tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68490428929935145182024-03-04T22:27:41.207-06:00Living The WordReflections on what it means to be faithful in communityPastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-38041871864415557722016-06-09T15:00:00.000-05:002016-06-09T15:00:04.860-05:00Galatians 3<div class="MsoNormal">
There are two main themes in this chapter of Galatians. </div>
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1—being a child of Abraham through Faith</div>
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For
Paul, faith = belief in the crucified and risen Jesus Christ, and so when he
speaks of faith “coming” (v. 23) he refers to the “era of Christ” as a
particular time marked by Christ’s death and resurrection. It is through this
relationship of faith, through Christ, that believers receive the Spirit (v. 2)
and are saved, reconciled to God. </div>
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A portion
of this chapter tries to explain how Abraham, who lived prior to Christ, of
course, could be the father of the faith, if “faith” hadn’t come yet. Paul
cites several examples from Hebrew scripture of how God was working through Abraham
and the law to prepare people for faith, when Christ would come. But he is
careful to remind it was not the law that saved anyone, ever—then or now.
Rather, it is faith in Christ Jesus. </div>
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Being a
“child of Abraham” (v. 7) means we believe in the same gospel, the same Lord,
the same work God is doing, work which began long before Christ but was
revealed in Christ as faith, and continues through the Spirit. Theologically we
agree with this: those who believe in Jesus are one “family”. Being a child of
Abraham is not a genealogical reality, it is about faith. While there are many
stories in the New Testament about entire households being baptized once the
head of the house believed in Jesus, making baptism a family thing, Paul’s
point is that heritage doesn’t matter, faith does. Remember, he’s arguing
against those who insist Gentiles must become Jewish before being Christian.) </div>
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2—identity as a child of God</div>
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Paul
redefines this new identity in faith. One of the purposes of the law was to
form a common identity among the people of God. Sort of like we might sing “They’ll
know we are Christians by our love”, in Hebrew scripture they knew they were
Jewish because they followed the Mosaic law. But now Paul proclaims a new
source for identity: baptism into Christ (v. 27). Who you used to be (Jew or
Gentile, slave or free, male or female) doesn’t matter as much as who you are
now: child of God. The things that used to mark people as different from one
another give way to a common identity in Christ. One is not better than
another; all are beloved children in God’s eyes. </div>
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Finally
Paul closes the circle of this argument and proclaims that all who are made new
in Christ Jesus, all who are baptized and have put on Christ, all who share
this identity, are Abraham’s offspring. It is that key relationship of faith, a
gift from the Holy Spirit, that holds all of these pieces together. Whether Jew
(following the Law) or Gentile, slave or free, male or female—all these
differences come together to form the people of God, rooted in Abraham, and united
in Jesus. </div>
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Throughout
this epistle, Paul does a nice job of showing the importance of the Law and his
own respect for it, while insisting that the law is not what saves us. Now he
has brought Abraham into the argument, not just “the law” in a theoretical way,
but an example to whom they can relate, to show how God’s grace works not only
on a timeline (as if the ancestors are out of luck because they lived before
Jesus) but eternally in both directions. </div>
Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-7030416018938214102016-05-30T12:07:00.002-05:002016-05-30T12:07:35.128-05:00Galatians 2 <div class="MsoNormal">
In chapter 2, Paul continues the recitation of his own
history, as a Jew and an apostle. While what it means to be a Christian
continues to be in the process of definition, there are many mixed messages
floating around. Paul encourages them to focus on THE gospel: <b>we are justified
by faith in Christ</b>, period. Other traditions, including Mosaic law, might be
valuable and comfortable, but they do not count when it comes to
righteousness/salvation. Paul cites his own experience: he was a perfect Jew, a
Pharisee, keeping all the laws; yet he does not believe the law saved him. It
was only when God revealed Christ to Paul, when Paul died to that old way and
was born anew in Christ, that he was saved.</div>
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Here we are getting to the crux of the argument: Christ has
set us free from needing to follow the law. We are saved because of faith in
Christ, and that’s all we need. We are therefore free to follow Christ, rather
than following the law, as we live new lives and serve the neighbor. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Paul is so concerned about this singular focus that he even
criticizes his colleagues who do not seem to be consistent. Cephas (Peter)
apparently was OK with sharing meals with Gentiles, after his vision from God
in Acts 10-11 that removed the dietary restrictions. But when some “purists”
came along and influenced him, Peter returned to following the dietary laws,
which Paul here criticizes. It is not the true gospel Paul gave them, and it
creates division between those who are from Jewish tradition and those who are not,
while Paul is seeking unity among the believers. </div>
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Are there things we think we “have” to do today to be
faithful? </div>
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Are there prerequisites for being a “good Christian”? </div>
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How do we
distinguish between following the law and following Jesus? </div>
Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-20078711000776919432016-05-26T18:53:00.000-05:002016-05-26T18:53:33.467-05:00Galatians 1<div class="MsoNormal">
The major theme of Galatians will be FREEDOM. As Christians,
we are free <i>from</i> the power of sin and the bonds of death, including the
requirement of keeping Mosaic law in order to be made right with God
(justified). We are also free <i>for</i> service to the neighbor, living as Christ
lived. This freedom is not “do whatever I want!”, but freedom from worrying
about whether or not we are saved in order to have time and energy to serve the
neighbor. In Christ we are saved--now we get to work! </div>
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<br /></div>
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This argument is shaped by a controversy in the church in
Galatia. Some who follow Jesus have come to town after Paul has left, and are
insisting that in order to be Christian, one must first be Jewish, observing
all the laws and customs of Mosaic law found in the Torah. In the first
chapter, Paul references this as “turning to another gospel” (v. 6). He begins
to lay out his credentials as the supreme Jew, how as a Pharisee he actively
persecuted Christians, literally to their deaths. But Jesus was revealed to him
on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) and he converted that zeal against Christians
to work on behalf of Christ. He is not making this up—he has been sent by God
to witness to Christ. As a highly educated and trained religious official, he
knows the ins and outs of how it all works, and these “false teachers” must be
stopped. He will continue to develop this argument about being free in Christ
throughout the book. </div>
Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-62310797594137459652016-05-25T14:23:00.000-05:002016-05-25T14:23:10.166-05:00Summer Reading 2016: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians <div class="MsoNormal">
This summer we are reading together three epistles
from the New Testament. </div>
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While communication by letter across distance was not
uncommon in the time of the New Testament, these particular letters, which we
honor as scripture, are distinct. </div>
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1--They are much longer than an average letter which might
contain personal or official correspondence. Biblical epistles written by Paul
average 1300 words each; other official epistles from the time average only 295
words. </div>
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2—Rather than carrying news or an official decree, biblical
epistles are used for supporting a new worshiping community as it develops,
providing theological correction and admonitions for particular behavior.
Perhaps this is why they are so long: a theological argument is carefully constructed,
including traditional information from local culture and religious customs,
which then leads to a compelling argument about why following the Way of Jesus
is the best way to go, and what it looks like when you do follow that way. </div>
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3—While the form of the epistle is somewhat standard with popular
letter-writing customs of the day, the elements have been altered to make a
theological statement. Rather than a simple “Greetings” or “Farewell”, a
religious blessing opens and closes the letters: “Grace to you and peace from
God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ”. </div>
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<br /></div>
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These epistles were written to communities of believers
which Paul himself had organized in his travels. He* writes them to encourage
their ongoing work in the gospel, to clarify theological questions, and to
address problems or concerns that have arisen in the communities. As we read
through these three, we will be able to reconstruct the situation in the church
based on what is being addressed in the letter.</div>
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*Paul is noted as the “author” of 13 epistles in the New
Testament. Only 7 of these are “undisputed”, based on timing and style.
Probably the 6 others were written by others who knew Paul, but not Paul
himself. In our reading, Galatians and Philippians are considered authentically
Pauline; Ephesians probably came later, is more general, and was likely not
written by Paul himself. Still, they are all regarded as normative scripture
for Christian faith and life. The epistles are likely the oldest material in
the New Testament (AD 50-60), as the gospels and Acts were collected and
recorded later (AD 70-90). </div>
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Each week through September 4 we will read one chapter of these epistles. They will be the text for preaching and teaching on Sundays. </div>
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Note: I use study Bibles for much of this background material: </div>
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<i>The New Oxford Annotated Study Bible with Apocrypha,</i> NRSV, ed. Bruce M. Metzger & Roland E. Murphy. NY:Oxford University Press, 1991. </div>
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<i>Lutheran Study Bible</i>, NRSV. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2009. </div>
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<i>The Learning Bible</i>, CEV. NY: American Bible Society, 1995. </div>
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<br /></div>
Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-65596620497498079802016-05-05T09:07:00.002-05:002016-05-05T09:07:35.475-05:00National Day of PrayerI was invited to be the speaker for Buda's National Day of Prayer (05 May 2016) breakfast for city employees, hosted by the Buda Ministerial Alliance. Here is the sermon:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Today is the National Day of Prayer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All around the country, people of
faith are gathering to pray together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s a pretty amazing thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">People of various traditions, various
creeds, backgrounds, and languages <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> gather
together to pray this day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Together we are called to pray-- for
our nation, for leaders, for our cities, towns, communities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In Buda, we gather for breakfast to
honor and pray for our city employees. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Generally speaking, praying doesn’t
seem that hard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I know many people who pray without
having to think much about it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On the other hand, some people don’t
pray because they’re not sure how to do it, what to say. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When I was a child, my brother often
asked me to pray on his behalf, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> because
he was sure that God would listen to me better than God would listen to him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t know why he thought that, but
I am happy to report he says his own prayers now! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So the idea of praying isn’t that
hard, but HOW are we to pray? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What are we to say when we come into
the presence of an awesome God, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> who
longs to hear from us? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And how are we to pray for something
as diverse and ambiguous as a whole nation? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In a time of discontent, in a time of
election, in a time of violence, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> in
a time of mistrust of people and of institutions—how are we to pray?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes we know what to say. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We know what we want, and we ask for
it, or maybe even demand it from God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes we don’t know what we <u>do</u>
want, but we <u>do</u> know what we <u>don’t want</u>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes we don’t have any words for
our prayers, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> and
sometimes our prayers are set to music. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We don’t all pray the same, and we
don’t all pray for the same things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yet we are urged by our forebears,
whose stories we know from scripture, to pray. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pray in silence, pray aloud, pray
alone, pray with others, pray without ceasing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tell God some things, ask God some
things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Abram, Rebekah, Moses, Elijah, Jesus,
Peter, and other biblical ancestors prayed to God—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> it
seems to be a good thing to do! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And so, we pray. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We tell God what’s wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We ask God to bless, to heal, to give
wisdom and guidance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We ask for protection, for trust, for
respect across differences. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes we tell God exactly what we
want and how we think God should do it, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> and
sometimes, perhaps in our better moments, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> we
let ourselves melt away and entrust it to God, however God will handle it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But prayer is more than <u>talking at</u>
God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s even more than listening to God,
which for me is the harder part of prayer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Real prayer is becoming so
intertwined with the Divine that we start to resemble God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We are made in the image of God, and
when we pray, we are empowered to live a godly life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The theme verse for today from Isaiah
58 commands us to “shout out, do not hold back!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pray, yes, and fervently, without
ceasing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But the rest of this chapter puts
legs on our praying, shows us what prayer looks like in action: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaiah 58</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: #010000;">Shout out, do not
hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their
rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><sup><span style="color: #777777;">2</span></sup><span style="color: #010000;">Yet day after
day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that
practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they
ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><sup><span style="color: #777777;">3</span></sup><span style="color: #010000;">“Why do we fast, but you do not
see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?” Look, you serve your own
interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><sup><span style="color: #777777;">4</span></sup><span style="color: #010000;">Look,
you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such
fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><sup><span style="color: #777777;">5</span></sup><span style="color: #010000;">Is
such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the
head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a
fast, a day acceptable to the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="sc"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span>?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><sup><span style="color: #777777;">6</span></sup><span style="color: #010000;">Is
not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the
thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><sup><span style="color: #777777;">7</span></sup><span style="color: #010000;">Is
it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into
your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself
from your own kin?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><sup><span style="color: #777777;">8</span></sup><span style="color: #010000;">Then your light shall break
forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator
shall go before you, the glory of the <span class="sc"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>shall
be your rear guard.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><sup><span style="color: #777777;">9</span></sup><span style="color: #010000;">Then you shall call, and the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="sc"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>will
answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the
yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,</span><sup><span style="color: #777777;">10</span></sup><span style="color: #010000;">if you offer your food to the
hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in
the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><sup><span style="color: #777777;">11</span></sup><span style="color: #010000;">The<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="sc"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>will
guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your
bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water,
whose waters never fail.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><sup><span style="color: #777777;">12</span></sup><span style="color: #010000;">Your ancient ruins shall be
rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be
called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><sup><span style="color: #777777;">13</span></sup><span style="color: #010000;">If you refrain from trampling
the sabbath, from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; if you call the
sabbath a delight and the holy day of the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="sc"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>honorable; if you honor it, not going your
own ways, serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs;<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><sup><span style="color: #777777;">14</span></sup></span></i><span style="color: #010000;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">then
you shall take delight in the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="sc"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span>, and I will
make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage
of your ancestor Jacob, for the mouth of the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="sc"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>has spoken.</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 80.15pt 311.75pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 80.15pt 311.75pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And so on this National Day of
Prayer, we are gathered to pray.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We will spend an hour here, eating, praying,
knowing we are friends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But then what? What will these
prayers mean this afternoon, or next week? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaiah sends us out not to pray, but
to BE THE PRAYER—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> the
grace, the peace, the justice, the food, the liberation, the hope, the healing
of God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes, God hears and answers prayer,
and often it is through us, the beloved children of God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We are reminded that we do God’s work
in this time and place by these beautiful words <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> based
on ancient Jewish teachings: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's
grief. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Do justly, now. Love mercy, now.
Walk humbly now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> You are not obligated to complete
the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.</span>” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Indeed, we are a
world in need of prayer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thank you for the
prayers you offer, and the prayers you are. Amen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-70164252818010738502016-03-16T17:52:00.001-05:002016-03-16T17:52:49.224-05:00Bible Study Brief: Daniel 3 Sunday, March 20<br />
<br />
Daniel 3:1-29<br />
<br />
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Daniel is considered a major
prophetic book (it’s fairly lengthy) and contains apocalyptic visions (making
it similar to Revelation). The first part of the book contains six stories
which emphasize the rewards of being faithful to God, even at the expense of
disobeying a foreign king. They are written in the style of traditional
stories, and probably are Hebrew adaptations of already existing tales. The
second half of the book contains the visions, dreams of Daniel about the future
of God’s people. The book covers a timespan of several kings. Ancient sources for Daniel are found in both Hebrew and Aramaic languages. </div>
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<br /></div>
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In this story, one of the
two most remembered from Daniel (the other is Daniel in the Lions’ Den, chapter
6), three Hebrew men are punished for being faithful to God despite the king’s
orders. All the stories in this first section are about Shadrach, Meshach,
Abednego, and Daniel, though Daniel does not appear in this story. They are
captives in Babylon but have been appointed to positions of authority in
service to the king, having been selected from among the best (strong and
smart) of the captives to be educated in Chaldean ways. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When the king erects a
golden statue and demands that everyone in the kingdom bow down to it,
Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego refuse, out of loyalty to the God of Israel.
They’d rather die than cheat on God, regardless of whether God will save them.
They are thrown into a fiery furnace… you know the rest of the story (or read
it!). </div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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This is a story about
faithfulness in time of trouble, and remembering who you are when you are in a
strange land, surrounded by customs, laws, and people that not only don’t match
yours but in some cases are directly contrary to yours. It’s a migration
problem that is still a struggle for people on the move today, including
refugees: what language will we speak, what food will we eat, what freedoms
will be retained and which taken away, in this new place? How will we survive?
How will we know who we are, and who God is, in a new land? What will become
important to us? The Hebrew men in this story get to keep their culture and
their identity because of God’s impressive save. What might we learn about
living amid cultural diversity in our time and place? </div>
Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-38298862721360454022016-03-16T17:23:00.002-05:002016-03-16T17:23:51.323-05:00Bible Study Brief: Isaiah 61<div class="MsoNormal">
Wednesday, March 16</div>
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<br /></div>
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Isaiah 61:1-4,
9-11 </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We come again to the latter section of Isaiah, sometimes
called “Third Isaiah”, probably about 150 years later than the beginning of the
book. The promise of what God will do for the nation in exile will be carried
out by this “apostle”, one sent by God to the people. The promise is rich, and
just what they are hoping for: a reversal of fortune, and undoing of the harm
done to God’s people. Imagine playing a scene backwards, when all that has been
broken or blown up gets reassembled, good as new. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Christians reading this section will be reminded of Jesus
reading this very passage aloud in the synagogue, and claiming himself to be
this One whom God has sent (Luke 4:16-21). This does not mean that Isaiah was
predicting Jesus, but that God made a promise which we know through Isaiah, and
God fulfilled that promise in Jesus. </div>
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<br /></div>
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As we’ve observed throughout this series, most of the verbs
have God for the subject. The people are hopeless—they (we?) keep messing up,
getting in trouble, separating ourselves from God. God alone has the power to
repair these breaks, to rescue us in time of trouble (a better translation than
“vengeance” in verse 2), to restore the divine relationship. In this time of
spring and new life, it is easy to imagine what this new thing will look like—as
surely as the earth puts forth new shoots, so will God cause righteousness and
praise to spring up, not only among the faithful, but before ALL the nations. </div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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A next step for us as people of faith is to live in God’s
ways, which are described here. God has the power to do all these things, but
it does not mean we have no power. Filled with the Spirit as this servant is,
we too can bring good news to the oppressed, bind up the brokenhearted,
proclaim liberty, release, and the year of the Lord’s favor, and comfort those
who mourn. These are divine tasks, but being made in the image of God, we too
can accomplish God’s work in these ways. What might this promise look like in
our world today, in our communities, neighborhoods, and families? </div>
Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-86789026556746850672016-03-08T12:35:00.002-06:002016-03-08T12:35:48.575-06:00Bible Study Brief: Zephaniah and Jonah <div class="MsoNormal">
Sunday, March 13</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Zephaniah 3:14-20</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jonah
1:1-2:1 </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These stories are from the minor prophets (so called because
the stories from and about them are shorter in length); there are 12 of them
rounding out the Hebrew Testament. Even in shorter form, the minor prophets
follow the classic pattern of announcing condemnation to a city or nation, followed
by promises of what God will do when they repent (sometimes what God does is
make the repentance happen). </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Zephaniah 3:14-20 </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Zephaniah provides a brief but harsh criticism against the
establishment in Jerusalem. They are trusting in their own wealth and power and
are creating international alliances and turning toward other gods. The result
of this is that the poor of Jerusalem are not being cared for and are being
taken advantage of, contrary to God’s law. The punishment for this will be
thorough: chapter 1 describes an undoing of creation similar to the Great Flood
(Gen 6-9). After this “Day of the Lord”, God will remove the judgment against
the people and will rejoice over them, saving both the nation as a whole and
individuals from disaster, illness, and exile, restoring the land, the
community, and their fortunes (sounds a little bit like Job, too!). Once again, there are themes of restoration
after devastation, life after death, promise fulfilled after despair. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Jonah 1:1-2:1 </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jonah is a very different kind of prophetic book. It is more
of a story than the other prophetic books are, and it is about Jonah rather
than a collection of his words. In fact, Jonah has very few words at all in
this story. His longest speech is not against the city of Ninevah, where he is
sent to prophesy, but while he is in the belly of the great fish, and calls to
God in the words of a very eloquent psalm-like prayer. </div>
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<br /></div>
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This first chapter is the Big Fish part of the story, the
part we know best. God has called on Jonah, who is never identified as a
prophet per se, to travel to Ninevah and warn them that God is aware of their
wicked ways. Jonah doesn’t want to go because Ninevah is an enemy of Israel. If
he goes, he might be killed by these Assyrians who earlier decimated the
Israelites; or they may repent, since God is “gracious and merciful, slow to
anger, and ready to relent from punishing” (4:2). Neither of these options is
appealing to Jonah, who decides to disobey God and run to the other side of the
world (Ninevah was in what is now Iraq; Tarshish in modern Spain; see map on
1498 of <i>Lutheran Study Bible</i>). </div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This story is probably included in the Easter Vigil readings
because of the resurrection theme of Jonah being disobedient and running from
God, then being swallowed by a great fish, where he stayed for 3 days and
nights before being brought to “new life” when the fish spit him out, alive, on
the shore. These are parallel themes with the other prophetic writings we’ve
studied previously, and with the resurrection details of Jesus being in the
tomb for 3 days and nights before God raised him from the dead. This story also
broadens God’s interest in salvation for all nations, not only for Israel. God
notices people outside of Israel, even their enemies, and desires repentance
and salvation for them. </div>
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<br /></div>
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To see a performance of this story, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUsh3I-8f3g" target="_blank">here </a></div>
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<br /></div>
Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-71156615532272596972016-03-08T11:53:00.003-06:002016-03-08T11:53:45.653-06:00Bible Study Brief: Ezekiel 37<div class="MsoNormal">
Wednesday, March 9 </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ezekiel 37:1-14 </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This story of the Dry Bones is probably the most familiar
from Ezekiel. In this vision, God promises to re-create life from death, a sort
of second creation using the raw material of what is left of the Israelites. In
exile, they feel that they are cut off from their source of life (away from Jerusalem
= away from God), and so they have dried up, wasting away to only bones. God
promises to bring them back together so they are whole, including flesh, sinew,
skin, and bone, and to breathe God’s spirit into them for new life. </div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Remember, in Hebrew as well as in Greek there is one word
for spirit, wind, and breath, which is the source of life for these new
creations. With these parallel images to resurrection and new life, this is a
perfect story for the Easter Vigil! </div>
Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-48801523874221046842016-03-08T11:32:00.000-06:002016-03-08T11:32:00.844-06:00Bible Study Brief: Ezekiel 36 Sunday, March 6<br />
<br />
Ezekiel 36:24-28<br />
<br />
Ezekiel was a priest turned prophet who was likely forcibly
removed from Jerusalem with other leaders during the exile. His message is
harsh criticism at times, poetic vision at other times, comfort and promise at
others. In his description, the Israelites are in exile because of their unholy
ways; they have not kept the laws and particularly the ritual ordinances for
worship, so they are being punished by being taken captive by the Babylonians.
Despite their unfaithfulness, however, the LORD is faithful and the LORD
remains holy. When it seems God has gone back on the Abrahamic covenant (land,
people, blessing), Ezekiel interprets the exile as the way God is keeping God’s
name holy despite the carelessness of the people. This “time out” that is exile
will create a way for God to renew the covenant relationship with them.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In this section, God promises to renew Israel by gathering
them together from their scattered exile, cleansing them with clean water
(baptism/purification), replacing their hearts of stone (think of Pharaoh’s “hardened
heart” during the plagues!) with a heart of flesh, and pouring God’s own spirit
within them (the same way God breathed the Spirit/”breath of life” into humans
at creation). In short, this is their do-over; they get a clean start again, to
be God’s people. In the midst of the
pain and shame of this forced separation from their home (both their land and
their God), these are comforting words indeed. </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-89048852481858065192016-03-08T11:14:00.000-06:002016-03-08T11:14:06.201-06:00Bible Study Brief: Isaiah 55Sunday, February 28<br />
<br />
Isaiah 55:1-11<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Isaiah is a complex book, mostly because it is likely 3 or 4
distinct sections, collected/composed at three very different times and
locations in the life of Israel and Judah. The second part, sometimes called “Second
Isaiah”, includes chapters 40-55 and dates from the Babylonian Captivity,
597-538 BCE. When the people are in exile and don’t know where God is (the temple
has been destroyed, so where can God live?), they long for assurance that God
is still there, still their God, and knows where they are. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“For the prophets, history is not merely a stage for human
actors but is the arena where God guides, warns, challenges, and liberates God’s
chosen people and reaches out to all the peoples of the world.” <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Lutheran
Study Bible</i>, Introduction to Isaiah, 1092</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In this particular section there are words of comfort for
the exiles, and words of hope and promise for a better future. God invites them
to feast on the goodness of God for free. God promises a new covenant with
them, renewing the covenant with Noah and expanding the covenant with David to
include all people. God will bring them
through a new exodus, leading them out of this land of exile and back to the
promised land. Third Isaiah, ch. 55-65, addresses the people after they have
returned to rebuild Jerusalem. </div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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Some very familiar lines are found in this section. One of
my favorites is quoted in a book, <i>Tattoos
on</i> <i>the Heart</i> by Gregory Boyle. He
says, “Your ways are not my ways, says the Lord (v. 8)—but they could be.” In
this new covenant, new exodus, new chance, all are called to the mission to
live in God’s ways. </div>
Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-57929409598367229052016-03-02T15:21:00.003-06:002016-03-02T15:22:56.089-06:00Bible Study Brief: Proverbs 8 & 9 Wednesday, March 2<br />
<br />
Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-22, 9:4-6<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Proverbs paints wisdom as an aspect of God, characterized as
female. The words for wisdom are feminine words in both Hebrew and Greek, and
here wisdom is personified as a woman. This wisdom is available to all; from
this busy public place, “the crossroads”, all are invited to come in. (Other
parts of scripture, such as Job 28:12, tell us that wisdom cannot be found by
mortals.) In Proverbs, wisdom is celebrated as a good gift from God, and those
who have it are godly, resisting evil. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
To see a performance of this story, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2lcJ2qngFQ" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
<br />
<br />Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-73472811910875212342016-02-24T15:41:00.002-06:002016-03-08T11:15:08.623-06:00Bible Study Brief: Exodus 14-15Wednesday, February 24<br />
<br />
Exodus 14:10-31<br />
15:20-21<br />
<br />
This is the suspenseful part of the escape from slavery. The Israelites have been released by Pharaoh and have successfully made some forward progress into the wilderness. They are stopped at the edge of the sea, however, wondering how to cross, when they can see Pharaoh's army in the distance. Pharaoh has changed his mind and sent the army to retrieve his workforce, the Israelites. God once again provides a miracle: the sea is parted so they may cross over on dry land. The Egyptians aren't so fortunate, however, and are swept into the sea when they try to pursue.<br />
<br />
Remember this has been a cosmic battle. It is not only God vs. human, but Pharaoh, and Egypt, believe him to be a god himself. The plagues were increasing power moves of one divine being against another! Finally Pharaoh admits defeat at the hands of the God of Abraham & Sarah, Isaac & Rebekah, and Jacob, Leah, & Rachel. In this last attempt, he is reminded that God is God and Pharaoh is no more than an idol, though a living one, at the cost of his army, lost in the sea. God's purposes will not be undone. The people see the mighty hand and outstretched arm of God saving them once again from Pharaoh, and they follow God further into the wilderness. Like Pharaoh, they too will forget about God's power, but God will remind them along the way to the Promised Land--there will be plenty of time!Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-50303293182502809072016-02-16T22:19:00.000-06:002016-02-16T22:19:23.012-06:00Bible Study Brief: Genesis 22Sunday, February 21<br />
<br />
Genesis 22:1-18<br />
<br />
The story of the binding of Isaac, or the (near) sacrifice of Isaac, is perhaps one of the most perplexing of all scripture, particularly to modern Western readers. Why would God, who we learned in the Genesis story created everything for sheer delight, test a most faithful follower in such a brutal way? Why would God destroy the one link that will keep this new covenant intact?<br />
<br />
It is a difficult story, which a happy ending does not make easier along the way. There are, however, some glimmers of hope in the story.<br />
<br />
1, God calls Abraham directly and by name. Abraham's name means "Father of Multitudes", so we have a clue that God still expects Abraham to hold this position of honor. He's already been told that Isaac will be the one to carry on the covenant, not Ishmael (born of the slave-wife Hagar) or anyone else in his household.<br />
<br />
2, Abraham appeases young Isaac's curiosity by assuring him that "God will provide for the sacrifice". Even if Abraham thinks Isaac is the sacrificial lamb, we can hope with Isaac that God will provide something else.<br />
<br />
3, We know (Abraham does not) from the beginning that this is a test. By the end we can see that it is not simple obedience that is being tested; Abraham has already proven that by leaving his homeland, waiting for Sarah's pregnancy, and heeding God's instruction. The test seems to be about Abraham's respect, fear, awe, and reverence for God; how much will he do to show his love for this God?<br />
<br />
Remember, at this point in scripture YHWH is still a new idea. God is distinguishing Godself from other gods around at the time. Child sacrifice may have been a "common" or at least not surprising religious practice. YHWH shows that this God is a different god--not only not requiring but not wanting human sacrifice. (Animal sacrifice will be acceptable until the time of the prophets.)<br />
<br />
So what we learn in this story is that God is a different kind of God, not wanting sacrifice, providing what is needed (both a son for the covenant and an animal for the sacrifice) and keeping and even expanding the covenant. It is difficult to get past the violence, but the violence isn't the only thing in the story. Ultimately God is still about life; it's almost a resurrection story, when death seemed sure and God provided for life.Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-89916587149032632132016-02-16T10:02:00.001-06:002016-02-16T10:02:51.638-06:00Bible Study Brief: Genesis 7-9Wednesday, February 17<br />
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Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18 </div>
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8:6-18</div>
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9:8-13</div>
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Since
the story of the ark takes up 3-1/2 chapters of Genesis, it is excerpted for
the vigil. If you listen carefully you’ll notice that God instructs Noah to
take seven pairs of all clean animals, and one pair of the unclean animals, into
the ark, along with Noah, his wife, three sons, and three daughters-in-law.
Everything not on the ark was blotted out from the face of the earth (7:23).
When the water stops gushing, Noah sends out first a raven then a dove; after
three attempts, Noah is satisfied that the earth is dry enough to exit the ark.
The family and the animals are sent out with the same instruction given in Gen.
1: “Be fruitful and multiply”. And God establishes the first covenant with Noah
and all flesh, that never again will all the earth be destroyed by flood. </div>
Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-44578537361634278922016-02-16T10:00:00.002-06:002016-02-16T10:00:48.563-06:00Bible Study Brief: Genesis 1<div class="MsoNormal">
Sunday, February 14</div>
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First story: Genesis 1:1-2:4a</div>
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The
first text of the Easter vigil is the first creation story. It is a beautiful
story of God creating everything out of nothing. Other creation stories involve
death, violence, and subjugation, but this God creates out of nothing, bringing
forth life for life, not out of death. God simply speaks and it is so; no one
has to die or to lose an epic battle for creation. Right from the beginning of
the beginning, then, we see that God is different from other gods. God desires
relationship and creates out of love and for love. God provides food—plants and
trees only, no meat yet!-- for what has been created, and God creates in God’s
own image, so that all of creation is a reflection of the Divine Maker. And God
likes what is made, declaring every bit of it “Good”! Finally, God even creates
rest, building in a day off for creatures and Creator alike, and proclaims that
day holy. </div>
Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-2391527674321619302016-02-16T09:58:00.003-06:002016-02-16T09:58:54.138-06:00Lent 2016 Bible Study: Intro <div class="MsoNormal">
During Lent, we will be looking at the 12 texts for the
great Vigil of Easter. The Easter Vigil begins at sundown on Holy Saturday and
lasts longer than a normal worship service, bridging the gap between Good
Friday and sunrise on Easter. We keep “vigil” as a spiritual practice, praying
through the night, gathered in community, hearing the word of God. Ideally the
vigil is timed so that at midnight the first “Alleluia” is sung as the church
bells peal to announce the beginning of resurrection day. Many congregations
don’t want to stay up all night in a true vigil, so they are often between 7-11
pm, especially if the congregation also has a sunrise service just a few hours
later!</div>
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Easter Vigil is considered the grandest worship service of
the entire year. It begins with the lighting of the new fire, a bonfire from
which the new Paschal or Christ candle is lit, to be used during that year.
There are chants and liturgies reserved only for the Vigil, including a song to
thank the bees for making the wax for the candle. In the early church this was
when the catechumenates, who had been preparing for baptism for all of Lent,
were baptized and received as full members of the church. It is still a
preferred day for baptism. </div>
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To help us pass the night, twelve readings are assigned from
the Hebrew Testament, reminding us what God has done to save humanity since
creation. These stories build up to God’s magnum opus, raising Jesus from
death. Sometimes a selection of these are read, rather than all twelve. We will
look at them during Bible study on Sundays (11:00 am) and Wednesdays (6:00 pm) during Lent. </div>
Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-88172072183877807322015-09-09T20:32:00.000-05:002015-09-09T20:32:29.710-05:001st Samuel, the End<div class="MsoNormal">
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This summer Living Word Lutheran Church read together the
first book of Samuel in the Hebrew Testament. Since we did not complete that
series in worship, I offer a few thoughts to “wrap it up”—although it is part 1
of 2, so it isn’t actually over! Keep reading! <o:p></o:p></div>
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A complaint I often hear about the Hebrew Testament is that
it is so violent, and the violence is often attributed to/blamed on God. Yes,
there is a lot of blood in 1 Samuel. I think the stumbling block is not the
content of the stories as much as our expectation of them. If we expect the
Bible to be “guidance and advice on how to live our lives” in 2015 so that we
“get to heaven” (ugh! That’s another blog post!), then all the violence seems
very unnecessary and doesn’t help us understand our world. But the Bible isn’t
about our world—it’s about a long ago and far away world, and how God
interacted with it. From that we have a clue about how God interacts with us,
including expectations, so it’s still valuable. All that to say, I think the
violence is included because it is what God’s people knew in that world. They
were attacking and being attacked from many directions. Having a king, like
other nations had, was part of the attempt to alleviate the violence by having
an organized military and a united kingdom under the leadership of one person,
chosen by God for the job. But life was very violent. Because we live in
middle-class white America, we have trouble understanding the pervasiveness of
this violence; other cultures live similarly every day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So, David is going to be king, which we know, but Saul, the
current king, does not. Again we see that David is unwilling to harm the Lord’s
anointed king, even though he knows that favor has been withdrawn from Saul.
Saul does not know that David has been anointed, and has no such scruples for
not harming him. Saul stalks David repeatedly; David twice has the opportunity
to kill Saul, but refuses, instead taking something (a corner of his cloak, his
sword and water jug) as proof that he had been so close. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This does not mean David is anti-violence. In chapter 25 he
is quick to seek vengeance on Nabal (whose name means “fool”) for an insult. In
later chapters, he joins forces with the Philistines against the Israelites and
slaughters villages whole so there are no survivors left to tell his tales. He
seems to play one side against the other to win friends and protection, as if
he has to guarantee election to be king. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The book ends with Saul being fatally wounded by the
Philistines and falling on his own sword to end his agony (a slightly different
end to Saul begins the next book, 2 Samuel). Still, he is respected enough as
king that his beheaded body is retrieved and buried. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So what are we to learn from this story? David is regarded
as “faithful” because, despite his violence, he honors the statutes of the
Lord, which Saul had forsaken. Saul repents several times, and promises not to
harm David, but then pursues him once again. David seems loyal only to God and
to himself, making agreements with Saul, Jonathan, and the Philistines on
various occasions. He is concerned about being forced to worship other gods
when Saul places him in exile by continuously hunting him; he does not want to
die unfaithful. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I think this is a story about David, and how he came to be
king. God is part of the story, instrumental in David’s success and Saul’s
downfall. It is part of the memory of Israel, and helps us to understand the
progression of faithfulness. Just because it is in the Bible doesn’t mean it’s “good”
or redemptive, and it doesn’t mean we’re supposed to be like this. We are
supposed to love David (maybe less in the next book!) as the greatest king
Israel ever knew, and the prototype, perhaps, for the Messiah (which is why the
folks in the New Testament stories are so surprised and disappointed at Jesus’
almost exclusive non-violence). <o:p></o:p></div>
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One thing I think we can learn is that the violence, while
real and certainly part of the larger culture of the time, didn’t work. We see,
looking at a long arc of this history, that even God’s kings will kill each
other to get what they want. We are still surrounded by violence—probably more
people get killed in our state every day than were killed in these episodes. We
are immune to the violence around us—in the news, in video games, in TV and the
movies—because it’s “out there” somewhere (if we’re lucky). The people of
Israel could not escape violence, as we see it everywhere in these stories, and
these are supposedly their best stories that shaped their identity. We too
cannot escape violence; how do we respond to threat, terrorism, violence in our
own time and place? Will the memory of our stories seem as shocking to those
who read them in the future as these stories seem to us? Will we have any
heroes? Will God be part of the story? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-27768204868301279922015-06-19T11:08:00.001-05:002015-06-19T11:08:07.836-05:00Kyrie eleison
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In peace, let us pray
to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the peace from
above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Lord, have mercy.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the peace of the
whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">and for the unity of all,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For this holy house,
and for all who offer here their worship and praise,</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Help, save, comfort,
and defend us, gracious Lord. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since I was old enough to sing I have sung these words,
almost every Sunday, for almost 50 years. Today they do not comfort, they make
me ill at ease. Today we need the whole of this prayer, in a very real way. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Two days ago, on June 17, 2015, a group of faithful people gathered for
prayer and Bible study were intentionally, violently gunned down—Black pray-ers
murdered by a white terrorist; all Americans. I write this on “Juneteenth”, a
holiday celebrating freedom of slaves in Texas on June 19, 1865—30 months <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">after</i> President Lincoln issued the
Emancipation Proclamation nationally. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am filled with grief—for the families of the victims, for the community
that lives with this horror, for this “gaping wound” (as </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJl9iqnvkOE"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Jon Stewart</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> noted) that
is bleeding us all dry. I am filled with shame—that we are not clever enough to
learn from past mistakes, that we are in such deep denial that valuing some
lives over others is actually a problem (spiritual, mental, social,
psychological, and physical), that the stark difference in the way people are
treated by those in authority seems to be acceptable, that silence is the
largest response. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So today I write, and honestly am a bit surprised I can even put a
sentence together. But I know I cannot *only* write my opinion. In order for
the peace from above, for which I pray each week, to settle into our reality, I
must also act. My opinion must be also conviction, something I believe to be
fundamentally true out of which I make choices. And my sentences must have fewer
“I”s in them and more “we”, though I don’t like to tell people what to do.
Structural racism is a sickness of the whole; it is the sin of the community
that suffers from it, not the bad collective luck of certain individuals. WE
have to care more. WE have to know our neighbors, and even when we don’t, WE
have to understand that community means being in this together, for better or
for worse. WE have to put feet on our faith—if our moral conviction comes from
the call of God to love and serve neighbor, and to honor ALL creation, and to
BE the image of God for others, and to see the face of Christ in those around us,
then I, and we, cannot only write. There are conversations to have, and
relationships to develop, and congressional letters to write, and picket signs
to design, and protests to march, and votes to be cast. And yes, prayers to be
prayed; but prayer cannot remain in the silence of our hearts. If prayer does
not move us to action, then we are not listening to God’s reply to our prayers.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have more opinions, of course—about who has access to guns, and what it
means to be church, and why some crimes are framed and treated so differently
from others even when they are similar in intent and result, and how our
self-centeredness leads us to vote the way we do, which provides gaps in
accountability, which makes domestic terrorism a “fluke” and not a problem. But
I think we need to put a lot of our politics aside so we can have an honest
engagement with the issue(s). Yes, it’s political, and yes, I think religion
and politics absolutely mix and shape one another—but we have to listen first,
to God, to one another, and to the community.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know what my “next step”
will be, probably tears. But I am convinced there must be a next step. If I
pray the<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> kyrie</i>, I commit to making it
real, to doing something for the peace of God, for unity, for the peace of the
world, for the people I know and the millions who are beloved by God whom I
will never meet. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indeed. </span></div>
Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-68213803057684659082014-07-21T09:46:00.001-05:002014-07-21T09:46:57.491-05:00Praying the StreetsThis morning I walked some of the streets in Buda, praying as I went along. I listened to a recording of "Morning Prayer" for part of the way, and I prayed for various people and situations as I passed them. Everything deserves God's attention: "The earth is the LORD's, and all that is in it" (Ps. 24:1), and everything that caught my attention, I prayed for: <br />
<ul>
<li>the children who play on the playscape at the city park</li>
<li>the United Methodists and their pastor & secretary</li>
<li>those who receive food from the food pantry </li>
<li>the teachers and students at the elementary school </li>
<li>the kids who play GAGA ball </li>
<li>the residents of the homes in the neighborhood</li>
<li>the pastor and members at First Baptist Church</li>
<li>the proprietors of businesses downtown, by name if I knew them</li>
<li>the city employees</li>
<li>the firefighters, Lion's Club, senior citizens</li>
<li>those who collect trash</li>
<li>the men constructing a new home </li>
<li>the cows in the field and the families who depend on their productivity</li>
<li>the green grass, and weather to keep it so </li>
<li>those who travel on trains </li>
<li>wise choices for economics and commerce that serve the common good</li>
<li>fair business practices and safe working conditions </li>
<li>owners of stores that have closed </li>
<li>my dentist and her staff</li>
<li>the occupants of each car that passed me as I waited for the light to change</li>
</ul>
<br />
I also thought about praying itself, how it works, why we do it. I realized that praying in a somewhat general way, by category rather than by name, felt very communal on my solo walk. I felt like I was drawing each thing for which I prayed into the care and protection of God, drawing together all these pieces that intersect by geography or happenstance in this little town of Buda. We may not all know each other, but we belong together by virtue of living in the same community. <br />
<br />
I thought too about people who do not pray themselves, or who do not particularly want to be prayed for, especially by a stranger-pastor who may be a nut job for all they know. What if the "aha!" moment, the "I just felt differently about it one day" is a result of someone praying for them? There's connection and belonging again: as Dr. Cindy Rigby preached at Austin Seminary recently: "Prayer creates space for us to imagine God's desires", and I believe God desires connection with all of creation. Perhaps a random prayer from a stranger is the thing that makes all the difference. I'm not sure, but I'm willing to spend my time, and my 10,000 daily steps, just in case. <br />
<br />
Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-26425753226319906852014-05-13T12:41:00.001-05:002014-05-13T12:46:59.336-05:00Spirituality Book recs<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Here's an updated list of possibilities for spiritual reading for our book club (we've already read some of these). I'd love to get some of your recommendations in the comments here or on our FB page, Living Word Lutheran Church Buda, Texas. Thanks! </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Bell, Rob. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Love Wins</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">: A Book
About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who </i><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Ever
Lived</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">. NY: HarperCollins, 2010.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Bolz-Weber, Nadia. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pastrix</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint</i>. NY:<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Jericho Books, 2013.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Borg, Marcus. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Heart of Christianity</i>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NY: HarperCollins,
2004. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Borysenko, Joan. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A
Woman’s Journey to God</i>. NY: Riverhead Books, 1999. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Chittister, Joan. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>NY: Bluebridge, 2008. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Evans, Rachel Held. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Evolving
in Monkey Town: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers</i><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Learned
to Ask the Questions</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">. Zondervan, 2010.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Foster, Richard J.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Freedom
of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World. </i>New</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;">York:
HarperOne, 2005.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gilbert, Elizabeth. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Eat, Pray, Love</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across
Italy, I</i><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">ndia
and Indonesia. </i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">NY: Penguin, 2006.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Kidd, Sue Monk. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Dance
of the Dissident Daughter: A Woman’s Journey from </i><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Christian
Tradition to the Sacred Feminine. </i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">NY: HarperCollins, 1996.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">___. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Traveling with
Pomegranates: A Mother-Daughter Story. </i>Viking, 2008.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">___. When the Heart Waits: Spiritual Direction for
Life’s Sacred Questions. </i>San <span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Francisco: Harper & Row, 1990.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Lamott, Ann. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Traveling Mercies</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">:
Some Thoughts on Faith</i>. NY: Anchor Books, 1999<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">___.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith. </i>NY:
Riverhead, 2005. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">___. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Grace, Eventually:
Thoughts on Faith. </i>NY: Riverhead, 2007.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">McLaren, Brian. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and
Mohammed Cross the Road?:</span></i><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Christian Identity in a Multi-Faith World. </i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Jericho Books, 2012.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Miles, Sara. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take This Bread</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">: The Spiritual Memoir of a Twenty-first
Century</i><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Christian.
</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">NY: Ballantine, 2007</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Neumark, Heidi. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Breathing
Space: A Spiritual Journey in the South Bronx. </i>Beacon, <span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">2004.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Norris, Kathleen. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Amazing
Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith</i>. NY: Riverhead, 1998. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Oliver, Suzanne. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Faith Club</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">: A Muslim, a Christian, a Jew—Three Women
Search </i><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">for
Understanding. </i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">NY: Free Press, 2006.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Palmer, Parker J. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Let
Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation. </i>Jossey-Bass, <span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">2000.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Rupp, Joyce. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dear
Heart, Come Home: The Path of Midlife Spirituality</i>. NY: Crossroad, <span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">1996.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Sentilles, Sarah. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Breaking
Up with God: A Love Story.</i> NY: HarperCollins, 2011. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Taylor, Barbara Brown. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">An
Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith. </i>NY: <span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">HarperCollins, 2009.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Weems, Renita. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What
Matters Most: Ten Lessons in Living Passionately from the Song </i><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">of
Solomon</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">. NY: Warner Books, 2004.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Williams, Terry Tempest. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Refuge:
An Unnatural History of Family and Place. </i>NY: <span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Vintage, 1991.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Winner, Lauren F. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Still:
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Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-33357443467405437432014-04-18T16:28:00.003-05:002014-04-18T16:29:29.547-05:00Flickers and Figments of (Good) Fridays<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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4-18-14<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many Good Friday thoughts and memories today: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been fasting on Good Friday since I was 16 years old,
2/3 of my life. In recent practice I fast for 40 hours on Good Friday and Ash
Wednesday, and one 24-hour day during the weeks of Lent in between. I also used to not do my hair or make-up, but
one of my college profs (whose class, and exam, I had requested to skip in
observance of the Holy Day) called me on that, saying, “Isn’t is supposed to be
that no one knows you’re fasting?” (Mt 6:16-18) [I did get permission, from
that Roman Catholic prof, to take the test a different day.] <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Good Friday, 1988 I hosted a small group of people at my
home for a Good Friday worship service, at which we read some scripture,
prayed, and sang “O Sacred Head”. Our presence was required at a work-related dinner,
and none of us wanted to miss observing the day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we lived on Long Island, Phil participated in a Via
Crucis among the Latino community with whom he served as pastor there. One of
my favorite pix of him is from that event.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shortly after moving to Texas, all four of us walked in the
Via Crucis in San Antonio—what a powerful and culturally interesting event! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Good Friday Hill Country Stations of the Cross hosted by
First Christian (Disciples) and St. Mark’s Episcopal Churches in San
Marcos—beautiful and striking setting for contemplating this day. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maundy Thursday and Good Friday observed on Wednesday in
Holy Week at TLU; a combined service telling the bulk of the story. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tre Ore service at First English in Austin; Craig Sommer and
Lou Flessner preached before and after me, in turn. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Trying to black out windows in a sanctuary with a
100-foot-long aisle (big sanctuary!) in Janesville, WI, for a noontime tenebrae
service<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Acquiring my first cassock to be appropriately attired for
the evening tenebrae service at Epiphany, Hempstead, NY <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A young Lucas observing, “Mom and Jason can’t eat supper
with us because they’re starving”. He
may have been onto something, several hours into our fast! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
==<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I walked this morning, I saw a flag at half-mast, and
wondered about who was charged to come to a public school that was off for the
holiday to raise the flag. I then thought about how many reasons the flag may
be at half-mast: recent shooting at Ft. Hood, ferry accident killing students
in South Korea, school girls abducted in Nigeria, Jesus dying on a cross. Good Friday happens all around us, all the
time—senseless, unjustifiable killing of God’s beloved people and creation. And
that is why this Friday is Good Friday (or “God’s Friday”, I saw posted
earlier): for all the evil and heartbreak we continue to perpetrate, God still
looks at this creation and proclaims us “good”, and when we can’t live into
that divine description, God still works to make us so—reclaiming, redeeming,
restoring, re-creating, reimagining us. This Friday is not good for God; it
isn’t good for us who wish we could be different, who love Jesus and don’t mean
to hurt him. But it’s good work that God does in Christ, showing us holy love
that knows no limits. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please remember we are in the midst of Triduum—THREE days.
They are not about death, they are about depth, the depth of God’s love for
creation, which, finally, is not shown on the cross, but in resurrection. <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-54977892110060644032014-04-17T11:27:00.000-05:002014-04-17T11:27:16.510-05:00Holy Week What-for
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The Triduum, “three days”, are upon us. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I’ve been caught in the quagmire that is this week: for some
people, this is a time of holiday, some free time to do extra things around the
yard, visit family, hunt for candy-filled eggs. For my Jewish friends in Texas
(and other places, surely), it’s a time to remember that some holidays are more
observed, more understood, more accommodated than others—Passover being one of
the “less so” around here. And for us who observe Holy Week that leads to
Easter, it is a time of reflection, a time set-apart, a time intended to be
different from other Time. There are rituals and rhythms unlike other times of
the year, feelings and questions unique to the holiness of this week. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And I am reminded that part of the call to holiness is that
we pray on behalf of others who are not praying, observe the days for those who
are not able or allowed to observe or practice for a variety of reasons, many
beyond their control. I am not the type to get annoyed by or angry with those
who are not doing what I am doing these three holy days; rather, when I am
weary, those “others” are precisely for whom I must take the next step on the
labyrinth, listen to one more last word of Christ from the cross, and wait, and
wait, keeping vigil in the silence of the unknown. I do not believe Christ died
to take away <i>my</i> sins, but rather that
<i>all</i> of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and
resurrection are God’s way of reconciling all of creation. Indeed, the “work”
we do these three days is holy, walking alongside what God is doing in Christ
Jesus, for the sake of the world. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Blessed Triduum to all (and, since I probably won’t write on
Sunday—Happy Easter, too!) <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-38129809421934457522014-03-05T10:22:00.000-06:002014-03-05T10:22:03.314-06:00Sermon: Ten Things Your Pastor Wants You To Know About Holy Communion <h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<br />
</h3>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">February 16, 2014</b>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">6th Sunday after the Epiphany</b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Narrative Lectionary, Year 4 </b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Preaching text: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><a href="http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=261036049" target="_blank">John 6:35-59 </a></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</b></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is God’s grace, given to us in a way we
can comprehend.</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </span>
</div>
</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><div class="MsoNormal">
God doesn’t really need us to take communion, to gather
around what isn’t really a table to eat what isn’t really a meal. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But WE need it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>We need</u> to go through the motions, hear the words,
practice receiving this grace from God, because too often we either don’t think
we deserve it at all, or we miss it when it’s right in front of us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Communion happens in a way that we can’t miss—God’s grace
and love, here in a bite of bread and drink of wine that startles our senses
into paying attention. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We may not always fully comprehend the grace that comes to
us in this holy meal, but when we actually take and eat, take and drink, we
can’t miss that it’s there. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</span></span><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">9. It’s a
sacrament—Jesus commands us to do it.</span></div>
</span></span></b> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><div class="MsoNormal">
In the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, we hear the words
of institution—the words Jesus said to his disciples at his last Passover meal:
“Take and eat, take and drink, do this in remembrance of me.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We hear those words every week as we prepare for communion,
remembering that this is more than just a cool thing or a quick snack on a
Sunday morning: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this is something Jesus
wants us to do</i>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Communion is an ordinary thing used for God’s extraordinary
purpose; </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
it’s open to all; and it’s commanded by Jesus—this makes it
a sacrament for Lutherans. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b>
</b><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>8. This is an open Table—all are welcome.</span></b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since this is not “our” meal, as Lutherans or as Living
Word, but Christ’s meal and his invitation, everyone is welcome, as we say, “to
receive God’s gifts of grace as they come to us in this holy meal.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lutherans talk about baptism, communion, and preaching as
the “means of grace”, the means by which God’s love is conveyed to us in a way
we can comprehend. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As such, I think they’re all the same, and if we’re going to
offer any one of them to everybody, then all of them should be offered to
everybody. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God’s grace is not about deserving or understanding—it’s a
gift. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And Jesus was talking to all y’all—this holy meal is
something we do <u>together</u>, as we recognize Christ present among us,
together. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">7</span>. So that’s why
I think <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">young <u>children</u> can
receive Holy Communion.</span></b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They may not understand what’s going on theologically with a
sacrament—but we don’t really want to make that a test question, do we?—but
they certainly understand what it feels like to be left out of what everyone
else is doing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And it’s one of those things we learn from experience: we
know love because we are loved, not because we understand love
intellectually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We know God’s grace because we receive it, we live in it, it
surrounds us. That’s also why we have frequent sermons about communion! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">6. There’s no such
thing as “too much”.</span></b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At Living Word we celebrate communion every time we gather
for Sunday worship. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is God’s grace, given for and to us—why wouldn’t we want
it as often as we can get it? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We used to think that communion was something “special” that
we “saved” for only a few times a year, or if you were an extravagant
Midwestern pietist, maybe once a month.(!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But when we think about it as God’s free gift, something we
don’t and can’t deserve, we realize we need it more often, not less. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This table is always ready for those who hunger for its
gifts. </div>
</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></span>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">5. What we eat: </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bread and wine are used in communion because that’s what
Jesus used, but also because there is some form of bread, some form of wine, in
every culture. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not wanting what we eat to be a stumbling block, however, we
also offer alternatives: grape juice and gluten-free wafers. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It doesn’t matter what kind of bread or wafer or wine or
juice is used; you’ve probably seen a variety of wafer flavors, shapes of
bread, types of wine or juice as you’ve taken communion in various places. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are theological justifications for all of them, as
well as practical considerations. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the focus is not on the form—these elements are merely
the vehicle God uses to get that holy grace from God to us. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4. This is the body
and blood of Christ, given and shed for you:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the most
difficult things about Holy Communion is the language we use to describe what’s
going on, specifically Jesus’ own words that we heard in the gospel lesson
today. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is this bread and wine, or body and blood?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would Jesus say that? Those who have
grown up with this language know it’s metaphorical—Jesus does not expect us to
take these words literally. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Martin Luther spoke of the presence of Christ being “in,
under, and through” these elements; body and blood inseparable from bread and
wine, but more than just a “symbol” to make us think of Jesus. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think of it as the lengths God will go to to make sure we
know this amazing love: Jesus gives everything he has, and everything he is,
gives his very life, body and soul, to BE the love of God for God’s beloved
creation. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s where grace and faith come in, rather than acceptance
or understanding: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God wants us to have this grace, and we may never figure out
how it works, but it’s for us. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3. Forgiveness: </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jesus himself tells us this is “for the forgiveness of
sins”. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We occasionally use the Brief Order for Confession and
Forgiveness; even less often I hear a private confession; we sing the kyrie,
which is a kind of communal confession. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it is in this meal that we receive God’s forgiveness,
that <getting rid of anything that stands in the way of God’s love getting
to us></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
—whether or not we’ve asked for it in confession, whether or
not we think we need it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Forgiveness is part of the grace, part of the “all”, of this
holy meal. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">#2. God comes to US--</span></b></div>
<b>
</b><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b>
</b><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">#1. This is FOR YOU</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And thank God for that! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Given that we cannot comprehend all that God does <u>for</u>
us and <u>to</u> us in this holy meal, we probably can’t be trusted to find our
way to God—we would spend all our time wandering in the wilderness, wondering
where God is to be found. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So God comes to US. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The God who knows everything about us, knows who and how we
are, knows where and when to find us, and comes to us—week after week, bite
after bite, in faith and in doubt. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God comes to us in this holy meal and assures us we are
God’s children, beloved, forgiven, filled with God’s grace, given and shed FOR
YOU.</div>
</span></span></div>
Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6849042892993514518.post-60573447734160001122013-09-25T23:10:00.001-05:002013-09-25T23:10:11.584-05:00Sermon: Genesis 28 <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">September 22, 2013 </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">18th Sunday after Pentecost</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Narrative Lectionary, Year 4 </b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Preaching text: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><a href="http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=247168585" target="_blank">Gen. 28:10-22</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pent 18<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>9-22-13 </b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Wow—Jacob is in TROUB-LE! </div>
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Well, in this part of the story we find him sort of
in-between troubles.Before this, he has made some bargains with his twin
brother, Esau, that have resulted in Jacob receiving Esau’s birthright and
place as firstborn; and has tricked his blind father into giving Jacob the
blessing that belonged to the firstborn son.Esau is beyond angry, and has sworn
to kill his brother when their father dies. Their mother, learning of this
plan, plots for Isaac to send Jacob away to find a suitable wife from their own
people—and assuring he is safely out of range of Esau’s wrath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when we find him in this lonely place, he
has fled from a vengeful brother upon the death of their father, leaving a
beloved mother and home behind. He is going to seek out his uncle who will
hopefully give him a home, a job, and a wife, and, well… that all happens, but
not quite as easily as anticipated. </div>
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<br /></div>
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But for now, Jacob is here—in a deserted place. Really all
we know about it is it is a good place to stop for the night and rest. He is
alone, it’s night, he’s in the wilderness. So he “makes camp” by which is meant
he pulls up the nearest rock and rests his head on it and goes to sleep-- a
miracle in itself, given the circumstances. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Jacob dreams while he sleeps: he sees a stairway or a ladder
between himself and heaven. Angels are going up and down the stairway. God is
at the top, and God speaks to Jacob in this dream: “I am the God of your
ancestors—your grandfather Abraham and your father Isaac.” And God reminds
Jacob of the promises God has made in choosing Abraham’s family to be God’s
family: I will give you land—the very land you are lying on—and countless
descendants; and you will be a blessing to all the people of the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the covenant God had made with
Abraham back in chapter 15—now God renews that covenant with Jacob. And Jacob wakes
up and realizes God is in this place—this deserted, lonely, dangerous place is
a place of God. He takes the rock-pillow and makes it into a rock-altar, and
names the place Beth-El, house of God. And he promises to be faithful to God,
to worship God, and to make a ten percent tithe to God.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jacob is one of those unlikely heroes of the Bible. He has
gotten himself in trouble—he is destitute, homeless, placeless, family-less,
clueless—at this point he couldn’t look <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">less</i>
like a chosen person of God than he does. And it’s all his own fault! He isn’t
that easy to live with, as we have seen, and he managed to irritate his family
enough that even <u>they</u> don’t want him around. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Jacob is in no-place; but he is in the perfect place to find
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or to be found by God, rather. He
has hit bottom. He is at point-zero. He has nothing to lose, nowhere to go but
up—and God sends angels to bring his attention “up” this staircase to find that
God is there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please notice—despite the
song you may know, the <u>angels</u> are going up and down the staircase; not
Jacob. This “climbing out” is not something we have to do—all Jacob is doing is
sleeping, lying on the hard ground, literally on a rock. It is the message <u>of
God</u>, the grace <u>of God</u>, the presence <u>of God</u>, that does the
work of coming down. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we are lost or outcast, God comes down to find us
there. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we are alone and lonely, God comes down to find us
there. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we are cut off from others and in danger of forgetting
who we are, God comes down to find us there. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we deserve all the misery that surrounds us, God comes
down to find us there. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we don’t know where we’re going or what to do next, God
comes down to find us there. </div>
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This deserted place of Jacob’s is an in-between place; he’s
no longer where, or who, he used to be; he isn’t yet where, or who, he’s going
to be. </div>
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<br /></div>
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It doesn’t take very long for this in-between to crash into
our innocence; most of us have known it by now. But this is just the place God
promises to meet us. The God in whose image we are formed; who knows us by name
and knows us as child of God; the God who will not let anything take us away
from God--will not let the nothingness of these dark places take us, either. Jacob
did not see God when he lay down to sleep—I expect he did not look for God
because he did not expect God. No one expects God in the low places, in the
lonely times, especially when we know we don’t deserve God. No one expects God
in a place of suffering. But that is precisely when and how and where God shows
up. When Jacob stops running for a moment; when he puts away his fear long
enough to sleep, when he stops tricking people and just sits with himself and
who he is for a moment, then his eyes and heart are clear enough for him to see
God—in a dream. But Jacob does not dismiss it as “only” a dream –when he
awakes, he is sure that God has been there, that God IS there, in this
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has not been absent; only
Jacob has not realized God was there. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some people don’t like the Bible, especially the Old
Testament, because it’s too messy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
complicated. We can’t understand it. We want a happy ending. But the Bible is a
real story for real people. We are messy and complicated and hard to
understand, and our days end up average, if we’re lucky. I need to know that
God is paying attention and can see around the mess. I need to know that God
knows when I’m in trouble, and will at least visit me there in the trouble if
not get me out of it. I need to crash Jacob’s dream to be reminded that God is
in this “place”, even, or especially, the places I don’t want to be, which
makes them holy places, houses of God. Jacob’s life doesn’t get much easier
from here on out--he doesn’t change his conniving ways, either. But he does
remember that God is with him. </div>
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<br /></div>
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God is in this place, and all your places, whether you know
it or not. Thank God for those angels who remind us, awake or asleep, of God’s presence
and promise. </div>
Pastor Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166160176074966232noreply@blogger.com0