I'm ba-ack! And it's time to get blogging again. Hold on to your hats. . . here we go!
Here's the question and answer from Monday:
If the disciples are quiet, what will shout out instead? (Luke 19)
Luke 19:40 40 "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
And here's the question and answer from Tuesday:
Who is Job’s complaint directed toward? (Job 21)
Job 21:3-4 Bear with me while I speak, and after I have spoken, mock on. 4 "Is my complaint directed to man? Why should I not be impatient?
And here's the question of the day:
What does God promise to his people, his saints? (Psalm 85)
And here's the reflection of the day:
I just spent 15 minutes trying to come up with another way to rephrase a sentence. I came up empty. So, I'm just going to copy and paste it here instead:
In other words, Psalm 85, especially vv. 8-13, captures the reality that Christians already know and experience in Jesus Christ, but that exists amid the ongoing brokenness of the world and the sinfulness of persons and of our society. (J. CLINTON McCANN, JR. NIB Commentary on Psalms)
Psalm 85 is one of our Year of the Bible readings for today. (The others are from Job and I'm just not feeling up to tackling him today. So he will wait.) So, in case you don't have your Bible close at hand, here are the verses that quote is referring to:
Psalm 85:8-13
8 I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints-- but let them not return to folly. 9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. 10 Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. 11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. 12 The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. 13 Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.
Peace, love, faithfulness. . . sounds a little like the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23), doesn't it? Galatians goes on to tell us that "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires" (Gal 5:25). Christians who have been crucified with Christ know what true peace, love, faithfulness are because they are righteous--they are in right relationship with God.
The way of life Psalm 85 is talking about--what it is characterized by--is how the Hebrew poets recognized a special way of life in relationship with God. Christians further define that as life in Christ. A life lived in Christ is a live full of forgiveness and hope and joy. . . life lived in "the reality that Christians already know and experience in Jesus Christ."
In this way, we know what awaits us after death. In this way, we have a foretaste of the kingdom of God. But it is only a taste because "that [reality] exists amid the ongoing brokenness of the world and the sinfulness of persons and of our society."
"Thus, as Mays points out: “The vision has an eschatological reach. It needs the coming of God himself to realize it fully (vv. 9, 13). The psalm therefore is a judgment on any easy satisfaction with life under the conditions created by human character and a summons to look for and pray for the time and life created by the character of God.” (McCann)
God is the missing piece in the puzzle. And we look forward to the time when God will end the brokenness and sinfulness of this world, replacing it with peace and righteousness. Mays, in the above quote, pushes us to resist "easy satisfaction" with a life lived according to the world's standards.
Ah, there's the rub, as Shakespeare would say. "Easy satisfaction" is so, well, easy and comfortable. And easy, don't you think? What methods do you try to avoid "easy satisfaction" in your life? How is your life being created by the character of God?
Let me know!
Allison
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Gone Fishin'
Hello, friends!
Just wanted to let you know that I'm on vacation this week so I won't be blogging at all. I'll see you next week!
Allison
Just wanted to let you know that I'm on vacation this week so I won't be blogging at all. I'll see you next week!
Allison
Thursday, July 16, 2009
No God?
Good morning! Glad you stopped by. I hope you are persevering in your "Year of the Bible" readings. I think we're getting into some good stuff this week. But before I get into that, let's get the Q&A out of the way.
Here's the question and answer from Tuesday:
What did Nehemiah do to ensure that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day? (Nehemiah 13)
Nehemiah 13:19 19 When evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be shut and not opened until the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my own men at the gates so that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day.
And the question and answer from yesterday:
Xerxes displayed his vast wealth for 180 days. How long did the banquet last? (Esther 1)
Esther 1:5 5 When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king's palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest, who were in the citadel of Susa.
And here's the question of the day:
There was a crowd around Jesus when he drove the demon out of the man who was mute. By whose power did some of the crowd think Jesus healed? (Luke 11)
And here's the reflection of the day:
I have to confess something. . . I'm a bit enthralled with the Esther story. At Bible Study yesterday, I made us read the WHOLE book out loud. (It was actually pretty great. I recommend it to everyone to just read it straight through.) My next door neighbor extraordinaire loaned me movie version of the story. (Which I promptly watched when I got home from Bible Study. I'm considering watching it again before I give it back!) And now I'm planning on, by hook or by crook, we're going to get the whole story on Sunday morning too. (I have specially commissioned some drawings from my brother the artist.)
It's a great story! Intrigue. Romance. Heroes and villains. Good versus evil. What more could you ask for?
Esther was written during the Diaspora, the time when the Jews had been exiled from Jerusalem for a second time, this time at the hands of Babylon. Esther is a story meant to rally the troops, to bolster the spirits of the Jews who feared they might never return home again.
So isn't it ironic (don't you think) that God's name does not appear in this text. Does it mean God is not present simply because His name does not appear on the pages? By no means! How can a book be written to assure and encouragement people in their faith without mentioning God?Such a book must be written very cleverly. And the reader must be very discerning as well.
Where are the points where God is clearly present and in control though His name is absent int today's "Year of the Bible" readings? That was one of the things we tried to keep track of as we read through it in Bible Study. I think if you read closely enough, you will be able to pick out many places where God does "appear" in the story.
When we read the story of Esther, we have to keep our eyes peeled looking for God hiding in the story. Kind of like our lives: we have to keep our eyes peeled to look for God who lingers in each scene in our lives!
Happy reading!
Allison
Here's the question and answer from Tuesday:
What did Nehemiah do to ensure that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day? (Nehemiah 13)
Nehemiah 13:19 19 When evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be shut and not opened until the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my own men at the gates so that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day.
And the question and answer from yesterday:
Xerxes displayed his vast wealth for 180 days. How long did the banquet last? (Esther 1)
Esther 1:5 5 When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king's palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest, who were in the citadel of Susa.
And here's the question of the day:
There was a crowd around Jesus when he drove the demon out of the man who was mute. By whose power did some of the crowd think Jesus healed? (Luke 11)
And here's the reflection of the day:
I have to confess something. . . I'm a bit enthralled with the Esther story. At Bible Study yesterday, I made us read the WHOLE book out loud. (It was actually pretty great. I recommend it to everyone to just read it straight through.) My next door neighbor extraordinaire loaned me movie version of the story. (Which I promptly watched when I got home from Bible Study. I'm considering watching it again before I give it back!) And now I'm planning on, by hook or by crook, we're going to get the whole story on Sunday morning too. (I have specially commissioned some drawings from my brother the artist.)
It's a great story! Intrigue. Romance. Heroes and villains. Good versus evil. What more could you ask for?
Esther was written during the Diaspora, the time when the Jews had been exiled from Jerusalem for a second time, this time at the hands of Babylon. Esther is a story meant to rally the troops, to bolster the spirits of the Jews who feared they might never return home again.
So isn't it ironic (don't you think) that God's name does not appear in this text. Does it mean God is not present simply because His name does not appear on the pages? By no means! How can a book be written to assure and encouragement people in their faith without mentioning God?Such a book must be written very cleverly. And the reader must be very discerning as well.
Where are the points where God is clearly present and in control though His name is absent int today's "Year of the Bible" readings? That was one of the things we tried to keep track of as we read through it in Bible Study. I think if you read closely enough, you will be able to pick out many places where God does "appear" in the story.
When we read the story of Esther, we have to keep our eyes peeled looking for God hiding in the story. Kind of like our lives: we have to keep our eyes peeled to look for God who lingers in each scene in our lives!
Happy reading!
Allison
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Curse-turned-blessing
Happy Tuesday everybody! Let's get to work.
Here's the question and answer from Monday:
Who was the tetrarch who was perplexed because some people were saying John had been raised from the dead? (Luke 9)
Luke 9:7 7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed, because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead
And here's today question:
What did Nehemiah do to ensure that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day? (Nehemiah 13:18)
And here's the reflection of the day:
Nehemiah 13 is an extensive chapter, a fitting ending for this "Ezra-Nehemiah" book. There seem to be a million things that I could emphasize from this chapter. But I'd like to focus on the one phrase that Ezra himself seems to want to emphasize.
Verse two, the last bit, says, "(Our God, however, turned the curse into a blessing.)" This little bit of reflection is a departure for Ezra. John's gospel is full of these little, parenthetical asides, so we expect it when we read it there. But it's almost jarring in its context here.
What Ezra is referring to is the Balaam incident, where Balak hired Balaam to curse the Israelites but he "saw the light" and would not curse those whom God was blessing. In that way, God transformed what one person intended as a curse into what God intended, a blessing.
What a nice little reminder God has for us "Year of the Bible-ers" tucked away in this little passage: God is willing and able to take what someone has intended for evil and turn it into something good. I wonder how often we look at our "curses" and only see the curse. How often do we look for the curse-turned-blessing? Perhaps part of what transforms a curse into a blessing is actually our recognition of it. Could this transformation possibly depend on us searching for God in the midst of the curse??
Hmm. . . something for me to think about!
Allison
Here's the question and answer from Monday:
Who was the tetrarch who was perplexed because some people were saying John had been raised from the dead? (Luke 9)
Luke 9:7 7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed, because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead
And here's today question:
What did Nehemiah do to ensure that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day? (Nehemiah 13:18)
And here's the reflection of the day:
Nehemiah 13 is an extensive chapter, a fitting ending for this "Ezra-Nehemiah" book. There seem to be a million things that I could emphasize from this chapter. But I'd like to focus on the one phrase that Ezra himself seems to want to emphasize.
Verse two, the last bit, says, "(Our God, however, turned the curse into a blessing.)" This little bit of reflection is a departure for Ezra. John's gospel is full of these little, parenthetical asides, so we expect it when we read it there. But it's almost jarring in its context here.
What Ezra is referring to is the Balaam incident, where Balak hired Balaam to curse the Israelites but he "saw the light" and would not curse those whom God was blessing. In that way, God transformed what one person intended as a curse into what God intended, a blessing.
What a nice little reminder God has for us "Year of the Bible-ers" tucked away in this little passage: God is willing and able to take what someone has intended for evil and turn it into something good. I wonder how often we look at our "curses" and only see the curse. How often do we look for the curse-turned-blessing? Perhaps part of what transforms a curse into a blessing is actually our recognition of it. Could this transformation possibly depend on us searching for God in the midst of the curse??
Hmm. . . something for me to think about!
Allison
Monday, July 13, 2009
Sunday Sermon: "World's Ugliest Dog"
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
Let us pray: Gracious God, as we turn to your Word, may the Spirit of God rest upon us. Help us to be steadfast in our hearing, in our speaking, in our believing, and in our living. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 6:17-26
17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. 20 Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23 "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. 24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.
The grass withers and the flower fades but the Word of the Lord endures forever.
SERMON: INTRODUCTION
This week, I’ve been thinking a lot about county fairs. You know I’m from Butler, home of the “Big Butler Fair,” which claims to be the largest county fair in western Pennsylvania. And before that, when we lived up north in Titusville, PA, we always went to the Crawford County Fair. And before THAT, lived in Canfield, OH and were regulars at the Canfield Fair. The Bauer family has never met a fair they didn’t like.
But what really started me thinking about all this county fair stuff is California’s Sonoma-Marin Fair which I read about a few weeks ago. You may have heard about it on the news or read about it in the paper or on-line. The Sonoma-Marin Fair is famous for a particular beauty pageant it holds. Every summer, for seventeen years, the organizers of the Sonoma-Marin Fair have held the “World’s Ugliest Dog” competition.1
You should see the pictures of these doggie contestants. Bald patches, bug eyes, missing teeth and other body parts, tongues hanging out, huge overbites and, this year’s winner had a massive underbite! You name it, one of the contestants has it. The characteristics that would get it laughed out of the ring at the “Eukenuba American Kennel Association Dog Show” are the exact ones that will bring home the prize at the Sonoma-Marin Fair.
Normally, the rules of our culture say that what is beautiful is best and that which is ugly is a failure, which is why the Eukenuba championship is shown on TV and why the Sonoma-Marin “World’s Ugliest Dog” is a contest you probably never heard of. That’s what our culture values. But according to God’s values, being “ugly” or different from the rest of the crowd, means being a smashing success.
#1
If there’s one thing we know about Jesus, it’s that what our culture considers ugly, like these poor little canines, Jesus blesses.
In this passage from Luke, Jesus blesses the ragtag crowd of “ugly” people that keeps hounding him everywhere he goes. These people are poor, dirty, sick, and hungry. Some probably hadn’t bathed in awhile; others were fresh off the fishing boats. You can imagine what the scene must have smelled like.
The space surrounding Jesus is full of people who came “to be healed of their diseases” and so that those “troubled by evil spirits were cured.” It’s a good thing Jesus wasn’t claustrophobic because this mob of humanity seems to be crowding closer and closer to Jesus, trying to touch him with just one little finger tip in hopes of getting some of his healing power. You can just FEEL the crowds leaning closer and closer to him.
This ragamuffin group has gathered from all over the place: from Jerusalem to the coast of Tyre and Sidon. They are apostles and disciples, Jews and Gentiles, and probably even some pagans in the mix, all gathered to catch a glimpse of Jesus. They are a dirty, smelly mass of illness and disease, people declared unclean and ugly. And Jesus blesses them, because what our culture considers ugly, Jesus blesses.
#2
This passage from Luke’s gospel is part of what is known as The Sermon on the Plain. You’ve heard of the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5. Well, this is the same speech, except it’s shorter and preached down at sea level instead of on a mountain. Commentators suggest that although Matthew 5 is prettier, Luke 6 is probably closer to Jesus’ original words.
In Luke’s version of this speech, Jesus says some unexpected things. Jesus CHOOSES to bless the ugly people in the crowd! He BLESSES the poor who beg for change alongside the dusty city streets. He BLESSES the hungry who scrounge for scraps out of garbage cans. He BLESSES those who are unable to contain weeping and mourning. And he BLESSES those who are hated and excluded and insulted and rejected by the rest of society, and maybe even by us. Because what our culture considers ugly, Jesus blesses.
Now, the word “blessed” used here doesn’t mean that they will suddenly attain a supreme level of sublime happiness that will help them to transcend all their problems. It means that the poor, the hungry, those who weep, and those who are rejected will be considered righteous—they will be blessed not in the eyes of the culture, but in the eyes of the Lord. Being blessed doesn’t mean money will never be tight or that there will be food galore on the table, or even that we’ll never be sad or rejected again.
It means that God has chosen to see us through the dry spells. God will always provide enough to get us through the tough times.
#3
Along with the 4 blessings, Jesus also delivers 4 woes: woe to the rich, woe to the well fed, woe to those who laugh, and woe to those who are well-respected by others. There he goes again—Jesus is saying a lot of unexpected things in this passage!
I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’ve been taught that it’s a good thing to have a little money in the bank; that it’s good to have 3 square meals a day and maybe a little snack before bed time. And what’s this nonsense about “woe to those who laugh”—this congregation is in big trouble if laughing turns out to be a bad thing! And isn’t your reputation supposed to be your most important asset, the key to influence and affluence? A little money in the bank, a full belly, a good time, and a good reputation—aren’t these good things? Why does Jesus say "woe" to these things?
Here’s the problem: Mark 10:25 says, “ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Jesus knows that too often the pursuit of money and a comfortable life—being well fed, laughing a lot, and being spoken well of—all too often gets in the way of worshiping God.
We have to remember what our culture blesses, Jesus considers ugly because it becomes an obstacle to God.
CONCLUSION
In the beginning we hear about the crowd that is gathered around Jesus—they were needy, sick, tormented—all desperate for the healing power of Jesus. They had come from every corner of Judea to see Jesus.
But as Jesus begins to preach, the crowd suddenly begins to look like a bunch of disciples. You see, in the middle of this crowd of “World’s Ugliest Dogs,” Jesus sees his disciples: among this crowd of riff-raff, he sees the people who will continue his ministry after his death. Jesus is clear that what the world sees in this crowd of disease and poverty and neediness is the exact opposite of what He sees in them.
Remember what Paul says in 1 Corinthians: “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” God chooses to bless the “ugly dogs” who trust in God and not so much in other people; the “ugly dogs” who depend on God instead on themselves; the “ugly dogs” who persevere in the call God has given to them, even when they’re in the middle of a dry spell.
I hope I don't offend any one by saying I don't think any of us are going to win any beauty contests any time soon. I know I won't! So, let us embrace all those characteristics that would get us laughed out of a beauty contest--like an "ugly" dog out of the Eukenuba championship--and embrace our inner “ugly dog” that turns away from the rules and standards of our culture and chooses to live according to God's standards. And may we all enjoy the hope that comes from being “blessed" by God.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
[1] http://www.homileticsonline.com/subscriber/btl_display.asp?installment_id=93000312
Let us pray: Gracious God, as we turn to your Word, may the Spirit of God rest upon us. Help us to be steadfast in our hearing, in our speaking, in our believing, and in our living. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 6:17-26
17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. 20 Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23 "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. 24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.
The grass withers and the flower fades but the Word of the Lord endures forever.
SERMON: INTRODUCTION
This week, I’ve been thinking a lot about county fairs. You know I’m from Butler, home of the “Big Butler Fair,” which claims to be the largest county fair in western Pennsylvania. And before that, when we lived up north in Titusville, PA, we always went to the Crawford County Fair. And before THAT, lived in Canfield, OH and were regulars at the Canfield Fair. The Bauer family has never met a fair they didn’t like.
But what really started me thinking about all this county fair stuff is California’s Sonoma-Marin Fair which I read about a few weeks ago. You may have heard about it on the news or read about it in the paper or on-line. The Sonoma-Marin Fair is famous for a particular beauty pageant it holds. Every summer, for seventeen years, the organizers of the Sonoma-Marin Fair have held the “World’s Ugliest Dog” competition.1
You should see the pictures of these doggie contestants. Bald patches, bug eyes, missing teeth and other body parts, tongues hanging out, huge overbites and, this year’s winner had a massive underbite! You name it, one of the contestants has it. The characteristics that would get it laughed out of the ring at the “Eukenuba American Kennel Association Dog Show” are the exact ones that will bring home the prize at the Sonoma-Marin Fair.
Normally, the rules of our culture say that what is beautiful is best and that which is ugly is a failure, which is why the Eukenuba championship is shown on TV and why the Sonoma-Marin “World’s Ugliest Dog” is a contest you probably never heard of. That’s what our culture values. But according to God’s values, being “ugly” or different from the rest of the crowd, means being a smashing success.
#1
If there’s one thing we know about Jesus, it’s that what our culture considers ugly, like these poor little canines, Jesus blesses.
In this passage from Luke, Jesus blesses the ragtag crowd of “ugly” people that keeps hounding him everywhere he goes. These people are poor, dirty, sick, and hungry. Some probably hadn’t bathed in awhile; others were fresh off the fishing boats. You can imagine what the scene must have smelled like.
The space surrounding Jesus is full of people who came “to be healed of their diseases” and so that those “troubled by evil spirits were cured.” It’s a good thing Jesus wasn’t claustrophobic because this mob of humanity seems to be crowding closer and closer to Jesus, trying to touch him with just one little finger tip in hopes of getting some of his healing power. You can just FEEL the crowds leaning closer and closer to him.
This ragamuffin group has gathered from all over the place: from Jerusalem to the coast of Tyre and Sidon. They are apostles and disciples, Jews and Gentiles, and probably even some pagans in the mix, all gathered to catch a glimpse of Jesus. They are a dirty, smelly mass of illness and disease, people declared unclean and ugly. And Jesus blesses them, because what our culture considers ugly, Jesus blesses.
#2
This passage from Luke’s gospel is part of what is known as The Sermon on the Plain. You’ve heard of the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5. Well, this is the same speech, except it’s shorter and preached down at sea level instead of on a mountain. Commentators suggest that although Matthew 5 is prettier, Luke 6 is probably closer to Jesus’ original words.
In Luke’s version of this speech, Jesus says some unexpected things. Jesus CHOOSES to bless the ugly people in the crowd! He BLESSES the poor who beg for change alongside the dusty city streets. He BLESSES the hungry who scrounge for scraps out of garbage cans. He BLESSES those who are unable to contain weeping and mourning. And he BLESSES those who are hated and excluded and insulted and rejected by the rest of society, and maybe even by us. Because what our culture considers ugly, Jesus blesses.
Now, the word “blessed” used here doesn’t mean that they will suddenly attain a supreme level of sublime happiness that will help them to transcend all their problems. It means that the poor, the hungry, those who weep, and those who are rejected will be considered righteous—they will be blessed not in the eyes of the culture, but in the eyes of the Lord. Being blessed doesn’t mean money will never be tight or that there will be food galore on the table, or even that we’ll never be sad or rejected again.
It means that God has chosen to see us through the dry spells. God will always provide enough to get us through the tough times.
#3
Along with the 4 blessings, Jesus also delivers 4 woes: woe to the rich, woe to the well fed, woe to those who laugh, and woe to those who are well-respected by others. There he goes again—Jesus is saying a lot of unexpected things in this passage!
I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’ve been taught that it’s a good thing to have a little money in the bank; that it’s good to have 3 square meals a day and maybe a little snack before bed time. And what’s this nonsense about “woe to those who laugh”—this congregation is in big trouble if laughing turns out to be a bad thing! And isn’t your reputation supposed to be your most important asset, the key to influence and affluence? A little money in the bank, a full belly, a good time, and a good reputation—aren’t these good things? Why does Jesus say "woe" to these things?
Here’s the problem: Mark 10:25 says, “ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Jesus knows that too often the pursuit of money and a comfortable life—being well fed, laughing a lot, and being spoken well of—all too often gets in the way of worshiping God.
We have to remember what our culture blesses, Jesus considers ugly because it becomes an obstacle to God.
CONCLUSION
In the beginning we hear about the crowd that is gathered around Jesus—they were needy, sick, tormented—all desperate for the healing power of Jesus. They had come from every corner of Judea to see Jesus.
But as Jesus begins to preach, the crowd suddenly begins to look like a bunch of disciples. You see, in the middle of this crowd of “World’s Ugliest Dogs,” Jesus sees his disciples: among this crowd of riff-raff, he sees the people who will continue his ministry after his death. Jesus is clear that what the world sees in this crowd of disease and poverty and neediness is the exact opposite of what He sees in them.
Remember what Paul says in 1 Corinthians: “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” God chooses to bless the “ugly dogs” who trust in God and not so much in other people; the “ugly dogs” who depend on God instead on themselves; the “ugly dogs” who persevere in the call God has given to them, even when they’re in the middle of a dry spell.
I hope I don't offend any one by saying I don't think any of us are going to win any beauty contests any time soon. I know I won't! So, let us embrace all those characteristics that would get us laughed out of a beauty contest--like an "ugly" dog out of the Eukenuba championship--and embrace our inner “ugly dog” that turns away from the rules and standards of our culture and chooses to live according to God's standards. And may we all enjoy the hope that comes from being “blessed" by God.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
[1] http://www.homileticsonline.com/subscriber/btl_display.asp?installment_id=93000312
Monday, July 6, 2009
Delicious Irony
Well, Rocky and I just got back from a romp in the woods and the song "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" popped into my head. After a little searching on YouTube, I found this video--starring Hugh Jackman (the "Wolverine") as Curly. He's got quite a voice. Enjoy!
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
From what nation did Ezra come? What did the king grant to him and why? (Ezra 7)
Ezra 7:6 this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him.
And here's the question of the day:
What is Simon’s reaction when, at Jesus’ command, they lower their nets and they caught such a large number of fish their nets began to break? (Luke 5)
And here's the reflection of the day:
A commentator, named R. Alan Culpepper, points out a little thread which runs through Luke 5. It's a quiet little thread that in the end packs a big punch. That thread is irony (Culpepper, NIB Commentary, Luke). Irony is one of the literary devices I appreciate most because it takes a clever author to use irony effectively.
The charge the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were trying to establish against Jesus was "blasphemy." Now, according to www.dictionary.com, blasphemy is an "impious utterance or action concerning God or sacred things." They were trying to acccuse Jesus of saying disrespectful and irreverant things about God because he was running around doing the things they assumed only God could do. So, in their minds, Jesus was "blaspheming" God because he was putting himself on the same level as God, particularly when it came to forgiving sins.
What Jesus did was unheard of. It was outrageous. And, in the minds of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, it needed to be stopped.
The irony thread bursts through the plot beginning at verse 18. Some men arrive carrying a paralytic on a mat. Unable to get through the door of the house where Jesus was, they climbed up to the roof and lowered him down through the ceiling. Jesus proclaims the man forgiven of his sins--probably not exactly what the paralytic was expecting.
Let me pause here and ask: who was the audience in this scene? Verse 17 says, "One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there." So it's the very people accusing Jesus of blasphemy who are watching this unfold in front of them. Keep that in mind.
Jesus takes a moment to address the concerns the Pharisees and teachers of the law had. He doesn't relieve them of their concern however; if anything, he increases it. They think to themselves "The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speak blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (verse 21) He identifies himself as the "Son of Man" who has authority to forgive sins. Then he tells the paralytic to stand up and walk.
So, here's the irony in verse 26, "Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, 'We have seen remarkable things today.'"
Did you catch that? "EVERYONE was amazed and gave praise to God." Everyone--even the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were amazed and gave praise to God!
They were trying to accuse Jesus of disparaging or denying God's glory; yet what Jesus did, by their own admission, glorified God! The charge of blasphemy is dismissed because it has been proven false by those seeking to prove it. Isn't that delicious irony?
What's more, the real blasphemy in this story is identified as the resistance to Jesus' ministry. The real blasphemers were the ones trying to point the finger at Jesus.
I hope that you're starting to pick up on some of these little threads as we continue the "Year of the Bible." There is so much depth to God's Word that we can only scratch the surface. But hopefully, as we continue to study it, we will begin to understand the "deep things of God" (1 Cor 2:10).
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
From what nation did Ezra come? What did the king grant to him and why? (Ezra 7)
Ezra 7:6 this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him.
And here's the question of the day:
What is Simon’s reaction when, at Jesus’ command, they lower their nets and they caught such a large number of fish their nets began to break? (Luke 5)
And here's the reflection of the day:
A commentator, named R. Alan Culpepper, points out a little thread which runs through Luke 5. It's a quiet little thread that in the end packs a big punch. That thread is irony (Culpepper, NIB Commentary, Luke). Irony is one of the literary devices I appreciate most because it takes a clever author to use irony effectively.
The charge the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were trying to establish against Jesus was "blasphemy." Now, according to www.dictionary.com, blasphemy is an "impious utterance or action concerning God or sacred things." They were trying to acccuse Jesus of saying disrespectful and irreverant things about God because he was running around doing the things they assumed only God could do. So, in their minds, Jesus was "blaspheming" God because he was putting himself on the same level as God, particularly when it came to forgiving sins.
What Jesus did was unheard of. It was outrageous. And, in the minds of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, it needed to be stopped.
The irony thread bursts through the plot beginning at verse 18. Some men arrive carrying a paralytic on a mat. Unable to get through the door of the house where Jesus was, they climbed up to the roof and lowered him down through the ceiling. Jesus proclaims the man forgiven of his sins--probably not exactly what the paralytic was expecting.
Let me pause here and ask: who was the audience in this scene? Verse 17 says, "One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there." So it's the very people accusing Jesus of blasphemy who are watching this unfold in front of them. Keep that in mind.
Jesus takes a moment to address the concerns the Pharisees and teachers of the law had. He doesn't relieve them of their concern however; if anything, he increases it. They think to themselves "The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speak blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (verse 21) He identifies himself as the "Son of Man" who has authority to forgive sins. Then he tells the paralytic to stand up and walk.
So, here's the irony in verse 26, "Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, 'We have seen remarkable things today.'"
Did you catch that? "EVERYONE was amazed and gave praise to God." Everyone--even the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were amazed and gave praise to God!
They were trying to accuse Jesus of disparaging or denying God's glory; yet what Jesus did, by their own admission, glorified God! The charge of blasphemy is dismissed because it has been proven false by those seeking to prove it. Isn't that delicious irony?
What's more, the real blasphemy in this story is identified as the resistance to Jesus' ministry. The real blasphemers were the ones trying to point the finger at Jesus.
I hope that you're starting to pick up on some of these little threads as we continue the "Year of the Bible." There is so much depth to God's Word that we can only scratch the surface. But hopefully, as we continue to study it, we will begin to understand the "deep things of God" (1 Cor 2:10).
Live as a Doxology
We've got a little Q&A catching up to do! (My fault. . . :0)
Here's the question and answer from Saturday:
Who did the people wonder, in their hearts, might be the Christ? (Luke 3)
Luke 3:15 15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.
And here's the question and answer from Sunday:
Why did the people celebrate with joy (for seven days) the Passover? (Ezra 6)
Ezra 6:22 22 For seven days they celebrated with joy the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because the LORD had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the king of Assyria, so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel.
Here's today's question:
What nation is Ezra from? What did the king grant to him and why? (Ezra 7)
And here's the reflection of the day:
Ezra is a pretty incredible person. Ezra's job was simply to study the Torah. That was his sole purpose in life: to study the Torah and to teach it to others.
But besides just learning Torah, he was supposed to LIVE it. He was supposed to BE Torah. And he was. He had experienced firsthand God's steadfast love through his interaction with the Persian Empire. He couldn't keep those experiences of God's protection to himself. He needed to share his experiences with others. He needed to share the Torah with others and encourage them to study it--and live it--as well.
That's what witnessing is all about. It doesn't have to be about a big show or a dramatic story--although, sometimes those things are involved. It's simply having a conversation about what God is doing in your life.
One of my favorite memories of witnessing actually involves a Presbytery meeting and the "Doxology." One of our colleagues had suffered a stroke and we were sharing in an impromptu time of prayer for her (we found ourselves miraculously ahead of schedule). It ended with an a cappella round of the "Doxology." Never has a song sent shivers through me like it did that day. We had gathered together as a group of believers, giving praise to God, acknowledging God as the author of life. (The beautiful four part harmony wasn't too bad either!!)
It was a natural thing for us to do, because we all had experiences with God's protection and steadfast love. And it was natural for Ezra to live a doxological life--a life full of praise. Not simply a life full of thanksgiving--that can put the focus too much on ourselves--but a life full of praise. Ezra was the kind of believer whose whole life was marked by encouraging and strengthening others as he gave glory to God.
How can you live as a doxology today?
Allison
Here's the question and answer from Saturday:
Who did the people wonder, in their hearts, might be the Christ? (Luke 3)
Luke 3:15 15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.
And here's the question and answer from Sunday:
Why did the people celebrate with joy (for seven days) the Passover? (Ezra 6)
Ezra 6:22 22 For seven days they celebrated with joy the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because the LORD had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the king of Assyria, so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel.
Here's today's question:
What nation is Ezra from? What did the king grant to him and why? (Ezra 7)
And here's the reflection of the day:
Ezra is a pretty incredible person. Ezra's job was simply to study the Torah. That was his sole purpose in life: to study the Torah and to teach it to others.
But besides just learning Torah, he was supposed to LIVE it. He was supposed to BE Torah. And he was. He had experienced firsthand God's steadfast love through his interaction with the Persian Empire. He couldn't keep those experiences of God's protection to himself. He needed to share his experiences with others. He needed to share the Torah with others and encourage them to study it--and live it--as well.
That's what witnessing is all about. It doesn't have to be about a big show or a dramatic story--although, sometimes those things are involved. It's simply having a conversation about what God is doing in your life.
One of my favorite memories of witnessing actually involves a Presbytery meeting and the "Doxology." One of our colleagues had suffered a stroke and we were sharing in an impromptu time of prayer for her (we found ourselves miraculously ahead of schedule). It ended with an a cappella round of the "Doxology." Never has a song sent shivers through me like it did that day. We had gathered together as a group of believers, giving praise to God, acknowledging God as the author of life. (The beautiful four part harmony wasn't too bad either!!)
It was a natural thing for us to do, because we all had experiences with God's protection and steadfast love. And it was natural for Ezra to live a doxological life--a life full of praise. Not simply a life full of thanksgiving--that can put the focus too much on ourselves--but a life full of praise. Ezra was the kind of believer whose whole life was marked by encouraging and strengthening others as he gave glory to God.
How can you live as a doxology today?
Allison
Friday, July 3, 2009
Ezra Who?
Doesn't feel much like the 3rd of July around here, but I'll take it. You know I'm a cold weather fan!
Let's get down to business. . .
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
What is the name of the king of Persia? What did God tell him to? (2 Chron 36)
2 Chronicles 36:22-23 22 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing: 23 "This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: "'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you-- may the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.'"
And here's the question of the day:
In what unusual way did the man named “Barzillai” get his name? (Ezra 2)
And here's the reflection of the day:
Well, we've come to Ezra. This is probably a book of the Bible you don't know too much about. So, let me give you some background.
Ezra and Nehemiah were originally considered a single literary work entitled "Ezra." Then some of the church fathers decided to separate it (Ralph W. Klein, NIB Commentary, "The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah"). (I couldn't find a reason why they did it--sorry!) Until recently, scholars believe Ezra-Nehemiah was also a part of 1-2 Chronicles. Now it is generally believed they were written separately.
At this point in history Jerusalem was destroyed (586 BCE) and the Israelites found themselves in exile again, this time at the hands of the Babylonians and in Babylon. When Jerusalem fell, many of the learned and well-to-do Jews were sent into exile, thereby stunting the growth of the Israelites. The future of the Israelites looked bleak, to say the least, but God's prophets continued to reassure them that God would provide.
And God did provide, in the form of a generous Persian king named Cyrus who conquered the Babylonians and invites the Jerusalem exiles to return home to Jerusalem in order to rebuild the Temple, which was finished in 516 BCE.
Cyrus' successor, Artaxerxes I (pronounced "art-a-zerk-sees"--how 'bout that name for a 2 year old!), sent Ezra to Jerusalem to lead the Jews back to Jerusalem, "deliver gifts offered by the Persian authorities and by the people to the Temple, make inquiry about conformity to the law in Judah and Jerusalem, and appoint magistrates and judges to teach the law" (Klein).
So, Ezra leads the people in a confession of sin for "their intermarriage with foreigners" (not because they were racist but because foreigners often brought with them other religions which led the Israelites away from God). AND, he led a "commission that carried out the removal of the foreign wives and their children." (Sheesh. Don't sign me up for that job!)
These are the main things to watch out for when you read Ezra and Nehemiah:
1. the return from exile and the rebuilding of the Temple
2. the initial activities of Ezra
3. Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the walls
4. the climax of Ezra and Nehemiah's work
5. the final acts of Nehemiah
I hope all this helps as you being to read Ezra and Nehemiah. Let me know if you have any other questions!!
Allison
Let's get down to business. . .
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
What is the name of the king of Persia? What did God tell him to? (2 Chron 36)
2 Chronicles 36:22-23 22 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing: 23 "This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: "'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you-- may the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.'"
And here's the question of the day:
In what unusual way did the man named “Barzillai” get his name? (Ezra 2)
And here's the reflection of the day:
Well, we've come to Ezra. This is probably a book of the Bible you don't know too much about. So, let me give you some background.
Ezra and Nehemiah were originally considered a single literary work entitled "Ezra." Then some of the church fathers decided to separate it (Ralph W. Klein, NIB Commentary, "The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah"). (I couldn't find a reason why they did it--sorry!) Until recently, scholars believe Ezra-Nehemiah was also a part of 1-2 Chronicles. Now it is generally believed they were written separately.
At this point in history Jerusalem was destroyed (586 BCE) and the Israelites found themselves in exile again, this time at the hands of the Babylonians and in Babylon. When Jerusalem fell, many of the learned and well-to-do Jews were sent into exile, thereby stunting the growth of the Israelites. The future of the Israelites looked bleak, to say the least, but God's prophets continued to reassure them that God would provide.
And God did provide, in the form of a generous Persian king named Cyrus who conquered the Babylonians and invites the Jerusalem exiles to return home to Jerusalem in order to rebuild the Temple, which was finished in 516 BCE.
Cyrus' successor, Artaxerxes I (pronounced "art-a-zerk-sees"--how 'bout that name for a 2 year old!), sent Ezra to Jerusalem to lead the Jews back to Jerusalem, "deliver gifts offered by the Persian authorities and by the people to the Temple, make inquiry about conformity to the law in Judah and Jerusalem, and appoint magistrates and judges to teach the law" (Klein).
So, Ezra leads the people in a confession of sin for "their intermarriage with foreigners" (not because they were racist but because foreigners often brought with them other religions which led the Israelites away from God). AND, he led a "commission that carried out the removal of the foreign wives and their children." (Sheesh. Don't sign me up for that job!)
These are the main things to watch out for when you read Ezra and Nehemiah:
1. the return from exile and the rebuilding of the Temple
2. the initial activities of Ezra
3. Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the walls
4. the climax of Ezra and Nehemiah's work
5. the final acts of Nehemiah
I hope all this helps as you being to read Ezra and Nehemiah. Let me know if you have any other questions!!
Allison
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Practice Being Speechless: Part 2
WE DID IT! WE'RE 50% DONE with the "Year of the Bible!" (Well, 50% done if you're a glass-half full person; 50% to go if you're a glass half-empty person.)
Either way, CONGRATULATIONS!
Here's the question and answer from Tuesday:
Who is Luke writing to? (Luke 1)
Luke 1:3-4 3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
And from Wednesday (since I didn't get a chance to blog it):
Who is the one who judges? (Psalm 75)
Psalm 75:7 7 But it is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.
And here's the question of the day:
What is the name of the king of Persia? What did God tell him to? (2 Chron 36)
And here's the reflection of the day:
In the reading from Luke today, we pick back up with Zechariah and Elizabeth (Luke 1:39ff). When we saw them last, old Elizabeth was pregnant by her equally aged spouse Zechariah who had been stricken mute because he doubted. (Boy, does that sounds like a soap opera plot, or what?!)
It's now the appointed hour and Elizabeth gives birth to a bouncing baby boy (verse 57). Her neighbors and relatives rush to her side to "share her joy." (Remember, she went into seclusion in verse 24, although the text is not clear if it's the first 5 months, the last 5 months, or maybe the gestational period back then was only 5 months. Hmmm. . . ) Through all these longs month, Zechariah has remained silent.
Then comes time to name the child. The religious leaders wanted to name him Zechariah after his father, but Elizabeth protests. She is ignored. They look to Zechariah for his decision. He writes, "His name is John." After writing these words "his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God" (verse 64).
The first words out of his mouth were words of praise. Incredible! In his place I can only imagine the words that might come out of my mouth after many frustrating months being unable to communicate.
As a follow up to the post from earlier this week, be on alert for speechless moments before God, but also consider what you will say when you share them with someone. Keep those special times to yourself for a while; then decide how you will share it with others.
Those times may be filled with painful but purposeful duress or they might be filled with sunshine and roses. Either way, how we respond to them is crucial. Light is not meant to be kept under a bushel nor is a glimpse of God mean to be kept to oneself. They are meant to be shared so that they might nurture the faith of our neighbors.
So, now get to sharing!
Allison
Either way, CONGRATULATIONS!
Here's the question and answer from Tuesday:
Who is Luke writing to? (Luke 1)
Luke 1:3-4 3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
And from Wednesday (since I didn't get a chance to blog it):
Who is the one who judges? (Psalm 75)
Psalm 75:7 7 But it is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.
And here's the question of the day:
What is the name of the king of Persia? What did God tell him to? (2 Chron 36)
And here's the reflection of the day:
In the reading from Luke today, we pick back up with Zechariah and Elizabeth (Luke 1:39ff). When we saw them last, old Elizabeth was pregnant by her equally aged spouse Zechariah who had been stricken mute because he doubted. (Boy, does that sounds like a soap opera plot, or what?!)
It's now the appointed hour and Elizabeth gives birth to a bouncing baby boy (verse 57). Her neighbors and relatives rush to her side to "share her joy." (Remember, she went into seclusion in verse 24, although the text is not clear if it's the first 5 months, the last 5 months, or maybe the gestational period back then was only 5 months. Hmmm. . . ) Through all these longs month, Zechariah has remained silent.
Then comes time to name the child. The religious leaders wanted to name him Zechariah after his father, but Elizabeth protests. She is ignored. They look to Zechariah for his decision. He writes, "His name is John." After writing these words "his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God" (verse 64).
The first words out of his mouth were words of praise. Incredible! In his place I can only imagine the words that might come out of my mouth after many frustrating months being unable to communicate.
As a follow up to the post from earlier this week, be on alert for speechless moments before God, but also consider what you will say when you share them with someone. Keep those special times to yourself for a while; then decide how you will share it with others.
Those times may be filled with painful but purposeful duress or they might be filled with sunshine and roses. Either way, how we respond to them is crucial. Light is not meant to be kept under a bushel nor is a glimpse of God mean to be kept to oneself. They are meant to be shared so that they might nurture the faith of our neighbors.
So, now get to sharing!
Allison
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
