Speechless

Luke 1:18-25 (The Message)

Zachariah said to the angel, "Do you expect me to believe this? I'm an old man and my wife is an old woman."

But the angel said, "I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news. But because you won't believe me, you'll be unable to say a word until the day of your son's birth. Every word I've spoken to you will come true on time—God's time."

Meanwhile, the congregation waiting for Zachariah was getting restless, wondering what was keeping him so long in the sanctuary. When he came out and couldn't speak, they knew he had seen a vision. He continued speechless and had to use sign language with the people.

When the course of his priestly assignment was completed, he went back home. It wasn't long before his wife, Elizabeth, conceived. She went off by herself for five months, relishing her pregnancy. "So, this is how God acts to remedy my unfortunate condition!" she said.

Please don't tell me that God has no sense of humor.

One look at old Zachariah emerging from the angel/altar encounter should tell us otherwise.

There he is...full priestly regalia, all dignity and polish on one hand...and all pale-faced, big-eyed, speechless stupor on the other.

He's reduced to a game of charades for communication.

Truly...speechless.

Too bad that didn't happen to him just a little earlier. He'd been scared to death when the angel appeared. But once he gets his feet underneath him, his choice of words just isn't too helpful.

Imagine Zachariah speaking to Gabriel..."Do you expect me to believe this?"

I mean, come on giant-angel-man-who-appeared-at-the-altar. Why should I believe you?

The whole scene is just a wonderful example of how ridiculous we can be. Sometimes, even in the presence of the miraculous, we can still just say to God..."I don't buy it."

And the result?

Speechless-ness.

A man who almost died in an accident later told me about the experience.

"Adam," he said, "as I made it through my recovery, I found that I couldn't pray for weeks. It wasn't that I stopped believing. It was that I had come face to face with the Alpha and Omega. I'd seen the beginning and end. I was spiritually speechless."

Maybe that's what it takes to really wake us up sometimes.

To be speechless means that we're much more inclined to listen. Being awed by God's power and presence in our lives should change us. And that change should be obvious to those who know us.

The great good news for us is that Zechariah's disbelief didn't stop God's plan. Gabriel said that it would be completed, "in God's time."

And so it was. May it be so for us as well...and may we know the occasional bout of God-induced speechlessness.

Prayer: Almighty God, may we sit quietly in your presence and listen. Teach us to be slow to speak, and quick to believe.

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.

Worship with us this Sunday at SOTH! 9 & 11 AM with Sunday School for all ages at 10:15.

Fear

Luke 1:8-17 (The Message)

It so happened that as Zachariah was carrying out his priestly duties before God, working the shift assigned to his regiment, it came his one turn in life to enter the sanctuary of God and burn incense. The congregation was gathered and praying outside the Temple at the hour of the incense offering. Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of incense. Zachariah was paralyzed in fear.

But the angel reassured him, "Don't fear, Zachariah. Your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you. You are to name him John. You're going to leap like a gazelle for joy, and not only you—many will delight in his birth. He'll achieve great stature with God.

"He'll drink neither wine nor beer. He'll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother's womb. He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God. He will herald God's arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics—he'll get the people ready for God."

It was Zachariah's day to burn incense at the altar in the Temple. This was a rare privilege, and a big moment in Zachariah's life.

His job as a priest was to offer the ritual sacrifices and acts of worship necessary to make peace between the people and God.

Priestly work was considered dangerous. Legend says that the high priest of Judaism wore a rope around his waist or leg when entering the Holy of Holies to make atonement on Yom Kippur. It was thought that if his sins were not properly atoned before making the offering that he would die in the presence of God's glory. The rope was there to pull out his body.

Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of incense. Zachariah was paralyzed in fear.

No doubt.

It's hard to imagine the fear that must have gripped him. And the message that the angel delivered was perhaps equally frightening and difficult to understand.

Your prayers are heard. You will have a son. He will prepare the hearts of the people.

Zechariah's and Elizabeth's son would be John the Baptist. He would herald the coming of the messiah. His "priestly" work would do away with the need for the old sacrificial system that made up Zechariah's life.

Everything was changing. It was the answer to his prayer. And it scared him to death.

Sometimes, we all get afraid. Maybe that fear tells us that we're standing in the presence of God's great plan. Fear is normal, and it's not something to be ashamed of. But when fear dissolves into trust, then excitement and joy can take its place.

What are you praying for? What would you do if God answered in a powerful, life-changing way? Don't be afraid.

Prayer: God, we open our hearts and share our deepest longings and hurts. Teach us to watch and wait for your answers...and help us to overcome our fears through faith in you.

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 1:18-25

Old

Luke 1:5-6 (The Message)

During the rule of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest assigned service in the regiment of Abijah. His name was Zachariah.

His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth.

Together they lived honorably before God, careful in keeping to the ways of the commandments and enjoying a clear conscience before God. But they were childless because Elizabeth could never conceive, and now they were quite old.


Zachariah and Elizabeth are some pretty wonderful characters...and the first that we meet in the Gospel of Luke.

We know this much: they are people of great faith, and great disappointment.

Isn't it interesting that those two things can live side-by-side. Sometimes, our world tells us that they can't.

If we get disappointed, we transfer those feelings of "failure" right over to God. We think that he's abandoned us, that our life is not turning out like it "should," and that God might not be worth serving after all.

In the culture of their time, marriages were evaluated largely on their ability to produce male offspring. Women were certainly judged in that way.

In those terms, Zachariah and Elizabeth had real reason to feel that God had not blessed them, and that their lives were disappointments.

And yet, "they lived honorably before God...enjoying a clear conscience..."

The circumstances of our lives do not define who we are, or our relationship with God.

God's love does not change. His plan for the world included Zachariah and Elizabeth. They would yet be the parents of John the Baptist, the herald of Jesus Christ.

But even if they hadn't...they would still have lived in peace and contentment.

For people of faith, circumstances don't define us...and God's love can do anything.

Prayer: Whatever we face today, help us remember that you are bigger than our "story." When we are tempted to doubt because things don't go our way, teach us that your plan could be unfolding 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: Luke 1:8-15

Theophilus

Gospel of Luke 1:1-4 (The Message)

So many others have tried their hand at putting together a story of the wonderful harvest of Scripture and history that took place among us, using reports handed down by the original eyewitnesses who served this Word with their very lives.

Since I have investigated all the reports in close detail, starting from the story's beginning, I decided to write it all out for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught.

Today we begin our study of the Gospel of Luke. It's going to take a while.

While we won't cover every single verse, my thought right now is that we'll just go a day at a time (kind of like life, right?), and we'll get there when we get there.

There's a lot to take in.

So, we start at the beginning. That's a good place.

Theophilus.

He's the person for whom Luke is writing. Of course, these 2,000 years later, it feels a lot like Luke is writing for us. And, of course, it turns out that he is.

But he also wrote for Theophilus.

Not just any "theophilus," but "most honorable" Theophilus.

That title leads many biblical scholars to believe that Theophilus was Luke's "patron." That is, that through Theophilus' influence and credibility, Luke would be able to establish his Gospel even more quickly.

Did you know that there is a circle in which you have that Theophilus-like ability?

You can lend credibility to a cause, to a group or to a story.

And there is some cause, or some ministry to which God is calling you.

Who would have thought that Luke would need someone's help? But it turns out that his Theophilus relationship was significant. And 2,000 years later, we're the beneficiary.

Whose Theophilus can you be? What "patron" can you honor?

Prayer: God, we ask that you would show us the ways that we can be significant in the lives of others. Help us to see that their contributions, united with ours, can change the world when you empower us together.

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 1:5-6

Things I've Learned or Re-learned Recently

Today's "guest blogger" is Rev. Jamie Jenkins. With his permission, I'm running the column that he wrote this morning for a weekly publication called, "Monday Morning in North Georgia."

Jamie is well known and loved in Douglasville, having served for 12 years at Bright Star UMC. He now serves as Executive Assistant to the Bishop of the North Georgia Conference. It's an honor to serve with him in this conference, and his wisdom and leadership is always appreciated.


"Things I've Learned or Re-Learned Recently," by Jamie Jenkins

Having a dog is a good thing.

Having an adult child move back home can be alright.

Meatless meals can be very enjoyable.

I am a blessed man.

God has a sense of humor.

Change, desired or otherwise, is stressful.

Time-saving devices do not always save time.

Online banking is the way to go.

Life is fragile.

Family and friends are important.

Ice cream really is my favorite food.

Technology can be wonderful- and frustrating.

Saving water can be relatively easy.

Getting older has its advantages.

I have some incredibly dedicated and talented colleagues.

There is no cure for stupidity.

I am loved.

We are dependent on God for everything.

I love to preach.

Reading the comics in the daily newspaper is enjoyable and often instructive.

Grandchildren really are wonderful.

Some things never change.

Some things are always changing.

When I think I am really in charge, I am really in trouble.

Appointment making time is stressful for a lot of people.

Travel is a great educational experience.

Offers to make easy millions are everywhere and are always bogus.

Forwarded emails are a nuisance.

I have a wonderful family.

Church folks are remarkably resilient people.

There are a lot of generous people in the world.

Holiday shopping is something to avoid.

Gifts are not the best/only way to show love.

Accessories for every electronic device are endless.

Feeding birds and planting flowers pay rich rewards.

December 28, 1968 is the second most important date of my life.

There are enough challenges (and opportunities) for more than one lifetime.

Life can be very complicated. And sometimes we work hard to keep it that way.

Decisions of significance are seldom easy.

There are at least two sides to every issue.

It is a major miracle that the Church has survived.

There are no minor miracles.

There will always be poor people but there would be fewer if we shared our wealth.

What I have is a gift from God. What I do with it is my gift to God.

I love the blues and could listen to B.B. King and Etta James all night long.

There is always more to be learned!

I want to be open to what God wants to teach me. What about you?

Friday

Today, it seems like there's not much I need to write. It's Good Friday, and we just need to be with the story itself...

From John 19 (The Message)

"Here is your king."

They shouted back, "Kill him! Kill him! Crucify him!"

Pilate said, "I am to crucify your king?"

The high priests answered, "We have no king except Caesar."

Pilate caved in to their demand. He turned him over to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

They took Jesus away. Carrying his cross, Jesus went out to the place called Skull Hill (the name in Hebrew is Golgotha), where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, Jesus in the middle. Pilate wrote a sign and had it placed on the cross. It read:


jesus the nazarene
the king of the jews.

Many of the Jews read the sign because the place where Jesus was crucified was right next to the city. It was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.

The Jewish high priests objected.

"Don't write," they said to Pilate, "'The King of the Jews.' Make it, 'This man said, "I am the King of the Jews."'"

Pilate said, "What I've written, I've written."

When they crucified him, the Roman soldiers took his clothes and divided them up four ways, to each soldier a fourth. But his robe was seamless, a single piece of weaving, so they said to each other, "Let's not tear it up. Let's throw dice to see who gets it."

This confirmed the Scripture that said, "They divided up my clothes among them and threw dice for my coat." (The soldiers validated the Scriptures!)

While the soldiers were looking after themselves, Jesus' mother, his aunt, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the cross.

Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her. He said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then to the disciple, "Here is your mother."

From that moment the disciple accepted her as his own mother.

Jesus, seeing that everything had been completed so that the Scripture record might also be complete, then said, "I'm thirsty."

A jug of sour wine was standing by. Someone put a sponge soaked with the wine on a javelin and lifted it to his mouth. After he took the wine, Jesus said, "It's done . . . complete."

Bowing his head, he offered up his spirit.

Then the Jews, since it was the day of Sabbath preparation, and so the bodies wouldn't stay on the crosses over the Sabbath (it was a high holy day that year), petitioned Pilate that their legs be broken to speed death, and the bodies taken down.

So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man crucified with Jesus, and then the other.

When they got to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn't break his legs. One of the soldiers stabbed him in the side with his spear. Blood and water gushed out.

The eyewitness to these things has presented an accurate report. He saw it himself and is telling the truth so that you, also, will believe.

Prayer: While we were yet sinners, you love us. We stand awestruck in the presence of the sacrifice of the cross. May our old ways die upon that cross with Jesus, and may you raise us to new life in Him.

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.

Good Friday worship tonight at SOTH: 7PM.

Love

John 13:31-35 (The Message)

31-32 When he had left, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is seen for who he is, and God seen for who he is in him. The moment God is seen in him, God's glory will be on display. In glorifying him, he himself is glorified—glory all around!

33 "Children, I am with you for only a short time longer. You are going to look high and low for me. But just as I told the Jews, I'm telling you: 'Where I go, you are not able to come.'

34-35 "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other."

How do you like the experience of getting ready to leave home for an extended trip?

I'm a list-maker. I have to write down all the things that need to happen, and all the stuff that needs to be packed.

Other folks are instruction-leavers.

Before leaving the kids with grandparents, or even the dog with a house-sitter, there are lots of instructions to be written.

"Fluffy likes to eat at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and needs to be walked at 3."

"The backdoor doesn't like to lock, so you have to pull the knob in, turn halfway, push out and then lock it."

Stuff like that. Codes and passwords, knowledge of daily life that the new person in charge will need to live for a week or two in your shoes.

What did Jesus feel compelled to tell his disciples before his death and resurrection?

What was his list of instructions?

"Love one another...as I have loved you. People will know you're walking in my shoes if you love each other radically...powerfully...completely."

How can that instruction be obeyed? It's not an easy command after all.

We all have it in us to be pretty unlovable.

Jesus shows the way. The cross is a reminder of sacrifice and of placing another's interest radically ahead of our own. It is a sign of releasing life, rather than struggling to grasp it. It is freedom from the ego that keeps us bound in sin, and awakening to a new life of fullness and faith.

The reason for the cross is love. And the result of the cross...is love.

"Love one another," Jesus says. Let's give it a shot.

Prayer: Father God, the words of Jesus ring in our ears, and in our hearts. Love one another. We need you help. Heal our brokenness. Release us from our pride and need for self-defense. Free us for humble obedience and 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 (Good Friday): John 18:1-19, 42

Judas

John 13:21-30 (The Message)

After he said these things, Jesus became visibly upset, and then he told them why.

"One of you is going to betray me."

The disciples looked around at one another, wondering who on earth he was talking about. One of the disciples, the one Jesus loved dearly, was reclining against him, his head on his shoulder.

Peter motioned to him to ask who Jesus might be talking about. So, being the closest, he said, "Master, who?"

Jesus said, "The one to whom I give this crust of bread after I've dipped it." Then he dipped the crust and gave it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot.

As soon as the bread was in his hand, Satan entered him.

"What you must do," said Jesus, "do. Do it and get it over with."

No one around the supper table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas was their treasurer, Jesus was telling him to buy what they needed for the Feast, or that he should give something to the poor.

Judas, with the piece of bread, left. It was night.

There are so many aspects to betrayal.

Most likely, all of us have been betrayed by another person at one time or another. Most likely we've also done our share of betraying.

There is pain when promises, loyalties, trust, is broken.

Jesus became visibly upset.

These words are striking and perhaps disturbing.

It is difficult to picture Jesus being upset. Perhaps only at Lazarus' tomb and at the tables' of the moneychangers do we find other pictures of "upset" Jesus.

The reason?

Loss of relationship.

Judas, sitting close enough at this table to receive the bread from Jesus, and in other Gospels, to "dip into the bowl" with Jesus, was a trusted disciple. He was the keeper of the common purse, and must have been considered trustworthy.

And his story would end in betrayal.

This past Sunday, we shared communion at Shepherd of the Hills. Much like the disciples did so long ago, we gathered at the table with the Master.

Just like those disciples, there were pieces of both faith and betrayal lingering in us all. There are moments when we cry out to Jesus for help, and moments when we turn our backs, and fail to give his life any place in our own.

The path of Holy Week twists further into the darkness. In a real sense, it is our own hands that betray Jesus. We exchange his purpose of love, forgiveness and challenge for that which is socially or financially expedient.

But that's not where our story has to end.

Good Friday is coming, with its pain and bitterness. But so is Easter Sunday. There is hope, and there is light that cannot be extinguished, no matter the darkness.

Prayer: Teach us the hard lessons of Judas, and awaken us to the pride, fear and brokenness in our own hearts that could lead away from you and toward paths of betrayal. Help us to overcome the anger and pain of the past, and move deeper into relationships of grace, goodness, resurrection and new 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: John 13:1-17, 31-35

Seeds

John 12:20-36 (The Message)

There were some Greeks in town who had come up to worship at the Feast. They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee: "Sir, we want to see Jesus. Can you help us?"

Philip went and told Andrew. Andrew and Philip together told Jesus.

Jesus answered, "Time's up. The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

"Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal.

"If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you'll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment's notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.

"Right now I am storm-tossed. And what am I going to say? 'Father, get me out of this'? No, this is why I came in the first place. I'll say, 'Father, put your glory on display.'"

A voice came out of the sky: "I have glorified it, and I'll glorify it again."

The listening crowd said, "Thunder!"

Others said, "An angel spoke to him!"

Jesus said, "The voice didn't come for me but for you. At this moment the world is in crisis. Now Satan, the ruler of this world, will be thrown out. And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me." He put it this way to show how he was going to be put to death.

Voices from the crowd answered, "We heard from God's Law that the Messiah lasts forever. How can it be necessary, as you put it, that the Son of Man 'be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?"

Jesus said, "For a brief time still, the light is among you. Walk by the light you have so darkness doesn't destroy you. If you walk in darkness, you don't know where you're going. As you have the light, believe in the light. Then the light will be within you, and shining through your lives. You'll be children of light."

...Anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal.

As we walk the path of Holy Week, maybe all the lessons point directly to this truth.

Jesus' act of love and giving in the cross is the ultimate example of letting go.

He could have fought, could have resisted. He chose to contain his power and wrath, even as he was misunderstood and mistrusted.

We would be greatly mistaken to somehow equate his "letting go" with any weakness or lack of fortitude.

In fact, just the opposite is true.

Have you ever been misunderstood? Have you ever felt wrongly accused?

It's so hard not to "hang on to life as it is" when those things happen to us. It's so hard to let go, and trust God to bring the redemption that we need and for which we long.

Jesus' example teaches us to let go...to drop our ego...to embrace God's strength, not our own. To become an example to others of wheat, buried in the ground. When it dies, it brings forth life. Real life, that lasts.

It's Tuesday...and we take another step toward Friday...and Easter Sunday.

May Christ be with us today and forever.

Prayer: We listen to Jesus words, "Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over." The teaching is not easy, but we know that it is the narrow way of life. Wherever we need to die to self, and to the world, we pray that you would be at work within us, leading us toward real life in you.

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: John 13:21-32

Son

Mark 15:37-39 (NIV)

With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said,

"Surely this man was the Son of God!"

In a moment, this centurion (a roman soldier) who had been supervising the crucifixion of Jesus, became a believer.

"Who do you say that I am?" is an important question throughout the Gospels.

Here, we see one soldier's answer.

He didn't witness a healing. He didn't hear Jesus' sermons or parables. He didn't follow him around for a few days to see how he lived.

He watched him die.

"...and (seeing) how he died, he said, 'Surely this man was the Son of God!'"

What have we seen of Jesus that inspires belief?

Perhaps as children, we believe because people we love and trust tell us that we ought to. That is good, and it is a wonderful beginning.

One day, though, we have to begin to believe as a way of living out our grown-up lives.

I think that real belief and acceptance of salvation through Jesus comes when we've lived long enough to experience some pain...and known the depth of real joy...standing figuratively at both the foot of the cross and the empty tomb's entrance.

We come to understand that this dying man, filled with love and grace toward his oppressors, "surely must be the Son of God."

There is no other way.

"Belief" means that we accept as true the claims of this unlikely, transcendent yet earthy messiah.

It means that we open a home for him in our hearts, and are transformed in his likeness.

This is the heart of salvation. God's Love...God's Gift...Our Belief...that leads to life.

Prayer: Father God, surely this man is your son. We seek his heart, and an indwelling of your Spirit. May we come to know ourselves as your children, too.

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.

Palm Sunday this weekend at SOTH! Worship with Communion at 9 and 11 AM followed by Easter Egg hunt for kids K-5 and potluck lunch. We'll see you there!

Seen

Hebrews 11:1-3 (NIV)

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

This is the Word of God for the People of God. Thanks be to God.

Who is smarter, us or them?

By us, I mean we people who live today. Modern, technologically advanced, highly educated, rational folks of the 21st century.

By them, I mean "the ancients" referred to in this scripture from Hebrews. They believed the world was pancake-flat. They knew that the Sun revolved around the earth, certainly not vice-versa. They didn't know about germs, physics or DNA.

Not even any cell phones.

And yet we are told that they were "commended" for being sure of what they hoped for and certain of what they did not see.

In that sense, they were certainly "smarter" than us.

We have some big struggles around believing in what we can't see.

We like to dissect, weigh, diagram and reassemble. We strive for understanding. Knowledge is power and power is king.

It's easy to over-romanticize the past. Ancient history certainly had more than its share of abuse, evil and sin.

But perhaps there was a greater propensity toward Belief.

That's something the ancients could teach us.

The head is good...but real spiritual growth and "enlightenment" happens in the heart. When God helps us put them both together, we begin taking steps down the path of life.

We become disciples.

Prayer: God our Father, we pray that you would give us eyes of the heart...that dare to believe in what our physical eyes cannot see.

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.

Believe

John 3:16 (The Message)

This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son.

And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.

How does "Believing" work, anyway?

On the one hand, not too easily.

We've got lots of reasons not to believe in anything anymore, don't we?

Turn on the news, and you'll quickly hear all the reasons that we ought not believe in our leaders, institutions and each other. Scandal, corruption, lies and secrets. Murder and terrible crimes, committed against one another.

It's been said that we now live in a "post-modern" time. That our current, cultural form of thought is suspicion and cynicism. We've lost faith in ourselves, and perhaps most everything else. A lot of folks out there are just about ready to give up.

Excellent.

That's just about the place that God can speak to us most clearly.

Because though it might seem easier not to believe at all on the one hand, exactly the opposite is true.

Not believing may be a way to insulate ourselves from pain...but it's also a wonderful way to take on more burden than we can carry. None of us can make it in this world without belief, and connection to something much greater than ourselves.

In the end, the only real authority is God. Deep down, we know that we cannot make ourselves or the world around us, that we are no accident, and that we have a primal need for connection to our maker.

So...it's time to consider, and then make the jump. Believe.

It's the path...to "whole and lasting life."

Prayer: God our Father, we pray that you would help us today to learn to believe. We take a step of faith, and you open a world of possibility. When all else has failed...you never will.

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.

Strength

Isaiah 40:25-31 (The Message)

"So—who is like me?
Who holds a candle to me?" says The Holy.

Look at the night skies:
Who do you think made all this?

Who marches this army of stars out each night,
counts them off, calls each by name
—so magnificent! so powerful!—
and never overlooks a single one?

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
or, whine, Israel, saying,
"God has lost track of me.
He doesn't care what happens to me"?

Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening?

God doesn't come and go. God lasts.

He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.

He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.

For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.

But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.

They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don't get tired,
they walk and don't lag behind.

So. Isaiah reminds us why we need to remember that "God Gives."

Remembering gives us perspective.

Perspective is the reason that everybody needs to go stand beside the ocean, or a mountain at least once a year.

We're just not as big as we think we are. And that's a good thing.

What I mean is, we are wonderfully, marvelously dependent.

Life is not a "do it yourself" experiment.

"Look at the night skies. Do you think you made all of this?"

Even in this big world, where we are dependent, and in a sense insignificant, God assigns us great significance. We matter to him.

So, "why would you ever...whine, Israel?"

Because we forget, and we need to remember. God gives. God gives the stars, and God gives strength to those who need it. We all need it.

God gives, and God is good.

Prayer: Thank you God for the stars in the sky. We could not ever do what you have done. We are dependent. Help us to remember that you do not forget us. You give, and we receive.

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.

Come worship with us this weekend at SOTH! Sunday services at 9 and 11 AM, and Sunday School at 10:15. We hope to see you there!

Pasture

Psalm 100:1-3 (NIV)

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his ;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

This morning, a quick glance at the news gave me an update on two U.S. wars, increasing gas prices, a bomb in Times Square and various local stories of murder and chaos.

What a way to kick off the day.

It's so easy for us to dwell on what's wrong in our world, community or own lives. And, of course, if that's what we want to dwell on, there will be plenty of material to work with.

What's the alternative? Do we simply place our heads in the clouds and somehow overcome through ignorance and positive thinking?

Not at all.

The Psalmist who wrote Psalm 100 certainly was aware of what's wrong in the world.

The people of Israel had experienced challenge upon challenge. They had lived through oppression and genocide (and would again).

What Psalm 100 says is something different...and it invites us to dare to believe it, too.

In every circumstance, God cares for his flock. That care is a basic part of what God gives. The "Shepherd" of these hills doesn't run when times are hard or uncertain. God will always tend our hearts, and our physical needs as well.

For every terrible story in the news, there are countless stories of giving, love and reconciliation that go unreported.

Let's trust the word of Psalm 1oo and become one of those stories ourselves, today. We can report the good news to one another.

Prayer: Father, today we pray for the peace of sheep in your pasture. In the midst of it all, give us your peace, safety and care.

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.

Beginning

Genesis 1:1-5 (NRSV)

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. ²

³Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
⁴

And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.
⁵

And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

A few weeks ago, I watched one of those "mysteries of the universe" sorts of documentaries on The Discovery Channel, or TLC, or one of those kinds of channels.

The show progressed as various astrophysicists and astronomers were interviewed to explain all kinds of amazing celestial phenomena.

One man began to explain the theory of the "big bang," a super explosion of massively dense, super-heated material that he believed could have been what happened, "in the beginning."

I found myself talking to the tv..."and what caused that....why did that happen?"

As if on cue, he answered. "We have no idea why that happened, or what caused it."

Yes!

Don't get me wrong. I love science. I was never very good at it in school, but I was always intrigued by it. And, I've never been one to get into arguments that pit science vs. theology.

But I was excited at this tv moment, because our scientific friend had the honesty to admit what he did know and couldn't empirically prove.

That question...and its answer...are theological, not scientific.

In the beginning...God gave.

God gave light. God gave the impetus to the creation in which we live, and of which we are a part.

And here's exactly what that means. This day is a gift. Our bodies, our food, the brown winter grass in our yards...all of it.

If we really believe that God was at the beginning, and is the giver of it all, then perhaps we could believe Jesus when he says that the Father knows our needs and will supply them.

Life will be good today, because God has made it.

Prayer: You are the same today, as you were "in the beginning." We know that you are the giver of all good gifts. Today we ask for thankful hearts, humility, and joy in living the life you have given 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: Psalm 100:1-3

Light

James 1:16-18 (Message)

So, my very dear friends, don't get thrown off course.

Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light.

There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle.

He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.

This verse of scripture assigns a wonderful name to God..."the Father of Light."

Have you ever found yourself in the dark, without the possibility of light?

It's a terrible feeling. Years ago, I found myself in the woods, caught away from our main camp. I had about a mile walk down a pitch-black trail.

No flashlight.

Eventually, my eyes adjusted. I found my way, but the experience was not one I'd soon repeat. I will always remember the feeling that I had when the dim light of camp finally began to appear in the distance.

Light equals safety. It equals home and health, and sight. It offers protection and possibility.

The darkness is no place to stay.

James reminds us that God is the Father of Light, the giver of all good gifts.

All of us are a mix of light and darkness. But scripture reminds us that God invites us to live in the light and to let Jesus drive away the shadows of night that cling to us.

Our prayer today is really very simple: "More Light."

Prayer: Father of Light, we seek the light of Christ to be made known in our lives. Whenever we are in darkness, teach us to cling and run to your love and light. May your light shine so brightly that we catch its reflection and share the light with others.

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: Genesis 1:1-5

Gave

John 3:16 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

How are we to understand this giving God?

As our Lenten reflections on John 3:16 continue, this week we move from God's love to God's gift. "...his one and only son..."

Who among us could imagine making that gift? Who would want to be that gift?

And yet the Gospels tell us that this is exactly the choice, and the gift that God makes.

Perhaps radical love always gives birth to radical giving.

As Jesus attempts to explain himself to Nicodemus (and us) in this piece of scripture, we hear him say, "God so loved...that he gave..."

This is the essence and identity of the God of the universe.

Everything flows from him. He is our source...Alpha and Omega...Beginning and End.

Sometimes we fool ourselves into thinking that we can delay "making our peace" with God.

Sometimes we wonder if it's possible really live in relationship with a presence as "other" and "unknowable" as God.

Exactly the opposite is true. There is no other possibility. There is no life for any of us "apart" from this love...this gift.

We are beloved children of the Creator, whether we know it or claim it or not.

The next step is trust. The gift is given.

Prayer: God our Father, we ask you to save us from our unbelief. Increase our faith in your love, and your gift.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: James 1:16-17