13 And the LORD said to me, “I have seen this people, and they are a stiff-necked people indeed! 14 Let me alone, so that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. And I will make you into a nation stronger and more numerous than they.”
15 So I turned and went down from the mountain while it was ablaze with fire.
And the two tablets of the covenant were in my hands. 16 When I looked, I saw that you had sinned against the LORD your God; you had made for yourselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. You had turned aside quickly from the way that the LORD had commanded you.
17 So I took the two tablets and threw them out of my hands, breaking them to pieces before your eyes.
18 Then once again I fell prostrate before the LORD for forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water, because of all the sin you had committed, doing what was evil in the LORD’s sight and so arousing his anger.
I feared the anger and wrath of the LORD, for he was angry enough with you to destroy you. But again the LORD listened to me.
20 And the LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I prayed for Aaron too.
21 Also I took that sinful thing of yours, the calf you had made, and burned it in the fire. Then I crushed it and ground it to powder as fine as dust and threw the dust into a stream that flowed down the mountain.
Truly sit with the images in this scripture, and let them sink in for a bit.
Moses is saving his people from the wrath of a just God.
For 40 days he fasts, face down before God.
Moses, crushing the people's idol. Grinding it to powder, throwing it in the river.
This is an important piece of our relationship with the Father, and one that we could strenghten during our own 40 days of focus.
During this Lenten season, we can choose to stop being so stiff-necked, and we can earnestly turn toward a new direction and path.
When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him.
The son started his speech: 'Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son ever again.'
"But the father wasn't listening. He was calling to the servants, 'Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him.
Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We're going to feast! We're going to have a wonderful time!
My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!'
What's the worst trouble you've ever been in?
That ranges a lot from person to person. Maybe you've seen the wrong side of a jail cell, had a scary visit from the IRS, or found your name at the top of some threatening legal documents.
Or, maybe you've led a gentler life, and things have never quite been that bad.
Still, I bet we can all think of some moments when we had that deep-in-the-gut feeling of sickness and heartache. We all know what it means to know that we have messed up, big time.
What happened next?
Have you ever had the slate wiped clean? Have you ever known the feeling of being truly forgiven?
Or, have you ever loved someone so much, that no matter what they've done or where they've been, you would simply hug and cry and love them if they returned?
Jesus gives us a window to the heart of the Father that helps us remember those feelings.
This is life with God. We can return. We can be loved.
"Don't set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do. Save that authority for God; let him tell you what to do.
No one else should carry the title of 'Father'; you have only one Father, and he's in heaven.
And don't let people maneuver you into taking charge of them. There is only one Life-Leader for you and them—Christ.
'Do you want to stand out? Then step down.
Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you'll get the wind knocked out of you.
But if you're content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty."
We human beings have a way of always looking for someone else to blame. We love "a leader" that we can depend upon, and we want to let them worry about the details.
But Jesus says that won't work when it comes to the living of our lives. There are pastors and coaches and teachers. There are presidents and governors and kings and queens. There are parents and spouses. All of these can play a role in our lives and in our world, but none of them can be responsible for our own actions and our relationship with God.
We only have one leader. And his example is the way that we should go in our own lives.
We should serve. Jesus took a towel and basin and washed the feet of his disciples. This is our leader. The presence of the one God, our true Father.
What would it mean to strip away all of our idols and only follow Jesus today? What would it mean to truly become a servant?
25At that time Jesus said,“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
What's the most "weary" you've ever been?
I don't think weary is a word we say too often. Somehow it connotes more than just being "tired."
"Weary" is something deep down. It's almost more a condition of the soul than the body.
Jesus tells us in this passage, in no uncertain or unclear way, that he and the Father are one. He is the ultimate revelation of the very nature and heart of God among us.
And that nature?
Rest for the weary.
We don't have to go through the beauty of this life angry, frustrated or road-worn. There is rest. He is our God. And all will be well.
God rules. On your toes, everybody! He rules from his angel throne—take notice!
God looms majestic in Zion,
He towers in splendor over all the big names.
Great and terrible your beauty: let everyone praise you!
Holy. Yes, holy.
4-5Strong King, lover of justice,
You laid things out fair and square;
You set down the foundations in Jacob,
Foundation stones of just and right ways.
Honor God, our God; worship his rule!
Holy. Yes, holy.
6-9Moses and Aaron were his priests,
Samuel among those who prayed to him.
They prayed to God and he answered them;
He spoke from the pillar of cloud.
And they did what he said; they kept the law he gave them.
And then God, our God, answered them
(But you were never soft on their sins).
Lift high God, our God; worship at his holy mountain.
Holy. Yes, holy is God our God.
This is the image of God that Jesus will give us in our readings this week.
It seemed important to make a first stop at this powerful Psalm.
God is enthroned. Ruler. "On your toes everybody!" That makes me smile.
We can smile with assurance, in the midst of an unsure world.
As the cable news blares out anxiety and worry, we can trust. As the world whips around us, we can be an island of security...not in ourselves, but in the God of Moses, Aaron and Samuel.
"Lift high our God" this week by paying attention to the work that he is doing.
24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
His voice is life.
Consider. Those who hear his voice, and respond with what is good...will rise from their graves.
This is radical stuff. It is radical hope. Jesus-followers, please don't ever sell this short.
His voice is life. It is victory over the grave. The Son has "life in himself," and he is our hope.
If this is our eternal hope, it's also our hope every day. There are countless opportunities for us to experience new life each moment.
John 5 calls these moments "the works of the Father" accomplished through Jesus. They are the proof of Jesus' identity.
Where have you seen these works in your own life this week?
See you Sunday at SOTH as this week's come together to give us the image of Jesus as the Living Word.
Jesus sent my angel to testify to these things for the churches. I'm the Root and Branch of David, the Bright and Morning Star.
"Come," say the Spirit and the Bride. Whoever hears, echo, "Come!". Is anyone thirsty? Come! All who will, come and drink, drink freely of the Water of Life!
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So the theme of this week's readings just keeps going. God continually offers us abundance if we will choose to receive it!
I've heard that sort of thing said in church my whole life, but I'm so thankful that bit by bit, God is helping me understand and experience it more fully.
Are you thirsty in your soul?
I can promise you that there truly is living water all around.
But the old saying about thirsty horses is true. God leads us but doesn't make us drink.
He allows us to struggle as long as we need to. At some point it is left to us to kneel down, scoop hands, open mouths and receive.
For me, that means gratitude. God is so good. Living water...bread of life. This is God's good gift.
1-6Soon another Feast came around and Jesus was back in Jerusalem.
Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there was a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, with five alcoves. Hundreds of sick people—blind, crippled, paralyzed—were in these alcoves. One man had been an invalid there for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him stretched out by the pool and knew how long he had been there, he said, "Do you want to get well?"
7The sick man said, "Sir, when the water is stirred, I don't have anybody to put me in the pool. By the time I get there, somebody else is already in."
8-9Jesus said, "Get up, take your bedroll, start walking." The man was healed on the spot. He picked up his bedroll and walked off.
9-10That day happened to be the Sabbath. The Jews stopped the healed man and said, "It's the Sabbath. You can't carry your bedroll around. It's against the rules."
11But he told them, "The man who made me well told me to. He said, 'Take your bedroll and start walking.'"
12-13They asked, "Who gave you the order to take it up and start walking?" But the healed man didn't know, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd.
14A little later Jesus found him in the Temple and said, "You look wonderful! You're well! Don't return to a sinning life or something worse might happen." (John 5:1-14, The Message)
What do we do when Jesus says, "Get Up."
Or, maybe, he says it more like...GET UP.
It's a command, not a suggestion.
Most of the time, we like to feign ignorance. We pretend not to know what Jesus is commanding us. That's one reason we don't read more scripture. His words pierce our lives. He tells us what we need to do. He doesn't suggest, sometimes he commands.
Of course, that sick man could still have chosen to lay there. At least, that's what I think. He didn't. He obeyed, and obedience was the key that unlocked a miracle.
What commands could Jesus be giving you as his disciple? How might being obedient lead to greater healing in your own life?
As we explore "The Words" of Jesus together, we find ourselves in the midst of step one. Who does Jesus say he is? This week, our theme is Jesus as the "living word." How can the word be alive in our lives?
We have to learn to hear it. To see it. To experience it, believe it, and then celebrate it. Shout it, Psalm 67 tells us.
If you've been at SOTH the last two Sundays, you know that Holly and I cannot say enough good things about One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. We'll be reading this book together as a congregation during Lent, which begins next Wednesday.
Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You've even seen him!"
Philip said, "Master, show us the Father; then we'll be content."
"You've been with me all this time, Philip, and you still don't understand? To see me is to see the Father. So how can you ask, 'Where is the Father?' Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you aren't mere words. I don't just make them up on my own.
The Father who resides in me crafts each word into a divine act."
As we begin the work of studying the words of Jesus together, this short passage from John 14 seems the right place to start.
Jesus reminds those who question his identity that the words prove the truth. In fact, he says that they are crafted as "divine acts."
Listen to Jesus, hear the heart of God.
It means that this open browser window of scripture is a divine act of the Almighty. It means that the Bible lying on my desk is an act of divine creation. It means that the words I hear read to the people on Sunday morning are somehow completely, yet much more than, merely human.
Do we believe it? Perhaps.
We want to. But we're sometimes so mired in the human frailties of this life that we can't crack that cover and enter into conversation with the divine. He knows. And he doesn't give up.
Point your kids in the right direction— when they're old they won't be lost.
Yesterday I had to drive back to Douglasville from a meeting in Norcross. One of my favorite things about driving any distance is that I get a good stretch of music time, just me and my ipod.
Not everybody likes everything on my ipod. Just ask the youth who had to endure it, at times, on a road trip to Florida this summer.
We all have our tastes.
As I was coming back into Douglas County, I left I-20 and took the more scenic route home (as I am always, and everywhere, prone to do).
Alan Jackson popped up on my ipod. Yes, Alan Jackson.
Here's the deal. I love his songs. They are absolutely cheesy. They are unabashedly straightforward and simple. And, they're deep and full of good old country wisdom.
He's from Newnan. That is awesome. A lot of his childhood reminds me of the best parts of my own. I connect with his stories about his family, especially his grandparents.
I can never pull off a mustache and cowboy hat the way he does. But I can sing his songs when I'm driving.
I listened to him sing about his first childhood experiences driving a boat, and a truck, and how he grew up to become a dad and teach his daughters those same things.
Of course, this makes me now think about my own experiences as a dad.
Last Sunday, SOTH worked together to unload almost a couple thousand pumpkins for our annual Youth Pumpkin Patch.
For me, the best part came at the very end. The men of the church had gotten up in the trailer and formed a chain to hand all the big, heavy pumpkins out and down to the ground level. All along, the little boys and girls had wanted to be with us. The truth was, it was just too dangerous and too difficult to have them up there handling pumpkins that weigh more than they do.
But then, we had a huge box of tiny pumpkins left to go. Weight wasn't a problem anymore, just sheer numbers. Somebody had a great idea: "Let the kids make the chain." And they did, and they were delighted.
This time of year, we're all thinking about how to best use our energy and time, and money as we consider our pledge for ministry next year.
We think about ministries and priorities and celebrations...visions for the future and how God might be calling us to help. Many in our SOTH family will make courageous decisions to give generously because they so deeply believe in what we're doing and the work that we believe God is calling us to, together.
But maybe there's another reason still. Maybe a seed gets planted deep within the heart of our little ones who see us give, as a way of life.
Maybe there's a chance to have conversations about what it means to volunteer, to respond to God's goodness, to dare to give away part of our hard-earned income. Maybe there's even a chance to let them "drive."
I know there's that chance. If we show them the way, God will be faithful, and take care of them always.
Somebody said it to me just the other day: "It's about time to re-up, isn't it?"
He was referring to this time of year...fall...stewardship...our financial pledges to ministry.
Yep, it's about time to "re-up." This year, we're asking everybody to consider what it would mean to "Embrace God's Grace" and take more steps down the path of radical discipleship.
But, believe me, I'm the first to say that churches should be very careful, and very biblical, when it comes to asking people for their financial gifts.
How do you ask for money without being greedy for money?
It's an important question. The answer has to be all about people, all about change, about sharing that changes both the world and the giver of the gift.
This Sunday we'll begin celebrating the ministries that emerged from our springtime listening groups as those that are truly changing lives. Be there this week to hear the stories of our prayer ministry, and to consider the ways that God has embraced you with his grace. What is he calling us to next?
I Timothy 6:6-19 (The Message)
A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough.
But if it's only money these leaders are after, they'll self-destruct in no time.
Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after.
But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this.
Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses.
I'm charging you before the life-giving God and before Christ, who took his stand before Pontius Pilate and didn't give an inch: Keep this command to the letter, and don't slack off.
Our Master, Jesus Christ, is on his way. He'll show up right on time, his arrival guaranteed by the Blessed and Undisputed Ruler, High King, High God. He's the only one death can't touch, his light so bright no one can get close. He's never been seen by human eyes—human eyes can't take him in! Honor to him, and eternal rule! Oh, yes.
Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow.
Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they'll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.
Two weeks ago, SOTH member Barbara Hannah received a call that her husband, Darrell, had been in an accident on I-285. He had witnessed a wreck, pulled his truck over, and got out to help. In the midst of his attempt to be a good Samaritan, Darrell's own truck was hit by another vehicle which pinned him against the divider wall, crushing his legs and pelvis and breaking other bones.
Darrell is still hospitalized, has gone through multiple surgeries. He is still receiving assistance with his breathing, and remains in ICU. Our urgent prayers continue to be with Barbara, and we pray that God will help our church be the real presence of Christ to this family in their time of greatest need.
Jamie Blankenship is Barbara's good friend, and write about how faith still makes sense and is our strength, even when things go so horribly wrong.
When something terrible happens, we often wonder why.And something terrible has happened and we are wondering…
I see drivers tempt death and survive everyday. I know most of you have never met Darrell Hannah, but he is quiet, laid back and so unassuming.He works hard, long days with a long commute.I have never heard him complain. He is loyal, and he would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.
Case in point, he stopped to help strangers along the road…Why this accident, why this day, why these people….yes, a lot of circumstances had to be aligned for this to happen…
How?
I know God can move mountains.He is almighty. I know all things happen to God’s good purpose.
All things.I can still hear Pastor Guito Pierre from the First Haitian Baptist Church say this repeatedly during the prayer vigil at Shepherd of the Hills UMC.He told of the loss and devastation to his country, to his people, to his family – from the earthquake in January. Through his pain, in his pain, He still claimed, ALL THINGS work according to God’s purpose.
That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.Romans 8:28 The Message
What does this mean?What does the future hold? How will the story end?
I don’t know.
Darrell is blessed with a good long term prognosis, but it is hard to imagine that any pain and suffering will turn out good…
I see my friend Tammy and her beautiful family bravely facing the pain of cancer.They know what is coming, they have seen it before. And the long term prognosis is good. But it is still so hard to believe that that any pain or suffering could turn out good…
I know that anytime our hearts are broken, it is an opportunity for God to shape them. I know without some of my own pain and suffering, I wouldn’t be who I am today. And I am a better person than I used to be. I know that many teachers that only invest their time in correcting students that they know they haven’t reached their full potential.Is this extra attention from our teacher a blessing?Is there some potential in us to be discovered through these circumstances?
Is it possible for tragedy to be an opportunity?
I don’t know, but I pray so.
I would like to ask for prayers regarding this.Please pray that God will reveal Himself in the midst of pain in an undeniable way.Ask that He use His Healing touch to mend our broken places and shape us into His ideal of beautiful. Ask that He reassures each of us with the knowledge that He has a plan for us, that it is perfect, and beyond what we can imagine. Ask Him to turn our suffering into miracles.
Yes, pray big with great expectations.
Our God is an awesome God. He can move mountains, parts seas and even change hearts and minds.
For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.Jeremiah 29:11 New Living Translation
Joy serves Christ as the leader of SOTH's Prayer ministry team, and as a sponsor for women who are overcoming addition through Alcoholics Anonymous.
She shares with us her celebration of 8 years of freedom from alcohol and drugs. We love you Joy! Thanks be to God!
I’m eight today.
Yes, eight.
I wanted to write something brilliant and witty and clever enough to tie into this week's lectionary scriptures somehow, but couldn’t seem to find quite the right reading.
My next thought was to find something inspiring from one of my go-to daily spiritual mediation readings but I got nothing specific there either. Gosh, now what? Be still, that’s what. Simply be still.
I can’t hear Him when I am chattering in my head. After about 30 minutes (which is about my type-A limit for quiet mediation) I glanced at the books I had opened earlier this morning and noticed the titles for each of the readings.
From Daily Reflections “A Look Backward;” from The Upper Room “A Thankful Heart" and from The Message Remix “You’re Blessed.”
Now, this is something I can work with…
Look backward to eight years ago yesterday? Only long enough to remember the hopelessness of addiction so that I can share my experiences with someone who still feels that despair.
Thankful heart? You’d better believe it! Through God's Grace, I got to start over. I might never have found Him, developed a spiritual life; served others, made friends, found home, church, family. I might never have lived past 41 to become eight.
You’re Blessed. Here’s the reading from Luke 6:
You’re blessed when you’ve lost it all. God’s Kingdom is there for the finding. You’re blessed when you are ravenously hungry. Then you’re ready for the Messianic meal. You’re blessed when the tears flow freely. Joy comes in the morning.
What I really want to say is not brilliant, or witty, or clever – it’s simple and honest instead:
Thank God that we all get to start over with each morning. Thank you, each and every one of you, for being part of my journey to eight.
If I’ve heard this prayer once, I’ve heard it a thousand times. As a child, I used to roll my eyes when I’d hear some old man recite the words by rote. He usually mumbled quickly along, aware that his audience was focused on the fried chicken, cornbread and sliced tomatoes.
It’s called, “asking the blessing,” or “saying grace,” or best of all, “returning thanks.” Sometimes, in pockets of the deep southern vernacular, the name of this act is shortened even further, as in “Herschel, would you ‘turn thanks, and then we’ll eat.”
Whatever you call it, it goes like this:
“Father, we ask for your blessings on the food set before us, and on the hands that have prepared it. May you bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies, and our bodies to your service.”
That prayer is considered the right and proper way to begin a barbecue, fish fry, homecoming dinner, and any of a number of other church-eating related events throughout the south. Maybe folks pray this prayer in other locales as well, I don’t know.
I just know that the local Patriarch with the deep Georgia drawl has the right voice to make this prayer truly resonate.
As a kid, I knew that when my time came to be one of the praying grown folks, I would say something new, and creative, and from the heart.
Well…a little older and a little wiser now…I think that new and creative definitely has its place, but it’s sure not the only game in town. What a beautiful prayer this truly is, handed down from generation to generation. We don’t have to be the center of attention when we can be part of something larger than ourselves.
This beautiful old prayer reminds us that the summer bounty spread before us on the church buffet is absolutely a free gift from God, and a sign of his love. In fact, everything is a gift. If God chooses to “nourish” our bodies, then we will have the privilege of committing them to his service.
“Vision” should work exactly the same way in a church. At SOTH, our worship, prayer, study of scripture, building of relationships, giving and serving in the community are all gifts from God.
When we respond to God by getting involved we are “returning thanks” to the God who loves us.
On August 15th, we’ll have an important conversation as a church family. The conversation began in May with our listening groups. We’ll share feedback, we’ll pray, we’ll dream about what God might be calling us to next, but most of all we will continue the process of letting God lead us and give us a vision for this community and our world.
Plan to stay for lunch after 11:00 worship that Sunday, and take part in the good things that are happening.
Now, let’s “turn thanks” and eat --- that’s always a great idea.
