Well, brothers and sisters, we are on to a new covenant again this week in our ongoing Lenten series “Is the Story Still for Us.” For those of you who were here 2 weeks ago, I shared that in our Lenten season, we will be introduced to 5 covenants that God created with His people. Just to review, a covenant is a solemn, unbreakable bond made between God and God’s people. Each covenant builds upon itself, the previous promise is kept, and a new, more earth shattering promise emerges. This is a signal, that God is in relationship with us, that He has made a promise with us, that God’s relationship with humanity has changed.
We’ve heard of God’s covenant with Noah—water was changed, and is no longer used to separate God from His people. Water (through Bapt.) unites God and His people. We’ve learned of God’s covenant with Abraham and Sarah, to create a great nation, a community from what was barren. Today, our covenant focus is the 10 commandments. So, God promises to: 1) unite his people, not separate them with water 2) God promises to create community and family through Abraham and Sarah 3) God promises to lead and guide us with the help of commandments.
Rules. Is this story still for us? This covenant may make us a bit more sheepish. Anyone out there begin to read the 10 commandments and find themselves sinking lower in their seat, feeling like they’re about to hear how we aren’t following the rules? I know when I’ve read the commandments in the past, I’m taken back to my 3rd grade classroom with Mrs. Schmidt. As 3rd graders, there were new expectations, we weren’t the “little kids” anymore and we had to follow a new set of rules. One of those rules centered around talking, or talking out of turn…if you talked out of turn, Mrs. Schmidt would place your name on the board. Each time after this, you received a check after your name. 5 check marks meant you lost 5 minutes of recess time. Guess which Vicar in this room had trouble following this rule? No surprise to many, I did indeed spend some time in the classroom during recess. Some of us may read the 10 commandments and imagine God sitting up at a giant chalkboard writing huge, red check marks after our name….let’s see “thou shall not murder” ok, I’m good for that one, but “thou shall not covet they neighbor’s property…” under this system, I may not be going out for recess for a few decades!
But, this covenant was created isn’t about God and his giant chalkboard in the sky. It is a gift to the Jews and to us, rather than a punishment. The commandments were given to Moses at the beginning of 40 years of wilderness wanderings. The Jews were slaves in Egypt and their daily mission was decided for them. Their mission was to serve Pharaoh who told them when to work, how to work and what would happen if they didn’t work. Every earthly action was controlled. Suddenly, they are free and need guidance to meet their daily needs and discover their mission. God was there. He provides them with food—manna from heaven. But, friends, God does more than provide the descendants of Abraham with manna, nourishment for their bellies. God provides them with Sustenance--He gives them manna for mission. Nourishment for their souls through the 10 commandments. The goal of the commandments, the new covenant, isn’t an arbitrary set of rules, some “dos and don’ts” it is an act of love. God gave guidelines to wandering, beloved people so they could create a trusting and loving community and fulfill God’s mission. Manna for mission. Food for the journey. With the commandments, God is saying “I love you, trust me I know that there are things that can hurt you. I want to be with you fully, I want the community to be with each other fully. Don’t hurt yourselves. These things I warn you about (coveting, stealing, cheating, hurting) create jealousy, broken relationships, just don’t do this to yourself. I love you too much to see you hurting.” That’s what the commandments are…it’s an act of love from God to His people. It’s manna for mission.
So, where does this leave us? “Is the story still for us?” Is it? Is this covenant still our mission sustaining manna? What is HTLC’s mission? Well, our mission statement is to “gather God’s people @ God’s alter, grow as God’s people in God’s spirit, and GO as God’s hands, and heart and voice.” Our first taste of manna for mission is “to gather God’s people @ God’s alter.” This isn’t just the job of the ministers. It’s OUR mission, and each of us have a stake. Our mission is grounded in the commandments “remember the Sabbath, keep it holy.” Do we feel “we owe God 1 morning a week? That going to church makes God happy?” Is that what this command and our mission are saying? Do it to make God happy? NO, dear friends. Through this commandment, God says “I love you. You need community, you need to rest, to refuel. Lay your worries, and joys at the foot of my cross. Gather at my alter. Support one another as you carry out your mission TOGETHER.” THAT is covenant, and mission. For those of you who joined us on Wednesday (and will join us this coming Wed. @ Grace as I preach) we came together and placed letters at the foot of the cross. We gathered our tears, prayers and joys @ God’s alter, TOGETHER. Letters saying “dear God, thank you for the flowers, for my family.” “dear God, please heal my child.” The commandment for Sabbath creates mission and community for our hurting and healing world.
The second taste of manna for our mission: “Grow as God’s people in God’s spirit.” Growing as community in God’s spirit commands us to “honor thy mother and father, do not murder, or steal.” It says more than “kids, listen to your parents, don’t kill someone or rob a bank.” God says, “I love you. You need community. You need to be treated and treat others with respect. Celebrate and share the gifts of each other. Learn from one another and grow in mission. Our adult forum during Lent is taught by YOU. YOU share how to live well through all stages of life. YOU teach us how to prepare for the end of our earthly lives through hospice and advanced directives. YOU are teaching us the importance of relaxation and renewal as we plan Trek West/North 2010. YOU are growing this community and handing out manna for our world.
The final taste of manna for our mission: be “God’s hands, heart and voice.” “Be an active disciple in the world. Do not covet they neighbor’s goods” It’s not limited to “do good and don’t stare longingly at your neighbor’s Cadillac Escalade or Toyota Pruis.” God says, “I love you, you need community. Don’t long for what you don’t have, instead, give what you do have. Don’t long for another person’s relationship, branch out and make relationships with others. Be my hands.” Last Saturday, members gathered at our 3 Project Stepping Stone homes to clean the houses our congregation makes available to families in need. DO YOU KNOW what a gift this is? How this ministry speaks VOLUMES to the community about our commitment to being God’s hands, heart and voice? OUR MISSION IS GROUNDED in the commandments given to wandering former slaves over 5,000 years ago. THIS COVENANT TRANSFORMS YOU as YOU become MANNA for MISSION.
Is the story for us? Is God’s promise to Noah that water is transformed, God’s covenant to create community through Abraham and Sarah, God’s loving guidance handed to Moses still alive today? By the grace of God, through our grounding in the commandments, WE ARE MANNA. By the way, all the examples of our church and mission…they all come from HTLC’s activities in the past week. Our mission statement, grounded in the covenant of Moses isn’t an obscure, long term goal, it is how we are being God’s hands, heart, and voice, TODAY, RIGHT NOW. It’s not a set of rules that God marks off with a giant red pen. It’s you and I, together, in covenant with God, gathering @ God’s altar, growing, and acting in God’s world, yesterday, today, and tomorrow as living manna. AMEN.
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Saturday, March 14, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
A couple blogs & websites I've been following
(Kid pics just below this post)
Just wanted to share a couple links with you all. These are a couple blogs I enjoy
http://www.somethingwithin.com/ Written by Rev. Dr. Renita J. Weems, a wonderful scholar and theologian. Very practical cultural ideas.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/ Obama's blog...I just think it's cool that the Prez has a blog
http://www.workingpreacher.org/ A good preaching website, gives you commentaries to consider as you write your sermons. Lots of Luther Sem. input.
http://www.christianpiatt.com/ I went to a conference and heard Christian Piatt present. Ideas on bringing young people into the church and using tech in church settings.
http://www.sundaysaver.com/ I'm old :) This is a site that gives you all the Sunday grocery ads online so you can plan your shopping ahead of time.
http://www.couponmom.com/ Again, I'm old :) Online printable coupons & $ saving site. I saw it on Oprah
Just wanted to share a couple links with you all. These are a couple blogs I enjoy
http://www.somethingwithin.com/ Written by Rev. Dr. Renita J. Weems, a wonderful scholar and theologian. Very practical cultural ideas.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/ Obama's blog...I just think it's cool that the Prez has a blog
http://www.workingpreacher.org/ A good preaching website, gives you commentaries to consider as you write your sermons. Lots of Luther Sem. input.
http://www.christianpiatt.com/ I went to a conference and heard Christian Piatt present. Ideas on bringing young people into the church and using tech in church settings.
http://www.sundaysaver.com/ I'm old :) This is a site that gives you all the Sunday grocery ads online so you can plan your shopping ahead of time.
http://www.couponmom.com/ Again, I'm old :) Online printable coupons & $ saving site. I saw it on Oprah
It's been way to long!
Hello faithful blog followers! It has been WAY to long since I updated our blog. We've been busy doing the things that families do...going to and from work and daycare, playing, etc etc. We are getting into one of the busy times of the church year with Easter coming up, so I've been a bit more busy than normal. However, Lent has been amazing at the church this year. We've had wonderful attendance and our series centers around "Letters to Jesus" Congregants are invited to write personal letters to Jesus and place them at the foot of the cross every wednesday during services. Very powerful.
I posted a couple of my sermons as well for your enjoyment/reflection.
I posted a couple of my sermons as well for your enjoyment/reflection.
Samuel: We had a swallow study for Samuel earlier this week (there is an update buried a couple pages back that gives details...click the button at the bottom of this page and keep going back until you find "Samuel swallow study" The long and short of it is: Samuel is getting better, slowly. He can now take about 1/2 an oz of food by mouth but it doesn't look like we'll be off this blasted tube any time soon...MAYBE the fall???? Frustrating, but at least he is making progress.
Shahra: Shahra is becoming more like a preschool girl every day, she says some of the most witty things and makes many keen observations. She loves church (thank goodness) and has taken to pretending to give us communion at home.
Well, most of you sign on for kid pics, so here is the l
atest PJ pic parade!!!
atest PJ pic parade!!!
(yep, I haven't posted in a while) These pics are from the great IN blizzard of 2009. We got something like 13 inches of snow. Ball State and IU canceled (IU for the first time since 1977). We were outside for a good 15 min before Shahra got cold. (Note the adorable matching scarves the kids are wearing :)
Covenant #1 (Lent) Rainbow
**If it's ok to say, I really LOVE this sermon :)
Gen 9:11 God said, “I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth."
New Orleans LA, September 2005, Anderson Cooper: I mean, that`s how bad it is, Nancy. We have seen bubbles coming out of homes, and that is gas leaks that is making the water froth up. You can smell the gas when you`re driving around in your boat. So I mean, there`s no telling what`s in this water. It is -- it`s everything you can possibly imagine in one just dirty soup. There is still 50 percent of the city underwater. Parts you simply just can't get to.
No more floods, huh? Gen 9, the flood story is probably pretty familiar to most. You may even hear it and begin to tune out a bit…Noah, a flood, beautiful, clean and orderly animals marching off a large wooden boat with a 7 year old’s depiction of a rainbow in the background. Then, you really start to tune out. The promise that God would never again flood the world sounds like it may have been broken…not just in New Orleans, but in countless cities and countless hearts that are flooded with pain. One may think, “yes, the whole world may not be flooded, but my world is under water. I’m gasping for air in my lungs and everything around me has been destroyed. Anyone ever felt this way? It makes us wonder if these Biblical promises are more than just words on a page. If the story is still for us. Does the story of an old man surrounded by docile animals matter in a world where people are still cleaning up from Katrina? Does the story of a God who promises never again to destroy the earth hit home to this community, as we watch factory after factory closed and wonder if you need to move heaven and earth to prevent your own destruction? That’s why we’re here…that’s why we’re doing this thing called “Lent” why we’re meeting together, on Sundays and Wednesdays with the hope that Easter will come (this Wed at Grace with Pastor John preaching, check bulletin for details). That’s the challenge, no, that’s the invitation to bring these ancient stories, of broken people, living in sin filled broken times to life for us. To discover how these words come alive and create an unstoppable phenomena in the world. Are you up for the challenge?
Genesis 9: “And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.”
CNN February 2006, New Orleans: Funding and volunteers are still needed 6 months after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast. Even now, 6 months later, thousands of residents remain displaced and in need of housing, food and clean water.
Thousands of years ago, God said to Noah “I will establish a covenant with you…” A covenant is a solemn, unbreakable bond made between God and God’s people. An unbreakable promise, signified by a rainbow. A signal, that God is in relationship with us, that He has made a promise with us. This doesn’t mean God takes away all forms of destruction, we still have floods, water still destroys, but a covenant signals to us God’s relationship with humanity has changed. (by the way, you’ll hear of a new covenant every week during Lent in the Old Testament reading, so be on the lookout for them). Each covenant builds upon itself, the previous promise is kept, and a new, more earth shattering promise emerges. This first covenant is a pretty big promise, because Noah, and all the people who follow after him know that anything water touches is changed. The waters of the flood touched the earth, they destroyed every living creature, they cut off every living creature from God…water did this. And God promise, makes a covenant that water will no longer cut off and separate His people from Him. God is changed, humanity is changed…WATER is changed by this covenant. Water will no longer be used to separate God from God’s people. Remember how I said covenants build upon each other? Let’s take a look at the gospel reading…Jesus’ baptism. “just as he was coming out of the water the Spirit descended upon him like a dove. And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.” Anything water touches is changed and the waters of Baptism change all those who are touched. See, it began with God and Noah…water was changed! God declared that water was no longer something that cut people off from Him, instead, the waters of baptism join people together and send them out into the world! The waters of baptism changed the baptized, they spring forth people of God to flood the earth, to touch it, to transform it. Water transforms. Noah was touched by water and sent out adrift in a wild sea for 40 days before God reaches out to him and makes a covenant with him. Jesus is touched by water and is set adrift in the wild desert for 40 days (NO ACCIDENT THERE!!!) before reaching out and making a covenant with us. You are touched by water, baptized and sent out adrift in this wild world before the Holy Spirit reaches out and leads you to share the everlasting covenant of Christ with others. Water transforms.
The waters of baptism touch us, flood our hearts with the living, breathing, spirit of God, and we in turn flood the world. The flood waters of Noah destroyed all that God made, cut it off the world from God. The flood waters of baptism, restore all that God has made. These waters flood our broken planet, our broken lives, with grace hope and justice. But how is this story still for us, as we live in a still imperfect, often painful and separated world? Where is their evidence that the waters of baptism are transforming everything they touch?
Jesus, Justice & Jazz ELCA 2009 national youth gathering homepage: Marked with the cross of Christ forever, we are claimed, gathered, and sent for the sake of the world. Working with local congregations and organizations, young people will be immersed in volunteer service as they participate in recovery efforts resulting from the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Our youth, a total of 15 people from this congregation (including myself), touched by the waters of baptism and filled with the Holy Spirit, are traveling to New Orleans in July. We will be challenged, to take what was muddied and help to make it clean. We will join 36,000 young people and together, we will flood New Orleans with the waters of the Holy Spirit, taking what appeared to be hopeless and fill it with new life. Not only will 36,000 baptized Lutherans give to the city, we will be met by the Holy Spirit in this place, and the spirit will flood us, and transform us. We will be given a gift by this city and it’s people—God’s covenant will come alive. The story of Noah won’t be simple words on a page, it will live and breathe on Burdon street, and in the Lower 9th Ward. A rainbow will no longer be a symbol, but the hope, the reassurance to us all that God transformed water, and He is transforming US. These 36,000 people will then be driven out by the Spirit to proclaim this hope to the world.
But, that’s just one story, one example. Is the story still for us? This question is the challenge set before each of us this Lenten season. How will YOU answer? AMEN
Gen 9:11 God said, “I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth."
New Orleans LA, September 2005, Anderson Cooper: I mean, that`s how bad it is, Nancy. We have seen bubbles coming out of homes, and that is gas leaks that is making the water froth up. You can smell the gas when you`re driving around in your boat. So I mean, there`s no telling what`s in this water. It is -- it`s everything you can possibly imagine in one just dirty soup. There is still 50 percent of the city underwater. Parts you simply just can't get to.
No more floods, huh? Gen 9, the flood story is probably pretty familiar to most. You may even hear it and begin to tune out a bit…Noah, a flood, beautiful, clean and orderly animals marching off a large wooden boat with a 7 year old’s depiction of a rainbow in the background. Then, you really start to tune out. The promise that God would never again flood the world sounds like it may have been broken…not just in New Orleans, but in countless cities and countless hearts that are flooded with pain. One may think, “yes, the whole world may not be flooded, but my world is under water. I’m gasping for air in my lungs and everything around me has been destroyed. Anyone ever felt this way? It makes us wonder if these Biblical promises are more than just words on a page. If the story is still for us. Does the story of an old man surrounded by docile animals matter in a world where people are still cleaning up from Katrina? Does the story of a God who promises never again to destroy the earth hit home to this community, as we watch factory after factory closed and wonder if you need to move heaven and earth to prevent your own destruction? That’s why we’re here…that’s why we’re doing this thing called “Lent” why we’re meeting together, on Sundays and Wednesdays with the hope that Easter will come (this Wed at Grace with Pastor John preaching, check bulletin for details). That’s the challenge, no, that’s the invitation to bring these ancient stories, of broken people, living in sin filled broken times to life for us. To discover how these words come alive and create an unstoppable phenomena in the world. Are you up for the challenge?
Genesis 9: “And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.”
CNN February 2006, New Orleans: Funding and volunteers are still needed 6 months after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast. Even now, 6 months later, thousands of residents remain displaced and in need of housing, food and clean water.
Thousands of years ago, God said to Noah “I will establish a covenant with you…” A covenant is a solemn, unbreakable bond made between God and God’s people. An unbreakable promise, signified by a rainbow. A signal, that God is in relationship with us, that He has made a promise with us. This doesn’t mean God takes away all forms of destruction, we still have floods, water still destroys, but a covenant signals to us God’s relationship with humanity has changed. (by the way, you’ll hear of a new covenant every week during Lent in the Old Testament reading, so be on the lookout for them). Each covenant builds upon itself, the previous promise is kept, and a new, more earth shattering promise emerges. This first covenant is a pretty big promise, because Noah, and all the people who follow after him know that anything water touches is changed. The waters of the flood touched the earth, they destroyed every living creature, they cut off every living creature from God…water did this. And God promise, makes a covenant that water will no longer cut off and separate His people from Him. God is changed, humanity is changed…WATER is changed by this covenant. Water will no longer be used to separate God from God’s people. Remember how I said covenants build upon each other? Let’s take a look at the gospel reading…Jesus’ baptism. “just as he was coming out of the water the Spirit descended upon him like a dove. And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.” Anything water touches is changed and the waters of Baptism change all those who are touched. See, it began with God and Noah…water was changed! God declared that water was no longer something that cut people off from Him, instead, the waters of baptism join people together and send them out into the world! The waters of baptism changed the baptized, they spring forth people of God to flood the earth, to touch it, to transform it. Water transforms. Noah was touched by water and sent out adrift in a wild sea for 40 days before God reaches out to him and makes a covenant with him. Jesus is touched by water and is set adrift in the wild desert for 40 days (NO ACCIDENT THERE!!!) before reaching out and making a covenant with us. You are touched by water, baptized and sent out adrift in this wild world before the Holy Spirit reaches out and leads you to share the everlasting covenant of Christ with others. Water transforms.
The waters of baptism touch us, flood our hearts with the living, breathing, spirit of God, and we in turn flood the world. The flood waters of Noah destroyed all that God made, cut it off the world from God. The flood waters of baptism, restore all that God has made. These waters flood our broken planet, our broken lives, with grace hope and justice. But how is this story still for us, as we live in a still imperfect, often painful and separated world? Where is their evidence that the waters of baptism are transforming everything they touch?
Jesus, Justice & Jazz ELCA 2009 national youth gathering homepage: Marked with the cross of Christ forever, we are claimed, gathered, and sent for the sake of the world. Working with local congregations and organizations, young people will be immersed in volunteer service as they participate in recovery efforts resulting from the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Our youth, a total of 15 people from this congregation (including myself), touched by the waters of baptism and filled with the Holy Spirit, are traveling to New Orleans in July. We will be challenged, to take what was muddied and help to make it clean. We will join 36,000 young people and together, we will flood New Orleans with the waters of the Holy Spirit, taking what appeared to be hopeless and fill it with new life. Not only will 36,000 baptized Lutherans give to the city, we will be met by the Holy Spirit in this place, and the spirit will flood us, and transform us. We will be given a gift by this city and it’s people—God’s covenant will come alive. The story of Noah won’t be simple words on a page, it will live and breathe on Burdon street, and in the Lower 9th Ward. A rainbow will no longer be a symbol, but the hope, the reassurance to us all that God transformed water, and He is transforming US. These 36,000 people will then be driven out by the Spirit to proclaim this hope to the world.
But, that’s just one story, one example. Is the story still for us? This question is the challenge set before each of us this Lenten season. How will YOU answer? AMEN
Voice of God Sermon (Transfig. Sunday)
Let me take you back to my home in northern Minnesota. When most people think of the northern part of the state, they think beautiful lakes, forests and maybe even Lake Superior. However, my part of the state is flat, and I don’t mean flat with a few rolling hills, but flatter than a pancake. You can see for miles, which means the wind blows without stopping for miles. It’s actually the bottom of an ancient lake bed, Lake Agassi. So it’s not really the part of the state used to create MN visitor calendars or postcards. But, even with the lack of trees and hills and lakes that MN is known for, we do have one natural beauty—the sunsets. They last for an hour and are completely unblocked by nature, or manmade structures. The colors splash across the prairie creating a temporary work of art. As a child, I called the most spectacular sunsets “bulletin covers.” You’ve seen bulletins with beautiful nature pictures and a Bible verse stretched across the front—I believed that the sunsets were the backdrop for God’s words, that God was speaking to someone every time beams of light stretched from heaven to earth. If I was in the car, I would lean towards the window and listen…”what is God saying?” I never heard a “voice” so I figured God must have been sending His voice down to someone else, someone who needed to hear His message using those beams of light. I didn’t understand why the booming, Charleton Hesston “voice of God” never sent me a clear, one sentence command, spoken with a British accent. I kept listening, wondering “what is God saying?” But, as I left MN and left childhood, I think the question shifted to a more “adult” question that we all sometimes wonder “I God saying anything?” I never hear a clear voice, if I did, I’d know God was saying something.
In our Gospel today, the disciples do hear this clear, unmistakable voice of God. They aren’t like us, are they? They shouldn’t have to wonder “is God saying anything?” In 11 short verses, the disciples hear a very clear message from God. Instead of being alone watching a multi colored prairie sunset with faint beams of light coming from the heavens, the disciples experience Jesus in a bright and gleaming white robe standing with Elijah HIM.” It can’t get much clearer than that, can it? But, what do our disciple friends ask on the way down the mountain? “Is God saying anything?” They start to ask all kinds of philosophical questions: “what does he mean, rise from the dead?” ignoring the billowing voice from the clouds, gleaming white robes and long dead prophets standing beside Jesus. And we’re left wondering why God won’t send US such a clear sign, then we would understand what God was saying.
Let me back up for a moment to Mark chapter 8 and list a few of the experiences the disciples just had with Jesus before they went onto the mountain top….in Mark 8 alone, the disciples saw: feeding of the five thousand, they hear from doubting Pharisees, Jesus heals a blind man, Peter confesses Jesus as Christ, and Jesus foretells His death and resurrection. They hear the actual voice of God, they see miracles and yet they still wonder! But, should I be so hard on the disciples? Are we much different from them? Do we not ask “Is God saying anything?” On most days, I certainly do not have the faith of a child, leaning my ear out the car window like I did as I watched God speak through MN sunsets. What about you? Would a gleaming white robe and prophets standing next to Jesus change your faith? We need to stop looking at these short, 11 verse experiences as the only place we see God. We need to recognize that in chapter after chapter of the Bible—and, more importantly—in chapter after chapter of our lives Christ is revealing Himself to us. Through prairie sunsets, through our families, through the bread and cup. All these wonderful places are prime opportunities to see Christ at work.
But what about the dark places? Some of you may be wondering where your prairie sunsets are, questioning where God is in the midst of your illness, job loss, broken relationship or broken heart. I proclaim to you—Jesus is with YOU because Jesus HAS BEEN THERE TOO. Jesus has suffered, like us. He has been abandoned, like us, He has felt pain, like us. The disciples suggest they build a dwelling place for Jesus on the mountaintop. But, Jesus comes down from the mountain because He knows our lives are more than brief, 11 verse, celebratory experiences. If you are far from the mountaintop, far from the prairie sunsets, this Lord and savior is for you because the voice of God isn’t limited to the mountains. God is not just saying anything He is sending us the more extraordinary, and hope filled message we could every hope to hear—I am with you, I am saving you, I am transforming you every day. Amen
In our Gospel today, the disciples do hear this clear, unmistakable voice of God. They aren’t like us, are they? They shouldn’t have to wonder “is God saying anything?” In 11 short verses, the disciples hear a very clear message from God. Instead of being alone watching a multi colored prairie sunset with faint beams of light coming from the heavens, the disciples experience Jesus in a bright and gleaming white robe standing with Elijah HIM.” It can’t get much clearer than that, can it? But, what do our disciple friends ask on the way down the mountain? “Is God saying anything?” They start to ask all kinds of philosophical questions: “what does he mean, rise from the dead?” ignoring the billowing voice from the clouds, gleaming white robes and long dead prophets standing beside Jesus. And we’re left wondering why God won’t send US such a clear sign, then we would understand what God was saying.
Let me back up for a moment to Mark chapter 8 and list a few of the experiences the disciples just had with Jesus before they went onto the mountain top….in Mark 8 alone, the disciples saw: feeding of the five thousand, they hear from doubting Pharisees, Jesus heals a blind man, Peter confesses Jesus as Christ, and Jesus foretells His death and resurrection. They hear the actual voice of God, they see miracles and yet they still wonder! But, should I be so hard on the disciples? Are we much different from them? Do we not ask “Is God saying anything?” On most days, I certainly do not have the faith of a child, leaning my ear out the car window like I did as I watched God speak through MN sunsets. What about you? Would a gleaming white robe and prophets standing next to Jesus change your faith? We need to stop looking at these short, 11 verse experiences as the only place we see God. We need to recognize that in chapter after chapter of the Bible—and, more importantly—in chapter after chapter of our lives Christ is revealing Himself to us. Through prairie sunsets, through our families, through the bread and cup. All these wonderful places are prime opportunities to see Christ at work.
But what about the dark places? Some of you may be wondering where your prairie sunsets are, questioning where God is in the midst of your illness, job loss, broken relationship or broken heart. I proclaim to you—Jesus is with YOU because Jesus HAS BEEN THERE TOO. Jesus has suffered, like us. He has been abandoned, like us, He has felt pain, like us. The disciples suggest they build a dwelling place for Jesus on the mountaintop. But, Jesus comes down from the mountain because He knows our lives are more than brief, 11 verse, celebratory experiences. If you are far from the mountaintop, far from the prairie sunsets, this Lord and savior is for you because the voice of God isn’t limited to the mountains. God is not just saying anything He is sending us the more extraordinary, and hope filled message we could every hope to hear—I am with you, I am saving you, I am transforming you every day. Amen
Jonah Sermon
I’m not sure how many of you have seen Talledega Nights. In the movie, Will Ferrel plays race car driver Ricky Bobby who has made it big. He has millions of dollars, a beautiful wife and all the success he could ever want. Ricky Bobby even has God, or at least a God he creates for himself. As the family gathers around the table for a meal, he begins the prayer by thanking “baby Jesus” for the bountiful harvest of KFC and Taco Bell. After thanking baby Jesus for his sons, and wife, he thanks the dear lord baby Jesus for his father in law Chip and asks that Jesus will use his “dear lord baby Jesus powers” to heal Chip. His wife then interrupts him and says “we don’t always have to pray to the baby Jesus, you know, he did grow up.” Ricky responds, I like the baby Jesus the best,” his wife interrupts him again and says, “you know what, I want you to do this grace good, so we can WIN tomorrow!” This continues for a while, as Bobby prays to the tiny precious, baby that he likes best. Perhaps Ricky Bobby likes to pray to the baby Jesus best because babies are small, innocent and can’t really tell you that you’ve missed the point of prayer? While this is a movie, I do think that Bobby’s image of God is all that different from many people’s image. We often try to place God in a box, to make Him the God WE want Him to be. Sometimes that’s a harmless infant Jesus, other times, it’s a wrath filled God who is on our side and will really take care of our enemy. We create God in OUR OWN image.
Ricky Bobby isn’t alone in perception. Let’s look at our first reading for today. Here is some background: our texts are picked by groups of academics and scholars who, using their resources and knowledge, attempt to choose weekly readings that give us a clear idea of God’s relationship with humanity. But today, as we read Jonah, we are only getting the “happy ending” and we miss the big picture. I think it’s fair to say this small cutting from Jonah only helps to perpetuate the problem of creating God in our own image. All we hear is that an obedient prophet, goes to Niniveh and a loving God saves the people. This friends, encompasses the story of Jonah about as well as Ricky Bobby’s prayer encompasses Jesus. Instead of focusing on the “happy ending,” let’s take a look at the full picture of Jonah. The story of a reluctant prophet and the always patient God. I know I won’t be able to explore everything this book has to offer, so I commend the book of Jonah to you. Get the whole picture for yourself and read this book tonight. (And it’s only 4 chapters).
Jonah is an Old Testament prophet who was called by God to go to the town of Ninevah and tell the people to repent and follow God. Based on this reading, it sounds like Jonah just went to the city and the people repented. Well, if we look at Jonah chapter one, our reluctant prophet decides this mission isn’t for him. Jonah is angry. The people of Ninevah are evil and corrupt, and he knows that God will have mercy upon them if they hear God’s word. Jonah doesn’t want any part of this. This isn’t the God HE created in his mind (a just, wrath filled God who will punish the wicked and raise up the righteous, at least those Jonah deems are righteous, like himself). This doesn’t fit with Jonah’s plan for God. So he runs away and gets on a boat. A storm appears and the boat begins to sink. Jonah realizes he has made God angry. Feeling responsible for the storm, he tells the sailors to throw him overboard, that he has made God angry and if he dies, God will stop the storm. A God made in Jonah’s image destroys unruly prophets. But, the true and just God doesn’t abandon those who run away. The men throw Jonah overboard, the storm stops, and the sailors are spared. But Jonah is also spared. This is where the “great fish” (what we’ve often called “the whale” comes into the story.) You may remember this part from Sunday school. Jonah is bad and gets swallowed by a whale right? Not quite. If you read chapter 1:17, it says “God provided a great fish to swallow Jonah.” The fish is protection, not punishment. The God created in our image sends fish to swallow people who are bad…the true God provides safety even in the midst of disobedience.
Jonah repents and his then spit up by the fish. He then goes to Nineveh to tell the people about God. Immediately, everyone in the town repents, men women, children, even the animals are in sackcloth (a sign of repentance). God decides not to destroy the city, and instead protects the citizens. Again, Jonah is mad. This isn’t how my God works! My God punishes, He shows people what happens if they disobey! The God created in Jonah’s image doesn’t have the power to cause the people of Nineveh to repent, but the true God shows grace to even the most sinful.
Have we caught the theme? The God created in the image of Jonah isn’t that different from the God of Ricky Bobby. God rewards the righteous, by helping them win races, and giving them “worth while” cities to minister in. God punishes those who are evil, by sending his wrath to those Jonah chooses. God doesn’t reward the undeserving! We read the book of Jonah and learn that the God created in OUR image isn’t the TRUE God. The TRUE God keeps walking with us, even when we run away. But that means He keeps walking with our enemies when they run too. The TRUE God provides us with shelter in the belly of a fish when we’ve thrown our lives overboard and we’re sinking. But this shelter is for the “undeserving” as well. The TRUE God chooses not to destroy us when we disobey. But this grace extends to Nineveh, and to all those who we wish it didn’t. And the TRUE GOD’s grace stays with us even when we don’t think this is fair. In the last chapter of Jonah, we find an angry man in the wilderness, praying to God, “I KNEW you were compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” Jonah then gets quite dramatic “It is better for me to die than live, oh Lord God, who won’t send calamity to my enemy.”
The God created in Jonah’s image takes away the pain of life through death…through our own death. Dear brothers and sisters, the TRUE GOD does indeed take away the pain of life through death. Though it is not through our own death; but through CHRIST’S death. Yes, the God created in Bobby’s image, or in Jonah’s image, or in OUR image is limited, but the TRUE GOD has power beyond our understanding. Powerful grace, powerful truth, and powerful love. AMEN.
Ricky Bobby isn’t alone in perception. Let’s look at our first reading for today. Here is some background: our texts are picked by groups of academics and scholars who, using their resources and knowledge, attempt to choose weekly readings that give us a clear idea of God’s relationship with humanity. But today, as we read Jonah, we are only getting the “happy ending” and we miss the big picture. I think it’s fair to say this small cutting from Jonah only helps to perpetuate the problem of creating God in our own image. All we hear is that an obedient prophet, goes to Niniveh and a loving God saves the people. This friends, encompasses the story of Jonah about as well as Ricky Bobby’s prayer encompasses Jesus. Instead of focusing on the “happy ending,” let’s take a look at the full picture of Jonah. The story of a reluctant prophet and the always patient God. I know I won’t be able to explore everything this book has to offer, so I commend the book of Jonah to you. Get the whole picture for yourself and read this book tonight. (And it’s only 4 chapters).
Jonah is an Old Testament prophet who was called by God to go to the town of Ninevah and tell the people to repent and follow God. Based on this reading, it sounds like Jonah just went to the city and the people repented. Well, if we look at Jonah chapter one, our reluctant prophet decides this mission isn’t for him. Jonah is angry. The people of Ninevah are evil and corrupt, and he knows that God will have mercy upon them if they hear God’s word. Jonah doesn’t want any part of this. This isn’t the God HE created in his mind (a just, wrath filled God who will punish the wicked and raise up the righteous, at least those Jonah deems are righteous, like himself). This doesn’t fit with Jonah’s plan for God. So he runs away and gets on a boat. A storm appears and the boat begins to sink. Jonah realizes he has made God angry. Feeling responsible for the storm, he tells the sailors to throw him overboard, that he has made God angry and if he dies, God will stop the storm. A God made in Jonah’s image destroys unruly prophets. But, the true and just God doesn’t abandon those who run away. The men throw Jonah overboard, the storm stops, and the sailors are spared. But Jonah is also spared. This is where the “great fish” (what we’ve often called “the whale” comes into the story.) You may remember this part from Sunday school. Jonah is bad and gets swallowed by a whale right? Not quite. If you read chapter 1:17, it says “God provided a great fish to swallow Jonah.” The fish is protection, not punishment. The God created in our image sends fish to swallow people who are bad…the true God provides safety even in the midst of disobedience.
Jonah repents and his then spit up by the fish. He then goes to Nineveh to tell the people about God. Immediately, everyone in the town repents, men women, children, even the animals are in sackcloth (a sign of repentance). God decides not to destroy the city, and instead protects the citizens. Again, Jonah is mad. This isn’t how my God works! My God punishes, He shows people what happens if they disobey! The God created in Jonah’s image doesn’t have the power to cause the people of Nineveh to repent, but the true God shows grace to even the most sinful.
Have we caught the theme? The God created in the image of Jonah isn’t that different from the God of Ricky Bobby. God rewards the righteous, by helping them win races, and giving them “worth while” cities to minister in. God punishes those who are evil, by sending his wrath to those Jonah chooses. God doesn’t reward the undeserving! We read the book of Jonah and learn that the God created in OUR image isn’t the TRUE God. The TRUE God keeps walking with us, even when we run away. But that means He keeps walking with our enemies when they run too. The TRUE God provides us with shelter in the belly of a fish when we’ve thrown our lives overboard and we’re sinking. But this shelter is for the “undeserving” as well. The TRUE God chooses not to destroy us when we disobey. But this grace extends to Nineveh, and to all those who we wish it didn’t. And the TRUE GOD’s grace stays with us even when we don’t think this is fair. In the last chapter of Jonah, we find an angry man in the wilderness, praying to God, “I KNEW you were compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” Jonah then gets quite dramatic “It is better for me to die than live, oh Lord God, who won’t send calamity to my enemy.”
The God created in Jonah’s image takes away the pain of life through death…through our own death. Dear brothers and sisters, the TRUE GOD does indeed take away the pain of life through death. Though it is not through our own death; but through CHRIST’S death. Yes, the God created in Bobby’s image, or in Jonah’s image, or in OUR image is limited, but the TRUE GOD has power beyond our understanding. Powerful grace, powerful truth, and powerful love. AMEN.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Samuel's Swallow study
First, sorry that it's been so long since our last post. I will update with pics and sermons soon!
We had a swallow study today for Samuel. He did pretty well and is making progress.
First, the "short, quick" answer: Samuel can now take about 10 ml of fluid by mouth that is fed to him by his speech pathologist. He can also have food pumped into his stomach at a faster rate (in Nov. it was at 45 ml an hour, today we can do up to 175 if he doesn't start to spit up). Unfortunately, it doesn't look like they'll be removing the tube any time soon. We were hoping the tube could come out in the summer, but it will be "at least" the fall before we can even talk about getting the tube out :( So, we are feeling mixed--happy that he has made progress, but a bit disappointed that we aren't as far along as we hoped. When we had the NJ tube (nose tube) placed in Nov. the Dr told us that it would only be in for a few weeks, "at the most 2 months." Now, we're looking at the possibility of having this tube in for upwards of a year....We NEVER expected this.
I guess God is using this year to teach us patience??? I'm not really sure. I tell Shahra that patience is "waiting without complaining" but it's difficult to follow our own advice. We are doing much better than we were in November, but this has still be a very exhausting journey with an ending much farther away than we had originally hoped.
More specific info:
A swallow study is a test using X ray technology to examine how well Samuel is able to swallow. The tech had him eat foods that were very liquid like and foods that were thicker. A healthy baby should be able to eat food that is not thickened at all. In November, Samuel could only eat foods that were pudding thick or thicker. Today, he was cleared to eat foods that are honey thick or thicker (think the thickness of honey). He was not able to eat foods that were nectar thick or unthickened. This means we have a ways to go before he is off the G-Tube and eating everything by mouth.
Well, thanks for all your prayers and thoughts. We'll try to keep everyone updated. Check out the blog for the most recent pics (though I need to update the blog too!!) pjupdates.blogspot.com
We had a swallow study today for Samuel. He did pretty well and is making progress.
First, the "short, quick" answer: Samuel can now take about 10 ml of fluid by mouth that is fed to him by his speech pathologist. He can also have food pumped into his stomach at a faster rate (in Nov. it was at 45 ml an hour, today we can do up to 175 if he doesn't start to spit up). Unfortunately, it doesn't look like they'll be removing the tube any time soon. We were hoping the tube could come out in the summer, but it will be "at least" the fall before we can even talk about getting the tube out :( So, we are feeling mixed--happy that he has made progress, but a bit disappointed that we aren't as far along as we hoped. When we had the NJ tube (nose tube) placed in Nov. the Dr told us that it would only be in for a few weeks, "at the most 2 months." Now, we're looking at the possibility of having this tube in for upwards of a year....We NEVER expected this.
I guess God is using this year to teach us patience??? I'm not really sure. I tell Shahra that patience is "waiting without complaining" but it's difficult to follow our own advice. We are doing much better than we were in November, but this has still be a very exhausting journey with an ending much farther away than we had originally hoped.
More specific info:
A swallow study is a test using X ray technology to examine how well Samuel is able to swallow. The tech had him eat foods that were very liquid like and foods that were thicker. A healthy baby should be able to eat food that is not thickened at all. In November, Samuel could only eat foods that were pudding thick or thicker. Today, he was cleared to eat foods that are honey thick or thicker (think the thickness of honey). He was not able to eat foods that were nectar thick or unthickened. This means we have a ways to go before he is off the G-Tube and eating everything by mouth.
Well, thanks for all your prayers and thoughts. We'll try to keep everyone updated. Check out the blog for the most recent pics (though I need to update the blog too!!) pjupdates.blogspot.com
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