In how many stories does the resolution, the end, involve a wedding? In Shakespeare, weddings are prominent at the end of his comedies (they tend to happen much earlier in his tragedies). For those of you who are Disney fans, this story ending element should be obvious: Cinderella, Snow White, and The Beauty and the Beast, just to name a few.
The wedding is the ultimate sign of peace. Two individuals join in a covenant of peace and love. Two families are aligned with one another. Each of these families receives an outsider, who through the peace-making practice of hospitality, is brought into belonging within that family. The focus of this joyous event is the beloved bride:
Isaiah 62:1-5
For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest,
until her vindication shines out like the dawn,
and her salvation like a burning torch.
The nations shall see your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
and you shall be called by a new name
that the mouth of the LORD will give.
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
and your land shall no more be termed Desolate;
but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
and your land Married;
for the LORD delights in you,
and your land shall be married.
For as a young man marries a young woman,
so shall your builder marry you,
and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
so shall your God rejoice over you.
Of all of the metaphors that God could have picked to describe his coming together with the people of God, this is the one. The marriage depicts the high importance of the event. The wedding exemplifies the deepness of love that brings about the event. The vision of the lovely bride gives us a picture of the beauty and joy of the event in the very eyes of God.
Perhaps it is so obvious that we sometimes forget a central fact about this beautiful bride: she is not an individual person, but the community of people who passionately love God. I can’t pretend that I know how to visualize this reality, but it is nonetheless true. God makes peace with a people.
There is one other truth about this wedding that I carry with me. I don’t know how many sermons I have heard that have portrayed the day that Jesus will return as a day of terror; a day of fear, of terror, of screaming, and of weeping. For some, the ultimate discovery that there really is a God is bound to be that world-shattering.
But for people of faith, the last day is the day that the bridegroom comes. His love, promise-keeping, and glory will be revealed, and surely the bride will be found to have been made worthy to stand alongside him. While any wedding day has its stresses, it will be a glorious day for the people of God. Of course, after the wedding, there is the celebration, the wedding feast, where the work of the bride and groom and their families in pulling off this great day is appreciated.
You’ve been invited, as have I, to be a part of this great day. We have made our choices. Now it is up to us to help others understand that this is a day that none of us will want to miss.
How are we preparing to enjoy that day today?
Blessings,
Ron
Showing posts with label peace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label peace. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Monday, December 21, 2009
She who is in labor ...
Together, let us meditate on the word of the Lord:
Micah 5:2-5a
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.
Can anything good happen in a small town? Can anything worthy of note come from Bethlehem, this “house of bread,” this tiny village? How often does God work with the small things - with places, things, or persons held in low esteem by humanity? The American equivalent of Bethlehem would be a small rural town on the margins of a politically insignificant state, perhaps somewhere in Oklahoma.
From this nowhere comes one who will not merely rule the world, but one who moves to restore it. This One knows how to restore this planet to its original and intended beauty because, quite simply, he was there when it was formed. To even speak of his origin reveals our ignorance.
Therefore he shall give them up until
the time when she who is in labor has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel.
This small town on the margins of a small clan is a part of a larger nation. That nation wavered, time after time, in its faithfulness to its God. Every time this people chose to repent and return, God received them back. Every time, that is, until the last. When the fickleness of God’s people finally became a joke among the nations, then God let them go. God did not merely give up Jerusalem, or the Temple; the Holy One of Israel gave up the people of Israel. The holy temple was defiled, the holy city razed, the holy people scattered to the four corners of the earth. God gave them up.
But not forever. When “she who is in labor” bears her child, then the reunification of God and the people of God is to begin. Evidently the purpose of this child’s birth is to call all of God’s children back into relationship with God.
And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they shall live secure,
for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth;
He who stands is one who is thoroughly acquainted with the truth about humanity; he knows our weaknesses, our vulnerabilities. A relationship with this majestic one brings a vulnerable people into a safe place. In the midst of that safe place are resources, provision for daily living, bread for body and soul. Is it mere coincidence that the “Bread of Heaven” comes from the “house of bread?” Yet, this majestic one will point the thankful to the source of all providence, the faithful God of Israel. The wonder of the place in which this Shepherd stands becomes even more apparent as others come to understand this great One, and open their lives to him.
and he shall be the one of peace.
Knowing the truth of our weakness and unfaithfulness, the Shepherd nonetheless hopes. Amazingly, he has made peace between his God and his people. That is his truth, but what is his hope? I believe that he hopes for those who have chosen peace to choose to keep it, and for those who have yet to choose peace to do so as well. May it be so.
Peace, peace, in him there can be peace.
Grace and peace,
Ron
Micah 5:2-5a
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.
Can anything good happen in a small town? Can anything worthy of note come from Bethlehem, this “house of bread,” this tiny village? How often does God work with the small things - with places, things, or persons held in low esteem by humanity? The American equivalent of Bethlehem would be a small rural town on the margins of a politically insignificant state, perhaps somewhere in Oklahoma.
From this nowhere comes one who will not merely rule the world, but one who moves to restore it. This One knows how to restore this planet to its original and intended beauty because, quite simply, he was there when it was formed. To even speak of his origin reveals our ignorance.
Therefore he shall give them up until
the time when she who is in labor has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel.
This small town on the margins of a small clan is a part of a larger nation. That nation wavered, time after time, in its faithfulness to its God. Every time this people chose to repent and return, God received them back. Every time, that is, until the last. When the fickleness of God’s people finally became a joke among the nations, then God let them go. God did not merely give up Jerusalem, or the Temple; the Holy One of Israel gave up the people of Israel. The holy temple was defiled, the holy city razed, the holy people scattered to the four corners of the earth. God gave them up.
But not forever. When “she who is in labor” bears her child, then the reunification of God and the people of God is to begin. Evidently the purpose of this child’s birth is to call all of God’s children back into relationship with God.
And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they shall live secure,
for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth;
He who stands is one who is thoroughly acquainted with the truth about humanity; he knows our weaknesses, our vulnerabilities. A relationship with this majestic one brings a vulnerable people into a safe place. In the midst of that safe place are resources, provision for daily living, bread for body and soul. Is it mere coincidence that the “Bread of Heaven” comes from the “house of bread?” Yet, this majestic one will point the thankful to the source of all providence, the faithful God of Israel. The wonder of the place in which this Shepherd stands becomes even more apparent as others come to understand this great One, and open their lives to him.
and he shall be the one of peace.
Knowing the truth of our weakness and unfaithfulness, the Shepherd nonetheless hopes. Amazingly, he has made peace between his God and his people. That is his truth, but what is his hope? I believe that he hopes for those who have chosen peace to choose to keep it, and for those who have yet to choose peace to do so as well. May it be so.
Peace, peace, in him there can be peace.
Grace and peace,
Ron
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Poor in spirit ...
Another prayer from Leaving Ruin:
Poor in Spirit confuses us, and your Son is raking our imaginations with his greatness, and if I see your face I will die, and I must see your face or I will die. Come to us, Lord, gently, and teach, and set us right, and shield us from looking too hard into the core of sin that is too, too much to bear, perhaps even for a God.
Who are the poor in spirit? And how are they blessed? If we understand this Jesus on the mountain, there is a terrible comfort for us, or is it a comforting terror, because there is mystery here, but let us not hide from its simplicity. Reduce us, Lord, let us be as those who do not sow or reap, but who know you will sustain, support, and save.
If I come to the mountain to sit at his feet, let me listen. Strip distraction, and help me hold each thought, each word, each wisdom as tightly as light holds the day, though my breakfast was not what I wanted, and I hate the grime under my fingernails. I long for the blessing of Jesus, but, too often, I’d rather have what I’d rather have.
I am not poor in spirit, but I long to be. Forgive, and make again.
In the name of Jesus,
Amen
What would life look like if we were to let God handle it, all of it?
What would our schedules look like if we truly trusted God to provide?
The Beatitudes are beautiful in their simplicity and complexity. To read them in such a way as to hear the Messiah speaking them to you is deep and lovely and the climate for change on every level. Let’s listen to Him (from the ERV:
Great blessings belong to those who know they are spiritually in need.
God’s kingdom belongs to them.
Great blessings belong to those who are sad now.
God will comfort them.
Great blessings belong to those who are humble.
They will be given the land God promised.
Great blessings belong to those who want to do right
more than anything else. God will fully satisfy them.
Great blessings belong to those who show mercy to others.
Mercy will be given to them.
Great blessings belong o those whose thoughts are pure.
They will be with God.
Great blessings belong to those who work to bring peace.
God will call them his sons and daughters.
Great blessings belong to those who suffer persecution
for doing what is right. God’s kingdom belongs to them.
This list contains aspects of life that happen to a person and some that one chooses. However, the blessing comes in what one does with what happens. I pray you have the courage in the Kingdom to be humble, do right, work to bring peace, etc. May we encourage each other as we do these ourselves.
Blessings,
Shiann
Poor in Spirit confuses us, and your Son is raking our imaginations with his greatness, and if I see your face I will die, and I must see your face or I will die. Come to us, Lord, gently, and teach, and set us right, and shield us from looking too hard into the core of sin that is too, too much to bear, perhaps even for a God.
Who are the poor in spirit? And how are they blessed? If we understand this Jesus on the mountain, there is a terrible comfort for us, or is it a comforting terror, because there is mystery here, but let us not hide from its simplicity. Reduce us, Lord, let us be as those who do not sow or reap, but who know you will sustain, support, and save.
If I come to the mountain to sit at his feet, let me listen. Strip distraction, and help me hold each thought, each word, each wisdom as tightly as light holds the day, though my breakfast was not what I wanted, and I hate the grime under my fingernails. I long for the blessing of Jesus, but, too often, I’d rather have what I’d rather have.
I am not poor in spirit, but I long to be. Forgive, and make again.
In the name of Jesus,
Amen
What would life look like if we were to let God handle it, all of it?
What would our schedules look like if we truly trusted God to provide?
The Beatitudes are beautiful in their simplicity and complexity. To read them in such a way as to hear the Messiah speaking them to you is deep and lovely and the climate for change on every level. Let’s listen to Him (from the ERV:
Great blessings belong to those who know they are spiritually in need.
God’s kingdom belongs to them.
Great blessings belong to those who are sad now.
God will comfort them.
Great blessings belong to those who are humble.
They will be given the land God promised.
Great blessings belong to those who want to do right
more than anything else. God will fully satisfy them.
Great blessings belong to those who show mercy to others.
Mercy will be given to them.
Great blessings belong o those whose thoughts are pure.
They will be with God.
Great blessings belong to those who work to bring peace.
God will call them his sons and daughters.
Great blessings belong to those who suffer persecution
for doing what is right. God’s kingdom belongs to them.
This list contains aspects of life that happen to a person and some that one chooses. However, the blessing comes in what one does with what happens. I pray you have the courage in the Kingdom to be humble, do right, work to bring peace, etc. May we encourage each other as we do these ourselves.
Blessings,
Shiann
Saturday, September 12, 2009
The mountains surround Jerusalem ...
Hear the word of the Lord:
Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the LORD surrounds his people,
from this time on and forevermore.
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
on the land allotted to the righteous,
so that the righteous might not stretch out
their hands to do wrong.
Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,
and to those who are upright in their hearts.
But those who turn aside to their own crooked ways
the LORD will lead away with evildoers.
Peace be upon Israel!
Psalm 125
Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the LORD surrounds his people,
from this time on and forevermore.
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
on the land allotted to the righteous,
so that the righteous might not stretch out
their hands to do wrong.
Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,
and to those who are upright in their hearts.
But those who turn aside to their own crooked ways
the LORD will lead away with evildoers.
Peace be upon Israel!
Psalm 125
Saturday, August 8, 2009
An instrument of thy peace ...
Today, a prayer.
Lord,
make me an instrument of thy peace.
where there is hatred let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is discord, union;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may seek no so much
to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is by giving that we receive;
it is by losing that we find;
it is by forgiving that we are forgiven;
and it is by dying that we rise again to eternal life,
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Francis of Assisi
Blessings,
Ron
Lord,
make me an instrument of thy peace.
where there is hatred let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is discord, union;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may seek no so much
to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is by giving that we receive;
it is by losing that we find;
it is by forgiving that we are forgiven;
and it is by dying that we rise again to eternal life,
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Francis of Assisi
Blessings,
Ron
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Blood at your hand ...
When Saul's son Ishbaal heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed. Saul's son had two captains of raiding bands; the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab. They were sons of Rimmon a Benjaminite from Beeroth — for Beeroth is considered to belong to Benjamin ….
Now the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set out, and about the heat of the day they came to the house of Ishbaal, while he was taking his noonday rest. They came inside the house as though to take wheat, and they struck him in the stomach; then Rechab and his brother Baanah escaped. Now they had come into the house while he was lying on his couch in his bedchamber; they attacked him, killed him, and beheaded him. Then they took his head and traveled by way of the Arabah all night long. They brought the head of Ishbaal to David at Hebron and said to the king, "Here is the head of Ishbaal, son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life; the Lord has avenged my lord the king this day on Saul and on his offspring."
David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, "As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity, when the one who told me, 'See, Saul is dead,' thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag — this was the reward I gave him for his news. How much more then, when wicked men have killed a righteous man on his bed in his own house! And now shall I not require his blood at your hand, and destroy you from the earth?" So David commanded the young men, and they killed them; they cut off their hands and feet, and hung their bodies beside the pool at Hebron. But the head of Ishbaal they took and buried in the tomb of Abner at Hebron.
2 Samuel 4 – NRSV
The Israelites made a promise to the Gibeonites. True, the Gibeonites tricked them into it, but nonetheless the Israelites agreed not to wipe them out (Josh 9). “Although the people of Israel had sworn to spare them, Saul had tried to wipe them out in his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah” (2 Samuel 21:2-3 – NRSV). So, when Baanah and Recab, two Gibeonites from Beeroth have the opportunity to get back at the house of Saul, they take it. They think that they will be heroes to their people and favorites of the new king who will benefit from their action.
Except, once again, David does not reward the assassins. Essentially, David says, “When God is on your side, why would you need to resort to killing a righteous man, even if he opposes you, even if he makes himself your enemy?” David didn’t do this to anyone in the house of Saul, despite his many opportunities. He doesn’t plan to reward anyone who does. Instead the punishment is swift and final.
Racial and ethnic hatred are horrible; eventually hatred and its consequences oppress both peoples involved in it. These kill those, and those kill these, and the growing hate fuels the deadly people-killing machine. The verdict of David has not settled the score between the Benjaminites and Gibeonites; we have not heard the last of this ethnic conflict.
Unfortunately this kind of conflict surrounds us in our world today, too. Do we believe that killing the people who hate us will stop people from hating us? Or will the killing only create even more people who hate us, only justly so?
Doesn’t David give an amazing and godly clue to the path to peace? Doesn’t he show the people of his time and ours the way through our conflict? “When God is on your side, why would you need to resort to killing a righteous man, even if he opposes you, even if he makes himself your enemy?” God is our security, not the sword. God raises up and takes down governments, not us.
Love others. Trust God.
If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:18-21 - NRSV
Grace, and peace,
Ron
Now the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set out, and about the heat of the day they came to the house of Ishbaal, while he was taking his noonday rest. They came inside the house as though to take wheat, and they struck him in the stomach; then Rechab and his brother Baanah escaped. Now they had come into the house while he was lying on his couch in his bedchamber; they attacked him, killed him, and beheaded him. Then they took his head and traveled by way of the Arabah all night long. They brought the head of Ishbaal to David at Hebron and said to the king, "Here is the head of Ishbaal, son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life; the Lord has avenged my lord the king this day on Saul and on his offspring."
David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, "As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity, when the one who told me, 'See, Saul is dead,' thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag — this was the reward I gave him for his news. How much more then, when wicked men have killed a righteous man on his bed in his own house! And now shall I not require his blood at your hand, and destroy you from the earth?" So David commanded the young men, and they killed them; they cut off their hands and feet, and hung their bodies beside the pool at Hebron. But the head of Ishbaal they took and buried in the tomb of Abner at Hebron.
2 Samuel 4 – NRSV
The Israelites made a promise to the Gibeonites. True, the Gibeonites tricked them into it, but nonetheless the Israelites agreed not to wipe them out (Josh 9). “Although the people of Israel had sworn to spare them, Saul had tried to wipe them out in his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah” (2 Samuel 21:2-3 – NRSV). So, when Baanah and Recab, two Gibeonites from Beeroth have the opportunity to get back at the house of Saul, they take it. They think that they will be heroes to their people and favorites of the new king who will benefit from their action.
Except, once again, David does not reward the assassins. Essentially, David says, “When God is on your side, why would you need to resort to killing a righteous man, even if he opposes you, even if he makes himself your enemy?” David didn’t do this to anyone in the house of Saul, despite his many opportunities. He doesn’t plan to reward anyone who does. Instead the punishment is swift and final.
Racial and ethnic hatred are horrible; eventually hatred and its consequences oppress both peoples involved in it. These kill those, and those kill these, and the growing hate fuels the deadly people-killing machine. The verdict of David has not settled the score between the Benjaminites and Gibeonites; we have not heard the last of this ethnic conflict.
Unfortunately this kind of conflict surrounds us in our world today, too. Do we believe that killing the people who hate us will stop people from hating us? Or will the killing only create even more people who hate us, only justly so?
Doesn’t David give an amazing and godly clue to the path to peace? Doesn’t he show the people of his time and ours the way through our conflict? “When God is on your side, why would you need to resort to killing a righteous man, even if he opposes you, even if he makes himself your enemy?” God is our security, not the sword. God raises up and takes down governments, not us.
Love others. Trust God.
If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:18-21 - NRSV
Grace, and peace,
Ron
Monday, April 27, 2009
A dish served up cold ...
David has carefully negotiated peace with Abner and the various tribes associated with Israel. In peace, he sends Abner back to finish the detail work that will bring an end to the civil war and unite Israel and Judah under David as king.
Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for David had dismissed him, and he had gone away in peace. When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, "Abner son of Ner came to the king, and he has dismissed him, and he has gone away in peace."
Then Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Abner came to you; why did you dismiss him, so that he got away? You know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you, and to learn your comings and goings and to learn all that you are doing."
When Joab came out from David's presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah; but David did not know about it. When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gateway to speak with him privately, and there he stabbed him in the stomach. So he died for shedding the blood of Asahel, Joab's brother.
Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner son of Ner. May the guilt fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge, or who is leprous, or who holds a spindle, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks food!" So Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.
2 Samuel 3:22-30 – NRSV
Did David send Joab out on a raid knowing that Joab would be opposed to negotiating a peace with Abner? Perhaps. It could be that David’s concerns were simpler: fear that Joab would kill Abner if they met face to face. If that is what David worried about, he turned out to be right. Yet in Joab’s absence, Abner and David negotiate a peace, negotiate power, and, some think, negotiate a position for Abner within David’s cabinet.
Joab just misses Abner. Joab rants at David as if he were some sort of political simpleton. David is not a fool, Abner is not a spy. The problem is that Joab desires what David does not.
But Abner can only get a couple of miles away from Hebron before Joab’s messengers catch up. The messengers claim to have been sent by David, not Joab. They lie. They claim to have peaceful purposes. They do not. So Abner comes to Joab believing that Joab delivers an important message of peace from David. He does not. Joab delivers a knife.
In the stomach. As Abner strikes Asahel, so Joab strikes Abner. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life. Yet Asahel had warning; Asahel was a casualty of battle. Abner had no warning; Abner was a victim of cold-blooded murder, of revenge served up cold.
Joab wins his revenge, but loses his king’s carefully-negotiated peace. Joab adds to his reputation, but gives his lord a bad name that some still believe to this day: he is a dangerous manipulator who assassinates his enemies. Joab keeps his job as general of the armies safe from Abner, but he nearly costs David his rightful title of king over all the children of Israel.
Is David angry? I believe so. David calls down upon the house of Joab every nasty consequence that he can contemplate for a warrior: venereal disease, leprosy, effeminacy, failure in battle, and poverty. David separates himself from Joab’s actions and calls for the blood of Abner to be “a storm” over the head of Joab.
We might be ready to applaud David’s justice until we consider one simple question. Have we ever chosen our own purposes over the purposes of our Lord? His purposes for unity, for inclusion, for peace. His purposes for our actions, our speech, our thought.
We can choose to ignore the purposes of our Lord, but if we do, we need to remember that it can bring about two consequences: (1) separation from him and from his ongoing mission in this world, and (2) abandonment to the natural consequences of our disobedience.
Instead, let the same mind be in you that was in Jesus Christ (Php 2:5).
Dear Lord, and Father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways;
Reclothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives, thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise.
In simple trust, like those who heard,
Beside the Syrian Sea,
The gracious calling of Lord,
Let us, like them, without a word,
Rise up and follow thee.
Drop thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease,
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of thy peace.
- John G. Whittier
Grace, and peace,
Ron
Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for David had dismissed him, and he had gone away in peace. When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, "Abner son of Ner came to the king, and he has dismissed him, and he has gone away in peace."
Then Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Abner came to you; why did you dismiss him, so that he got away? You know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you, and to learn your comings and goings and to learn all that you are doing."
When Joab came out from David's presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah; but David did not know about it. When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gateway to speak with him privately, and there he stabbed him in the stomach. So he died for shedding the blood of Asahel, Joab's brother.
Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner son of Ner. May the guilt fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge, or who is leprous, or who holds a spindle, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks food!" So Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.
2 Samuel 3:22-30 – NRSV
Did David send Joab out on a raid knowing that Joab would be opposed to negotiating a peace with Abner? Perhaps. It could be that David’s concerns were simpler: fear that Joab would kill Abner if they met face to face. If that is what David worried about, he turned out to be right. Yet in Joab’s absence, Abner and David negotiate a peace, negotiate power, and, some think, negotiate a position for Abner within David’s cabinet.
Joab just misses Abner. Joab rants at David as if he were some sort of political simpleton. David is not a fool, Abner is not a spy. The problem is that Joab desires what David does not.
But Abner can only get a couple of miles away from Hebron before Joab’s messengers catch up. The messengers claim to have been sent by David, not Joab. They lie. They claim to have peaceful purposes. They do not. So Abner comes to Joab believing that Joab delivers an important message of peace from David. He does not. Joab delivers a knife.
In the stomach. As Abner strikes Asahel, so Joab strikes Abner. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life. Yet Asahel had warning; Asahel was a casualty of battle. Abner had no warning; Abner was a victim of cold-blooded murder, of revenge served up cold.
Joab wins his revenge, but loses his king’s carefully-negotiated peace. Joab adds to his reputation, but gives his lord a bad name that some still believe to this day: he is a dangerous manipulator who assassinates his enemies. Joab keeps his job as general of the armies safe from Abner, but he nearly costs David his rightful title of king over all the children of Israel.
Is David angry? I believe so. David calls down upon the house of Joab every nasty consequence that he can contemplate for a warrior: venereal disease, leprosy, effeminacy, failure in battle, and poverty. David separates himself from Joab’s actions and calls for the blood of Abner to be “a storm” over the head of Joab.
We might be ready to applaud David’s justice until we consider one simple question. Have we ever chosen our own purposes over the purposes of our Lord? His purposes for unity, for inclusion, for peace. His purposes for our actions, our speech, our thought.
We can choose to ignore the purposes of our Lord, but if we do, we need to remember that it can bring about two consequences: (1) separation from him and from his ongoing mission in this world, and (2) abandonment to the natural consequences of our disobedience.
Instead, let the same mind be in you that was in Jesus Christ (Php 2:5).
Dear Lord, and Father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways;
Reclothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives, thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise.
In simple trust, like those who heard,
Beside the Syrian Sea,
The gracious calling of Lord,
Let us, like them, without a word,
Rise up and follow thee.
Drop thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease,
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of thy peace.
- John G. Whittier
Grace, and peace,
Ron
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Soaking up the story ...
One Sunday morning in mid-January a young man by the name of Mike came and visited our worship services. He came and joined in our youth class, and then afterward, one of our deacons invited him out to lunch. I just happened to go along on this lunch and got to know Mike even better. Our youth group ended up going over to someone's house that afternoon and hanging out and then meeting up again later for a small group at our house. Mike came to all of these.
As we sat and talked about our faith and what Jesus has done in our lives, Mike spoke of his faith and how he had grown up Catholic and where his family worshiped just seemed so fake. He said he was looking for something real to show him that God exists. That Sunday night he said that he thought he had found it. He mentioned all the ways that we had shown him hospitality that day and how we had been Jesus to him that day. That Thursday we met at our local Starbucks and had our every Thursday bible study and low and behold, Mike came. He just ate up every bit of what we discussed that Thursday afternoon. He soaked up all he could about Jesus and that afternoon he decided that he wanted to give his life to Jesus. We baptized him that evening. It was amazing. He heard the Word of the Lord. He dug into every passage of scripture that I showed him and could quote some of the passages. He was a spiritual sponge. He still is.
Hear the word of God:
On October 31 the people assembled again, and this time they fasted and dressed in burlap and sprinkled dust on their heads. Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners as they confessed their own sins and the sins of their ancestors. They remained standing in place for three hours* while the Book of the Law of the LORD their God was read aloud to them. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and worshiped the LORD their God. The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani—stood on the stairway of the Levites and cried out to the LORD their God with loud voices.
Then the leaders of the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—called out to the people: "Stand up and praise the LORD your God, for he lives from everlasting to everlasting!" Then they prayed:
"May your glorious name be praised! May it be exalted above all blessing and praise!
"You alone are the LORD. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them.. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you.
"You are the LORD God, who chose Abram and brought him from Ur of the Chaldeans and renamed him Abraham. When he had proved himself faithful, you made a covenant with him to give him and his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites. And you have done what you promised, for you are always true to your word.
"You saw the misery of our ancestors in Egypt, and you heard their cries from beside the Red Sea. You displayed miraculous signs and wonders against Pharaoh, his officials, and all his people, for you knew how arrogantly they were treating our ancestors. You have a glorious reputation that has never been forgotten. You divided the sea for your people so they could walk through on dry land! And then you hurled their enemies into the depths of the sea. They sank like stones beneath the mighty waters. You led our ancestors by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night so that they could find their way.
"You came down at Mount Sinai and spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and instructions that were just, and decrees and commands that were good. You instructed them concerning your holy Sabbath. And you commanded them, through Moses your servant, to obey all your commands, decrees, and instructions.
"You gave them bread from heaven when they were hungry and water from the rock when they were thirsty. You commanded them to go and take possession of the land you had sworn to give them.
"But our ancestors were proud and stubborn, and they paid no attention to your commands. They refused to obey and did not remember the miracles you had done for them. Instead, they became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt! But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them, even when they made an idol shaped like a calf and said, 'This is your god who brought you out of Egypt!' They committed terrible blasphemies.
"But in your great mercy you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud still led them forward by day, and the pillar of fire showed them the way through the night. You sent your good Spirit to instruct them, and you did not stop giving them manna from heaven or water for their thirst. For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell!
"Then you helped our ancestors conquer kingdoms and nations, and you placed your people in every corner of the land. They took over the land of King Sihon of Heshbon and the land of King Og of Bashan. You made their descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and brought them into the land you had promised to their ancestors.
"They went in and took possession of the land. You subdued whole nations before them. Even the Canaanites, who inhabited the land, were powerless! Your people could deal with these nations and their kings as they pleased. Our ancestors captured fortified cities and fertile land. They took over houses full of good things, with cisterns already dug and vineyards and olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate until they were full and grew fat and enjoyed themselves in all your blessings.
"But despite all this, they were disobedient and rebelled against you. They turned their backs on your Law, they killed your prophets who warned them to return to you, and they committed terrible blasphemies. So you handed them over to their enemies, who made them suffer. But in their time of trouble they cried to you, and you heard them from heaven. In your great mercy, you sent them liberators who rescued them from their enemies.
"But as soon as they were at peace, your people again committed evil in your sight, and once more you let their enemies conquer them. Yet whenever your people turned and cried to you again for help, you listened once more from heaven. In your wonderful mercy, you rescued them many times!
"You warned them to return to your Law, but they became proud and obstinate and disobeyed your commands. They did not follow your regulations, by which people will find life if only they obey. They stubbornly turned their backs on you and refused to listen. In your love, you were patient with them for many years. You sent your Spirit, who warned them through the prophets. But still they wouldn't listen! So once again you allowed the peoples of the land to conquer them. But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a gracious and merciful God you are!
"And now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of unfailing love, do not let all the hardships we have suffered seem insignificant to you. Great trouble has come upon us and upon our kings and leaders and priests and prophets and ancestors—all of your people—from the days when the kings of Assyria first triumphed over us until now. Every time you punished us you were being just. We have sinned greatly, and you gave us only what we deserved. Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not obey your Law or listen to the warnings in your commands and laws. Even while they had their own kingdom, they did not serve you, though you showered your goodness on them. You gave them a large, fertile land, but they refused to turn from their wickedness.
"So now today we are slaves in the land of plenty that you gave our ancestors for their enjoyment! We are slaves here in this good land. The lush produce of this land piles up in the hands of the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They have power over us and our livestock. We serve them at their pleasure, and we are in great misery."
The people responded, "In view of all this, we are making a solemn promise and putting it in writing. On this sealed document are the names of our leaders and Levites and priests."
Nehemiah 9:1-38
I know this is a lot of reading, but it is the story of a people who were lost and knew it, but now they have found their way back, by hearing the Word of the Lord. Just like Mike. The Word of God convicts, changes, and reestablishes our feet on solid ground. I pray it convicts us all today and the rest of our lives. Take the time to read, soak it up, and then like Mike and like the Israelites, make the promise to change.
Jason
As we sat and talked about our faith and what Jesus has done in our lives, Mike spoke of his faith and how he had grown up Catholic and where his family worshiped just seemed so fake. He said he was looking for something real to show him that God exists. That Sunday night he said that he thought he had found it. He mentioned all the ways that we had shown him hospitality that day and how we had been Jesus to him that day. That Thursday we met at our local Starbucks and had our every Thursday bible study and low and behold, Mike came. He just ate up every bit of what we discussed that Thursday afternoon. He soaked up all he could about Jesus and that afternoon he decided that he wanted to give his life to Jesus. We baptized him that evening. It was amazing. He heard the Word of the Lord. He dug into every passage of scripture that I showed him and could quote some of the passages. He was a spiritual sponge. He still is.
Hear the word of God:
On October 31 the people assembled again, and this time they fasted and dressed in burlap and sprinkled dust on their heads. Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners as they confessed their own sins and the sins of their ancestors. They remained standing in place for three hours* while the Book of the Law of the LORD their God was read aloud to them. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and worshiped the LORD their God. The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani—stood on the stairway of the Levites and cried out to the LORD their God with loud voices.
Then the leaders of the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—called out to the people: "Stand up and praise the LORD your God, for he lives from everlasting to everlasting!" Then they prayed:
"May your glorious name be praised! May it be exalted above all blessing and praise!
"You alone are the LORD. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them.. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you.
"You are the LORD God, who chose Abram and brought him from Ur of the Chaldeans and renamed him Abraham. When he had proved himself faithful, you made a covenant with him to give him and his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites. And you have done what you promised, for you are always true to your word.
"You saw the misery of our ancestors in Egypt, and you heard their cries from beside the Red Sea. You displayed miraculous signs and wonders against Pharaoh, his officials, and all his people, for you knew how arrogantly they were treating our ancestors. You have a glorious reputation that has never been forgotten. You divided the sea for your people so they could walk through on dry land! And then you hurled their enemies into the depths of the sea. They sank like stones beneath the mighty waters. You led our ancestors by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night so that they could find their way.
"You came down at Mount Sinai and spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and instructions that were just, and decrees and commands that were good. You instructed them concerning your holy Sabbath. And you commanded them, through Moses your servant, to obey all your commands, decrees, and instructions.
"You gave them bread from heaven when they were hungry and water from the rock when they were thirsty. You commanded them to go and take possession of the land you had sworn to give them.
"But our ancestors were proud and stubborn, and they paid no attention to your commands. They refused to obey and did not remember the miracles you had done for them. Instead, they became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt! But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them, even when they made an idol shaped like a calf and said, 'This is your god who brought you out of Egypt!' They committed terrible blasphemies.
"But in your great mercy you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud still led them forward by day, and the pillar of fire showed them the way through the night. You sent your good Spirit to instruct them, and you did not stop giving them manna from heaven or water for their thirst. For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell!
"Then you helped our ancestors conquer kingdoms and nations, and you placed your people in every corner of the land. They took over the land of King Sihon of Heshbon and the land of King Og of Bashan. You made their descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and brought them into the land you had promised to their ancestors.
"They went in and took possession of the land. You subdued whole nations before them. Even the Canaanites, who inhabited the land, were powerless! Your people could deal with these nations and their kings as they pleased. Our ancestors captured fortified cities and fertile land. They took over houses full of good things, with cisterns already dug and vineyards and olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate until they were full and grew fat and enjoyed themselves in all your blessings.
"But despite all this, they were disobedient and rebelled against you. They turned their backs on your Law, they killed your prophets who warned them to return to you, and they committed terrible blasphemies. So you handed them over to their enemies, who made them suffer. But in their time of trouble they cried to you, and you heard them from heaven. In your great mercy, you sent them liberators who rescued them from their enemies.
"But as soon as they were at peace, your people again committed evil in your sight, and once more you let their enemies conquer them. Yet whenever your people turned and cried to you again for help, you listened once more from heaven. In your wonderful mercy, you rescued them many times!
"You warned them to return to your Law, but they became proud and obstinate and disobeyed your commands. They did not follow your regulations, by which people will find life if only they obey. They stubbornly turned their backs on you and refused to listen. In your love, you were patient with them for many years. You sent your Spirit, who warned them through the prophets. But still they wouldn't listen! So once again you allowed the peoples of the land to conquer them. But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a gracious and merciful God you are!
"And now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of unfailing love, do not let all the hardships we have suffered seem insignificant to you. Great trouble has come upon us and upon our kings and leaders and priests and prophets and ancestors—all of your people—from the days when the kings of Assyria first triumphed over us until now. Every time you punished us you were being just. We have sinned greatly, and you gave us only what we deserved. Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not obey your Law or listen to the warnings in your commands and laws. Even while they had their own kingdom, they did not serve you, though you showered your goodness on them. You gave them a large, fertile land, but they refused to turn from their wickedness.
"So now today we are slaves in the land of plenty that you gave our ancestors for their enjoyment! We are slaves here in this good land. The lush produce of this land piles up in the hands of the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They have power over us and our livestock. We serve them at their pleasure, and we are in great misery."
The people responded, "In view of all this, we are making a solemn promise and putting it in writing. On this sealed document are the names of our leaders and Levites and priests."
Nehemiah 9:1-38
I know this is a lot of reading, but it is the story of a people who were lost and knew it, but now they have found their way back, by hearing the Word of the Lord. Just like Mike. The Word of God convicts, changes, and reestablishes our feet on solid ground. I pray it convicts us all today and the rest of our lives. Take the time to read, soak it up, and then like Mike and like the Israelites, make the promise to change.
Jason
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Dwell in that holiness ...
When exhaustion sets in after a long day of work.
When you have had a friend hurt you.
When nothing seems to go right for you.
When you are so tired you don’t know how to think straight.
When you feel the weight of the world crashing in on you.
What do you pray?
What do you say when you have no words for what has happened to you today?
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”
Matthew 6:9-13
That is how I feel right now. I have that feeling like I have zero energy left to give anyone. Do you feel that way right now? Do you know what that feels like? I am sure you do. Each day is different. Some are harder than others. Life can very easily get out of control. We just spent close to 14 hours at a show barn. Calves were showing, pigs were showing, the boys were doing their best not to get too stressed out and frustrated. It was noisy, and at times it seemed like it would become so noisy that you couldn’t even hear yourself think. You would have to yell at times to make sure the other person could hear you. As I sat there waiting for the next boy to be called to go out and show, I felt this overwhelming need to be in silence and in a different environment for just a little while. I told the other houseparent that I was just going to step outside for a breath of fresh air, and as I slid open the barn door, there it was. God was saying slow down, calm down, breathe.
There before me was the most beautiful sunset. The clouds were just perfect across the horizon, the beams were going in just the right direction, the breeze was just perfect. I sat on the grassy hillside and just breathed. I couldn’t think of anything. I couldn’t think of what to say to my God. I couldn’t think of how to word my feelings. All I could get out was: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name!” I knew that my God, the holy one, the creator of the universe, the one who breathed life into myself, my loving and wonderful wife, my three beautiful children, and you who read this, was also right there with me and maybe he had planned this sunset just for me. Maybe he had brought it all to be just to help me feel at peace. I felt wholeheartedly that I could say, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
I knew at that moment that even if the world crashes in around me, my God is there and he is at work. He may be calming a storm on the other side of the world, healing someone in New York, listening to a prayer from a five year-old little boy, but he is also right there calming me and bringing peace to me. Our God is holy! He is mighty to save us all and he is right there where you are right now.
Dwell in that holiness.
Sit in that peace.
Walk in the knowledge of his love.
If you are having problems praying today, remember the prayer that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, taught us to pray!
Jason
When you have had a friend hurt you.
When nothing seems to go right for you.
When you are so tired you don’t know how to think straight.
When you feel the weight of the world crashing in on you.
What do you pray?
What do you say when you have no words for what has happened to you today?
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”
Matthew 6:9-13
That is how I feel right now. I have that feeling like I have zero energy left to give anyone. Do you feel that way right now? Do you know what that feels like? I am sure you do. Each day is different. Some are harder than others. Life can very easily get out of control. We just spent close to 14 hours at a show barn. Calves were showing, pigs were showing, the boys were doing their best not to get too stressed out and frustrated. It was noisy, and at times it seemed like it would become so noisy that you couldn’t even hear yourself think. You would have to yell at times to make sure the other person could hear you. As I sat there waiting for the next boy to be called to go out and show, I felt this overwhelming need to be in silence and in a different environment for just a little while. I told the other houseparent that I was just going to step outside for a breath of fresh air, and as I slid open the barn door, there it was. God was saying slow down, calm down, breathe.
There before me was the most beautiful sunset. The clouds were just perfect across the horizon, the beams were going in just the right direction, the breeze was just perfect. I sat on the grassy hillside and just breathed. I couldn’t think of anything. I couldn’t think of what to say to my God. I couldn’t think of how to word my feelings. All I could get out was: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name!” I knew that my God, the holy one, the creator of the universe, the one who breathed life into myself, my loving and wonderful wife, my three beautiful children, and you who read this, was also right there with me and maybe he had planned this sunset just for me. Maybe he had brought it all to be just to help me feel at peace. I felt wholeheartedly that I could say, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
I knew at that moment that even if the world crashes in around me, my God is there and he is at work. He may be calming a storm on the other side of the world, healing someone in New York, listening to a prayer from a five year-old little boy, but he is also right there calming me and bringing peace to me. Our God is holy! He is mighty to save us all and he is right there where you are right now.
Dwell in that holiness.
Sit in that peace.
Walk in the knowledge of his love.
If you are having problems praying today, remember the prayer that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, taught us to pray!
Jason
Friday, January 23, 2009
Perfect peace ...
Jason directs our thoughts today:
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock eternal.
Isaiah 26:3-4
Be still and know that I am God,
Be still and know that I am God,
Be still and know that I am God.
Do this! Do that! Be over here at this time, wearing this, juggling that, while you are whistling this tune and standing on your head! The demands of life can be so overwhelming sometimes. They aren’t always this crazy. I do not believe we have to let it get to that point. We have great intentions of doing our best and then one thing is added to our pile and one more and then something bad happens that adds to our time and so on an so on. I know you feel it. I know you are feeling it right now.
Do you feel this way? I am going to write this quote down from Max Lucado and leave you for the day to dwell on this thought.
“Who is the active one? Who is in charge? The shepherd. The shepherd selects the trail and prepares the pasture. The sheep’s job—our job—is to watch the shepherd. With our eyes on our Shepherd, we’ll be able to get some sleep. ‘You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You!’”
Find you a quiet place and just keep singing this song over and over to yourself and allow His peace to settle on your heart!
Be STILL and know that I am God,
Be STILL and know that I am God,
Be STILL and know that I am God.
Blessings for Peace!
Jason
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock eternal.
Isaiah 26:3-4
Be still and know that I am God,
Be still and know that I am God,
Be still and know that I am God.
Do this! Do that! Be over here at this time, wearing this, juggling that, while you are whistling this tune and standing on your head! The demands of life can be so overwhelming sometimes. They aren’t always this crazy. I do not believe we have to let it get to that point. We have great intentions of doing our best and then one thing is added to our pile and one more and then something bad happens that adds to our time and so on an so on. I know you feel it. I know you are feeling it right now.
Do you feel this way? I am going to write this quote down from Max Lucado and leave you for the day to dwell on this thought.
“Who is the active one? Who is in charge? The shepherd. The shepherd selects the trail and prepares the pasture. The sheep’s job—our job—is to watch the shepherd. With our eyes on our Shepherd, we’ll be able to get some sleep. ‘You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You!’”
Find you a quiet place and just keep singing this song over and over to yourself and allow His peace to settle on your heart!
Be STILL and know that I am God,
Be STILL and know that I am God,
Be STILL and know that I am God.
Blessings for Peace!
Jason
Friday, January 16, 2009
But give us hope ...
How does that which we see around us affect our prayers?
Can we see what we see each day
and have the courage to pray this prayer?
A Prayer of Hope
Francis Brienen
Do not give us rest, Lord,
while people are hungry
and we are rich.
As long as justice is a dream
press us on
and do not give us rest.
Do not give us peace, Lord,
while people live in fear
and we are safe.
As long as hatred stifles love
stir us up and do not give us peace.
Do not give us comfort, Lord,
while people are desperate
and we are well.
As long as lives are lived in pain
disturb us
and do not give us comfort.
But give us hope to share, O Christ,
hope that disturbs and stirs and shakes,
the hope of Job,
the hope of the lame,
a hope of new life
beyond the pain.
Until all find comfort
and peace
and rest,
Christ, give us hope to share.
May God in his grace give us hope.
Ron
Can we see what we see each day
and have the courage to pray this prayer?
A Prayer of Hope
Francis Brienen
Do not give us rest, Lord,
while people are hungry
and we are rich.
As long as justice is a dream
press us on
and do not give us rest.
Do not give us peace, Lord,
while people live in fear
and we are safe.
As long as hatred stifles love
stir us up and do not give us peace.
Do not give us comfort, Lord,
while people are desperate
and we are well.
As long as lives are lived in pain
disturb us
and do not give us comfort.
But give us hope to share, O Christ,
hope that disturbs and stirs and shakes,
the hope of Job,
the hope of the lame,
a hope of new life
beyond the pain.
Until all find comfort
and peace
and rest,
Christ, give us hope to share.
May God in his grace give us hope.
Ron
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
The new strong ...
Hear the word of the Lord:
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Mt 5:5 – NRSV
We do not live in a meek world. In our world,
if you punch me with your fist,
I come back with a two by four.
If you stab me with a knife,
I come back with a gun.
Governments are no better;
they use their bullets instead of their brains.
No one comes away unhurt, because
we live in violent and vengeful world.
We do not live in a meek world. Even in America
people use fear and force all of the time.
Mess with a bureaucrat, see what happens.
You’ll be filling out forms for no apparent purpose,
none, that is, except to teach you that he can make you do it.
But Jesus calls us to be something different.
Hugely counter-culturally different. Meek.
A meek person is gentle.
A meek servant of God is non-coercive.
A meek soul respects others without
demanding respect back.
They are not in favor of force because
they know that force is the first resort of the fearful.
They are not in favor of force because
they have heard that force should be the very last resort
of the wise person. The problem is,
so many of us get to our last resort not long after the first.
Jesus is not in favor of force at all, whether it is
his disciple’s first or last course of action.
“Turn the other cheek.”
Jesus meant for us to be meek.
Our next to last resort as a meek person is lament.
Our last resort as a meek person is God.
Let God handle it. He will.
For Jesus, meek is the new strong.
Strong enough to let the aggressiveness of others
blow right past us.
Because when we do this it gets people’s attention.
It will get the attention of a troubled child eventually.
He’s used to huffing up and puffing up; she’s seen it all the time;
meekness messes with a mind; it the unexpected move.
If we don’t play into their fear, we may earn the right
to have their ear.
The unexpected result is that the meek will inherit the earth.
How in the world will that happen?
When all of the vengeful have taken each other out,
when all of the fearful have had their fit,
the meek soul is still standing.
Ready to make peace, ready to receive the peace.
The psalmist says, “But the meek shall inherit the land
and delight themselves in abundant peace.” Peace.
The shalom of God. Shalom is more than being left alone.
This shalom is the wholeness and completeness of the world.
Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.
Blessings,
Ron
Psalm 37:11, ESV
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Mt 5:5 – NRSV
We do not live in a meek world. In our world,
if you punch me with your fist,
I come back with a two by four.
If you stab me with a knife,
I come back with a gun.
Governments are no better;
they use their bullets instead of their brains.
No one comes away unhurt, because
we live in violent and vengeful world.
We do not live in a meek world. Even in America
people use fear and force all of the time.
Mess with a bureaucrat, see what happens.
You’ll be filling out forms for no apparent purpose,
none, that is, except to teach you that he can make you do it.
But Jesus calls us to be something different.
Hugely counter-culturally different. Meek.
A meek person is gentle.
A meek servant of God is non-coercive.
A meek soul respects others without
demanding respect back.
They are not in favor of force because
they know that force is the first resort of the fearful.
They are not in favor of force because
they have heard that force should be the very last resort
of the wise person. The problem is,
so many of us get to our last resort not long after the first.
Jesus is not in favor of force at all, whether it is
his disciple’s first or last course of action.
“Turn the other cheek.”
Jesus meant for us to be meek.
Our next to last resort as a meek person is lament.
Our last resort as a meek person is God.
Let God handle it. He will.
For Jesus, meek is the new strong.
Strong enough to let the aggressiveness of others
blow right past us.
Because when we do this it gets people’s attention.
It will get the attention of a troubled child eventually.
He’s used to huffing up and puffing up; she’s seen it all the time;
meekness messes with a mind; it the unexpected move.
If we don’t play into their fear, we may earn the right
to have their ear.
The unexpected result is that the meek will inherit the earth.
How in the world will that happen?
When all of the vengeful have taken each other out,
when all of the fearful have had their fit,
the meek soul is still standing.
Ready to make peace, ready to receive the peace.
The psalmist says, “But the meek shall inherit the land
and delight themselves in abundant peace.” Peace.
The shalom of God. Shalom is more than being left alone.
This shalom is the wholeness and completeness of the world.
Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.
Blessings,
Ron
Psalm 37:11, ESV
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, December 15, 2008
What Child is this?
Let us consider the wise words to this beautiful song:
What Child is This?
William C. Dix
What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Let the words of that song echo in our hearts as we listen isten to the sage counsel of Eric Milner-White:
Beloved in Christ, at this Christmas-tide, let it be our care and delight to hear again the message of the angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, and the Babe lying in a manger. Therefore let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious redemption brought to us by this Holy Child.
But first, let us pray for the needs of the whole world;
for peace on earth and goodwill among all of his people;
for unity and brotherhood within the Church he came to build,
and especially in this our [congregation].
And because this would rejoice his heart, let us remember, in his name, the poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry, and the oppressed;
the sick and them that mourn,
the lonely and the unloved,
the aged and the little children;
all those who know not the Lord Jesus,
or who love him not,
or who by sin have grieved his heart of love.
Lastly, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore, and in a greater light, the multitude which no man can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom in the Lord Jesus we are one forevermore. These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the Throne of Heaven, in words which Christ himself has taught us, “Our Father …”
Grace and peace,
Ron
What Child is This?
William C. Dix
What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Let the words of that song echo in our hearts as we listen isten to the sage counsel of Eric Milner-White:
Beloved in Christ, at this Christmas-tide, let it be our care and delight to hear again the message of the angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, and the Babe lying in a manger. Therefore let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious redemption brought to us by this Holy Child.
But first, let us pray for the needs of the whole world;
for peace on earth and goodwill among all of his people;
for unity and brotherhood within the Church he came to build,
and especially in this our [congregation].
And because this would rejoice his heart, let us remember, in his name, the poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry, and the oppressed;
the sick and them that mourn,
the lonely and the unloved,
the aged and the little children;
all those who know not the Lord Jesus,
or who love him not,
or who by sin have grieved his heart of love.
Lastly, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore, and in a greater light, the multitude which no man can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom in the Lord Jesus we are one forevermore. These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the Throne of Heaven, in words which Christ himself has taught us, “Our Father …”
Grace and peace,
Ron
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Something less than the big dog ...
Here is your third dose of Country Boy Wisdom.
"If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!" I don't like this saying because it was said to me many times while playing football in Arkansas. Being the susceptible person that I was, it really hit home to me that maybe I wasn't good enough, or maybe I don't belong with everyone else. At times, it could have been used for motivation to help, but instead it was used to berate and tear down.
I was watching the History Channel the other day and came across a show on the Inquisition. The people who originally thought of this idea were probably devout God fearing people. Problem was, they became the elite, the best, the only. They were killing people in their "righteous cause". Problem was, they didn't realize how off they were and how far reaching this oppression would reach. When Rachel and I were in Scotland doing some mission work, we encountered priests and others who said that a large percentage of the people there were very distrustful of religion of any kind due to the old history of how oppressed people were by the "Cosmic Cop" God.
The most well know verse in the Bible is probably John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
God said "the world", because he means "the world". He wants all to come and know Him and what he has. We don't have to be a big dog or part of the elite group. We have to be us and follow what He has for us to do. God offers everything we will ever need and we can share it with all the other people in "the world". So that everyone will come to know him and the "pack of dogs" can all run together and chase after God.
May you be blessed today with everything you need. And may you have peace, too.
Jeremy
"If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!" I don't like this saying because it was said to me many times while playing football in Arkansas. Being the susceptible person that I was, it really hit home to me that maybe I wasn't good enough, or maybe I don't belong with everyone else. At times, it could have been used for motivation to help, but instead it was used to berate and tear down.
I was watching the History Channel the other day and came across a show on the Inquisition. The people who originally thought of this idea were probably devout God fearing people. Problem was, they became the elite, the best, the only. They were killing people in their "righteous cause". Problem was, they didn't realize how off they were and how far reaching this oppression would reach. When Rachel and I were in Scotland doing some mission work, we encountered priests and others who said that a large percentage of the people there were very distrustful of religion of any kind due to the old history of how oppressed people were by the "Cosmic Cop" God.
The most well know verse in the Bible is probably John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
God said "the world", because he means "the world". He wants all to come and know Him and what he has. We don't have to be a big dog or part of the elite group. We have to be us and follow what He has for us to do. God offers everything we will ever need and we can share it with all the other people in "the world". So that everyone will come to know him and the "pack of dogs" can all run together and chase after God.
May you be blessed today with everything you need. And may you have peace, too.
Jeremy
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Pale turnips and empty pitchers
Today’s words from Jeremy:
To further extend our country boy wisdom, here is a saying that is a qualifier for yesterday's devo thought of giving more. "You can't squeeze blood from a turnip". The wisdom in this saying is simple. If you don't have anything to give, you can't give it.
I love the idea of us all being water pitchers. We can pour out what we have into other's pitchers when they need to be refilled. But we have to go to the source of the living water to be refilled and refreshed.
We hear this verse all the time about renewal, Isaiah 40:31
Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.
Yesterday I said to keep pouring out what you have to give to others who are in need. Today here is the answer on what to do when we have no more blood in our turnip. We wait. The NIV says we hope. The Lord will come and He will refill us and take care of our emptiness. It won't be easy, it doesn't always feel good, it doesn't always come when we tell it to, but...it comes. And when it comes, it is constant renewal. We can run without getting tired. We can do everything we need to because God will take care of us. He will refill us and make sure we are full enough to be taken care of, but not too full so we are not "full of ourselves".
When you feel like Dracula has attacked your spiritual vegetable patch, give it up to God for a while and be patient. It will come and your strength will be complete again so you can handle what comes your way.
May God bless you today with whatever you need. And grant you peace, too, while you wait.
Jeremy
To further extend our country boy wisdom, here is a saying that is a qualifier for yesterday's devo thought of giving more. "You can't squeeze blood from a turnip". The wisdom in this saying is simple. If you don't have anything to give, you can't give it.
I love the idea of us all being water pitchers. We can pour out what we have into other's pitchers when they need to be refilled. But we have to go to the source of the living water to be refilled and refreshed.
We hear this verse all the time about renewal, Isaiah 40:31
Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.
Yesterday I said to keep pouring out what you have to give to others who are in need. Today here is the answer on what to do when we have no more blood in our turnip. We wait. The NIV says we hope. The Lord will come and He will refill us and take care of our emptiness. It won't be easy, it doesn't always feel good, it doesn't always come when we tell it to, but...it comes. And when it comes, it is constant renewal. We can run without getting tired. We can do everything we need to because God will take care of us. He will refill us and make sure we are full enough to be taken care of, but not too full so we are not "full of ourselves".
When you feel like Dracula has attacked your spiritual vegetable patch, give it up to God for a while and be patient. It will come and your strength will be complete again so you can handle what comes your way.
May God bless you today with whatever you need. And grant you peace, too, while you wait.
Jeremy
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Heavenly wisdom for a heavenly people
How do we discern wisdom within the community? James tells us:
Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
James 3:13-18 – NRSV
There are two kinds of wisdom that are possible within a community: earthly and heavenly.
Earthly wisdom seeks to gain credit, and to warp the facts so as to present a story that heightens the wisdom and intelligence of the individual above that of his or her peers while glossing over personal mistakes and missteps. It seeks to establish both human glory and human guilt, slanted in the direction glory to me and guilt to others. This telling of the story disconnects both story and teller from the truth, and it also begins to disconnect the teller from the community. A false, slanted, or ambitious telling of the story of God’s people is destructive, and serves satanic purposes, not divine ones. If the community relies upon it, they will misperceive their real location and misdirect their course into the future.
Heavenly wisdom gives the credit and glory to God and to his people. This kind of wisdom speaks the truth, and the truth, though sometimes painful at first, is a salve to heal the wounds of the body of God’s people. This truthful version of the story seeks to tell the narrative from a heavenly perspective, valuing the actions of all and the words spoken by all in light of heavenly purposes. A narrative described by heavenly wisdom lifts up God and makes clearer his purposes. This telling of the story of God’s people allows his community to truly understand where it is, and to make its way forward with God’s work based on a true and reliable reckoning of the facts. The teller of this story seeks mercy for God’s people and peace among that community. Because such a narrative serves truth and justice among God’s people, it is righteous.
How would we evaluate our wisdom today? Is our telling of the stories of the day earthly or heavenly?
Every day brings the opportunity for heavenly wisdom, and the temptation to use the wisdom of the world that surrounds us. You hear worldly wisdom in the news every day; spending more time on blaming problems than solving them, using ten times more words to avoid responsibility than to accept it, slanting the narrative to strengthen the individual instead of the truth and the community. You hear people retell the facts so as to make it clear that they need more power, more resources, more money, or fewer restrictions and less accountability. Worldly wisdom infects our government, our towns, our schools, our churches, and our families. It altogether too easily can infect a ministry. Will we avoid imitating what we hear every day? May God strengthen us to allow it to be so. Every day God’s word offers a countertestimony to the world around us. Every day, there are those within God’s community who offer their countertestimony to the worldly telling of the facts.
May God help us all to seek and to speak his wisdom this very day.
Grace and peace through God’s divine wisdom,
Ron
Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
James 3:13-18 – NRSV
There are two kinds of wisdom that are possible within a community: earthly and heavenly.
Earthly wisdom seeks to gain credit, and to warp the facts so as to present a story that heightens the wisdom and intelligence of the individual above that of his or her peers while glossing over personal mistakes and missteps. It seeks to establish both human glory and human guilt, slanted in the direction glory to me and guilt to others. This telling of the story disconnects both story and teller from the truth, and it also begins to disconnect the teller from the community. A false, slanted, or ambitious telling of the story of God’s people is destructive, and serves satanic purposes, not divine ones. If the community relies upon it, they will misperceive their real location and misdirect their course into the future.
Heavenly wisdom gives the credit and glory to God and to his people. This kind of wisdom speaks the truth, and the truth, though sometimes painful at first, is a salve to heal the wounds of the body of God’s people. This truthful version of the story seeks to tell the narrative from a heavenly perspective, valuing the actions of all and the words spoken by all in light of heavenly purposes. A narrative described by heavenly wisdom lifts up God and makes clearer his purposes. This telling of the story of God’s people allows his community to truly understand where it is, and to make its way forward with God’s work based on a true and reliable reckoning of the facts. The teller of this story seeks mercy for God’s people and peace among that community. Because such a narrative serves truth and justice among God’s people, it is righteous.
How would we evaluate our wisdom today? Is our telling of the stories of the day earthly or heavenly?
Every day brings the opportunity for heavenly wisdom, and the temptation to use the wisdom of the world that surrounds us. You hear worldly wisdom in the news every day; spending more time on blaming problems than solving them, using ten times more words to avoid responsibility than to accept it, slanting the narrative to strengthen the individual instead of the truth and the community. You hear people retell the facts so as to make it clear that they need more power, more resources, more money, or fewer restrictions and less accountability. Worldly wisdom infects our government, our towns, our schools, our churches, and our families. It altogether too easily can infect a ministry. Will we avoid imitating what we hear every day? May God strengthen us to allow it to be so. Every day God’s word offers a countertestimony to the world around us. Every day, there are those within God’s community who offer their countertestimony to the worldly telling of the facts.
May God help us all to seek and to speak his wisdom this very day.
Grace and peace through God’s divine wisdom,
Ron
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Comforting his people
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
who brings good news,
who announces salvation,
who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."
Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices,
together they sing for joy;
for in plain sight they see
the return of the Lord to Zion.
Break forth together into singing,
you ruins of Jerusalem;
for the Lord has comforted his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
The Lord has bared his holy arm
before the eyes of all the nations;
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.
Isaiah 52:6-10 - NRSV
May God bless his people, his community.
Ron
are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
who brings good news,
who announces salvation,
who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."
Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices,
together they sing for joy;
for in plain sight they see
the return of the Lord to Zion.
Break forth together into singing,
you ruins of Jerusalem;
for the Lord has comforted his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
The Lord has bared his holy arm
before the eyes of all the nations;
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.
Isaiah 52:6-10 - NRSV
May God bless his people, his community.
Ron
Friday, September 12, 2008
What I thought I wanted
Following is a bit of poetry in song, written and performed by Sara Groves. She speaks of learning how to live in the place where you trust that God is working something out in the unseen space.
What I Thought I Wanted
Tuxedo in the closet, gold band in a box
Two days from the altar she went and called the whole thing off
What he thought he wanted, what he got instead
Leaves him broken and grateful
I passed understanding a long, long time ago
And the simple home of systems and answers we all know
What I thought I wanted, what I got instead
Leaves me broken and somehow peaceful
I keep wanting you to be fair
But that’s not what you said
I want certain answers to these prayers
But that’s not what you said
When I get to heaven I’m gonna go find Job
I want to ask a few hard questions,
I want to know what he knows
About what it is he wanted and what he got instead
How to be broken and faithful
What I thought I wanted
What I thought I wanted
What I thought I wanted
What I thought I wanted
Staring in the water like Aesop's foolish dog
I can’t help but reflect on what it was I almost lost
What it was I wanted, what I got instead
Leaves me broken and grateful
I’m broken and grateful
I want to be broken and grateful
I want to be broken, peaceful, faithful, grateful, grateful
I want to be broken, peaceful, faithful, grateful, grateful
Blessings,
Shiann
What I Thought I Wanted
Tuxedo in the closet, gold band in a box
Two days from the altar she went and called the whole thing off
What he thought he wanted, what he got instead
Leaves him broken and grateful
I passed understanding a long, long time ago
And the simple home of systems and answers we all know
What I thought I wanted, what I got instead
Leaves me broken and somehow peaceful
I keep wanting you to be fair
But that’s not what you said
I want certain answers to these prayers
But that’s not what you said
When I get to heaven I’m gonna go find Job
I want to ask a few hard questions,
I want to know what he knows
About what it is he wanted and what he got instead
How to be broken and faithful
What I thought I wanted
What I thought I wanted
What I thought I wanted
What I thought I wanted
Staring in the water like Aesop's foolish dog
I can’t help but reflect on what it was I almost lost
What it was I wanted, what I got instead
Leaves me broken and grateful
I’m broken and grateful
I want to be broken and grateful
I want to be broken, peaceful, faithful, grateful, grateful
I want to be broken, peaceful, faithful, grateful, grateful
Blessings,
Shiann
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
The parent of the virtues
Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others. - Marcus Tullius Cicero
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:1-17 (NIV)
There is so little in the Bible that give as clear an if…then situation than in this passage. When I desire peace, I must get rid of the things above and fill that empty space with the things suggested. It may seem formulaic, but it is so comforting to know that there really is something I can do to make things better. It is a promise that God keeps. It is not always that simple, because it is not simple to control our thoughts.
Blessings,
Shiann
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:1-17 (NIV)
There is so little in the Bible that give as clear an if…then situation than in this passage. When I desire peace, I must get rid of the things above and fill that empty space with the things suggested. It may seem formulaic, but it is so comforting to know that there really is something I can do to make things better. It is a promise that God keeps. It is not always that simple, because it is not simple to control our thoughts.
Blessings,
Shiann
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