The Beginning of the “Cross Era”

As “Keeper of the Blog,” I am pleased to welcome our new Senior Pastor, Pastor David Cross and his family. They have arrived  from Hillcrest United Methodist Church in Elkhart, Indiana.

Welcome, welcome, welcome. That is your “tri-fold” welcome.  

Transitions are strange times in our lives. We know what we have lost and are looking forward with “joy and delight” as well as “fear and trepidation”…a certain looking forward and backward at the same time. The unknown is ahead…as it always is. But it is, as we change senior pastors, that we are extremely aware of not knowing the future. And that is not surprising. David and Christy don’t know about us either.

However, I do know this about the future. It will unfold the way we “think and say” that it will. For example, if we say our future is going to be bleak, unprofitable, and uninspiring, we can be certain that is how we will experience it.

On the other hand if we look at the future with joy, good will, hope, and we talk and behave in those terms, we can be certain that is how we will experience it.

God sets the stage for us. But each individual must decide for him or herself just how to view that stage. And we need to remember that how we view and talk about past stages will influence how we see this different stage.

I am glad David and Christy Cross have joined us just as I was delighted when Chris and Ginny joined us. I am sorry to see Chris and Ginny leave; but I am delighted that David and Christy have come.

God is willing and ready to bless us. We need to be willing and able to allow Him to do so.

So welcome to David and Christy and your family. Let the “Cross Era” begin in our church. And may we all lift up the entire church into God’s “life” by what we pray, say, do, and think.

Carol

Do We Teach Anti-Semitism?

Acts 3:1-26

Acts 3:11-17

11While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. 17“Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.

Recently, I was in a forum in which a number of Christians, agnostics, atheists, and Jews participated. It was a fascinating group of people who gave me many ideas which I had not considered before.

The thought which I will carry with me forever is what one woman, who is a Jew, had to say. I will call her Rachel, but that is not her name.

Rachel wondered how those of us who are Christians can perpetuate anti-semitism as we have done throughout the years in our teaching of the gospels. I jumped in and said that Christians do not do any such thing. In fact, I expressed great indignation at the very idea that Christians teach prejudice against Jews.

But let me ask you a question for you to answer quickly. Who are the “bad guy” in the Gospels? Every person to whom I have addressed that question has quickly answered, “The Jews.” And the people of whom I asked the question are long-time Christians. When people give the question some thought, they give a variety of answers which includes the Romans, the Sanhedrin, Caiaphas, Herod, Pilate…and the Jews.

In the following scripture Peter addresses the people to whom he is speaking as “Men of Israel”…and the men of Israel are Jews.

13The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15You killed the author of life (emphasis added)

We tend not to say in our Christian teaching that “all Jews did not ask for Christ’s death.” We do not know how many people wanted his death. We do know that not all of the Sanhedrin wanted Jesus to die…but when we teach, we make it sound as if “all” Pharisees and Sadducees are “bad”. I do not ever remember as a child or as an adult having anyone point out to me that there were just a few “bad guys”. Therefore, I wonder what we are teaching our Christian children today and what we are teaching adults as well.

I challenge you to read the New Testament from the point of view of a Jew. You will be astonished at what you read when you read from a different perspective from that of a Christian. And in my opinion, it ought to make us all stop and think about what we teach as well as what we say in general.

Jesus was a Jew. If we teach anti-semitism, we are also teaching against Jesus. I do not know of one Christian who would want to do such a thing. Jesus was not a Methodist, a Catholic, a Presbyterian, a Jehovah’s Witness, a Mormon, or any other religion. Jesus was a Jew in religion and in ethnicity.

Do we teach anti-semitism? I leave it to you to decide for yourselves. But I have made up my mind thanks to Rachel. I believe we do…not intentionally, I hope, but we do nonetheless. We sin in our teaching by omission of important information.

The challenge is made. Try reading at least the Gospels as if you were a Jew. And if you don’t know enough about Judaism to do that, then it is time to learn. We are a product of the Judeo-Christian Ethic. If we do not know the “Judeo” part, we are only partially aware of who Jesus was, is, and will be throughout eternity.

Carol

Bible Breath: Make us aware / Of our words

And the Winds Came upon Them.

Acts 2:1-47

Can you imagine what it must have been like to have been in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost?

By this time Jerusalem had become a cosmopolitan city. There were citizens from all over the known world who were there at the time. It must have been quite a difficult task to communicate among one another. And those guys from Galilee had quite an accent all of their own.

And suddenly the winds came upon the apostles…and they were able to speak in the languages of the other people. Had I been there, I think I would have thought I had gone nuts. Or, perhaps, the apostles had gone nuts. And can you imagine how it would feel if you were all of a sudden able to speak Hebrew, or Latin, or Greek? What would we think? Would we recognize the Holy Spirit in our midst doing as Jesus said would happen?

I am not certain, but I think I would have been intrigued but also a bit fearful. I think of the storm on Friday night and especially the wind. The wind that is spoken of in this passage is described as a “violent wind” which came from heaven and filled the house.

I may not be able to speak languages, but I can certainly carry the Word of God in my life and tell the people with whom I come into contact about Jesus. With the language each of us has, we can carry out our small bit of the Great Commission. If we don’t do it, who will? We must teach the Good News. The world has enough bad news, and it is drummed in our heads so thoroughly by TV, magazines, websites, and other media that it is easy to think there is only evil in the world. There is evil in the world, and we will be taken over by it…unless people of faith ride the winds that came upon us all and tell the world that Jesus lives!

Carol

Bible Breath: Holy Spirit / Jesus lives

Pride

Proverb 16:18
18 Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.  NIT

18 First pride, then the crash -                                                                              the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.   The Message

No matter how you say it, the meaning is crystal clear. As my great grandmother would say to me, “Carol Ann, pride goeth before a fall.” I wasn’t very old and was not certain what she meant exactly, but I did know that she directed the statement at me.

And then my grandmother would say to me, “Carol Ann, pride goeth before a fall.” I was older and beginning to understand that she was trying to tell me something about myself.

And then my mother would say with some consistency, “Carol Ann, you must remember that pride always goes before a fall.” And by that time I understood that all of these loving women were trying to tell me something very important without bashing me over the head.

And they were right. At various times during my life the most trouble I have been in have resulted from my prideful self. I am not proud of that trait in me. It is destructive, and other people certainly don’t appreciate it at all. As I get older, I can look back and review the number of difficulties, big and small, which have resulted from my pride. I accept it, recognize it…but I certainly don’t like it.

And I am sorry to say even now when I get myself into some kind of awkward situation, I can generally look at myself and realize that in some way, pride was involved.

I was wondering today how I expect the Holy Spirit to work through me if my pride (ego) stands in the way. And the answer is that it cannot. Pride is a barrier that keeps God from working through us. God is available to all of us, but we need to be receptive to Him. Pride very effectively blocks God out.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t really want that to happen. I need God in my life. I pray that He helps all of us get rid of our pride so that we can truly be His servants.

Carol

Bible Breath:  Let the Lord / Remove our pride

A Debate

John 9:1-34

This is the story of a blind man who was made to see…literally and figuratively. And once again Jesus performed a miracle on the Sabbath.

The debate began again among the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the people in the community. Who is this man, Jesus? Who gave him the authority to do what he did…God or Satan?

This kind of debate continues to this day. Many people do not believe that Jesus had any kind of special authority let alone to be the Son of God, Son of Man, the Messiah. How do we convince people that Jesus is who he says he is?

It is especially difficult if the person with whom we are talking does not believe in God either. How can we prove to anyone that God exists? I have tried to do just that recently on a forum. I failed miserably. The more I tried the more the atheist was certain that he was correct.

Finally, I said, “I cannot ‘prove’ my faith to you except through my behavior. Conversely, you are unable to ‘disprove’ my faith.” If anyone knows any way of ‘proving’ faith and the existence of God, I would like to know the proof. I am going to meet people like that again, and I would like to be able to stand up for my beliefs much better than I did the last time.

Carol

Bible Breath: God listens to / Godly people

Birthday Reminiscences

I was just thinking about my birthday which is today. I am 67. What came to mind was a surprise birthday party that my parents had for me when I was five. In order to get me out of the house, I was to visit one of my favorite adult people. Her name was Hazel. I knew her all my life, and I loved her dearly. I was so sorry when I had to leave.

But then at home people were hiding and popped out just like you see it in the movies. They yelled, “Happy Birthday,” and sang. I don’t remember how well we sang, but we did sing vigorously. We played games and had ice cream and cake. I remember it will because it was the only birthday party I ever had. However, for the years after that our birthdays were always the same…and we looked forward to them.

We would receive a birthday card with ten dollars in it. And we always got to choose what we wanted to eat. I always picked chop suey. Tom always chose pork chops; Dad chose swiss steak with tomato gravy. And we went out to eat on Mom’s birthday. I think we would have fainted if one or the other of us would have chosen something else to eat. Tom and I do about the same…except we go out to eat on our birthdays.

The question is whether all of this is important in our lives. I truly believe that it is very important. Each of us knows we were born. But I am of the firm conviction that each of us needs, once in a while, to be validated by other people. Birthday celebrations of whatever kind serve that purpose.

When I lived in my apartment on Hill Street, I met a man who was the most alone man I have ever met. He trusted nobody at all. And nobody acknowledged his existence on this earth. Nobody. I spoke to him for two years, and he finally spoke to me. Nobody in his family had anything at all to do with him. I had their phone numbers, and they would talk to me but not to him. Yes, he was a troubled person, but it wasn’t too hard to determine some of the reasons.

I could not stand that because I could do something about it. I take him out to dinner for his birthday and get him a birthday card. I also make certain that he has something for Christmas as well as a Christmas dinner with people…usually Tom and me. He is finally in touch with some of his family again I am happy to say…but not on his birthday or Christmas.

We are all the Beloved children of God. No matter what happens in families, we still need to remember that fact. And we need to acknowledge the person that we brought into the world. Without validation of some kind, most people wilt and die in one way or another.

So it is my birthday wish that we acknowledge each other as brothers and sisters in Christ and behave accordingly.

And let there be peace on earth.

Carol

Give Us a King!

I Samuel 8:1 – 9:27

I like Samuel. His mother had no children and prayed to God for a child which she would give back to God. And that child turned out to be Samuel. Just think. Samuel was literally born, by design, to serve the Lord. But the people were not satisfied with Samuel’s sons as judges. Samuel asked God what He should do. He must have felt quite dejected by then. He was old, and his kids messed stuff up. God reassured Samuel that the people had not reject him, but they had rejected God as their King. And an earthly kings was chosen.

Something that I tend to forget, and I would guess that others forget as well, is that we are all born, by design, to serve the Lord. Do we have any say in it? Of course we do. God also gave us free will. Jesus did not have to be crucified for our sins. That was the plan, but He could have said, “No, I just cannot do this. It is too much to ask of me.” Who could have blamed Him. How many of us would choose to be crucified so that others would receive salvation? I doubt that there are many which is one reason, among many reasons, why Jesus is so important to us. He actually went through with the crucifixion…for us. I wonder how well we honor that…or even think about it very often? What would have happened to us if Jesus would have said, “No.”

For one thing we would not have a Lord and Savior. There would be no salvation. We probably would not have heard of Jesus. Christianity would not exist. We need to go down on our knees every day and thank God that we were given a king…but not the kind that people were asking for in Samuel’s time. We have the Christ, the Messiah, our Redeemer, and more who is our king…and our friend as well.

Carol

Bible Breath: The Lord our God / Is our King

The Question

John 5:1-23

In this section of the scripture, Jesus is in Jerusalem for a feast. The following describes the situation:

“Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which is Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people use to lie…the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’ “
John 5:2-5 NIV

What a terrific question. The paralyzed man had been in his situation for a long time…thirty-eight years. No matter what the quality of his life he was used to it. He may have subsisted as a beggar. We are not told that, but it would not be a big stretch to think that is what he did for funds.

The idea of becoming well must have been foreign to him…and perhaps just a bit threatening. We do not like change…are uncomfortable with it even if it helps us. If the man became whole, his entire lifestyle would have to change. He would have to be responsible in an entirely different way…definitely for himself and possibly for a family as well.

His spiritual and emotional being would change as well. Take it from a person who has been both very healthy for a long period of time and who has been less healthy for a long period of time. First, it is extremely difficult to accept not being healthy. It is difficult to find self-worth in something other than a job. I did not realize that I had received my sense of worth through my work so much as when I was unable to do it anymore. It took a long time to come to terms in a semi-emotionally and spiritually way…and I still work on. It is easy to slide downhill.

And I think if Jesus were here he would ask us as individuals, as families, as communities, as a nation, and as a world, “Do you want to get well?”

If we do, there are a lot of responsibilities that we need to pick up and do.

God, help us decide to get well…spiritually, emotionally, physically and to accept the accompanying responsibilities. Amen

Carol

Bible Breath: Help us God / To become well

Believing without Seeing

John 4:43-54

“And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

‘Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,’ Jesus told him, ‘you will never believe.’ The royal official said, ‘Sir, come down before my child dies.’ ” John 4:46-49 NIV

How often this happens in the Gospels. Jesus is one place and someone wants him to go another place in order to help or heal another person…usually a loved one. And it seems that it must have gotten tiresome for Jesus to repeat frequently that we do not need to see to believe…well, I would have become tired. Or as He put it in this passage, “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders, you will never believe.” But He, of course, healed the boy.

What is the point of this story for us? What needs to happen with us before we will believe? Do we also need to see in order to believe? I think many of us do. We are much more comfortable with something that is concrete…in many ways. If we can see something, hear it, feel it, smell it, or taste it, we can easily believe in the object, concept, or religion.

But if we would look, we would see all kinds of miracles which Jesus performs. They happen around us all the time. Isn’t it a miracle that you are living at all? How did that come about?

How is it that human beings haven’t been able to destroy the Bible after all of these years of war, turmoil, chaos. It isn’t because they haven’t tried to get rid of the Bible. There have been real efforts by some to reduce the Bible to a group of myths and people who are caricatures. Why hasn’t that worked after years and years of trying to rid the world of it?

Purely and simply it is because God is alive. He lives within and through us. He walks beside us. God is everywhere whether a person believes it or not. Jesus wants us to believe without seeing. In order to do that there would have to be nothing to see. I don’t know about anyone else, but I find thousands of things to see in people, in nature, in the expanse of the universes, in outer as well as inner space.

We are blessed. If we open our eyes, we will see and believe. If we stand still with our eyes close, we will still see. We are standing there as the Beloved children of God.

Carol

Bible Breath: Believing / Without seeing

The First Witness

John 1:29-51

Witnessing – how do we witness that Jesus is King, that he is our Lord and Savior, that he died for our sins, that through him we shall be saved? Or do we witness at all? I am certain that our behavior is a kind of witness. But other people, including people with no religion, can behave well and have a strong ethical base and a set of terrific values. Therefore, it would seem that how we behave, while important, is not what is most necessary.

The very first witness to Jesus’ divinity was John the Baptist. And he spoke so that all could understand. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have know him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”

That, my friends, is a very strong witness. He made it absolutely clear that he was not the Messiah. John was the first witness…and he was the first wonderful example of a disciple as well. He did his “job” as God wanted him to do. I still do not understand why he lived in the desert, wore camel skins, and ate locusts and honey. But that is a story for another day.

John gives us the model for our own witness; however, as I listen to people around me, I do not hear such a resounding witness for Christ from very many people, do you? I find it hard to witness to a group of people. I will be the first to admit that. I am more “comfortable” talking one on one with a person. Now, why do you suppose that is? Do I think someone might laugh at me…possibly…misunderstand …possibly…reject me…possibly…think I was “out of line”…possibly…think I was crazy …possibly…but what if I don’t testify that Jesus is my Lord and Savior?

I have betrayed him just as surely as Judas did. If I am unable verbally and behaviorally to stand up for my Lord and Savior, then what will I be able to stand up for? There is nothing more important in my life. I must be able to witness just as well as the first witness did. If I don’t, what use is there in believing? If the love of God is not shared with others, do we really have it at all? Or are we just kidding ourselves.

We are all blessed. God help us witness to our faith in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with dignity, grace, humility, and enthusiasm.

Carol

Bible Breath: The Lamb of God / Is with us

Who Is the Word?

John 1:1-2

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.”

What Word is this passage talking about? I have wondered for many years what those two verses meant exactly. I have taken some guesses, but none of them made much sense to me. And so I drifted about in the beginning of the Gospel of John.

I don’t know if anyone else has had this kind of difficulty while reading the Bible. Sometimes I just am not certain what is being discussed. Part of it has to do with the use of metaphors which sometimes I do not understand.

However, the beginning of John is now making sense to me for some reason. The “Word” in this instance is Jesus. What John is saying to us was that “in the beginning was Jesus”; and “the Word [Jesus] was with God; and “the Word [Jesus] was God”. “He [Jesus] was with God from the beginning.” Jesus = God as we have been told since we were children.

Maybe the Word has always been Jesus, and I didn’t realize it. That is absolutely possible. I did not think that “the Word” was a person. I evidently thought that “the Word” was God speaking…and so He was in a way which was different from what I thought. I must have been hiding my head in the sand!

Carol

Bible Breath: Jesus is Word / the Word is God

Who Is That Man?

Luke 24:13-53

I have wondered from time to time why the Jesus’ disciples did not recognize Him after His death. And then I tried putting myself in their shoes.

If I had been on the road with Jesus, I would have seen his miracles. I would have heard his teachings. By the way, it is interesting to note that Jesus taught the disciples how to pray…but not how to preach or teach except by using Himself as a model for them. And according to Luke, Jesus would have told me nine times about His coming death and resurrection.

Now, I ask myself, how likely I would I have been to believe what He said even though I was with Him. I doubt that I would have believed because I didn’t understand about resurrection…and I didn’t want to believe Jesus was going to be killed

Even after Jesus was crucified, people did not think that He was going to be resurrected. The women came to the tomb with spices for His body. They expected Jesus to be in the tomb. The disciples were the very first skeptics of the resurrection. The Bible says that Jesus was not recognized. Have you wondered why? I have, and I came to the conclusion that the people did not expect Jesus to appear in their midst and so in their eyes He didn’t…not until Jesus did something that they recognized for certain.

The couple on the road to Emmaus did not recognize Jesus until the time He broke bread. He was the guest, and yet He was the one who broke the bread which, I think, was contrary to the tradition of that time or this time as well. Normally, the host would break the bread and present it to the guest. But it was when He broke the bread that they recognized Him…and He vanished.

It seems to me that the disciples did not recognize Jesus after His death until He did something that “proved” that it was He. One of the fascinating parts of the gospels to me is that various gospels relate different sightings of Jesus following His crucifixion.

But the skeptics were finally convinced that Jesus truly was raised from the dead…and He ascended into Heaven where He sits at the right hand of God Almighty.

Carol

Bible Breath: It is true! / Lord has risen

The Denial

Luke 22:31-34

31″Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you[a] as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

33But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

34Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

In this day and age I wonder if we truly believe in Satan. I know we believe in evil, but do we believe in Satan. I think many of us think that is an “old-fashioned” idea. But many people say they believe in angels, and isn’t Satan a fallen angel?

Satan is rarely mentioned in the Old Testament at all. In Job he is referred to as the Accuser. I think there is one other mention in the Old Testament. Have you ever wondered why that is? I have, and I do not know the answer.

But I can tell you that I would jump right out of my shoes if Jesus told me straight to my face that “Satan has asked to sift you like wheat”. But I would also be relieved that Jesus said He would pray for me.

Peter seemed like a bold fellow. We know he was strong. He had to be to work as a fisherman and then to follow Jesus all over the place. He undoubtedly thought he was mentally strong as well. Who… me deny You? You must be kidding. Jesus wasn’t kidding. And Peter did deny Jesus three times. But he also returned to lead the other disciples as “The Rock” as Jesus had foreseen that he would be.

Peter denied Jesus three times. I think most of us have denied Him more than that if not in words then by our actions. It is a tough thing to do to be in a group of non-believers, atheists, agnostics and be able to stand up and say, “I believe that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. He is the Son of God”…and stand your ground no matter what anyone else says to you. Whatever it is they do to you will not be so awful as what Peter and the first Christians faced when they began our journey so many years ago.

Thank God they were steadfast…despite their setbacks and denials.

Carol

Bible Breath: I am with you / One who serves

Can We Stand?

Luke 21:34-36

34″Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. 35For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

One thing about Jesus is that He hits the nail on the head when He says, “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.”

That is straight-talk to us. And we need to listen to it. We do not know when the end will come…none of us. We don’t know when our individual lives will end. We don’t know when anything else will happen either. Therefore, it seems to be that it would behoove us to get ready for the end right this very minute. And we need to stay in a state of preparedness.

How would you like to die and stand before the “judgment seat” and have nothing to say other than, “I didn’t see it coming.” I don’t want to be in that position. We all know that we will not be perfect, but we can conduct our lives in such a way that we can stand before God…not as a perfect creature, but as a person who is ready to meet His Maker…no matter when that time is.

I wonder what all of us would do if we knew for certain that we would be dead at noon tomorrow? Makes me wonder.

Carol

Bible Breath: Stand up, lift / Your face to God

Giving

Luke 21:1-4

1As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.[a] 3″I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

How do you give to the church…joyfully, cheerfully? And for what reason do you give money to the church…because you are “supposed” to, because you are “expected” to, because it is your “duty” as a member?

I watch people as the offering is taken. I don’t see cheerful faces. And I don’t see much money going in…and I see many people who give nothing. Now, I understand that I cannot possibly know how all people give. And it is none of my business anyway.

However, I would guess that most of us do not give like the widow gave. She gave out of her poverty. It seems to me, and I could be very wrong about this observation, that most of us give what is “left over” to the church. We do not put the church at the top of our list when it comes to giving money. We say that we put God first in our lives. If that is the case, then it would seem to me that the first money that would come out of our monthly or weekly checks would go to the church.

Instead, it seems to me that many of us, including me, pay all of our other bills…and if there should happen to be any money left, we give it to the church. However, that is not what we are asked to do.

The disciples in the Gospels did not appear to take along all of their possessions when Jesus said, “Follow me.” I have often wondered what happened to the families. I have a feeling that they all followed Jesus and lived in community.

It is very easy to give from abundance. Giving from poverty is difficult. But either way, we are expected to give abundantly to our church. It is too bad that we don’t. If we all gave what we could give, churches would not be in debt like we are, and that would save many people lots of headaches…and we would be doing what God wants us to do…tithe, at least.

Carol

Bible Breath: Giving well / Brings Jesus joy

Beware!

Luke 20:45-47

45While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46″Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 47They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.”

Just recently I have been on a forum on which are several denominations of Christian, a couple of Jews, an agnostic, at least 2 atheists…and others. During this last week 62 different people have posted on the thread called “Who Threatens Christians the Most?” The discussion has ranged quite far from the original question.

However, one point was made that I had not thought of before, and I know I need to. The question is what do Jews think of statements like the one which is above? I had not given any thought at all to what Jews thought about the New Testament when they read it. I am not going to tell anyone right now what they thought.

But I would like for those of you who read this to consider the question. I think it is an important one to address.

Another thing I will say is that the Jews and atheists could make their “case” for what they believed much better than the Christians could on the forum. In fact, the Christians disagree vigorously and sarcastically with one another. Every time one Christian would try to bring the discourse back to some kind of civility, another one of the Christians would become sarcastic and accuse those trying to be civil of “chickening out”. I was called, among other things, a micro cephalic nincompoop, and I received a B- as a “Sneering Christian”. I would have received an A had I told the other person he/she was going to hell and needed to be saved.

I would say that as a congregation of disciples we have a lot of work to do in any and all communities. And, no, I was not able to hold my position very well either…even among the Christians.

Carol

Bible Breath: Love your neighbor / As yourself

The Crying Stones

Luke 19:37-40

19:37 When he [Jesus] came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

19:38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

19:39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

19:40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

One time I was at a program of religious music. It was played and sung by a wonderful choir, big organ, and an excellent orchestra. They played the kind of music I like best…oratorios. Now, I realize that doesn’t thrill too many people…I mean oratorios don’t. But think of a program of music that you absolutely love, which is important in your life for whatever the reason, and was played gloriously. In fact, it was played so well that you just wanted to clap your hands and whoop and yell because you were so happy.

And what if you were in a situation in which that would be inappropriate behavior. Wouldn’t that just make you want to “die” right on the spot? Perhaps you would leave the building just as fast as possible so that you could talk with another person who shared that kind of pleasure…the joy of the performance. And if you had to be quiet about the joy, you would just burst. I know that feeling. I imagine all of you know it as well

That is the type of thing which Jesus is talking about in this passage. The disciples were yelling and carrying on joyfully and praising God as they were coming into Jerusalem. Then some of the Pharisees told Jesus to rebuke them…to pipe down. And Jesus had this wonderful line, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry.” What a terrific thing to say! I love it. I hope you do too.

Carol

Bible Breath: Blessed be the / Name of the Lord

The Rich Ruler

Luke 18:18-29

How many of us have asked someone a question…and then didn’t like the answer? I would guess that we all have many times over. However, I do not believe that I have ever said as the rich ruler said, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Have you asked Jesus that question? I don’t think we ask because we know we don’t what to know the answer.

Jesus told this fellow that he needed to follow the commandments: do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother. And the Rich Ruler said he has been following the commandments since he was a boy. I think he must be an extraordinary fellow. I don’t know of many people who have followed all ten of the commandments throughout their lifetimes.

Jesus gave the Rich Ruler one other direction. He was to sell everything he had, give it to the poor, and follow Jesus. We look upon this as a parable in the Bible. However, it is a story for us as well. What will we give up to follow Jesus? Is He truly first in our lives. As you look around your homes, would you give all of it up to follow Jesus? That is what the Rich Ruler was asked to do. Jesus didn’t tell him that he could keep part of it. He said to sell everything and give it to the poor.

As I look around my apartment, I see books I wouldn’t want to sell. I see CDs, CD player, TV, and computer that I would not want to sell. And that is not counting my clothes and car. What are we to make of this parable? Do you think that Jesus really meant for the Rich Ruler to get rid of everything? I think He did. Now, I recognize this is a different time and place. I wonder what Jesus would ask us to give up in this day and age? I do know one thing. We wouldn’t want to do it. Many of us would think it was too much to ask…even to follow Jesus.

Carol

Bible Breath: Sell your things / And follow Me

How Do You Pray?

Luke 18:9-14

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men–robbers, evildoers, adulterers–or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” NIV

I think this is a terrific parable because it seems to me that each of us fits into one or the other category of “prayer”. I am not certain there is much gray area here.

The Pharisee begins by looking down upon other people. Now, I don’t know about you, but that seems like a poor way to begin praying to God. This guy likes to tell God about all the good things he has done. In fact, he has done them to an extent which is even greater than the law. He is truly full of himself.

Have you ever prayed to God in that manner? I know I have. I call it the, “Hey, God, look what I have done for You,” approach. There certainly is no humility in that approach.

Have you ever been glad that you weren’t “like those other people”. You know the ones I mean. They are the people who may be noisy in church or not have decent clothing to wear. They are the people that we just would prefer not to have in our midst. They just don’t “fit” in. And they most certainly cannot give as much or do as much as we can do. That is a given. In fact they may need something from us instead of being able to bring money for the offering. It has happened, you know. That is the bad Pharisee in us which is “praying”. What kind of a prayer can that person offer up. What he/she forgets is that God knows what he/she has done already.

But what of the publican or tax-collector who is one of the most disliked people around. Have we ever prayed like he prayed? I hate to admit that I do not so frequently pray in humility as he prayed. He could not even look up, and he was far away from the Holy of Holies. He was ashamed. Many of us need to feel both shame and humility for much of our behavior. It is so much easier to try to find a scapegoat for it than it is to say, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner”…and mean it.

Carol

Jesus Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

The Other Son

Luke 15:17-32

One of the parables that most of us know and think we understand is the story of the prodigal son. The thing about parables is that we can put ourselves in the role of each of the players and consider what our reactions would be in the situations.

Many of us in some way or another have left home with our “inheritance,” however it may be defined, and have thrown it away. We have been unwise, ignorant, and just plain careless with what we have…and we lose it…whether it is money, status, gifts, or our spiritual, mental, and/or physical health. We have relied on ourselves alone. And we were found wanting…and had to return home.

I have never been a parent, but I can imagine that I would be concerned if my son or daughter just took off and went somewhere and seemed not to follow what I had been trying to teach him/her. I would feel dreadful. But what a joy it would be to have that kid return home…all in one piece!! Yes, there would be a celebration, we would all go out to eat at a special restaurant, or we would prepare a meal containing my son or daughter’s favorite foods.. If my son or daughter needed a decent outfit, we would get that as well.

But what about the other son? If I were in his shoes, I would be glad that my sibling was alive and well. However, I have no doubt that I would be offended by everyone’s making a big to-do over his return. That son or daughter who stays home and does the work expected of him/her would be a saint not to feel some resentment at the celebration.

The message it sends is that if you blow all your money and get in trouble, you will be welcomed home since you did not manage to get yourself killed or put in jail. But if you stay at home and do what is expected of you, you are taken for granted.

I am not a gracious enough person not to feel that way. I might not say anything. I might smile. But underneath I would not understand why this celebration is occurring. And I would be angry. I have no doubt about it.

I understand that the son at home is to represent the Pharisees in this parable. In this scenario, it takes God and Jesus to celebrate that the lost is found. I would be glad that the lost is found, but I would have difficulty celebrating. I am not that grown-up yet.

Carol

Bible Breath: My son was dead / Now he lives