportunity. Friendships, food, thankful hearts. May we find ourselves refreshed, stronger than we thought we could be with the heart of Christ that dwells within us.

Prayer: God our Father, we pray that you would save us from distractions. Help us to hold to the good teaching that you have given us and the experiences of your grace that happen every day. Give us the gifts of focus and faith.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture (No Blog): 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

No Blog Next Week --- Happy Thanksgiving Everybody -- blog will resume on November 26!

Worship this week(11/18) and next (11/25) at SOTH: One worship service, 10 AM Only with children's SS Pre-K through 2nd grade during worship.

We return to our regular worship schedule, 9 and 11 AM on the first Sunday of Advent, 12/2.

Alive

Luke 20:27-38 (The Message)

Some Sadducees came up. This is the Jewish party that denies any possibility of resurrection.

They asked, "Teacher, Moses wrote us that if a man dies and leaves a wife but no child, his brother is obligated to take the widow to wife and get her with child.

Well, there once were seven brothers. The first took a wife. He died childless. The second married her and died, then the third, and eventually all seven had their turn, but no child. After all that, the wife died. That wife, now—in the resurrection whose wife is she? All seven married her."

Jesus said, "Marriage is a major preoccupation here, but not there. Those who are included in the resurrection of the dead will no longer be concerned with marriage nor, of course, with death.

They will have better things to think about, if you can believe it. All ecstasies and intimacies then will be with God.

Even Moses exclaimed about resurrection at the burning bush, saying, 'God: God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob!' God isn't the God of dead men, but of the living.

To him all are alive."

I remember, early in seminary, some very honest, older student telling me, "seminary is the only place where you'll meet people who spend three years studying that which cannot be understood."

OK, it's probably not the only place, but it is one of them.

The Sadducces, who didn't believe in resurrection, we're told, thought they could figure out a way to trap Jesus.

They'd ask him a question that would clearly prove the "silliness" of an idea like resurrection.

7 husbands, 1 wife. Who gets to be married to who on the other side?

This is the unfortunate kind of thing that happens to all of us when head dominates heart. Don't get me wrong, it's good to be intelligent and educated. But the best mind runs up against its limits pretty quickly when dealing with the things of God.

Jesus says, in essence: eternity is so much bigger than your question.

Your assessment of Moses' law misses the biggest things that Moses really showed us.

God is the God of the living. Death is not the end. Eternal life with God is a greater and deeper intimacy than we broken humans can imagine today.

Our minds might not wrap around that concept...but our hearts can embrace it.

Prayer: Father, forgive us when we spend our time pondering the loopholes and technicalities of our religion. Help us to see the point: that you are the God of the living and in you we receive the gift of eternal life.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

Near

Psalm 145:17-21 (NIV)

The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and loving toward all he has made.

The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.

The LORD watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.

So, where is God?

This is one of the great questions humanity has asked since we figured out how to start asking questions.

Sometimes, we fall back into the visions that artists have given us throughout the ages.

God is far away, somewhere "up there." He's got a big, flowing, white beard. He's seated on a grand throne looking down upon his creation.

But that's not really the picture we get from the Bible.

Far more often, scripture tells us that God's location is "near."

God's own favorite term for describing his location seems to be "with." As in, "I am with you."

This season of Advent and Christmas that we're approaching is the celebration of Immanuel, which means, "God with us."

Still, that promise doesn't satisfy us too well. "Near" sounds good, but it's still a little fuzzy. How does "with" work?

Maybe the better image of God is Michelangelo's famous image of the outstretched hand, almost touching Adam's. Psalm 145 tells us that God is so near, and waiting to save "those who call on him."

This is a good time to close that gap, and make a "call." The prayer is simple..."be with us today...save us..."

Prayer: God our Father, this Psalm reminds us of who and how you are: righteous, loving, near, hearing, saving, fulfilling and watchful. You are worthy of our praise.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Luke 20:27-38

Greatness

Psalm 145:1-5 (NIV)

I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.

Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.

One generation will commend your works to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.

They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

How did that drive into work go this morning?

Were you "meditating on the wonderful works" of God?

I know, the metro Atlanta commute is not the most worshipful of settings, is it?

And yet, thankfully, we do have those wonderful moments in life when we feel like the Psalmist. We have those days when we just can't help seeing the power and majesty at work in our lives and world.

John Ortberg calls those kinds of experiences, "rainbow days." The days that just seem to happen...when we see God at work everywhere, like the rainbow set in the sky before Noah, and we remember his promise of presence in our lives.

What if we have the ability to make those rainbow days come a little more frequently?

What if we could choose to offer praise to God, even when we don't feel like it?

The Book does tell us that faith is believing where we haven't yet seen. But, there's so much to see...that's the amazing part.

This is the beautiful time of year when you can turn that corner in your neighborhood that you've turned about 10,000 times, and be absolutely overcome with the beauty of what God has made.

I often take a shortcut through a modest little neighborhood here in Douglasville. Every fall, I am amazed at the view behind one tiny home. The house would not make the list of Douglasville's best and most beautiful places to live. But God's handiwork in that place is amazing.

The rolling North Georgia hills spread out in waves of orange, yellow, green and red. The beauty that we ignore throughout much of the year just stands up and demands notice.

"Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise."

Yes indeed.

Prayer: Your greatness, no one can fathom. May we pass this knowledge from one generation to the next, and spend this day in meditation on your power and goodness.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Psalm 145:17-21