Prepared

Luke 22:1-13 (The Message)

1-2 The Feast of Unleavened Bread, also called Passover, drew near.

The high priests and religion scholars were looking for a way to do away with Jesus but, fearful of the people, they were also looking for a way to cover their tracks.

3-6 That's when Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot. He was one of the Twelve.

Leaving the others, he conferred with the high priests and the Temple guards about how he might betray Jesus to them.

They couldn't believe their good luck and agreed to pay him well.

He gave them his word and started looking for a way to betray Jesus, but out of sight of the crowd.

7-8 The Day of Unleavened Bread came, the day the Passover lamb was butchered. Jesus sent Peter and John off, saying, "Go prepare the Passover for us so we can eat it together."

9 They said, "Where do you want us to do this?"

10-12 He said, "Keep your eyes open as you enter the city. A man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him home. Then speak with the owner of the house: The Teacher wants to know, 'Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?' He will show you a spacious second-story room, swept and ready. Prepare the meal there."

13 They left, found everything just as he told them, and prepared the Passover meal.

As we enter this 22nd chapter of Luke together, things will begin moving quickly.

The hour has come. The clock is now ticking. The wheels are in motion.

Everything has been prepared, and the moment that this story's "bad guys" have been looking for has finally presented itself. Judas present himself to them, prepared to sell Jesus for a profit.

Judas is not the only disciple with a role to play. Peter and John have a job to do, too.

Jesus sends them on ahead for a room that they will find prepared. This is the "upper room" of the very first communion, the "last supper."

"Where?" we hear Peter and John ask. It's almost as though they are saying, "show us the way through this terrible week," although they do not yet understand how painful it will be.

Jesus' answer is that everything is prepared. They need only follow his instruction.

So much of life really seems to be this way. So much is prepared and ready. We live in an incredible world, prepared by God especially for our existence and to sustain the gift of life.

We need only to follow his instruction, whatever it is. But following takes humility and trust.

There will be much more darkness in Luke before the glorious light. Jesus' search is for disciples who are prepared to follow.

Prayer: As we enter into the passion story in this Gospel, we pray for your light and preparation. May you guide every step of our spiritual path. Forgive us all of our betrayals, both small and large. Help us to be prepared for what you may unfold in our sight.

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.

Ripe

Luke 21:29-38 (The Message)

29-33 He told them a story.

"Look at a fig tree.

Any tree for that matter.

When the leaves begin to show, one look tells you that summer is right around the corner.

The same here—when you see these things happen, you know God's kingdom is about here. Don't brush this off: I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too—these things will happen.

Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out.

34-36 "But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping.

Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once.

So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man."

37-38 He spent his days in the Temple teaching, but his nights out on the mountain called Olives.

All the people were up at the crack of dawn to come to the Temple and listen to him.

Take just a moment to read that passage again, slowly. Let it really sink in.

It's striking in many ways.

It seems to me that the message Jesus is proclaiming shouldn't draw huge crowds. It's one of self-control, discipline and readiness.

It flies in the face of things that are "fun, quick and easy." Sometimes I tend to think that people don't want to hear these kinds of things.

And yet, "all the people were up at the crack of dawn to come to the Temple and listen to him."

Maybe in Jesus they couldn't help seeing the signs, the first budding of the new, green leaves.

Jesus says that we can see and know when the fig tree's leaves are coming. Their presence tells us that summer is on its way. A huge fig tree stands guard outside the window of my office. This is the fourth fall when I have seen its leaves turn yellow and then brown, then fade away to nothing.

This springs it will bud out once again. The huge, green leaves will come, and then the fruit. In the heat of summer we'll pick figs one more time.

But we're not the only ones who love figs. So do the birds, squirrels and deer. As soon as the figs begin to turn, we pick them. We have to get there first, and to do that, we have to be ready.

We have to watch.

Now, if I'm willing to keep an eye on ripening figs (some things don't change in 2,000 years, do they?), then perhaps I ought to be equally willing to keep watch for the coming of the kingdom.

The holiday season is near, and this year, I want to keep watching. Do Jesus' words sound as though they are describing coming days?

"Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping."

Watch with expectation. Pray. Ask God to make us ready for the ways he may break into our lives.

Prayer: Father, we ask you to make us aware. Help us to be spiritually awake, not asleep at the switch. As we watch for ripening fruit in the summer, show us how our lives and our world turn ripe in your 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.

Help

Luke 21:20-28 (The Message)

20-24 "When you see soldiers camped all around Jerusalem, then you'll know that she is about to be devastated.

If you're living in Judea at the time, run for the hills. If you're in the city, get out quickly.

If you're out in the fields, don't go home to get your coat.

This is Vengeance Day—everything written about it will come to a head.

Pregnant and nursing mothers will have it especially hard. Incredible misery! Torrential rage! People dropping like flies; people dragged off to prisons; Jerusalem under the boot of barbarians until the nations finish what was given them to do.

25-26 "It will seem like all hell has broken loose—sun, moon, stars, earth, sea, in an uproar and everyone all over the world in a panic, the wind knocked out of them by the threat of doom, the powers-that-be quaking.

27-28 "And then—then!—they'll see the Son of Man welcomed in grand style—a glorious welcome! When all this starts to happen, up on your feet.

Stand tall with your heads high.

Help is on the way!"

How does it feel when you're really in danger...when you're really facing a crisis...when you really don't have any idea how things are going to get better...and help finally appears?

It's about the best feeling that there is.

Help in a time of need.

Have you ever really needed help that badly?

The scene that Jesus describes is startling and bleak. It is frightening and painful. Anyone in Jerusalem in the situation he tells us about would be in desperate need of help.

When danger is present on all sides, our instinct can be to run and hide. Even Jesus tells those listening that on that day they should "run for the hills."

But he also tells them something else. That's not the end of the story.

Remember this today, whatever pressures and dangers you face:

When it seems like, "all hell has broken loose," that is the moment to look up.

"Up on your feet, heads held high!"

Jesus promises us that when we need it most...when it seems as though all hope is lost...help is on the way. And it will always be exactly so.

Prayer: Father, we pray that if we are discouraged, you would send us your encouragement. If we have almost given up, remind us to look to the heavens...and to know that you will help us in "grand and glorious style."

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.

Panic

Luke 21:5-19 (The Message)

5-6 One day people were standing around talking about the Temple, remarking how beautiful it was, the splendor of its stonework and memorial gifts.

Jesus said, "All this you're admiring so much—the time is coming when every stone in that building will end up in a heap of rubble."

7 They asked him, "Teacher, when is this going to happen? What clue will we get that it's about to take place?"

8-9 He said, "Watch out for the doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities claiming, 'I'm the One,' or, 'The end is near.'

Don't fall for any of that.

When you hear of wars and uprisings, keep your head and don't panic.

This is routine history and no sign of the end."

10-11 He went on, "Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Huge earthquakes will occur in various places. There will be famines.

You'll think at times that the very sky is falling.

12-15 "But before any of this happens, they'll arrest you, hunt you down, and drag you to court and jail. It will go from bad to worse, dog-eat-dog, everyone at your throat because you carry my name.

You'll end up on the witness stand, called to testify. Make up your mind right now not to worry about it. I'll give you the words and wisdom that will reduce all your accusers to stammers and stutters.

16-19 "You'll even be turned in by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends.

Some of you will be killed.

There's no telling who will hate you because of me.

Even so, every detail of your body and soul—even the hairs of your head!—is in my care; nothing of you will be lost. Staying with it—that's what is required.

Stay with it to the end.

You won't be sorry; you'll be saved.

This section of Luke begins Jesus' speech known as the "little apocalypse."

But any talk about the end of the world doesn't seem too "little," does it?

Somehow, these kinds of scriptures often make us afraid. We fear the change that scripture predicts will some day come. We know, intellectually, that the "things of this earth are passing away," but right now they sure do seem like the most stable, unchanging things in our lives.

Jesus' prediction about the destruction of the temple would happened just about 40 years later.

History is marked by terrible occurrences, by genocide and chaos. Our own lives have been witness to 9/11, war and turmoil.

Is it time for "the end?" Is it time to panic?

Not according to Jesus.

The irony of this scripture is that it is intended to calm, not upset. Jesus is reminding us that his followers have no reason to panic...not even in the face of death.

He gives us assurance that no matter what...he will give us the right words...the stamina...the courage that we need.

It is here that we learn that God cares for "ever detail of our bodies and soul, even the hair on our head!" "Nothing," Jesus says, "nothing of you will be lost."

Recently, several good friends asked me to show them how scripture should help us not to be afraid. Why shouldn't Christians panic if they think the world is turning away from God?

Because in this scripture, Jesus tells us plainly not to fear. We walk in his strength, and that strength cannot be overcome.

Prayer: God our Father, may we walk in your strength today. May perfect love cast out fear in our lives, communities and 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.

Extravagant

Luke 21:1-4 1-4

Just then he looked up and saw the rich people dropping offerings in the collection plate.

Then he saw a poor widow put in two pennies.

He said, "The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. All these others made offerings that they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford—she gave her all!"

Jesus knew a teaching moment when he saw one.

And, he has an interesting definition of "largest."

Even though the widow in this story gave "two pennies," one of the smallest amounts of the day, Jesus said she had given the most.

He has a different kind of math, and he's trying to teach the rest of us his ways.

You see, she gave the most because she, "gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford...she gave her all."

2008 has been one of of the worst economic years in the U.S. and around the world that we've seen in recent memory.

Many businesses are suffering...and churches are no exception. When I attend clergy meetings, I often hear a common theme: "we are so far behind budget...we don't know what we will do."

The people are struggling...we feel like there is scarcity, and certainly not abundance.

What can we do?

Well...it's pretty simple.

We can trust. No matter what the news says, we can choose not to live in fear.

Jesus is telling us that there really aren't any excuses. I mean none.

We don't have too little. Our offering isn't so small that it doesn't count. We don't have to take care of ourselves when God wants to take care of us. We can always, always choose to give.

And it's not the amount that God gives. It's the relative amount of trust it takes in the giving.

"She gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford...she gave her all!"

And it was the largest offering of the day. There is no budget problem that trust can't overcome.

Prayer: Father, we pray for the operating budget at Shepherd of the Hills, and at all of your churches in our community, nation and world. Help us to close the gap in our operating deficit so that we don't take on debt in the name of ministry. We pray that the vision of our CCC Team to give 100 turkeys to those in need this Thanksgiving will be fulfilled. Teach us to be giving people of 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.

Preen

Luke 20:27-47 (The Message)

27-33 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."

34-38 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."

39-40 Some of the religion scholars said, "Teacher, that's a great answer!" For a while, anyway, no one dared put questions to him.

41-44 Then he put a question to them: "How is it that they say that the Messiah is David's son? In the Book of Psalms, David clearly says,

God said to my Master,
"Sit here at my right hand
until I put your enemies under your feet."

"David here designates the Messiah as 'my Master'—so how can the Messiah also be his 'son'?"

45-47 With everybody listening, Jesus spoke to his disciples.

"Watch out for the religion scholars. They love to walk around in academic gowns, preen in the radiance of public flattery, bask in prominent positions, sit at the head table at every church function.

And all the time they are exploiting the weak and helpless.

The longer their prayers, the worse they get. But they'll pay for it in the end."

Jesus is so patient with the people around him.

He listens to their questions...even when those very questions show how little understanding they really have.

Their question about marriage is of the "how many angels can dance on the head of a pin," sort.

Interesting...but ultimately irrelevant.

The resurrection is not a place concerned with hypothetical ethics. Jesus says there will be "better things."

Jesus is not a nose-in-the-air, or even a head-in-the-clouds sort of leader. His teachings are real, powerful and present.

Why does he ask about the messiah's role as "Son of David?" To illustrate that he is a servant in this human world.

Jesus doesn't wear an academic gown or seek anyone's praise. He doesn't play games of imaginary theology. He isn't interested in the illusions of power and privilege that our world can provide.

He is a servant. He is soon to be the "suffering servant."

What lessons in leadership. The "strong" are those who help the weak. The "powerful" don't vie for the seat of honor. The way of the cross is not found among the preening power players.

It is gift of God's spirit...intense humility...powerful obedience...servant leadership.

Prayer: Show us the way of the cross. Lead us into humble paths. Give us your peace and power.

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.

Caesar

Luke 20:20-26 (The Message)

20-22 Watching for a chance to get him, they sent spies who posed as honest inquirers, hoping to trick him into saying something that would get him in trouble with the law.

So they asked him, "Teacher, we know that you're honest and straightforward when you teach, that you don't pander to anyone but teach the way of God accurately.

Tell us: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

23-24 He knew they were laying for him and said, "Show me a coin. Now, this engraving, who does it look like and what does it say?"

25 "Caesar," they said.

Jesus said, "Then give Caesar what is his and give God what is his."

26 Try as they might, they couldn't trap him into saying anything incriminating.

His answer caught them off guard and left them speechless.

They're still trying to get him.

They're not going to quit until he's trapped. They're determined to turn the crowds against him.

They're waiting for a mistake...for a moment when he slips...any opportunity to do away with this man Jesus.

"Let's make him talk about money," I can almost hear them thinking.

"Yeah, ask him about taxes. Everybody hates taxes. And the people resent Caesar. If he says 'don't pay,' the people will love him but Caesar won't. If says 'pay,' the people will see him as a false prophet. It's perfect, there's no way out!"

This is the ultimate game of life-and-death "gotcha."

What could Jesus say?

Well...he could challenge the very premise of the question. That's what He seems to do so often, and it's very important that we listen.

"Look at this coin. Who's picture is this? What is the name inscribed here? I'd say it belongs to him. If he wants it...give it to him...he thinks it's his."

The crowd must have murmured...maybe some angry voices got raised, unhappy with what he'd said about paying taxes.

"But give God what belongs to him, too."

They were speechless. They didn't trap him. He trapped them. Again.

But remember this: Jesus' traps are not really traps. They're invitations to a new way of life. They will make us think. They will make us pray. They can change who we are.

He will leave us speechless, and that's a good thing.

Prayer: Father God, we pray for speechless moments today. We pray that you would show us the things that belong to you, and help us give you those with no reservations. We offer our hearts, leaving the things of the world for those who want them...teach us to want relationship with you and with our fellow human beings.

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.

Cornerstone

Luke 20:9-19 (The Message)

9-12 Jesus told another story to the people:

"A man planted a vineyard. He handed it over to farmhands and went off on a trip.

He was gone a long time. In time he sent a servant back to the farmhands to collect the profits, but they beat him up and sent him off empty-handed.

He decided to try again and sent another servant. That one they beat black-and-blue, and sent him off empty-handed.

He tried a third time. They worked that servant over from head to foot and dumped him in the street.

13 "Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'I know what I'll do: I'll send my beloved son. They're bound to respect my son.'

14-15 "But when the farmhands saw him coming, they quickly put their heads together.

'This is our chance—this is the heir! Let's kill him and have it all to ourselves.' They killed him and threw him over the fence.

15-16 "What do you think the owner of the vineyard will do? Right. He'll come and clean house. Then he'll assign the care of the vineyard to others."

Those who were listening said, "Oh, no! He'd never do that!"

17-18 But Jesus didn't back down. "Why, then, do you think this was written:

That stone the masons threw out—
It's now the cornerstone!?

"Anyone falling over that stone will break every bone in his body; if the stone falls on anyone, it will be a total smashup."

19 The religion scholars and high priests wanted to lynch him on the spot, but they were intimidated by public opinion. They knew the story was about them.

Who is weak and who is strong in this story?

At first glance, the servants sent by the master look pretty weak. They get beaten black and blue. They not successful in obtaining the money that they're supposed to collect.

Then son, then, must be the weakest of them all. He doesn't just get beaten up. He gets killed and dumped like trash, over the fence.

These farmhands the Master left in control are some big, mean, strong guys. They're not to be messed with or taken lightly.

At least, that's the way it looks at first.

God has a special place in his heart for the "weak." In fact, the Bible teaches us that it's only in our weakness that God's strength can really be seen.

God does not seem to appreciate the proud, the "puffed up," the intimidators...the violent...the "strong."

The real truth is this: "weakness" can be harder than stone.

This is a parable for anyone who's ever been rejected, or hurt, or beaten. This is a story for the underdogs. This is a message of hope for the hopeless and justice for those who have suffered.

This is a story of the messiah...the cornerstone.

Jesus stood in the midst of the religion scholars, and all the people...hard as rock...tough as iron...unbreakable.

But the farmhands weren't finished yet. They would push this man to the limits. They would break him...so they thought. They "knew the story was about them," and they would wait for the opportune time.

Prayer: Teach us the lessons of the suffering servant. Help us, Father, to remember that we don't have to be puffed up before you. We can admit our weakness. We can sustain the punches of the world around us...because your strength will always shine through.

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.

Credentials

Luke 20:1-8 (The Message)

1-2 One day he was teaching the people in the Temple, proclaiming the Message.

The high priests, religion scholars, and leaders confronted him and demanded, "Show us your credentials. Who authorized you to speak and act like this?"

3-4 Jesus answered, "First, let me ask you a question: About the baptism of John—who authorized it, heaven or humans?"

5-7 They were on the spot, and knew it.

They pulled back into a huddle and whispered, "If we say 'heaven,' he'll ask us why we didn't believe him; if we say 'humans,' the people will tear us limb from limb, convinced as they are that John was God's prophet."

They agreed to concede that round to Jesus and said they didn't know.

8 Jesus said, "Then neither will I answer your question."

Have you ever tried to "trap" God?

Probably. Truthfully, I think almost all of us have...in fact, we probably do it pretty often.

We ask God why things aren't the way that we think they should be. We go passive aggressive..."if you really loved me, then..."

Maybe sometimes, especially when we encounter a scripture that pushes us...a sermon that makes us uncomfortable...a person or a situation that defies easy explanation...we find ourselves trying to set a "trap" for the almighty.

Even as I write those words, the foolishness of the idea is striking. But, foolishness has never stopped us. Sometimes we humans just have a penchant for the foolish.

What about the religious leaders in this scripture? They've been trying to trap Jesus for several chapters, but this time they just outright confront him.

"Show us your credentials!"

I guess they wanted Jesus to produce a certificate that had been stamped by the proper authorities.

He had something better than a card. Asking them a simple and legitimate question, the trappers found themselves trapped.

That's what happens when we fight with the divine...when we confront the all-knowing...we we try to trap the untrappable...we we question the credentials of the ultimate authority.

We're left speechless.

So, maybe some quiet time would do us all good every now and then.

Prayer: We ask for the gift of quiet today. Help us to be still. To sit in the presence of your authority.

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.

Late

Luke 19:41-48 (The Message)

41-44 When the city came into view, he wept over it.

"If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you!

But now it's too late.

In the days ahead your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side. They'll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact.

All this because you didn't recognize and welcome God's personal visit."

45-46 Going into the Temple he began to throw out everyone who had set up shop, selling everything and anything.

He said, "It's written in Scripture,

My house is a house of prayer;
You have turned it into a religious bazaar."

47-48 From then on he taught each day in the Temple.

The high priests, religion scholars, and the leaders of the people were trying their best to find a way to get rid of him.

But with the people hanging on every word he spoke, they couldn't come up with anything.

In my thinking this passage represents some of the most heart-breaking words that Jesus ever says in the Gospels.

But even though they're heart-breaking, he still says them.

"It's too late."

That's not something I ever want to hear him say.

"Too late" is a truly crushing situation.

Did you ever turn in an assignment after the deadline, hoping that the professor could somehow extend you some grace, and maybe just take a little off the grade?

Did you ever hear that teacher say, "no, it's too late...I can't accept that assignment now."

Or did you ever need someone, or something...only to have it arrive after the moment had passed?

"Too late." If it's really "too late," there's nothing you can do to change it. It hurts.

We really, really like to live with the idea that it will never be too late.

We tend to always put off until tomorrow. And then the tomorrow after that.

But here in this scripture we hear Jesus saying that it's too late for Jerusalem. He predicts the complete destruction of the temple (which happened only a few decades after his crucifixion).

The moment was passing. Why?

"All this because you didn't recognize and welcome God's personal visit."

What about us? Is it possible that even though God may give us many, many days, one day it could be too late?

We can do something right now. We can welcome God's personal visit. Let's do it...while it's today...right now...

Prayer: Father, we pray that we might learn the lesson of Jesus in Jerusalem. May we open our hearts completely...right now...and may the terrible possibility of too late give us the urgency that grow our hearts toward 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.

Praise

Luke 19:28-40 (The Message)

28-31 After saying these things, Jesus headed straight up to Jerusalem.

When he got near Bethphage and Bethany at the mountain called Olives, he sent off two of the disciples with instructions:

"Go to the village across from you. As soon as you enter, you'll find a colt tethered, one that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says anything, asks, 'What are you doing?' say, 'His Master needs him.'"

32-33 The two left and found it just as he said. As they were untying the colt, its owners said, "What are you doing untying the colt?"

34 They said, "His Master needs him."

35-36They brought the colt to Jesus. Then, throwing their coats on its back, they helped Jesus get on. As he rode, the people gave him a grand welcome, throwing their coats on the street.

37-38 Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed:

Blessed is he who comes,
the king in God's name!
All's well in heaven!
Glory in the high places!

39 Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, "Teacher, get your disciples under control!"

40 But he said, "If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise."

Yesterday was a day of incredible significance in the history of our country.

My grandfathers grew up in a society where segregation was never even questioned. It was simply the way of life that everyone knew, and everyone knew their place. Everyone believed that nothing about that way of life could really ever change.

A black President was simply unimaginable. At that time, it even seemed that no one from the South could ever be elected, and no one could even think of the possibility of a person of color coming to the office.

My Father's generation witnessed change, but it wasn't easy.

He has memories of "white" bathrooms and water fountains. His grandmother once slapped him back when he almost drank from the "wrong" one.

He lived through the integration of schools and came of age during the turbulence of the 60's and early 70's.

My first teachers in elementary school were black women. My classrooms were evenly divided between white and black. My teammates were of all colors. But my churches were not.

As a child of the 80's coming of age in the early 90's, much racial progress had been made, but some things still seemed impossible. There were taboos that were not to be crossed.

Last week, I ate lunch with my 3rd grader, in his elementary school cafeteria. I saw a sea of black and white children eating together, completely enmeshed together at their tables. I didn't see pockets of color where like ate or talked with like. I heard laughter. I saw smiles.

There were no obvious social or economic differences. My son just happens to be pale with freckles and many of his friends happen to have darker skin.

I couldn't help hearing the voice of Dr. King somewhere deep in the back of my mind.

As we sat in the "red hills of Georgia," it struck me deeply that I was watching, "the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners...able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood."

When my sons first saw Obama on television, I asked them...what do you think about him? They said, "he's tall, and he seems really smart."

That's what they noticed. Tall, not black.

Last summer, after an afternoon at the pool, our then four year old asked why different people have different color skin. We explained that God makes us that way, that people have different color eyes, hair, skin. We asked him what color he was.

He looked at his arm...

"Pink," he said. There's a lot we can learn from children.

We've definitely come a long way in four generations.

What does all of this have to do with today's scripture from Luke? I'm glad you asked.

Last night, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Grant Park to celebrate and hail the new President-elect.

I don't think I've ever witnessed anything quite like that in my lifetime. People, as far as the eye could see, wildly celebrating a newly elected leader.

As we read this passage of scripture, it's hard not to draw comparisons. Jesus entered Jerusalem to throngs of shouting people...waving palm fronds...heralding him as a King.

In Jesus' time, not everyone celebrated his arrival. Certainly, the same was true last night. Wonderful, Chrisitan people voted for both candidates. Both candidates couldn't win. One had to lose.

Throughout the campaign, some have derisively referred to Obama as "messiah." There's no doubt, he has created a kind of "messianic" excitement in some of his supporters.

But it's important to remember, no matter who you supported for president, that no human being can be the messiah.

No matter who we voted for last night...all Christians have one and the same King.

No matter who we voted for...we can celebrate the significance of the moment, and acknowledge the positive changes that have come through the blood of previous generations.

No matter who we voted for...we can remember that we are all redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

And whether we were celebrating with the masses last night or not, we should all be committed to praising Jesus each and every day. If we didn't, "the stones would do it for us."

God is always, always good, and His steadfast love endures forever, for us all.

Prayer: God our Father, we lift to you today our current President George W. Bush. We pray that you would give him the gifts of wisdom and leadership in his remaining days in office.

We pray for John McCain and all who have given their time, energy and votes in support of his candidacy.

We pray for Barack Obama. May you bless him and his family and may your Holy Spirit rest upon him. May you make him equal to the tasks ahead, and may you help us all to be united as one country, and united in faith as followers of Jesus 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.