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Luke 15:1-3; 11-32 The Message

By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently.

The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, "He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends."

Their grumbling triggered this story...

...Then he said, "There was once a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, 'Father, I want right now what's coming to me.'

"So the father divided the property between them. It wasn't long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country.

There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had...

...He said, 'All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death.

I'm going back to my father.

I'll say to him, Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.'

He got right up and went home to his father.

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!'

And they began to have a wonderful time.

Homecoming is a wonderful thing.

I don't know what that word means for you, but for me, it's laden with power and feeling.

"Homecoming" is a tradition in many churches, especially the small, rural, Southern variety.

Once a year, in the churches of my youth, a "homcoming" celebration was held. The idea was that folks who had moved away from their families and the small towns would come back to worship together on a Sunday morning.

Special music, special preaching, a special offering (of course, I mean what congregation's going to miss that chance with a full house, right?), and most importantly...the special lunch.

Homecoming involves food. All across the south, if you can find a good homecoming at a small church in June or July, you will experience masters of a dying art.

Down home, grandma-style cooking.

Homegrown blackeyed peas (the vegetable, not the hip-hop group), homegrown tomatoes, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, fried okra, yeast rolls, cornbread, corn on the cob (homegrown), and if you don't like your corn that way, there will also be creamed corn, cut off the cob and cooked slow with tons of butter, salt and sugar.

Folks, that's what homecoming's all about.

Food. And what the food says. It says, "celebration," and "this will always be your home."

We're going to feast!

We're going to have a wonderful time!

Well...all except Older Brother. But, we'll deal with him on Sunday.

See you there. And know that God is ready to run down the road and meet you, anytime. A homecoming feast awaits.

Grace & Peace,

Adam

Today...just a song about celebration. If you don't know about Robert Randolph and the Family Band, I'm sorry. You need to. Read this, and it'll help you out. He's a "sacred steel" player from the "House of God Church," and he's made the cross into blues/rock, and he's just about as good as it gets.

This song is "Homecoming," and it says, "Mama gonna fix me a plate, everybody gonna get 'em a taste. Come on and celebrate, I can't hardly wait."

If you can't groove to this folks, there's not much I can do for you.

Laughing

Psalm 126 (Message)

It seemed like a dream, too good to be true, when God returned Zion's exiles.

We laughed, we sang, we couldn't believe our good fortune.

We were the talk of the nations— "God was wonderful to them!"

God was wonderful to us; we are one happy people.

And now, God, do it again— bring rains to our drought-stricken lives, so those who planted their crops in despair will shout hurrahs at the harvest,

So those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.

The psalms are absolutely wonderful for the huge range of emotion that they display. The psalms show the whole spectrum of feelings that we human beings experience.

There's a lot of weeping and sadness. In fact, "sadness" isn't strong enough to describe some of the emotions at work in the psalms.

At times in there are feelings that approach something more like total desolation and darkness.

The "Babylonian Exile" was one of those deep-dark moments for God's people.

Because of their disobedience, they lost the land that God had given them. The temple was destroyed, the people were scattered, and the dream was quickly dying.

Psalm 126 is the story of their return. It's the story of laughter. What a great and beautiful laughter it is!

Joyous, spontaneous, uncontrollable laughter. That is one of God's great gifts to us.

It's the promise of this psalm for those who have gone away with heavy hearts.

One day, truly, you will "come home laughing, with armloads of blessing."

By faith, it could even be today.

Grace & Peace,

Adam

Servant

March 28th is Palm Sunday. As we approach this Sunday's worship, we'll read the lectionary texts that relate to the Passion of the Christ, as well as the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.

M: Isaiah 50:4-9
T: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
W: Philippians 2:5-11
Th: Luke 19:28-36
F: Luke 19:37-40


Isaiah 50:4-9 (NIV)

4 The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.

5 The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears,
and I have not been rebellious;
I have not drawn back.

6 I offered my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from mocking and spitting.

7 Because the Sovereign LORD helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
and I know I will not be put to shame.

8 He who vindicates me is near.
Who then will bring charges against me?
Let us face each other!
Who is my accuser?
Let him confront me!

9 It is the Sovereign LORD who helps me.
Who is he that will condemn me?
They will all wear out like a garment;
the moths will eat them up.

Isaiah 50 gave the people of God one of their best pictures of what the Messiah would really look like.

He would be, "the suffering servant."

He would be beaten, mocked, spat upon...but not disgraced.

How is that possible? It doesn't make sense to us human beings that someone could suffer at the shaming hands of others but not "be disgraced."

Isn't it automatically disgraceful if someone pulls out your beard and spits in your face?

What if they nail you to a cross and leave you to die?

And yet, this is the disgrace-proof Jesus. He is God among us, Emmanuel.

We've come a long way in a short time. The Christmas decorations are in their boxes, but it wasn't long ago at all that we lit the Christ candle and sang "Silent Night."

Now, God among us is about to be rejected by the humanity he came to save.

But he is not abandoned.

The great good news is that through him, neither are we. Never.

Christians throughout the centuries have learned this lesson. Martin Luther King, Jr. changed our country by leading with non-violence.

Abused, but not disgraced. That is real strength, and it's what's on offer to everyone who will pick up their own cross and follow this suffering servant.

Resurrection waits on the other side.

Grace & Peace,
Adam

Rejected

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 (NIV)

¹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

² Let Israel say:
"His love endures forever."

²² The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;

²³ the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.

²⁴ This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

²⁸ You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.

²⁹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

Over the years, Holly and I have developed an affinity for things that have been rejected and "used up."

We've never owned a dog that didn't come from the humane society, or that had been handed from owner to owner.

We've never (and probably never will) owned a new car. If my car were a child, it would be getting ready to go to prom. It runs great and I'm glad to have it.

The lion's share of our clothing (both us and the kids) has come from consignment, second-hand or thrift shops.

Our house has mostly been furnished with parts and pieces picked up here and there second-hand, or at a steep discount.

It's not just that this makes sense economically (which it does.) It's not just that we live in a place of such abundance that our society's cast offs are better than what many people could ever have (which they are).

I think it could be something deeper. It's fun to be surrounded by things that have a story. It's a great thing to see what some spit and polish can do to an item that had been cast upon the junk heap.

We've found the old saying true, that "they don't make 'em like they used to," and an old thing made well is often better than new that's made to throw away.

I tell you this because the culture that surrounds us doesn't really believe in reclamation projects.

As a culture, we tend to like our stuff new and shiny. We like first-run, high quality, status-giving items.

Problem: that's just not who Jesus is.

As Christians, Psalm 118 is a prophecy of the Messiah was was to come. We know this passage as a description of Jesus, a stone who was rejected by the builders.

Let's be clear: the Messiah of Psalm 118 is rejected. Rejected.

But, God has other plans.

That rejected stone would become the "capstone," or cornerstone. He would be the foundation upon which all things are built.

What could that mean for us?

Have you ever felt rejected? Have you ever felt like a re-tread, thrift store project that nobody would want?

Jesus is the Messiah who says, "the last shall be first."

When it comes to our souls, a little reclamation work is a very excellent thing. God is never ready to junk us.

Grace & Peace,

Adam

THEO-logy - The AIO Offering

Im actually breaking TA's sermon into two pieces this week, the first of which (this one for those of you keeping up at home) I am titling "The AIO Offering." AIO is an acronym of sorts truncating and combining the words "all in one." Usually AIO is tacked onto the name or type of printer and most often refers to printers that scan, copy, and print. TA found another use for the anachronism, though, and he didnt even know it!

In this sermon he spends a considerable amount of time talking about dedication; moving from the dedication of the Temple to our dedications to Christ, Himself. During his explication of the dedication of the Temple upon its rebuilding in Ezra chapter 3 and the sacrifices presented to God in Ezra 6, he breaks down the three types of offerings and their significance:

• The Burnt Offering - Offerings given to God in complete consecration.

• The Peace Offering - Offerings showing hearts given over to God in gratitude and humility.

• The Sin Offering - Offerings recognizing God as the forgiver of sins.

TA goes on to say that the keynote of Christian joy is the sacrifice at Cavalry that united all together in worship.

As Good Friday draws near, let us reflect on the three-fold, AIO offering of Christ on the cross. He gave of Himself in complete consecration, humility, and as atonement for our sins.

He was the perfect offering. His death put an end to the need to sacrifice animals periodically for repentance and cleansing. His death was sufficient, and yet infinitely more than sufficient, to redeem us all, for He did not just wipe away our sins for a time; He conquered death and forgave them once and for all.

Try to wrap your head around that as Good Friday approaches: That one man's dedication to God rescued for eternity generations of nations of men that have passed and have yet to come.

Humble

Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV)

⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

⁶Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
⁷but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.

⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

⁹Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

He, "made himself nothing."

He, "humbled himself."

He, "became obedient."

He, "took the very nature of a servant (slave)."

Our, "attitude should be the same" as his.

What stops me from living Philippians 2?

The list is long. But really, it's pretty short. It's me.

For Jesus, humility, obedience and enslavement resulted in glory.

For us, learning to be like him would hold treasures in this life, and in the life to come.

Dear God, may it truly come to pass for each of us.

Teach us to be empty. Teach us to serve. Teach us to be like him.

Grace & Peace,

Adam

Go

Luke 19:28-36 NIV

²⁸After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

²⁹As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ³⁰"Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden.

Untie it and bring it here.

³¹If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.' "

³²Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. ³³As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"

³⁴They replied, "The Lord needs it."

³⁵They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.

³⁶As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.

This first part of the Palm Sunday story has always seemed so strange to me.

Why include these details?

I don't mean that he rode in on a donkey...we know that was part of prophecy and fulfills what had been said about the messiah.

Why the specific instructions?

Why the story of where they should go and what they should say? Why the questions from the colt's owners (well, that makes sense actually), and the phrase, "The Lord needs it?"

I've wondered before...if we need anything that we don't have for a ministry...how would it work to go into a store, take what we need, walk out and answer anyone who questions us with, "The Lord needs it."

I think we'd get some free room and board at the Douglas County jail.

So, what could we learn and apply from this strange little story?

Maybe we just learn to "Go" when sent.

Maybe there's a huge value in simple obedience. If Jesus had given me those odd instructions, I feel sure that I'd have said, "yeah...but..."

Today, let's really try to sense and receive God's instructions. Then simply act.

Don't steal a donkey. But if you are deeply urged to act in a way that is loving and full of grace, there's every chance that sense is from God. Let's just go, and do it, and see what God provides.

Grace and Peace,

Adam

Raised

This Week's Readings:

Acts 10:34-43

Psalm 118:14-24

I Corinthians 15:19-26

John 20:1-18

Acts 10:34-43 (NIV)

³⁴Then Peter began to speak:

"I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.

³⁶You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

³⁷You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— ³⁸how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

³⁹"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.

They killed him by hanging him on a tree, ⁴⁰but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.

⁴¹He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

⁴²He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.

⁴³All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Resurrection makes all the difference.

Without it, Peter doesn't really have a sermon. Without it, what he has is the sad story of a very good man who died tragically.

Without resurrection, Jesus is a well-intended fool who got himself killed for nothing.

But it's a lot to swallow, isn't it?

We want to believe, but logic just tells us it can't be so. People who die, just stay dead.

But what if we don't? What if Peter saw exactly what he says he saw?

Yes, you'll have to decide to believe that by faith. And that makes all the difference, too.

Peter says it plainly, "I ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead." You can read John 21 to see exactly what he's talking about.

He doesn't plan to miss any opportunities to feed the sheep.

Resurrection changes everything, and it's what we're going to think about this week.

Life. God really, really seems to like the idea.

Grace & Peace,

Adam

PS: This week, I'll be posting one of the songs that we're going to sing in worship this Easter Sunday. Watch and get excited about our worship this week!

Rescue

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 (The Message)

The hand of God has turned the tide!"

I didn't die. I lived!

And now I'm telling the world what God did.

God tested me, he pushed me hard,
but he didn't hand me over to Death.

Swing wide the city gates—the righteous gates!
I'll walk right through and thank God!

Have you ever found yourself in a tight situation that you didn't think you could escape?

Many of us have never been in physical danger, at least not that we knew about.

But I can think of some pretty hair-raising experiences that I've had on the Atlanta freeway system. And I certainly can remember some really dumb things that I've done, miraculously escaping without getting what I probably deserved.

Maybe, if we try, we can remember what it feels like to really be "rescued." To be saved. To have a higher power come to our aid and make all the difference.

I know. We can seemingly point to situation after situation where nobody saved the day.

But the very fact that you're reading this, and that I'm writing it, speaks to a greater truth.

God has saved us. God is saving us. We are rescued, once and for all, and that is enough.

Faith in the resurrection story of Jesus means that we are miraculously and completely saved from the power of Death.

Yes, we will still experience an end of this physical life. But death will not hold us.

One day we will rise and walk through those gates to give thanks to God.

And we can choose to walk through the gate of this day, right now, and be thankful for whatever comes.

It's all a miracle.

Grace & Peace,

Adam

First

I Corinthians 15:19-26

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

²⁰But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

²¹For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ²²For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

²³But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

²⁴Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. ²⁵For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

²⁶The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

How exciting is the "first fruit?"

Well, that kind of depends whether you enjoy "growing your own."

For many of us today, "first fruit" means that something new showed up in the produce department at our grocery store. Everything is available year round, so we have lost track of the seasons, and we have no idea what kinds of fruits or vegetables are actually in season in our local community at any given time.

But...if you watch a seed unfurl into a tiny plant. If you see that plant turn sunshine, soil and rain into mature growth. If you look for the first yellow bloom on your tomatoes plants. If you see that tiny, green, embryonic eggplant or zucchini, or squash...and then watch it ripen on the vine into maturity...

Well, that's something to be celebrated.

The first homegrown tomato of summer. It deserves pause and celebration. It should be eaten with a degree of reverent appreciation.

The first fruit of all that is to come. It is a reminder of life, of God's goodness, and of a very important promise.

There is a plan for us. That plan is eternal life. It is resurrection.

Jesus is the first ripe fruit to be produced on that vine of God's goodness.

And Easter declares that much more is to come.

Grace & Peace,

Adam

Another of our Easter worship songs coming up this Sunday at SOTH: this will be a new one for our congregation but our youth love this one and it's been a great song for them. Give it a listen and come ready to sing this Sunday! Plus, I love the kid drawings that were put together to animate this one.

Good

It's Good Friday. This day is all about remembering and experiencing the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. That's exactly what we'll do, in a very powerful way, tonight in our worship at SOTH: 7PM in the Sanctuary.

But, today's reading looks ahead to Sunday. Remember that the crucifixion and the resurrection absolutely hang together. The first has no significant without the second. The second is not possible without the first.

That's enough from me...today, the scripture just needs to speak. And, I'll add a little more this Sunday. Come make worship with your SOTH family the essential part of Easter morning this year, we'll see you there!

John 20:1-18 (NIV)

¹Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.

²So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

³So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. ⁴Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

⁵He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. ⁶Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen.

⁸Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.

⁹(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

¹⁰Then the disciples went back to their homes, ¹¹but Mary stood outside the tomb crying.

As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹²and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

¹³They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"

"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him."

¹⁴At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

¹⁵"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."

¹⁶Jesus said to her, "Mary."

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).

THEO-logy, April 13, 2010

I sat down after my lunch to read one of my great-grandpa's sermons and blog about it. His sermons are usually type written on a single 8.5x11 sheet of paper that is folded in half so that he has four equal spaces to write. Today, I read exactly three-quarters of the front page of a sermon and had to put it down and jump online to share it. Im not going to add any of my own thoughts to this one. This message is so raw and thought provoking that I dont want to get in its way! Read it...more than once if you have or want to...and spend some time reflecting on the following words. Ask yourself how they apply to the church you attend today. Ask yourself how these words apply to you as an individual. Then ask yourself how you can be the catalyst for change in both.

(All emphasis is Theo's.)

E.M. Bounds said "Short, powerful, public prayers are the outcome of long secret intercession." Someone may ask "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" The answer: "Where He has always been - on the throne!" But where are the Elijah's of God?

Elijah was a man of prayer; a man of like passions as we are, but are we men of like prayer and passions as He?

Did you know that one praying person stands as a majority with God?

Today it seems God is bypassing men - Why? Not because they are too ignorant, but because they are too self-sufficient; our abilities are our handicaps, our talents are our stumbling blocks.

The church began with men in the upper room agonizing. Today it is meeting in the supper room organizing. It began in revival and today it carries on in ritual.

Get Up

Lectionary readings for this week:

Acts 9:36-43

Psalm 23

Revelation 7:9-17

John 10:22-30

Acts 9:36-43 (NIV)

³⁶In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor.

³⁷About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.

³⁸Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!"

³⁹Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

⁴⁰Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up."

She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.

⁴¹He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive.

⁴²This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

⁴³Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.

When I read this story, I'm immediately transported in my mind to a terrible, difficult, pastoral moment.

Years ago, I found myself at the side of a mother and father who had just learned that their son had been killed.

"Can't you bring him back?" she asked, in her grief-stricken delirium. "They did that in the Bible. You pray, and he comes back..."

My heart was broken.

I don't know why Peter could have that prayer answered, and I can't.

But I do know that I don't need to have the power of life and death in my own hands, either.

I don't know why Tabitha...why Joppa...why that place and time.

But I do know this from the story: the news of her restoration quickly spread throughout that city.

Can you imagine? I think news like that would really travel.

Tabitha was a good woman who loved the poor. The fledgling church was small and vulnerable. Her death hurt them deeply...perhaps without her leadership in that critical moment, they would have been pushed almost to extinction. God used her life to bring many, many others into the faith and to establish the church in that place.

News of resurrection still travels today.

I don't mean "just" physical resurrection...I mean the spiritual kind that we think is not nearly as exciting.

It is.

I have seen the power that happens when a believer stands in worship and shares their story of moving from spiritual death to life.

I have seen how God can build the body of believers through the undeniable proof of a changed life.

We definitely don't have all the answers.

But I can tell you that those grieving parents I stood with years ago went on to build their faith, to be loved by the church, and to become witnesses of God's powerful love that endures, even in the face of brokenness and death.

That's the power of resurrection.

Grace & Peace,

Adam

The Easter video we used in worship at SOTH, which does a great job of connecting Jesus' resurrection to the spiritual rebirth that God invites us to experience.

Valley

Psalm 23 (KJV)

¹The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

²He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

³He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

⁴Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

⁵Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalm 23 is the Gettysburg Address of scripture.

Well, actually I guess we should say that the Gettysburg Address was the Psalm 23 of political speeches.

So short, and so sweet, and so to the point. And, what a point it makes.

God is always with us.

He is our shepherd, tending us, protecting us, providing pastures in which we can be sustained.

This psalm has comforted millions and millions of people for thousands of years.

This is true, even though it doesn't say, "yea, he taketh me around the valley of the shadow of death, so that I do not set foot within it."

It says we go through. Through. Not around.

The Bible is such a wonderful reminder that God goes with us through it all, not around it.

Holly and I got to see that valley in person a couple of years ago.

We stood at a high outcropping of limestone above the Negev desert, outside of Jericho. Looking toward Jerusalem, we saw the scene, and the tiny path through that wilderness below. Today's picture is one that we took in that place.

There's so much more to say, but the Psalm says it all. Whatever you face today, you do not face it alone.

Grace & Peace,

Adam

Lamb

Revelation 7:13-17 (NIV)

Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"

¹⁴I answered, "Sir, you know."

And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

¹⁵Therefore,
"they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.

¹⁶Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them,
nor any scorching heat.

¹⁷For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

The Book of Revelation often seems to frighten or fascinate 21st century Americans.

Makes sense to me. It's both frightening and fascinating at times.

But on the whole, I think there's another attribute that's too often overlooked.

I think it's meant to be comforting.

In this vision from Revelation 7, John witnesses those who have suffered for their faith, in the "great tribulation."

When John received Revelation, he was himself suffering in exile on the island of Patmos.

There is good news.

Revelation is not to be feared, unless we've just got too much to lose in this life.

The wonderful news for those who suffer for their faith, or who experience pain and struggle (and that's all of us at one time or another, right?), is that God will ultimately, and always, care for them.

Revelation 7:17 is nothing short of a beautiful fulfillment of the 23rd Psalm we read yesterday:

"For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Grace and Peace,

Adam

Sheep

John 10:22-27 NIV

²²Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem.

It was winter, ²³and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade.

²⁴The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."

²⁵Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe.

The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, ²⁶but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.

²⁷My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

The relationship between the shepherd and the sheep is something special.

Sheep really do come to learn their shepherd's voice, and they'll only follow him.

Jesus implies (or pretty plainly states) in this passage that those who questioned him for miracles and knowledge couldn't perceive what he'd already done because they weren't of his fold.

Their hearts weren't ready to receive what God was doing, right in their midst.

God's plan just outstripped their spiritual imaginations.

What about us?

What could we be missing right now because we believe we know what God will or won't do?

The plain truth is...we don't know. We need to be sheep and learn to listen if we'd like to know more.

At least that appears to be the implication.

Grace, Peace, and Baaaaah,

Adam

Involved vs. Committed

Recently I "won" a copy of Shannon O'Dell's new book entitled Transforming Church in Rural America from Tim Stevens of Granger Community Church. Tim worked a deal with the book's publisher, New Leaf Press, that allowed him to tweet a link that scored a free copy of the book to the first one hundred visitors. Score.

As I was reading my way through the first three chapters today, I came upon a phrase that hit me so hard I had to put the book down and reflect for a few minutes. O'Dell is outlining a candidate sermon he gave while interviewing at a church for the senior pastor position and he says:

"I shared why I thought the church is passionless today, because so many are involved with Christ but not committed to Him."

Man, that is a powerful statement! How often do we treat our relationship with God as a Wednesday and/or Sunday tryst? If that didn't sting, how about this one: How often do we give Him an hour of everyday...but that's it...JUST an hour? We set aside time for Him, sure, but we LIMIT our involvement with Him to that time.; Our relationship with Him is a lot less evident when it isn't our quiet time.

God doesn't ask us for involvement; He asks us for commitment. Jesus said: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30). What is left of us when we give all He demands in this verse?

We, like Peter, are supposed to grab our coats when we jump out of the boat after Jesus! Fully prepared and fully committed to not turn back, we jump albeit awkwardly into the life He has called us to: A life of death to ourselves and rebirth in Him. A whole-self decision.

Let us commit to Christ as He has committed Himself to the church: As a groom commits to His bride - wholly and unconditionally. God doesn't want to be limited to "Lord of the Bible Studies" or "Lord of the Church." He wants to be Lord of our lives with dominion and influence over all that we are and all that we have and all that we do.

Quit being involved with Jesus. Commit your life to Him as He willingly committed His life to you. Don't make me quote Revelation 3:16 on you!

- Mike

Dangerous

This week's daily lectionary blog posts are back!

Thanks for hanging in there with me, I've had a bit of a challenging travel schedule the last couple of weeks, but we should be getting back on track.

We'll look at one lectionary passage Monday through Thursday this week, and on Friday I'll write a few thoughts about this coming Sunday's sermon in the series, "To Save a Family."

Monday: Acts 16:16-34

Tuesday: Psalm 97

Wednesday: Rev 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21;

Thursday: John 17:20-26

Acts 16:16-34 (A long story, but one well worth investing a few minutes) from The Message:

^16-18One day, on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl ran into us.

She was a psychic and, with her fortunetelling, made a lot of money for the people who owned her.

She started following Paul around, calling everyone's attention to us by yelling out, "These men are working for the Most High God. They're laying out the road of salvation for you!"

She did this for a number of days until Paul, finally fed up with her, turned and commanded the spirit that possessed her, "Out! In the name of Jesus Christ, get out of her!"

And it was gone, just like that.

^19-22When her owners saw that their lucrative little business was suddenly bankrupt, they went after Paul and Silas, roughed them up and dragged them into the market square. Then the police arrested them and pulled them into a court with the accusation, "These men are disturbing the peace—dangerous Jewish agitators subverting our Roman law and order."

By this time the crowd had turned into a restless mob out for blood.

^22-24The judges went along with the mob, had Paul and Silas's clothes ripped off and ordered a public beating.

After beating them black-and-blue, they threw them into jail, telling the jailkeeper to put them under heavy guard so there would be no chance of escape.

He did just that—threw them into the maximum security cell in the jail and clamped leg irons on them.

^25-26Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God.

The other prisoners couldn't believe their ears. Then, without warning, a huge earthquake! The jailhouse tottered, every door flew open, all the prisoners were loose.

^27-28Startled from sleep, the jailer saw all the doors swinging loose on their hinges.

Assuming that all the prisoners had escaped, he pulled out his sword and was about to do himself in, figuring he was as good as dead anyway, when Paul stopped him: "Don't do that! We're all still here! Nobody's run away!"

^29-31The jailer got a torch and ran inside. Badly shaken, he collapsed in front of Paul and Silas. He led them out of the jail and asked, "Sirs, what do I have to do to be saved, to really live?"

They said, "Put your entire trust in the Master Jesus. Then you'll live as you were meant to live—and everyone in your house included!"

^32-34They went on to spell out in detail the story of the Master—the entire family got in on this part.

They never did get to bed that night.

The jailer made them feel at home, dressed their wounds, and then—he couldn't wait till morning!—was baptized, he and everyone in his family.

There in his home, he had food set out for a festive meal.

It was a night to remember: He and his entire family had put their trust in God; everyone in the house was in on the celebration.

I find that these days, lots of traditional, "mainline" church folks spend their time bemoaning the coarsening of our culture and the decline of attendance at their worship services.

I can fall into that trap, too.

Then, I read a passage like this one in Acts 16.

We have nothing to moan about. Except, perhaps, the loss of power and strength that the early disciples experienced. Their witness was palpable and people were drawn to the unique message they lived out.

Paul and Silas suffer at the hands of "the world" in today's reading.

Why?

Because "these men are dangerous Jewish agitators, subverting our Roman law and order."

Could that possibly be said of any of us who are part of institutional, American Christianity today?

It was said of the civil rights leaders in the 1950's and 60's. It was said of the reformers of the 1500's.

Do we spend more time today trying to enforce "Roman" rule in our society today, or is some part of following Jesus supposed to be inherently subversive to the world's practices and values?

What part of our faith is risky enough to allow God to act in powerful, public ways? When are we ever in enough trouble for following Jesus that we might need him to come to our rescue?

Risk. Rejection. Power. Witness. What could these Acts 16 attributes have to do with our life as Jesus-followers today?

Grace & Peace,

Adam