Heaven

Revelation 21:1-5 (The Message)

I saw Heaven and earth new-created. Gone the first Heaven, gone the first earth, gone the sea.

I saw Holy Jerusalem, new-created, descending resplendent out of Heaven, as ready for God as a bride for her husband.

I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: "Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They're his people, he's their God.

He'll wipe every tear from their eyes.

Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone."

The Enthroned continued, "Look! I'm making everything new. Write it all down—each word dependable and accurate."

I grew up in the small, rural, Methodist churches of West Tennessee.

In that region, and throughout the Southeast, rural Methodism takes on flavors of the Southern Baptist tradition, holiness traditions and yes...even pentecostalism (though in its Methodist form, you might not know it).

One of my great-grandfathers, born just before the turn of the 20th century, leaned heavily toward that Pentecostal edge. In fact, he spent many years far over that edge, filled with the spirit and breathing in and out the deep, rich spirituality that he found.

He moved in and out of the Methodist and Pentecostal traditions. Eventually, the family chose the Methodist fork in the road, and much of our more charismatic leanings have been tempered.

But I can remember the power that Pop (Fisher) had when he heard a wonderful old-time song, built around the words of Revelation 21.

I can remember his sense of assurance, as he became elderly and prepared for life on the "other side."

The Book's final proclamation is a beautiful vision of Christian hope. It echoes what Pop used to say about the movement of life..."We may not know what's coming, but we're getting there fast."
The truth is he did have a deep sense of what was coming. Though we may not know the detailed ins and outs of what heaven may be, we have the promise of an eternity lived in the presence of God.

The old song Pop loved was this one:

"The Unclouded Day" by Josiah Alwood, ca. 1880

O they tell me of a home far beyond the skies
O they tell me of a home far away
O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise
O they tell me of an unclouded day

 O they land of cloudless day, O they land of an unclouded sky
 O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds  rise
 O they tell me of an unclouded day

O they tell me of a home where my friends have gone
O they tell me that land far away
Where the tree of life in eternal bloom
Shed its fragrance thru the unclouded day

O they tell me of the King in his beauty there
And they tell me that mine eyes shall behold
Where he sits on the throne that is whiter than snow
In that city that is made of gold

O they tell me that he smiles on his children there
And his smile drives their sorrows all away
And they tell me that no tears ever come again
In that lovely land of unclouded sky

O the land of cloudless day, O they land of an unclouded sky
O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise
O they tell me of an unclouded day

Prayer: We give thanks for this wonderful ending of your message in scripture. We live today in the confidence of knowing that one day Jesus will "wipe every tear away." May that time truly come when there is no more dying, loss or mourning. May your kingdom come now on earth as it is and will be in heaven.

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

Tomorrow's Scripture: Psalm 23 (NO BLOG)

See you Sunday at SOTH! Worship at 9 and 11 AM and SS for all ages at 10:15!

Believe

John 20:1-9  NIV

Early 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.  

So 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!"

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.   Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.   He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.   

Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there,   as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen.   

Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.   (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

Sometimes we fail to read the foundational scriptures of our faith except around Easter.  

But it's really important to remember what the heart of the message is.  

When things were at their very worst...and Jesus' followers must have given up...their greatest hopes were realized.  

The tomb was empty.  

They could have reacted in all kinds of ways.  And in fact, that's exactly what they did.  

They ran, screamed, told their friends, believed, disbelieved, and were just generally bowled over.  

But inthe end, those moments at the empty tomb set off a movement that would change the world forever.  

I'll always remember the first day of my New Testament class in seminary.  The professor said, "whatever people have written or believe...no one can deny that something happened when they went to that tomb."  

Indeed.  Something happened.  Life defeats death.  Good defeats evil.  God's love does not fail.

The disciples didn't understand all that the empty tomb meant when they first beheld it.  

Sometimes, we forget all that it can mean in our lives as well.   

But they learned.  They experienced, and they shared.  So can we.  

God's gift is new life...and that changes everything.  

Prayer:  We imagine ourselves as witnesses at the empty tomb.  Where there had been only death and brokenness, there was now life and hope.  May we die to our old ways of life and rise with Christ into redemption and transformation.  

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

Tomorrow's Scripture:  Revelation 21:1-5

Bread

Matthew 6:9-13  (NIV)

"This, then, is how you should pray:

" 'Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.

So, I've been spending a lot of time thinking about what I'm eating so far this year.  

And...day #16...things have been going pretty well.  I've definitely eaten more fruits and vegetables already than from about Halloween through the end of the year.

We have so many choices.  

Often, even the people of lowest income in our country really do have some choices about what they will eat,  relative  to people in other places, and certainly to the people of other times.  

When Jesus spoke the words about bread in the Lord's Prayer, his hearers needed to be reminded to be thankful for different reasons than we do today.  

Just obtaining that day's bread took a lot more effort for most people then than it does now. There were no programs to help feed the poor and daily wages were just enough, perhaps 
to keep a family alive and intact.  

Maybe in the hustle and worry of making those ends meet in the most basic of ways, Jesus' audience forgot to be thankful for the day's bread that they had received.  

Certainly, we can fall prey to that same problem.  

But more likely for us is that we're not thankful for whatever kind of "bread" we receive because we are so able to look around and see everything else that is or could be available.  

Sure, my car got me where I needed to go today...but did I get there in style?  

Look at "those people" over there...they've got what I want...and why shouldn't I have it?

Are we thankful for our daily bread?  Sure, but does that mean white, wheat, whole wheat, multi-grain, low cal, sugar free, high fiber, split top, buttercrust, sandwich, honey oat or potato?  

And folks, that's the tip of the bread aisle iceberg.  

Have you even looked at the toothpaste selection?  

Did we make the right choice?  Could another loaf have been tastier?  Was there a better deal?  

How can we be thankful...for what we have today?

Jesus knew that there was great power, and peace, in living in the "right now."  He knew that we need the connection with God that comes from taking a break, taking stock and just being content.  

We are all so blessed.  Every one of us.  

Go make yourself a split-top, buttercrust PB&J, and be happy.  

Prayer:  We pray this prayer that Jesus taught to his disciples and we truly consider what these words mean to our lives.  We ask for contentment with this day's bread, and release from the worry that comes when we try to do it all ourselves.  

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.  

John 20:1-10

 

People

I John 4:7-12, 18-21 (Message)

20-21 If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating his brother or sister,
thinking nothing of it, he is a liar.

If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see?

The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people.
You've got to love both.

Most of us folks reading this blog today would claim that we love God.

But how do we do with other people?

That's tougher, huh?

People cut us off in traffic. They backstab and backbite and say rude things. People can be inconsiderate and self-serving. They try to get ahead of us....in line, in our jobs, in our relationships.

And just look what Jesus says....

If you say you love God...and then carry hatred for that person who's done you wrong....then maybe the whole thing is in question.

All of us fall short. All of us have tempers, and we feel pain and we sense injustice. We have good reasons for being mad sometimes.

And yet...there it is. The question: "If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see?"

Good question. Let's pray about the answer. May God show us folks to love today. They'll be there...at the store, the stoplight, the office, at church, school, home.

"You've got to love both."

Prayer: Thank you for the reminder that the nature of God is love. We see that love in Jesus, and we seek to follow in his steps. God, we pray in all humility that you could make us more loving today. Thank you for first loving us so that we can be a force for your love in the 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.

Tomrrow's Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13

Beginning

Genesis 1:1-3 NRSV

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

Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.

"In the beginning..."

Such a simple phrase, with such profound implications.

When was, "in the beginning?"

Nobody really knows.

Scientists can use their best tools and knowlege to give us their best guess, but the deep down truth is that no one can say for sure.

Scientific knowledge truly is a wonderful thing. Our lives have been enhanced beyond all measure as human beings have learned to build on the knowledge that these God-given minds can acquire.

But there can be a real loss for all of us if we forget one important fact:

"In the beginning..." there was God.

"In the beginning," goes beyond all of us and any ability that we might have to figure things out for ourselves.

Theologians and scientists can have interesting conversations with each other, you know. But ultimately the two are trying to answer different questions.

Scientists ask "how" and work to give verifiable answers through observation and data collection.

Theologians ask "why" and seek to push toward Truth through scripture, reason, tradition and experience.

Question: "How did we get here?"

Science: "Billions of years ago, there was a big bang...which led to an ever-evolving, changing expansion of the universe. Eventually, our own world evolved, life began and here we are today."

Theology: "Amazing. But why did that happen?"

Science: (Silence, then...slowly) "I don't see how that question is...relevant."

Theology: "Because God spoke. And there was light. And it was good."

Thank God that his nature is love...and creation...and relationship.

In the beginning...whenever that was...that time beyond our imaginations and limits...God spoke and created. And we are here.

Everything we are and all that we do...is a gift from God. And it is good.

Prayer: Help us always to remember that, "in the beginning," you were there. This very day exists because you said, "let there be light." You looked at creation and called it good. May we be a part of the good that you have created on this day.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen. Tomorrow's Scripture: I John 4:7-12, 18-21

Outside

Ephesians 3:1-12

This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called.

I take it that you're familiar with the part I was given in God's plan for including everybody. I got the inside story on this from God himself, as I just wrote you in brief.

As you read over what I have written to you, you'll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ.

None of our ancestors understood this.

Only in our time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order.

The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God.

They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board.

This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message.

Paul's message was radical and revolutionary. It had landed him in jail and eventually he would lose his life because of his determination to preach The Message.

It runs counter to our human nature.

"Inclusion" isn't what we tend toward...."exclusion" is. We see differences more readily than similarities. We take care of ourselves and those we care for. Reaching out to others and including them on equal footing is an act of extreme generosity, confidence and humility.

Those kinds of actions and beliefs come from God. And that's the life and message followers of Jesus are called to embrace.

What's amazing about us is how quickly we take a message of radical inclusion and pull it around ourselves like a security blanket.

What ground does any Christian person ever have for limiting the inclusive power of The Message or hampering the growth and vision of a church?

None.

We forget that this Message does not belong to us. We are the grateful recipients of a free gift. And our call is not to hoard the gift...but to share it with everybody equally.

That's not easy. We're going to like some people more than others. There are people we have more in common with. There are people who think like us, talk like us, look like us. And then there are those who don't.

Thank God that someone like Paul was there to lead the charge for the inclusion of "The Gentiles," (that's us) in The Message of Jesus. He withstood major opposition, but his faith and willingness to hold to the calling changed the world.

Paul knew how much he had been given. He was not the same. May it be so for all of us.

Prayer: We are thankful for the work of your servant Paul, and for our inclusion in the message that he preached. Like him, we pray that you might use us to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others as we live our lives in relationship with you and one another.

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

Tomorrow's Scripture (No Blog): Matthew 2:1-12

Produce

John 15:5-12 (The Message)

"I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant.

Separated, you can't produce a thing.

Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.

This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.

"I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done—kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love.

"I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature.

This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you.

This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends.

You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning.

No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father.

"Separated, you can't produce a thing."

This truth has been clearly illustrated to me over the years.

Jesus' gardening metaphor is powerful and true.

I love the day each spring when it comes time to turn over some dirt and put new plants in the ground.

My very favorite day is "tomato day," with its exciting trip to the Lowe's nursery to pick from the selection of "Better Boys," "Park's Whoppers," and "Big Beef" plants.

It's exciting to prepare the soil, dig the trenches (tomatoes have to be planted deep, you know), and then watch the rapid growth.

But "separated," they can't produce a thing.

I remember one plant last year that looked just as good as all the others on the morning it went into the ground.

But by the end of the very next day, it had withered and died. Somehow, in the planting process, the stem had broken...tearing loose from the roots.

The plant had received a mortal wound, even though we didn't know it at the time.

We people are living, organic beings, too. We have to stay connected to the source if we are to produce.

We are reflectors of the light of Christ...not generators of our own light from within. We are receivers of God's nourishing grace and love...before we can be producers of his love in the world.

Connection. Connection. Connection.

At Shepherd of the Hills, we believe that our call is to make disciples: to move people closer to Jesus, and to strengthen the connection that they experience with him in their lives.

We accomplish this mission by inviting people to participate in scripture, prayer, worship, relationships, giving and service.

Accept the invitation that God makes today...stay connected...and love one another the way Christ has loved each of us.

Prayer: Teach us to remain in you. Wherever we go during this day, and whatever we face...strengthen our connection to you in Christ. May these branches bear fruit through the power of your Holy Spirit.

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

Tomorrow's Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-12

Need

Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 (NIV)

4 He will defend the afflicted among the people
and save the children of the needy;
he will crush the oppressor.

5 He will endure as long as the sun,
as long as the moon, through all generations...

...11 All kings will bow down to him
and all nations will serve him.

12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.

13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.

Parents work hard not to have "favorites" among their children.

What about God?

Whether God has favorite children, I can't say for sure. But I'm convinced that he does have a special sort of affection for those who are weak and in need.

The Bible seems to spell this out, again and again, very clearly.

Why would that be? My hunch is that it's because those who are weak have less of their own pride to stand upon. When we're vividly aware of our own shortcomings and inabilities, we're much more open to the idea of receiving God's help.

That means weakness isn't something to be ashamed of in Christianity.

Our weakness is God's strength.

Tough concept for us to get...but so important.

Following Jesus in now way has anything to do with showing God how good we are...how worthy of love.

Instead, it's just the opposite. Becoming a Christian means giving up all the false pretenses, being vulnerable and receiving the love and strength that God already seeks to give us.

The best relationships are the ones where you can stop acting, let out a breath, and be yourself.

That's what God wants from his children.

So...admit your weaknesses. Maybe even embrace them before God.

Because those weaknesses, patched and filled by the God who loves us...can become the places where his strength can shine.

Prayer: God our King, help us to know that it is always good to name our weaknesses before you. You have promised to help the needy and we embrace that promise with hope for healing and always a better tomorrow.

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

Tomorrow's Scripture: John 15:5-12

Strength

Jeremiah 15:19-20

"Take back those words, and I'll take you back.
Then you'll stand tall before me.

Use words truly and well. Don't stoop to cheap whining.
Then, but only then, you'll speak for me.

Let your words change them.
Don't change your words to suit them.

I'll turn you into a steel wall,
a thick steel wall, impregnable.

They'll attack you but won't put a dent in you
because I'm at your side, defending and delivering."
God's Decree.

"I'll deliver you from the grip of the wicked.
I'll get you out of the clutch of the ruthless."

In the midst of Jeremiah's deepest struggle, God delivers words of hope and strength to his doubting prophet.

Jeremiah was tempted to stray from the message he'd been given. He was tempted toward shortcuts...to find an easier way forward...or around.

God reminds us how backward that equation truly is.

We can't get toward the place that God calls us by backing up, going around, and trying to do it our own way.

But what if we're not strong enough to go "straight through" to the place that God calls us.

Our job is to just take a step.

And God will place the ground beneath our feet.

Which of us could ever stand like a "thick steel wall, impregnable," under our own strength and abilities?

Real strength is God's gift.

What is the single step we might be called to as followers of Jesus today?

"Use words truly and well. Don't stoop to cheap whining."

We turn our hearts toward God...we pray for right words, used truly and well. And we know that God will give the strength.

Prayer: We hear your promise of strength and renewal and pray to receive it in our lives. May you make us stand like a wall where we're needed in this day.

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

Tomorrow's Scripture: Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14

Race

Jeremiah 12:5-6 (Message)

So, Jeremiah, if you're worn out in this footrace with men,
what makes you think you can race against horses?

And if you can't keep your wits during times of calm,
what's going to happen when troubles break loose like the Jordan in flood?

Those closest to you, your own brothers and cousins,
are working against you.

They're out to get you. They'll stop at nothing.
Don't trust them, especially when they're smiling.

So...it's time to ask...

How's that resolution going?

Jeremiah's wasn't going too well. He was called and resolved to do the work of a prophet...to tell people things they don't really want to hear, on behalf of God.

He set about that work and suffered a lot of rejection and persecution. He began to complain to God.

"The world is against me. This is too hard. No one wants to listen. It can't be done."

God's answer?

"Jeremiah, you ain't seen nothing yet."

"If you're worn out in this footrace with men, what makes you think you can race against horses?"

He couldn't. And we can't either.

Sometimes, the world can be a tough place to do the right things and stick to what we resolve to do. That's because our own power isn't really sufficient. Jeremiah was learning that lesson.

So...let's make a resolution right now about what we'll do when "troubles break loose like Jordan in the flood" in 2008.

We'll turn to God...and ask for help...and let him drive.

That's when all things become possible.

Prayer: Lord, there are times when we feel tired, like we cannot run anymore. We know that the day-to-day demands of life can cause us to lose our way. We pray for help and new life from you. Fill us with your Spirit and help us to run the race in your strength, not our own.

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

Tomorrow's Scripture: Jeremiah 15:19-20

Prophet

Matthew 11:7-11

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

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

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

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

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

Have you ever been guilty of that attempt?

I know I have.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Christmas Worship at SOTH:

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

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

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

Expectation

Matthew 11:1-6 (Message)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tomorrow's Scripture: Matthew 11:7-11

Stay

James 5:7-10 (The Message)

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

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

Friends, don't complain about each other.

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

The Judge is standing just around the corner.

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

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

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

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

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

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

One week goes by...then another.

More good rain, more good sun.

Still nothing.

What should that farmer do?

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

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

Wrong...of course.

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

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

Gardening teaches patience. Because it's a requirement.

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

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

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

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

What could that mean in each of our lives?

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

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

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

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

Tomorrow's Scripture: Matthew 11:1-6

Joy

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

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

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

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

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

Wouldn't it be great to hear that sound?

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

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

Joy.

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

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

Joy that would make the desert shout out loud.

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

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

Tomorrow's Scripture: James 5:7-10

Forever

Psalm 146:5-10

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

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

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

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

Pretty quickly, the discussion took a familiar turn.

"What about the big bang?"

"What about dinosaurs?"

"Can God really know everybody and everything?"

"Where do we really go when we die?"

"Where does the Bible come from?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tomorrow's Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-5

Winnow

Matthew 3:4-12 (NRSV)

⁵⁶

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

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

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

Winnowing fork?

Threshing floor?

Granary? Chaff?

Unquenchable fire?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thunder

Matthew 3:1-3 (Message)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Prepare for God's arrival!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He points the way to the source.

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

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

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

Tomorrow's Scripture: Matthew 3:4-12

Root

Isaiah 11:1-5 (NIV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tomorrow's Scripture: Romans 15:4-13

Blessed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Psalm 72...fulfilled.

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

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

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

Tomorrow's Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-5

Control

"The Last Judgment" by Michelangelo

Matthew 24:40-44 (NIV)

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

Two women will be grinding with a hand mill;

one will be taken and the other left.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We'll see you there! Adam

Ready

Matthew 24:36-39 (The Message)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tomorrow's Scripture: Matthew 26:40-44

Dawn

Romans 13:11-14 (Message)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"They're asleep."  

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

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

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

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

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

Tomorrow's Scripture:  Matthew 24;36-39

Worship

Psalm 122:1-4 (Message)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And what it means to be the Church.

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

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

Tomorrow's Scripture: Romans 13:11-14

Peace

Isaiah 2:1-5 (NIV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tomorrow's Scripture: Psalm 122:1-4