Today, consider this scripture and response:
Matthew 2:1-12
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage."
When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage."
When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.
On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Many of you will recognize in this text the three moves of hospitality: entering in, staying, and sending forth. These important people enter this humble place, find welcome. In response, they give the young king welcome into their world. They kneel so as to stay in his presence, if only for a while. Overwhelmed with the richness of relationship with royalty, they offer in return token gifts of the richest resources they could imagine. Finally, though this infant monarch has yet to speak, his messengers send these wise men forth with a gift of news that keeps them safe on their journey home. In return, the wise men respect the vulnerability of the child by keeping their silence until his parents can remove him to a place of safety.
The coming of God into our midst is an amazing act of hospitality. If we seek to imitate this hospitable God, we must be willing both to receive, as well as give, hospitality. If we wish to heed the words and the life of Jesus, then we must be willing to let even little children act as our hosts. After all, who would you rather have as your host: King Herod, living out his older years in great opulence; or the baby Jesus, living within the most humble of means?
Accepting the hospitality of children may force us to change the way that we see the world. Such hospitality may, on occasion, require us to drink imaginary tea out of impossibly small cups; it may necessitate being very still while little hands which have yet to acquire skill paint our toenails. Yet if we but humble ourselves, who knows what blessings will be ours?
Blessings,
Ron
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
A litany for children ...
Today, a prayer:
A Litany for Children
One - O Holy One, we come before you with our prayers and petitions. As your children we seek your providence, protection, and power. Lord, in your mercy,
Many - Hear our prayer.
One - “For unto us, a child is born,” a child, your son, our savior. For the coming of Jesus, his staying, and his leaving, we give you thanks. For his coming to bring peace, we give thanks. For his dwelling among us as a living image of you, we give thanks. For his leaving to prepare a table to share with us forever, we give thanks. Lord, in your mercy,
Many - Hear our prayer.
One - O Almighty One, we know that not all children have been so longed for, so welcomed, so blessed. We bring before you those Jepthahs, those children who know not their fathers, or whose fathers will not accept them. Use us to bring them to you, Lord, so they may receive your acknowledgment as their true father. Bless them, protect them, Lord, in your mercy
Many - Hear our prayer.
One - O Steadfast One, too many Tamars, too many children know love and abuse, confused because the two are falsely linked by those who live with them. May the truth, however difficult, be known and acted upon by those who need to know it. May the truth of your steadfast love, pure and self-emptying, be known by these precious little ones. Lord, in your mercy,
Many - Hear our prayer.
One - O Loving One, we bring before you those Ishmaels, the children taken beyond the bounds of safety, past the point of reasonable patience, all because of familial battles. Too often the foolishness in the lives of their parents protects the unfaithful or the untruthful and deprives the innocent and powerless. O Faithful One, keep these children in the promise of your love and providence. Lord, in your mercy,
Many - Hear our prayer.
One - O Sending One, you see those widows of Zarephath and their children. You alone know how many children have only a mother, a mother with precious little in resources, but a heart full of love and faith. Send your servants, O Lord, to walk beside them so that, just at the right time, your providence arrives. Lord, in your mercy,
Many - Hear our prayer.
One - O Divine One, may our children be loved as Samuel was loved: longed for; prayed for; cared for; yet inevitably, sent forth, all to do your bidding and to glorify your Holy name. Lord, in your mercy,
Many - Hear our prayer.
One - O Holy One, like a mother you have drawn us to your breast, like a father you have guarded us through the night. Lord, as we have asked you as the Divine Parent to love and provide for all these, your children,
Many - So help us to love and provide for those children you have sent to us.
One - In the name of your precious child, Jesus, we petition you,
Many - Amen.
Blessings,
Ron
A Litany for Children
One - O Holy One, we come before you with our prayers and petitions. As your children we seek your providence, protection, and power. Lord, in your mercy,
Many - Hear our prayer.
One - “For unto us, a child is born,” a child, your son, our savior. For the coming of Jesus, his staying, and his leaving, we give you thanks. For his coming to bring peace, we give thanks. For his dwelling among us as a living image of you, we give thanks. For his leaving to prepare a table to share with us forever, we give thanks. Lord, in your mercy,
Many - Hear our prayer.
One - O Almighty One, we know that not all children have been so longed for, so welcomed, so blessed. We bring before you those Jepthahs, those children who know not their fathers, or whose fathers will not accept them. Use us to bring them to you, Lord, so they may receive your acknowledgment as their true father. Bless them, protect them, Lord, in your mercy
Many - Hear our prayer.
One - O Steadfast One, too many Tamars, too many children know love and abuse, confused because the two are falsely linked by those who live with them. May the truth, however difficult, be known and acted upon by those who need to know it. May the truth of your steadfast love, pure and self-emptying, be known by these precious little ones. Lord, in your mercy,
Many - Hear our prayer.
One - O Loving One, we bring before you those Ishmaels, the children taken beyond the bounds of safety, past the point of reasonable patience, all because of familial battles. Too often the foolishness in the lives of their parents protects the unfaithful or the untruthful and deprives the innocent and powerless. O Faithful One, keep these children in the promise of your love and providence. Lord, in your mercy,
Many - Hear our prayer.
One - O Sending One, you see those widows of Zarephath and their children. You alone know how many children have only a mother, a mother with precious little in resources, but a heart full of love and faith. Send your servants, O Lord, to walk beside them so that, just at the right time, your providence arrives. Lord, in your mercy,
Many - Hear our prayer.
One - O Divine One, may our children be loved as Samuel was loved: longed for; prayed for; cared for; yet inevitably, sent forth, all to do your bidding and to glorify your Holy name. Lord, in your mercy,
Many - Hear our prayer.
One - O Holy One, like a mother you have drawn us to your breast, like a father you have guarded us through the night. Lord, as we have asked you as the Divine Parent to love and provide for all these, your children,
Many - So help us to love and provide for those children you have sent to us.
One - In the name of your precious child, Jesus, we petition you,
Many - Amen.
Blessings,
Ron
Friday, October 9, 2009
Receive and enter ....
Hear the word of the Lord:
Mark 10:13-16
People were bringing little children to him in order that
he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them.
But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them,
"Let the little children come to me; do not stop them;
for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.
Truly I tell you,
whoever does not receive the kingdom of God
as a little child will never enter it."
And he took them up in his arms,
laid his hands on them,
and blessed them.
Mark 10:13-16
People were bringing little children to him in order that
he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them.
But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them,
"Let the little children come to me; do not stop them;
for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.
Truly I tell you,
whoever does not receive the kingdom of God
as a little child will never enter it."
And he took them up in his arms,
laid his hands on them,
and blessed them.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Whoever welcomes ...
Hear the word of the Lord:
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again."
But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?"
But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest.
He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all."
Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them,
"Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me."
Mark 9:30-37
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again."
But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?"
But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest.
He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all."
Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them,
"Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me."
Mark 9:30-37
Monday, March 9, 2009
Imagining the story ...
It has become more and more evident that I need to set up study times with my children, but as we all know, it can be very difficult to find the time. A couple of weeks ago my son, in all of his wisdom, came up to me and asked if we could do a Bible study together. I started putting it on our chore list in the mornings for our family to do together. I can always find the time for my own personal study in the morning, but it has been difficult lately to sit down as a family amidst all the busyness. That first morning we sat and started studying this passage. We even read the passage out of Elijah's little Bible that he was given to take to Bible class. This is the passage we read.
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. 'Teacher,' he asked, 'what must I do to inherit eternal life?'
'What is written in the Law?' he replied. 'How do you read it?'
He answered: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.'
'You have answered correctly,' Jesus replied.
' And who is my neighbor?'
In reply Jesus said: 'A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, 'Look after him,' he said 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?'
The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him.'
Jesus told him, 'Go and do likewise.'
We read this story as a family and asked the questions that Jesus did. Who was the neighbor? The coolest thing happened that day. Our children fell in love with being in the story of Jesus. They started asking questions about the Good Samaritan, and how they could be a good Samaritan too. We made a little list of ways we can serve others. Ever since that day Elijah has been trying to find ways of serving others.
It is so important that we make the Bible come alive both to ourselves and to our family. When we study the Bible, we can dwell on a passage long enough and let it soak into our lives to the point that we are a part of the story. Our kids actually imagined the story in their own eyes. They imagined the good Samaritan putting Band-Aids on the hurt man. They imagined the robbers on top of a mountain looking down on the poor man. The story became so real to them that they actually wanted to live like the good Samaritan. I have been studying for years from the Bible and in that one afternoon of studying with my children I heard so much theology just flowing out of my kids. The things we can learn from studying. Wow!
We as parents need take some time to sit with our children, as much as we can, and read with them. We can make the Word come alive to them. We can let it come alive for us. Let’s act on what we read. Like in the Good Samaritan story, we can find some kind of service project we can do as a family.
The Word of God is living and active in our lives.
Jason
Luke 10:25-37
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. 'Teacher,' he asked, 'what must I do to inherit eternal life?'
'What is written in the Law?' he replied. 'How do you read it?'
He answered: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.'
'You have answered correctly,' Jesus replied.
' And who is my neighbor?'
In reply Jesus said: 'A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, 'Look after him,' he said 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?'
The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him.'
Jesus told him, 'Go and do likewise.'
We read this story as a family and asked the questions that Jesus did. Who was the neighbor? The coolest thing happened that day. Our children fell in love with being in the story of Jesus. They started asking questions about the Good Samaritan, and how they could be a good Samaritan too. We made a little list of ways we can serve others. Ever since that day Elijah has been trying to find ways of serving others.
It is so important that we make the Bible come alive both to ourselves and to our family. When we study the Bible, we can dwell on a passage long enough and let it soak into our lives to the point that we are a part of the story. Our kids actually imagined the story in their own eyes. They imagined the good Samaritan putting Band-Aids on the hurt man. They imagined the robbers on top of a mountain looking down on the poor man. The story became so real to them that they actually wanted to live like the good Samaritan. I have been studying for years from the Bible and in that one afternoon of studying with my children I heard so much theology just flowing out of my kids. The things we can learn from studying. Wow!
We as parents need take some time to sit with our children, as much as we can, and read with them. We can make the Word come alive to them. We can let it come alive for us. Let’s act on what we read. Like in the Good Samaritan story, we can find some kind of service project we can do as a family.
The Word of God is living and active in our lives.
Jason
Luke 10:25-37
Friday, January 30, 2009
A stranger returns ...
Shiann brings today’s devotional thought. Be sure and read through the scripture to the story that follows:
Here is the reading from Deuteronomy 10 from The Message:
So now Israel, what do you think GOD expects from you?
Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road
he sets out for you,
love him, serve GOD, your God, with everything you have in you,
obey the commandments and regulations of GOD that
I'm commanding you today—live a good life.
Look around you: Everything you see is GOD's—
the heavens above and beyond, the Earth, and everything on it.
But it was your ancestors who GOD fell in love with;
he picked their children—that's you!—
out of all the other peoples. That's where we are right now.
So cut away the thick calluses from your heart
and stop being so willfully hardheaded.
GOD, your God, is the God of all gods,
he's the Master of all masters,
a God immense and powerful and awesome.
He doesn't play favorites, takes no bribes,
makes sure orphans and widows are treated fairly,
takes loving care of foreigners by seeing that
they get food and clothing.
You must treat foreigners with the same loving care—
remember, you were once foreigners in Egypt.
Reverently respect GOD, your God,
serve him, hold tight to him,
back up your promises with the authority of his name.
He's your praise! He's your God!
He did all these tremendous, these staggering things
that you saw with your own eyes.
When your ancestors entered Egypt,
they numbered a mere seventy souls.
And now look at you—
you look more like the stars in the night skies in number.
And your GOD did it.
Ron has been speaking from Deuteronomy 10 in our devotionals about entertaining strangers - making them feel welcome, safe, and loved. He has reminded us that we are to do this as families and as a missionary community at Westview.
I recently got and opportunity to see this concept come full circle. We had a young man show up from out of the blue, who had left our ranks exclaiming himself a stranger some years ago. He had rejected our community of his own free will. It was a very painful disconnect for Troy and me. We mourned his leaving for quite some time, and never knew how he was doing. I searched for him on Facebook, MySpace, and Google. His well-being has been a matter of prayer since his departure (in 2003). Six years later he returns to visit with us: his eyes are clear, he claims a job and attendance in a church. He states “I love y’all” before he leaves the room. Although he removed himself from this community some years ago, he now feels safe enough to express his love and care to a room full of people who represent that same community.
I can’t tell you how much this filled up my heart. I was afraid this particular boy was in prison or even dead. It was almost as if a piece of my heart got to come back home. What a picture of the heart of God this day was for me!! I regularly thank Him for these blessings, which are big to me.
It is infrequent that we get to see and hear the stories of our guys after leaving unless a staff member stays for an extended period of time. So accept this story as one that encourages you to keep on. God’s faithfulness is so immense.
Blessings,
Shiann
Here is the reading from Deuteronomy 10 from The Message:
So now Israel, what do you think GOD expects from you?
Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road
he sets out for you,
love him, serve GOD, your God, with everything you have in you,
obey the commandments and regulations of GOD that
I'm commanding you today—live a good life.
Look around you: Everything you see is GOD's—
the heavens above and beyond, the Earth, and everything on it.
But it was your ancestors who GOD fell in love with;
he picked their children—that's you!—
out of all the other peoples. That's where we are right now.
So cut away the thick calluses from your heart
and stop being so willfully hardheaded.
GOD, your God, is the God of all gods,
he's the Master of all masters,
a God immense and powerful and awesome.
He doesn't play favorites, takes no bribes,
makes sure orphans and widows are treated fairly,
takes loving care of foreigners by seeing that
they get food and clothing.
You must treat foreigners with the same loving care—
remember, you were once foreigners in Egypt.
Reverently respect GOD, your God,
serve him, hold tight to him,
back up your promises with the authority of his name.
He's your praise! He's your God!
He did all these tremendous, these staggering things
that you saw with your own eyes.
When your ancestors entered Egypt,
they numbered a mere seventy souls.
And now look at you—
you look more like the stars in the night skies in number.
And your GOD did it.
Ron has been speaking from Deuteronomy 10 in our devotionals about entertaining strangers - making them feel welcome, safe, and loved. He has reminded us that we are to do this as families and as a missionary community at Westview.
I recently got and opportunity to see this concept come full circle. We had a young man show up from out of the blue, who had left our ranks exclaiming himself a stranger some years ago. He had rejected our community of his own free will. It was a very painful disconnect for Troy and me. We mourned his leaving for quite some time, and never knew how he was doing. I searched for him on Facebook, MySpace, and Google. His well-being has been a matter of prayer since his departure (in 2003). Six years later he returns to visit with us: his eyes are clear, he claims a job and attendance in a church. He states “I love y’all” before he leaves the room. Although he removed himself from this community some years ago, he now feels safe enough to express his love and care to a room full of people who represent that same community.
I can’t tell you how much this filled up my heart. I was afraid this particular boy was in prison or even dead. It was almost as if a piece of my heart got to come back home. What a picture of the heart of God this day was for me!! I regularly thank Him for these blessings, which are big to me.
It is infrequent that we get to see and hear the stories of our guys after leaving unless a staff member stays for an extended period of time. So accept this story as one that encourages you to keep on. God’s faithfulness is so immense.
Blessings,
Shiann
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
No way to return the favor ...
Hear the word of the Lord:
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Matthew 5:7 – NRSV
Lois Barrett connects this scripture with our culture:
The dominant culture teaches that good relationship depend on performance (“I will love you if …”). In the Beatitudes Jesus praises those who are merciful, who give others better than what they deserve. Mercy is one of God’s attributes throughout the Bible. Mercy is often connected with showing favor, being compassionate, being gracious, or demonstrating kindness. God practices mercy by saving people from enemies, rescuing them from trouble, and forgiving their sins. People are also to show mercy, as the parable of the unmerciful servant teaches (Matt. 18:21-35). In Hebrew and Greek, the concept is connected especially with showing mercy to the poor and needy and giving alms. The biblical practice of mercy always means that the one who shows mercy has something to give to another who is unable to pay it back. You ask a creditor to show mercy when you cannot pay what you owe (Matt. 18:26-27). A blind man asks Jesus for mercy through healing, when there is no way for the blind man to return the favor (Luke 18:35-43). The psalmist asks God for mercy when he is totally undeserving of God’s favors (Ps. 51:1-4). In Luke 6:36 Jesus asks the disciples to be merciful as God is merciful by loving one’s enemies, those who do not love in return.
As we deal with the young people in our lives, we need to be a people of mercy. Being a child means making mistakes and learning from those mistakes. The tendency is to jump all over a child if they make a mistake because we think that this will keep them from making more mistakes. But, if we make a child afraid of making mistakes, we will not stop them from making mistakes – what we will do is stop them from trying to do anything at all. Or we will fill them with a deep-seated anger. Or both. This is not the way of grace.
Grace can hold accountable, grace can speak the truth, grace can redirect, grace can save the relationship despite the mistake.
Who knows when our being human will mean that we will make a mistake. Will we want mercy?
Grace, mercy, and peace,
Ron
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Matthew 5:7 – NRSV
Lois Barrett connects this scripture with our culture:
The dominant culture teaches that good relationship depend on performance (“I will love you if …”). In the Beatitudes Jesus praises those who are merciful, who give others better than what they deserve. Mercy is one of God’s attributes throughout the Bible. Mercy is often connected with showing favor, being compassionate, being gracious, or demonstrating kindness. God practices mercy by saving people from enemies, rescuing them from trouble, and forgiving their sins. People are also to show mercy, as the parable of the unmerciful servant teaches (Matt. 18:21-35). In Hebrew and Greek, the concept is connected especially with showing mercy to the poor and needy and giving alms. The biblical practice of mercy always means that the one who shows mercy has something to give to another who is unable to pay it back. You ask a creditor to show mercy when you cannot pay what you owe (Matt. 18:26-27). A blind man asks Jesus for mercy through healing, when there is no way for the blind man to return the favor (Luke 18:35-43). The psalmist asks God for mercy when he is totally undeserving of God’s favors (Ps. 51:1-4). In Luke 6:36 Jesus asks the disciples to be merciful as God is merciful by loving one’s enemies, those who do not love in return.
As we deal with the young people in our lives, we need to be a people of mercy. Being a child means making mistakes and learning from those mistakes. The tendency is to jump all over a child if they make a mistake because we think that this will keep them from making more mistakes. But, if we make a child afraid of making mistakes, we will not stop them from making mistakes – what we will do is stop them from trying to do anything at all. Or we will fill them with a deep-seated anger. Or both. This is not the way of grace.
Grace can hold accountable, grace can speak the truth, grace can redirect, grace can save the relationship despite the mistake.
Who knows when our being human will mean that we will make a mistake. Will we want mercy?
Grace, mercy, and peace,
Ron
Monday, November 24, 2008
Repaid at the resurrecton ...
The modern world has many differences from the first century, but one of most extreme differences is the concept of hospitality. In our world, hospitality is an industry. For business people, vacationers, or pilgrims, there is a vast network of hotels and restaurants to care for the needs of the weary traveler. For very sick or injured people, there are modern hospitals (the world hospital comes from the world hospitality, but we rarely make that connection today).
Yet despite the widespread availability of these institutions, not everyone can access them. Even though I am hardly a poor person, there are some hotels, for example, that are so expensive I could hardly justify the cost of staying there. Some are so extravagant that I could not even afford them if I wanted to stay there. And for the poor person, how much more limited might their choices be? Or, consider the case of hospitals. In principle, they are open to everyone, but the reality is that many people, even in our affluent country, cannot afford the cost of medical care in these institutions. In almost every hotel or hospital, despite our insistence that all Americans are equal, a person with a lot of resources (money, connections, power) can obtain significantly better care than can someone of moderate or poor means.
Which is a lot like the first century Greco-Roman world. In that world, you extended hospitality to someone who could repay, either by reciprocating with meals or shelter, or by exerting their power or influence on your behalf. Patrons hosted their clients as one way of showing their “generosity” and power. Ambitious hosts would invite people of wealth and power to their homes trying to get a toehold on the social ladder. Does this seem consistent with biblical values?
Enter Jesus. He presents a view of hospitality that is more in keeping with the notion of Jewish hospitality. The outsider, the pilgrim, the poverty-stricken, the widow, and the orphan are to be cared for and not allowed to be destitute. Hear the words of Jesus about hospitality:
He said also to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors,
in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid.
But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.
And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you,
for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
Luke 14:12-14 - NRSV
Jesus turns the Greco-Roman and the American world views on their heads. Christian hospitality is shown to those need resources, not those who already have them in abundance. Food, shelter, and clothing are available to everyone, regardless of social, economic, or political standing. Hospitality is for the poor and the powerless.
In our world, who are the weak, the marginalized and the poor? In my book, children are at the top of that list.
Do we see our work as hospitality? Hospitality is probably not a word that we would normally use, but biblical hospitality is precisely what Westview is all about.
As we begin our week, let's spend our devotional time thinking about about the concept of hospitality and how it applies to our ministry. What insight does this notion bring to our thinking and to our practices?
Blessings,
Ron
Yet despite the widespread availability of these institutions, not everyone can access them. Even though I am hardly a poor person, there are some hotels, for example, that are so expensive I could hardly justify the cost of staying there. Some are so extravagant that I could not even afford them if I wanted to stay there. And for the poor person, how much more limited might their choices be? Or, consider the case of hospitals. In principle, they are open to everyone, but the reality is that many people, even in our affluent country, cannot afford the cost of medical care in these institutions. In almost every hotel or hospital, despite our insistence that all Americans are equal, a person with a lot of resources (money, connections, power) can obtain significantly better care than can someone of moderate or poor means.
Which is a lot like the first century Greco-Roman world. In that world, you extended hospitality to someone who could repay, either by reciprocating with meals or shelter, or by exerting their power or influence on your behalf. Patrons hosted their clients as one way of showing their “generosity” and power. Ambitious hosts would invite people of wealth and power to their homes trying to get a toehold on the social ladder. Does this seem consistent with biblical values?
Enter Jesus. He presents a view of hospitality that is more in keeping with the notion of Jewish hospitality. The outsider, the pilgrim, the poverty-stricken, the widow, and the orphan are to be cared for and not allowed to be destitute. Hear the words of Jesus about hospitality:
He said also to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors,
in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid.
But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.
And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you,
for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
Luke 14:12-14 - NRSV
Jesus turns the Greco-Roman and the American world views on their heads. Christian hospitality is shown to those need resources, not those who already have them in abundance. Food, shelter, and clothing are available to everyone, regardless of social, economic, or political standing. Hospitality is for the poor and the powerless.
In our world, who are the weak, the marginalized and the poor? In my book, children are at the top of that list.
Do we see our work as hospitality? Hospitality is probably not a word that we would normally use, but biblical hospitality is precisely what Westview is all about.
As we begin our week, let's spend our devotional time thinking about about the concept of hospitality and how it applies to our ministry. What insight does this notion bring to our thinking and to our practices?
Blessings,
Ron
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Hear: our story and our children
The word for today is hear:
Now this is the commandment — the statutes and the ordinances — that the Lord your God charged me to teach you to observe in the land that you are about to cross into and occupy, so that you and your children and your children's children may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life, and keep all his decrees and his commandments that I am commanding you, so that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe them diligently, so that it may go well with you, and so that you may multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you.
Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
When the Lord your God has brought you into the land that he swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you — a land with fine, large cities that you did not build, houses filled with all sorts of goods that you did not fill, hewn cisterns that you did not hew, vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant — and when you have eaten your fill, take care that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. The Lord your God you shall fear; him you shall serve, and by his name alone you shall swear. Do not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who are all around you, because the Lord your God, who is present with you, is a jealous God. The anger of the Lord your God would be kindled against you and he would destroy you from the face of the earth.
Do not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah. You must diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his decrees, and his statutes that he has commanded you. Do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, so that it may go well with you, and so that you may go in and occupy the good land that the Lord swore to your ancestors to give you, thrusting out all your enemies from before you, as the Lord has promised.
When your children ask you in time to come, "What is the meaning of the decrees and the statutes and the ordinances that the Lord our God has commanded you?" then you shall say to your children, "We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. The Lord displayed before our eyes great and awesome signs and wonders against Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his household. He brought us out from there in order to bring us in, to give us the land that he promised on oath to our ancestors. Then the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our lasting good, so as to keep us alive, as is now the case. If we diligently observe this entire commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, we will be in the right."
Deuteronomy 6 – NRSV
Blessed be the people who hear, and who can tell the story.
Ron
Now this is the commandment — the statutes and the ordinances — that the Lord your God charged me to teach you to observe in the land that you are about to cross into and occupy, so that you and your children and your children's children may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life, and keep all his decrees and his commandments that I am commanding you, so that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe them diligently, so that it may go well with you, and so that you may multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you.
Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
When the Lord your God has brought you into the land that he swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you — a land with fine, large cities that you did not build, houses filled with all sorts of goods that you did not fill, hewn cisterns that you did not hew, vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant — and when you have eaten your fill, take care that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. The Lord your God you shall fear; him you shall serve, and by his name alone you shall swear. Do not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who are all around you, because the Lord your God, who is present with you, is a jealous God. The anger of the Lord your God would be kindled against you and he would destroy you from the face of the earth.
Do not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah. You must diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his decrees, and his statutes that he has commanded you. Do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, so that it may go well with you, and so that you may go in and occupy the good land that the Lord swore to your ancestors to give you, thrusting out all your enemies from before you, as the Lord has promised.
When your children ask you in time to come, "What is the meaning of the decrees and the statutes and the ordinances that the Lord our God has commanded you?" then you shall say to your children, "We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. The Lord displayed before our eyes great and awesome signs and wonders against Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his household. He brought us out from there in order to bring us in, to give us the land that he promised on oath to our ancestors. Then the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our lasting good, so as to keep us alive, as is now the case. If we diligently observe this entire commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, we will be in the right."
Deuteronomy 6 – NRSV
Blessed be the people who hear, and who can tell the story.
Ron
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Children are a gift of the LORD
Psalm 127
Unless the Lord builds the house they labor in vain who build it.
Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchmen keep awake in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors:
For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.
Behold children are a gift of the LORD;
The Fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
So are the children of one’s youth.
How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
They shall not be ashamed, when they speak with their enemies at the gate.
It is easy to forget how precious our boys and families are with the start of school and the hectic schedule, hope this encourages you.
God Bless
Josh Birney
Monday, July 14, 2008
Who's prejudiced?
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."
Luke 18:9-14 - NRSV
At first pass, the words of Jesus might have us think that this parable is about those who are humble before God, and those who are not. "For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted." And that point would not be unimportant. But this story is about much more than the relationships between humans and God.
Luke is careful to provide an introduction to the parable that gives the real interpretive clue here: "He told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt." The Pharisee is the "self-righteous" soul looking down at the "sinful" tax collector. The Pharisee's sin of pride against God is compounded by his arrogance toward his fellow worshiper, his fellow human being.
We can see the Pharisee speaking pridefully toward the tax collector, but in what way is the tax collector's treatment of the Pharisee humble? The tax collector stayed on the margins, on the boundary, and would not even come close to the other worshipers because of his self-perceived unworthiness. The Pharisee is standing by himself, too, but it seems apparent that he is doing so to avoid the contamination of his lesser company, and not as an act of humility. It seems intuitively obvious to say that we don't want to be like the Pharisee, but rather like the tax collector in this parable.
But are we innocent of similar prideful and demeaning acts? Are we so innocent of prejudice? I think that it is rare that we totally avoid these things. Let me demonstrate.
As most of us read this parable, we tend to read it with a certain unrealized prejudice. When we read or hear the word "Pharisee," we are already prepared to jump to the conclusion that something unpleasant is about to be said or done by that person. But is that what Jesus intended? We would readily admit, based on what we have heard about first century tax collectors, that the tax collector is totally out of character for tax collectors when he behaves in this pious, reverent, and humble manner. This is not what we would expect from a tax collector, after all.
Why then do we paint an entire fellowship of Jewish people, the Pharisees, with broad paint strokes as arrogant and prideful? I believe that this is a result of an interpretive prejudice that we have learned over the past centuries from the language of others. If the tax collector is out of character for his class, then why can't we see that this is what Jesus intended for us to see about the Pharisee as well? For the sake of the clarity and strength of the parable, doesn't it seem much more likely that the people to whom Jesus spoke the parable would be astonished that a well-behaved, Torah-loving, daily-prayerful Pharisee would behave in this prideful way? The contrast in character would make the wrongness of the behavior stand out that much more clearly.
The problem is that we tend to believe and use the language that we have been given instead of looking hard at the world around us and using our own judgment. Since we don't see a lot of real, Jewish Pharisees running around in our contemporary world, how does this affect us as we live our life this week? Let me give you one example.
Consider the rhetoric that we use about the poor in America. "They don't want to work." "Why should they work all day long and make less than they would if they were on welfare." "This is America: if they would only pull themselves up by their bootstraps, they could find a way to make a living and move up in the world." "They are shiftless and lazy." Are these statements true? Perhaps sometimes, but usually these arrogant truisms tell other people more about us than they do about the people of whom we speak.
This is especially risky for those who work with at-risk children. Yes, the behavior of these children frequently makes us cranky. But how much of that behavior is the result of severe traumas inflicted much earlier in their life? How much of that behavior is the result of unintentional trauma that we inflict by the names we call their behavior, or the pigeonholes we place them in because of that behavior? Should we be surprised if they behave like outsiders if we treat them as outsiders? I don't think that any of us does this intentionally, but aren't there ways that this kind of behavior sneaks up on us?
How about the families of these children? Yes, some of these people drive us nuts. But how might we be driving them nuts? Are we really always innocent? What are we doing that plays into their fears without realizing it? Do we think that it might be scary for a parent, already afraid that she is losing her child, to hear that her baby would rather spend his holiday with you than with her? I know how I would feel about that. How about their ability to come see their kids? Do we ever bemoan how seldom they visit these boys that we love? But can you imagine how difficult it is to support two other kids as a single parent while holding a barely-above minimum wage job? And then have to buy gas at $4.00 a gallon to get your piece of junk over 100 miles away from home and back?
We have to be careful that our good intentions don't lead us to unintentional arrogance and blindness. We need to remember that we're not just one generation away from poverty, but that if circumstances were to change, we could be just weeks or months away from that same kind of debilitating poverty ourselves. "But for the grace of God, there go I."
Which leads us back to the Pharisee. What if the Pharisee had prayed, "Lord, but for your grace, I would know the heartbreak of this tax collector. Show me how to help him." How much different would the world have been. If we can pray and enact this kind of prayer about those whom our lives touch, how much more powerful will our ministry be? How different will our world become?
Luke 18:9-14 - NRSV
At first pass, the words of Jesus might have us think that this parable is about those who are humble before God, and those who are not. "For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted." And that point would not be unimportant. But this story is about much more than the relationships between humans and God.
Luke is careful to provide an introduction to the parable that gives the real interpretive clue here: "He told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt." The Pharisee is the "self-righteous" soul looking down at the "sinful" tax collector. The Pharisee's sin of pride against God is compounded by his arrogance toward his fellow worshiper, his fellow human being.
We can see the Pharisee speaking pridefully toward the tax collector, but in what way is the tax collector's treatment of the Pharisee humble? The tax collector stayed on the margins, on the boundary, and would not even come close to the other worshipers because of his self-perceived unworthiness. The Pharisee is standing by himself, too, but it seems apparent that he is doing so to avoid the contamination of his lesser company, and not as an act of humility. It seems intuitively obvious to say that we don't want to be like the Pharisee, but rather like the tax collector in this parable.
But are we innocent of similar prideful and demeaning acts? Are we so innocent of prejudice? I think that it is rare that we totally avoid these things. Let me demonstrate.
As most of us read this parable, we tend to read it with a certain unrealized prejudice. When we read or hear the word "Pharisee," we are already prepared to jump to the conclusion that something unpleasant is about to be said or done by that person. But is that what Jesus intended? We would readily admit, based on what we have heard about first century tax collectors, that the tax collector is totally out of character for tax collectors when he behaves in this pious, reverent, and humble manner. This is not what we would expect from a tax collector, after all.
Why then do we paint an entire fellowship of Jewish people, the Pharisees, with broad paint strokes as arrogant and prideful? I believe that this is a result of an interpretive prejudice that we have learned over the past centuries from the language of others. If the tax collector is out of character for his class, then why can't we see that this is what Jesus intended for us to see about the Pharisee as well? For the sake of the clarity and strength of the parable, doesn't it seem much more likely that the people to whom Jesus spoke the parable would be astonished that a well-behaved, Torah-loving, daily-prayerful Pharisee would behave in this prideful way? The contrast in character would make the wrongness of the behavior stand out that much more clearly.
The problem is that we tend to believe and use the language that we have been given instead of looking hard at the world around us and using our own judgment. Since we don't see a lot of real, Jewish Pharisees running around in our contemporary world, how does this affect us as we live our life this week? Let me give you one example.
Consider the rhetoric that we use about the poor in America. "They don't want to work." "Why should they work all day long and make less than they would if they were on welfare." "This is America: if they would only pull themselves up by their bootstraps, they could find a way to make a living and move up in the world." "They are shiftless and lazy." Are these statements true? Perhaps sometimes, but usually these arrogant truisms tell other people more about us than they do about the people of whom we speak.
This is especially risky for those who work with at-risk children. Yes, the behavior of these children frequently makes us cranky. But how much of that behavior is the result of severe traumas inflicted much earlier in their life? How much of that behavior is the result of unintentional trauma that we inflict by the names we call their behavior, or the pigeonholes we place them in because of that behavior? Should we be surprised if they behave like outsiders if we treat them as outsiders? I don't think that any of us does this intentionally, but aren't there ways that this kind of behavior sneaks up on us?
How about the families of these children? Yes, some of these people drive us nuts. But how might we be driving them nuts? Are we really always innocent? What are we doing that plays into their fears without realizing it? Do we think that it might be scary for a parent, already afraid that she is losing her child, to hear that her baby would rather spend his holiday with you than with her? I know how I would feel about that. How about their ability to come see their kids? Do we ever bemoan how seldom they visit these boys that we love? But can you imagine how difficult it is to support two other kids as a single parent while holding a barely-above minimum wage job? And then have to buy gas at $4.00 a gallon to get your piece of junk over 100 miles away from home and back?
We have to be careful that our good intentions don't lead us to unintentional arrogance and blindness. We need to remember that we're not just one generation away from poverty, but that if circumstances were to change, we could be just weeks or months away from that same kind of debilitating poverty ourselves. "But for the grace of God, there go I."
Which leads us back to the Pharisee. What if the Pharisee had prayed, "Lord, but for your grace, I would know the heartbreak of this tax collector. Show me how to help him." How much different would the world have been. If we can pray and enact this kind of prayer about those whom our lives touch, how much more powerful will our ministry be? How different will our world become?
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